Constraints And Opportunities For Cultivation Of Moringa oleifera In The Zimbabwean Smallholder Growers

The study sought to establish the constraints to Moringa agronomic practices and marketing in the smallholder farming sector of Zimbabwe. Purposive sampling selected 96 respondents across four study districts in Zimbabwe who were interviewed using an open-ended questionnaire. Eight focus group discussions disaggregated by gender were carried out to supplement primary data. Growers asserted Moringa oleifera production problems of livestock damage, theft, seed supply, inefficient cultivation practices resulting in inherent low productivity and poor marketing. The growers coped through intensive monoculture of M. oleifera, enhanced local seed supply from establishing their own seed orchards, product value addition and organized associations. Moringa can be used to promote climate change resilient agricultural systems and will be a solution to environmental problems. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 3 (1): 12-19, June, 2013 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v3i1.1604

Efficacy of Crestar (Progesterone analogue) and Prosolvin (Prostaglandin analogue) in heat synchronization of indigenous smallholder dairy and commercial beef cows

Efficient breeding program for livestock improvement cannot be designed in the absence of prior knowledge of heat synchronization coupled with artificial insemination. Comparison of a prostaglandin (Prosolvin) and a progesterone analogue (Crestar) in heat synchronization in smallholder dairy and commercial beef cows was done in Mutoko, Beatrice and Marondera. The research aimed at establishing the estrus response and conception rates of animals synchronized. A total of 106 cows of Mashona, Brahman and Tuli breeds in second and third parity were used in the study. All the cows were of body condition score three. Equal numbers of animals were treated with Prosolvin and Crestar in three districts, ear tagged and confined in the paddock. The stockmen were responsible for estrus detection. Insemination was done based on the AM-PM rule. Conception rates were determined after three months by rectal palpation. The data was subjected to Chi-Square Tests for association using Gen Stat Statistical Package (7.2 version). The Prosolvin treated cows had a higher estrus response of 85% while the Crestar treated animals had a lower mean estrus response of 67%. The parity, cow breed and enterprise had no significant effect on estrus response (P>0.05). Silent estrus was associated with Crestar treated cows significantly more (7%) than with Prosolvin treated cows (2%). The treatments for heat synchronization had no significant effect on conception rate (P>0.05). The parity, cow breed and breed of semen used for insemination had a significant effect on conception rate (P<0.05) with third parity, Tuli breed and Red Dane semen breed having the highest conception rate (54%, 54% and 58% respectively). The procedures of thawing frozen semen and the techniques of semen deposition through the cervix have to be properly followed to achieve high conception rates. Animals can also be inseminated twice to increase chances of conception. Keywords: Artificial Insemination, Brahman, conception rate, estrus, Mashona, Tul

Factors affecting adoption of exotic dairy breeds by smallholder dairy farmers in Zimbabwe: Case of Chikwaka Communal Area

No Abstract

Constraints And Opportunities For Cultivation Of Moringa oleifera In The Zimbabwean Smallholder Growers

The study sought to establish the constraints to Moringa agronomic practices and marketing in the smallholder farming sector of Zimbabwe. Purposive sampling selected 96 respondents across four study districts in Zimbabwe who were interviewed using an open-ended questionnaire. Eight focus group discussions disaggregated by gender were carried out to supplement primary data. Growers asserted Moringa oleifera production problems of livestock damage, theft, seed supply, inefficient cultivation practices resulting in inherent low productivity and poor marketing. The growers coped through intensive monoculture of M. oleifera, enhanced local seed supply from establishing their own seed orchards, product value addition and organized associations. Moringa can be used to promote climate change resilient agricultural systems and will be a solution to environmental problems. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. &amp; Tech. 3 (1): 12-19, June, 2013 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v3i1.1604

Use of ethno-veterinary medicine for the control if cattle parasites by smallholder farmers in Mutas District, Zimbabwe

No Abstract

Botanical pesticide production, trade and regulatory mechanisms in sub-Saharan Africa: making a case for plant-based pesticidal products

Pesticides are the major technology used in the management of field and postharvest losses due to pests. There is growing demand for effective alternatives that present low health risks and conserve ecosystems and biological diversity. Pesticidal plants are increasingly used as alternatives where synthetic products are unaffordable, have limited availability or are ineffective. Plant materials, however, are often used inefficiently and their effective use requires optimisation. In Africa wide-scale uptake of pesticidal plants remains limited despite the success of pyrethrum in some countries and other pesticidal plant products in China and India. This is mainly due to lack of data on efficacy and safety, inconsistent efficacy of plant products, the prohibitive cost of registration, and an inadequately developed conventional pesticides sector. Globally, the demand for botanicals is poised to grow due to an increasing shift in consumer demand for safe food, increasing organic farming, lobbying by environmentalists and the increasing pressure from new regulations on internationally traded foods in Europe. These demands can only be met by formalising production, marketing and use of pesticidal plants. This has to be supported by friendly registration procedures, sustainable forest management, propagation and cultivation of pesticidal plants. This paper presents a critical review of the enabling environment required for wide-scale adoption and commercialisation of botanical pesticides in sub-Saharan Africa. We conclude that regulations and protocols for production, marketing and trade need to be reviewed to facilitate the development of the botanicals sector in Africa