Assessment of factors that impact on the viability of contract farming: A case study of maize and soya beans in Mashonaland West and central provinces in Zimbabwe

This research analyses factors that affect the viability of contract farming in the Zimbabwean maize and soya sector. The objective was to analyse how sustainability factors (social, ethical, environmental and economic factors) were integrated to ensure the viability and sustainability of contract ventures. A sample of 70 farmers and 4 contracting firms involved in the contract farming production of maize and soya were used. A questionnaire survey and focus group interviews were used as data gathering tools. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques were used and a probit regression model was applied to identify the factors that impacts significantly on the viability of the enterprises. The farmer’s scale, years of experience, availability of inputs, crop grown, production area and access to finances were all identified as the significant factors affecting contract farming viability. It was recommended that farmers refrain from side marketing and contractors stick to contractual agreements in terms of payments and timely provision of inputs.Keywords: contract farming; viability; sustainabilit

Quaternary Ammonium Palmitoyl Glycol Chitosan (GCPQ) Loaded with Platinum-Based Anticancer Agents—A Novel Polymer Formulation for Anticancer Therapy

Quaternary ammonium palmitoyl glycol chitosan (GCPQ) has already shown beneficial drug delivery properties and has been studied as a carrier for anticancer agents. Consequently, we synthesised cytotoxic platinum(IV) conjugates of cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin by coupling via amide bonds to five GCPQ polymers differing in their degree of palmitoylation and quaternisation. The conjugates were characterised by 1H and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy as well as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), the latter to determine the amount of platinum(IV) units per GCPQ polymer. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT assay in three human cancer cell lines (A549, non-small-cell lung carcinoma; CH1/PA-1, ovarian teratocarcinoma; SW480, colon adenocarcinoma). All conjugates displayed a high increase in their cytotoxic activity by factors of up to 286 times compared to their corresponding platinum(IV) complexes and mostly outperformed the respective platinum(II) counterparts by factors of up to 20 times, also taking into account the respective loading of platinum(IV) units per GCPQ polymer. Finally, a biodistribution experiment was performed with an oxaliplatin-based GCPQ conjugate in non-tumour-bearing BALB/c mice revealing an increased accumulation in lung tissue. These findings open promising opportunities for further tumouricidal activity studies especially focusing on lung tissue

AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY JOURNAL OF NORTH AMERICA Soil moisture stress mitigation for sustainable upland rice production in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

ABSTRACT Northern Guinea Savanna (NGS) of Nigeria cultivable lands have sandy loam to loamy sand surface textures, low organic matter and are susceptible to erosion (wind and water). To mitigate crop moisture stress, on-farm trials involving contour-ridge-tying and contour ridging were carried out in Albasur and Dansoda villages in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State (NGS) to conserve soil against erosion and moisture for crop use in 2008 and 2009. The area (NGS) witness poor rainfall distribution, dry spells lasting beyond twenty one days occurring between June and July and low rainfall amounts (<900 to 1300mm per annum). These result in upland crops like rice (NERICA 2 var.) witnessing deficit soil moisture to undergo proper growth and production, low yields or complete crop failure. Also, soil erosion and runoff deplete water that could be available for crops and degrade farmlands for continued cultivation on the land. In this trial farmers ranked their rice grain yields while physical and agronomic data collected were statistically analysed using ANOVA and Duncan multiple range tests to separate means. Results show that cross-banded ridge resulted in significantly higher rice grain yields than the other treatments and was followed by contoured ridge. Socio-economic data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and budgeting technique. Costs and returns analysis results show that labour and fertilizer inputs accounted for greater proportion of total variable costs incurred in contour (15.72%), contour plus tie ridging (15.72%), planting on flat land and farmers ridging practice (16.43 and 16.55 % respectively). Costs and returns analysis result shows that rice cultivation using contour and contour plus tie ridging is more profitable, implying feasible sustainable rice production through contour farming