Methods for the evaluation of forage legumes, grasses and fodder trees for use as livestock feed

Forage plant evaluation is carried out by many institutions throughout sub-Saharan Africa. However, the approach adopted at various locations varies. This manual outlines standard evaluation methodology, which will enable researchers throughout the region to obtain meaningful results from their forage plant evaluation. This document is based on experience from the forage evaluation programme at ILCA, Kaduna. The first section deals with methodology for initial evaluation, including suitable methodology for small-plot evaluation trials and larger multi-locational trials. The second section covers methodology suitable for further evaluation of accessions identified in the initial evaluation

Effects of method of cultivation on root density and grain and crop residue yields of sorghum

Studies the effect of ridge height on sorghum production and the benefits associated with ridging including increase in yields of grain and residue and root density

Grazing reserves in Nigeria: Problems, prospects and policy implication

Grazing reserves in Nigeria are areas set aside for the use of pastoralists and are intended to be the foci of livestock development. The stated purpose of grazing reserves is the settlement of nomadic pastoralists they offer security of tenure as an inducement to sedentarization through the provision of land for grazing and permanent water. This paper reviews problems associated with grazing reserves and offers suggestions to make them more productive and relevant to the needs of the intended beneficiaries. Although based on experience in grazing reserves in the subhumid zone of Nigeria, some of the conclusions should be applicable elsewhere

Comparison of labour requirements for cropping maize on land previously used for stylosanthes fodder banks and on adjacent fallows in the sub-humid zone of Nigeria

Examines the returns to labour from cropping fallowed land and land that has been used for stylosanthes fodder banks in the subhumid zone of Nigeria

Spatial Integration and Price Transmission in Selected Rural and Urban Markets for Cassava Fresh Roots in Nigeria

An advanced time series econometric technique was used to study the interaction between the prices of cassava fresh roots in typical urban-demand and rural-supply markets in Nigeria. The price data cover 95 weeks from week 37 of 2004 to week 28 of 2006. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test was used to investigate stationarity in the prices while Johansen cointegration test procedure, with its associated vector error correction model (VECM) was used to measure the speed of adjustment coefficients that characterized the long-run dynamics of the system. Unit root tests revealed non-stationarity in both urban and rural prices series: in levels the ADF-test statistics were calculated as -1.68 for the rural price and -2.69 for the urban price while in first differences they were -13.98 and -11.91 respectively. Cointegration test revealed that both prices were cointegrated with the trace- and maximum eigenvalue statistics calculated as 18.79 and 16.38, each being statistically significant (p<0.5). The VECM reveals that any positive deviation from the long-run equilibrium would cause the system to respond with decreases in both the rural and urban prices, albeit the rural price responded faster. The impulse response analysis revealed that the rural price was more responsive to shocks emanating from the rural markets. The effect of the shock was calculated as 63.8% using the forecast error variance decompositions. The effect of rural price shock on the urban price appeared to be very infinitesimal at only 6.0% after about 10 periods. The Granger causality test did not reveal any significant causality link between the rural and urban markets prices, suggesting lack of clear trends in price leadership. The finding reveals the lack of predictability and reliability of markets for highly perishable and susceptible agricultural products, like raw cassava roots. There is need to strengthen cassava value chains with greater emphasis on processing and/or direct sale of roots to commercial processors, so as to reduce the volume of transaction of raw roots in the open market, because of the associated price shocks that have perpetually left the rural Nigerian farmer in abject poverty. Keywords: Cassava fresh roots, spatial integration, rural, urban, markets, price leadership, Nigeria

Differentials in Adoption of Cassava Post-Harvest Processing Technology among Farmers in South Eastern, Nigeria

The study examined factors influencing the adoption of cassava post-harvest processing technology among farmers in Abia North, Abia state, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty (150) farmers were randomly selected from five Local Government Areas of the state. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and adoption model using logit regression. The results showed that majority of the famers were male who are still productive, married with large household sizes. Most of the farmers adopted cassava processing technologies and utilized the garri product. The results also indicated that income level of the farmer, number of processing equipment, household size and years of experience in farming business positively influenced the adoption of post-harvest processing technology among households in the study area and were each significant at 5 percent.  The study call for policies aimed at increased awareness programmes and subsidies on processing machines to increase their adoption. Keywords: Cassava, Adoption, Utilization, Post-Harvest Technology, Abia Stat

Determinants of productivity of smallholder farmers supplying cassava to starch processors in Nigeria: a baseline evidence

Open Access JournalThe influence of socioeconomic and other household characteristics on the productivity of smallholder farmers supplying cassava to the major commercial starch processors in Nigeria were examined. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 96 farmers working in clusters in selected eight cassava producing states. Data were analyzed using a combination of descriptive and inferential statistics, and multivariate regression techniques. Results revealed the calculated average yield to be 12.39 t/ha thereby leaving an average yield-gap of 7.61 t/ha when compared with an average of 20 t/ha being promoted for farmers under the project. Use of improved varieties (p<0.01) and full-time farming (p<0.05) had significant positive influence on productivity. Also, training, credit use and marital status of farmers influenced productivity positivity at p<0.10 levels. Productivity increased with increase in the variables, but the degree of responsiveness was inelastic in each case. Together the included variables explained 72.1% of the variation in the productivity model. The use of improved cuttings should be accompanied by rigorous but appropriate capacity enhancement programmes to update farmers on modern issues on cassava production and farm management. Empowerment of farmers through linkage to sources of soft loan and other microcredit facilities was recommended, but such efforts should be targeted more on the married and full-time farmers for greater impact