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Performance Evaluation of Improved Plantain Banana (Musa spp.) Varieties in West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia
Gezahegn A ssefa,
Sintayehu Girma,
Dereje Deresa
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 5, September 2023
Pages:
176-180
Received:
18 October 2022
Accepted:
9 November 2022
Published:
9 October 2023
Abstract: Fruit crops are widely grown in West Hararghe Zone by small households and plays significant role for income generation and nutrition. Plantains are cooking type’s banana producing fruits that remain starchy at maturity and need processing before consumption. Even though the environment is suitable for the production of fruit, the productivity of the crop is highly influenced by low yielding variety and low moisture. Therefore, the objective of the studied was to identify high yielding, drought and disease resistant/tolerant Plantain Banana varieties at Mechara onstation, West Hararghe Zone. Four plantain varieties were brought from Melkasa Agricultural Research Center and evaluated for agronomic and yield and yield related traits using Completely Randomized Block Design in three replications. The Analysis of variance results revealed significant variation among plantain varieties for all traits over both harvesting cycles except Fruit diameter (cm), number of fruit per bunch and unmarketable yield. The highest bunch weight, number of hands per bunch, number of fruits per bunch, marketable yield and total yields had recorded from Nijiru variety followed by Kardaba. Nijiru variety was resistance to banana disease (Sigatoka and Panama diseases) as compared to the other varieties. Whereas the lowest bunch weight, number of fruits per bunch, marketable yield, total yields was observed from Matoke variety. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed that average bunch weight, Fruit diameter, number of finger per hand and Marketable yield were positively correlated to total yield. Therefore, it’s concluded that Nijiru variety was well performed and can be recommended for the growers in Daro Lebu district and similar agro-ecology.
Abstract: Fruit crops are widely grown in West Hararghe Zone by small households and plays significant role for income generation and nutrition. Plantains are cooking type’s banana producing fruits that remain starchy at maturity and need processing before consumption. Even though the environment is suitable for the production of fruit, the productivity of t...
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The Delay in the Demographic Transition Perpetuates Rural Poverty in Madagascar
Ramasy Razafindratovo Heritiana
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 5, September 2023
Pages:
181-189
Received:
6 October 2022
Accepted:
25 January 2023
Published:
14 October 2023
Abstract: In several Asian and African countries, economy and demography have not evolved in parallel over the last hundred and fifty years: the second having gone much faster than the first, and JP Guengnat stipulates that population issues are still insufficiently integrated into the public policies of States, but, accelerating the demographic transition and controlling fertility should be one of the major priorities for countries. As for Madagascar, the island began its demographic transition, like many French colonies, with a decline in mortality during the 1930s and 1940s or immediately after the Second World War. Unfortunately, progress during the second half of the century was rather limited. Given the various aspects they take, the relations between the economy and the population are complex. However, the demographic weight in Madagascar has regressive effects for the moment. The economic system with the current crisis has not been able to mobilize human resources in rural areas. It should be noted that the Malagasy agricultural population is young with 56% under 20 years of age. The migratory movement is very low. So, this article first discusses an overview of the demographic transition, on the one hand, and rural poverty in Madagascar, on the other. With regard to these two themes, rural poverty in Madagascar often makes headlines as soon as the rural development process is discussed. On the other hand, the demographic transition deserves to be further explained since demography itself is a science discreet according to Dominique Tibautin, and does not have enough visibility within the Administration, and yet the science of population, demography, and rural poverty in Madagascar are two complementary constituents, confirming the principle of Malthusianism of poverty, linked to the precariousness of economic and social life. Also, the objective of this study is to evaluate the current phase of the demographic transition in the District of Antsirabe II, and this through the demographic behaviors of the different households within the 20 components municipalities, and also to evaluate the possible links between this transition profile and rural poverty by determining the level of development of this locality (Human Development Indices) (HDI).
Abstract: In several Asian and African countries, economy and demography have not evolved in parallel over the last hundred and fifty years: the second having gone much faster than the first, and JP Guengnat stipulates that population issues are still insufficiently integrated into the public policies of States, but, accelerating the demographic transition a...
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Impacts of Intra-Seasonal Rainfall Variability and Cropping Practices on Cereal Yields in Sub-Saharan Africa
Kaboré Pamalba Narcise,
Sanon Moussa,
Ouédraogo Amadé,
Barbier Bruno,
Barro Albert
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 5, September 2023
Pages:
190-202
Received:
23 August 2023
Accepted:
27 September 2023
Published:
14 October 2023
Abstract: West African Sahel is one of the most exposed areas to the adverse effects of climate variability. All the agricultural production systems are affected, exposing local populations to food insecurity and poverty. This study aimed to assess the impacts of intra-seasonal rainfall variability and cropping practices on cereal yields in the North Central region of Burkina Faso. Daily rainfall data covering the 1984-2015 period were collected from eleven stations across the region. The agro-climatic parameters such as the onset and the end of the rainy season, its length, seasonal rainfall amount, rainy days and long dry spells in the rainy months were determined. Annual cereal yields statistics (sorghum, millet and maize) (1984-2015) were used. Data on cropping practices were taken into account in this study. The statistical methods for trends and breaks were applied to data series. Simple correlation tests were used to assess the impacts of agro-climatic parameters on cereal yields. The results showed that the North Central region of Burkina Faso experienced extreme rainfall events such as "false starts" of rainy seasons, long dry spells and early rainfall cessation. The onset of the rainy season and the long dry spells in July (duration ≥ 8 days) and August (≥ 6 days) months had negative impacts on cereal yields in the region. The results also highlighted an increase in rainfall since the 1990s and 2000s. Increased rainfall and the positive effects of changes in cropping practices affected cereal yields, which increased significantly (44 to 72%) since that period. Dissemination of climate information, adoption of improved cropping technics and supplemental irrigation are innovating practices that could increase cereal yields in North Central Burkina Faso.
Abstract: West African Sahel is one of the most exposed areas to the adverse effects of climate variability. All the agricultural production systems are affected, exposing local populations to food insecurity and poverty. This study aimed to assess the impacts of intra-seasonal rainfall variability and cropping practices on cereal yields in the North Central...
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Research Article
Application of the PIF Method in Seed Multiplication in Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. Schott: Effect of the Mass of the Corm Fragment and Realization of the Field Transfer Test
Djeuani Astride Carole,
Amama Amama Benjamin,
Mbouobda Hermann Désiré,
Tiki Antoine Marie Kévin,
Adounga Samuel Brice,
Nyimiebolo Bengono Audrey Maguy,
Manuela Diobe Motassy,
Nshanji Jones,
Niemenak Nicolas
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 5, September 2023
Pages:
203-211
Received:
1 September 2023
Accepted:
27 September 2023
Published:
28 October 2023
Abstract: The unavailability of seeds is a real problem for farmers growing Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. Schott plants. To propose palliative solutions, this work aimed to produce seeds of X. sagittifolium by the PIF method. The growing medium during the production of the PIF plants was a mixture of wood shavings and sawdust (1: 1). 60 fragments of rhizomes for the white and red cultivars of X. sagittifolium were used, at a rate of 30 fragments/cultivar with 15 fragments of weight between [100-250] and 15 others between [250-500]. The PIF plants produced have been acclimatized. The experimental device was a complete randomized block in fields after the transfer with two repetitions. For each cultivar, three treatments were applied, control, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and chicken manure. The agronomic growth parameters were evaluated every 30 days for three months. The results obtained showed that the number of weaned PIF plants was higher at D60, for the rhizome fragments with a weight range of [250-500] with 03.13±00.83 and 04.13±00.12 weaned PIF plants/rhizome recorded in the red and white cultivars respectively. The PIF technique made it possible to produce 455 PIF from 60 rhizome fragments after 90 days for the two cultivars, with 222 PIF plants in the white cultivar and 233 PIF plants in the red. The highest agronomic growth parameters were noted in the PIF plants produced in propagators, also at the weight intervals of [250-500]. Mycorrhizal influenced the growth of the PIF plants in the field. In addition, the applied PIF technique made it possible to multiply by 7.58 times the 60 fragments of rhizomes used. It is therefore a way that could be explored in the multiplication of sanitized seed plants in X. sagittifolium.
Abstract: The unavailability of seeds is a real problem for farmers growing Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. Schott plants. To propose palliative solutions, this work aimed to produce seeds of X. sagittifolium by the PIF method. The growing medium during the production of the PIF plants was a mixture of wood shavings and sawdust (1: 1). 60 fragments of rhizomes f...
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