Evaluation of improved cassava genotypes for yield and related traits for a better breeding strategy under different agroecologies in Nigeria

Open Access Article; Published online: 29 Mar 2021This study aimed at determining shoot and root characteristics of cassava as affected by root yield and the influence of soil moisture on vegetative growth and yield. Thirty cassava genotypes were evaluated for morphological and physiological characterization in three locations in Nigeria: Ibadan, Mokwa and Zaria. Randomized complete block design was used with four replicates. Studies on the pasting properties of the genotypes were also carried out. Data were collected on plant height, stem girth, stay-green ability, garri and fresh root weight. Genotypes differed significantly (P < 0.05) across and within locations for shoot and root characteristics. Across locations, genotype 011663 had the highest plant height (132.4 cm); 30572 had the largest stem girth (8.6 cm); and 010040 was the best stay-green (2.2). Genotype 011086 had the highest number of roots per plot (95.7), 950289 had the highest fresh root yield (24.3 t/ha), and 990554 had the highest percentage of dry matter (35.2). Trends in root yields across locations were Ibadan (28.9 t/ha), Mokwa (20.3 t/ha), and Zaria (8 t/ha). Five genotypes IITA-TMS-IBA950289, 010034, 990554, 011807, and 980581 had negligible interactions with the environment and so have broad adaptation and are considered stable; and two clones 011807 and 950166 were found to be the best for pasting properties. Breeding strategies that consider root size, total root number, harvest index, dry matter, with applications for household foods and industrial uses, will be an effective and efficient way to select genotypes for high yield

Assessment of Agricultural information needs in African, Caribbean & Pacific (ACP) States: Country Study: Botswana

This study commissioned by CTA aims to identify agricultural information needs of key actors / beneficiaries for CTA products and services, potential actors ..and, to develop some baseline data to facilitate subsequent monitoring activities

African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science as a Resource Base for Library and Information Science Research in Africa

The paper discusses the establishment of the African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science (AJLAIS) in 1991 as a medium for African researchers in librarianship, archives, information science and other related information fields to disseminate their research findings. At the time the journal was launched, there was no continental journal for disseminating research findings, Rather, research findings by African researchers were scattered in moribund national journals or published outside the continent. The journal, having been published twice a year since 1991, has a sufficient resource base that could be evaluated. The objective of this paper was to appraise the journal, 1996-2000, as the main resource base for library and information science (LIS) research in Africa. The citations in AJLAIS and three other journals regularly used by LIS researchers in Africa (International Information Library Review, Information Development and Libri) were analysed. The citations were analysed with a view to identifying the frequency at which AJLAIS was consulted and used by researchers in Africa. The assumption of the study is that citation implies consultation and usage. Citations to the four journals during the period 1996- 2000 were analysed and compared. The findings reveal that AJLAIS has performed creditably as a resource base for LIS research in Africa. (African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science: 2002 12 (2): 167-176

The information needs of small scale dairy farmers in Tanzania

IAALD Quarterly Bulletin 1999, XLIV (3/4): 173-176The study was undertaken to investigate the information needs of small-scale dairy farmers and various information sources they consulted to resolve their information needs. It involved 71 small-scale dairy farmers from five villages, which were selected through a systematic random sampling from Mbozi district. Personal interviews were used to gather data from small-scale dairy farmers. Small scale dairy farmers were found to be in need of information on livestock feeds availability and feeding techniques (97.2%), parasite and disease control (83.1%), general animal husbandry (81.7%), heat detection and breeding techniques (43.7%) and information on milk marketing (39.4%). In resolving their information needs it was found that attending extension meetings and extension worker visits were the most dependable information sources used by the majority of farmers. The use of agricultural libraries as an information source was very uncommon to the majority of the respondents with the major reason being lack of such a service

An empirical study of accessibility and use of electronic information sources by journalists in Nigeria

This paper investigates accessibility and utilization of electronic information sources (EIS)by journalists in Nigeria;identifying the types of EIS that are accessible to journalists;extent of EIS utilization for journalistic tasksand the constraints to EIS utilization.The descriptive research of the survey type was adopted. From 42 media houses, 23 were purposively selected. The population comprised of 1,357 journalistswhilea sample size of 926 (68.2%) was drawn using a purposeful sampling technique. Self-designed questionnaire was used for data collection,which yielded 0.868 Cronbach’s alpha. The study found that Facebook (88.2%), Twitter (83.2%), E-mail (82.7%), and YouTube (78.4%) were readily accessible to journalists while online databases (52.5%), e-books (49.9%) and online reference works (32.4%) were not readily accessible;journalists’ usage of EIS was limited to Facebook (91.2%), Twitter (86.8%), YouTube (84.7%) and E-mail (83.2%) while EIS was mainly used for fact checking (92.4%), writing news (90.5%)and conducting research (87.7%). Cost of subscription (95.8%), lack of awareness of available EIS (81.8%), lack of assistance from media librarians (76.5%), lack of ICT training (77.8%) and poor Internet connection (68.3%) were identified as major constraints to EIS utilization.The study concluded that journalists in Nigeria reflected high dependence on open access EIS for work-related tasks while journalists are still faced with some challenges in accessing EIS.The study therefore recommended provision of access to licensed EIS, fast Internet connectionand pro-activeness of media librarians in creating awareness to available EIS.Keywords: Accessibility; Electronic Information Sources; Journalists; Print Media; Broadcast Media; Electronic Resources Utilization; Nigeri