Cotton is one of the most valuable materials in the world, popularly used in the clothing industr... more Cotton is one of the most valuable materials in the world, popularly used in the clothing industry and other products. However, its production is limited by the high infestation of insect pests. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different biopesticides on the control of the African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) under cotton field conditions. Four biopesticides—namely, Eco-Bb® (Beauveria bassiana), Bb endophyte (Beauveria bassiana), Bolldex® (Nucleopolyhedrovirus), and Delfin® (Bacillus thuringiensis)—were evaluated and compared with the pyrethroid Karate® (lambda-cyhalothrin) and an untreated control against H. armigera. Field trials were conducted at the Agriculture Research Council, Rustenburg, in the North West Province of South Africa during the 2017 and 2018 cotton seasons. The results revealed that in plots sprayed with Karate® and Bolldex®, the numbers of H. armigera were significantly reduced compared to the untreated controls. Plots treated with Bolldex® ha...
Cotton is one of the most valuable materials in the world, popularly used in the clothing industr... more Cotton is one of the most valuable materials in the world, popularly used in the clothing industry and other products. However, its production is limited by the high infestation of insect pests. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different biopesticides on the control of the African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) under cotton field conditions. Four biopesticides—namely, Eco-Bb® (Beauveria bassiana), Bb endophyte (Beauveria bassiana), Bolldex® (Nucleopolyhedrovirus), and Delfin® (Bacillus thuringiensis)—were evaluated and compared with the pyrethroid Karate® (lambda-cyhalothrin) and an untreated control against H. armigera. Field trials were conducted at the Agriculture Research Council, Rustenburg, in the North West Province of South Africa during the 2017 and 2018 cotton seasons. The results revealed that in plots sprayed with Karate® and Bolldex®, the numbers of H. armigera were significantly reduced compared to the untreated controls. Plots treated with Bolldex® ha...
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is traditionally cultivated under drought-affected and low-input agr... more Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is traditionally cultivated under drought-affected and low-input agro-ecologies in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Wheat productivity in these agro-systems is considerably low (<2.4 t/ha) due to climate change-induced drought and heat stress, a lack of modern production technologies, including climate-smart varieties, and an array of biotic and abiotic factors. The objective of this study was to determine the potential of wheat production in drought-prone agro-ecologies and to assess farmers’ practices and sustainable coping mechanisms and the role of improved cultivars in Ethiopia. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) study was conducted involving 170 randomly selected wheat farmers in the drier areas of Arsi Zone of the Oromia Regional State. Results showed that wheat and tef (Eragrostis tef Zucc.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were the most widely grown cereal crops in the study areas as the primary food source and cash income. Yield los...
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is traditionally cultivated under drought-affected and low-input agr... more Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is traditionally cultivated under drought-affected and low-input agro-ecologies in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Wheat productivity in these agro-systems is considerably low (<2.4 t/ha) due to climate change-induced drought and heat stress, a lack of modern production technologies, including climate-smart varieties, and an array of biotic and abiotic factors. The objective of this study was to determine the potential of wheat production in drought-prone agro-ecologies and to assess farmers’ practices and sustainable coping mechanisms and the role of improved cultivars in Ethiopia. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) study was conducted involving 170 randomly selected wheat farmers in the drier areas of Arsi Zone of the Oromia Regional State. Results showed that wheat and tef (Eragrostis tef Zucc.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were the most widely grown cereal crops in the study areas as the primary food source and cash income. Yield los...
Drought stress is one of the major abiotic constraints affecting production and productivity of t... more Drought stress is one of the major abiotic constraints affecting production and productivity of tef (<i>Eragrostis tef</i>). Genetic resources and selection methodologies are among the prerequisites to improve the efficiency of breeding for drought tolerance. The objectives of this study were to determine the principal selection indices and to identify promising genetic resources of tef for drought tolerance breeding. A total of 144 tef genotypes were evaluated using a simple lattice design with two replications. Genotypes showed highly significant (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.01) differences for 10 drought tolerance indices. Principal component and correlation analyses revealed mean productivity, harmonic mean, geometric mean productivity and stress tolerance index as the principal indices highly correlated with grain yield in the stressed and non-stressed environments, indicating their suitability for identifying superior tef genotypes. Genotypes 215678 (g25) and Dschange...
Drought stress is one of the major abiotic constraints affecting production and productivity of t... more Drought stress is one of the major abiotic constraints affecting production and productivity of tef (<i>Eragrostis tef</i>). Genetic resources and selection methodologies are among the prerequisites to improve the efficiency of breeding for drought tolerance. The objectives of this study were to determine the principal selection indices and to identify promising genetic resources of tef for drought tolerance breeding. A total of 144 tef genotypes were evaluated using a simple lattice design with two replications. Genotypes showed highly significant (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.01) differences for 10 drought tolerance indices. Principal component and correlation analyses revealed mean productivity, harmonic mean, geometric mean productivity and stress tolerance index as the principal indices highly correlated with grain yield in the stressed and non-stressed environments, indicating their suitability for identifying superior tef genotypes. Genotypes 215678 (g25) and Dschange...
Farmers ' perceptions and management of maize ear rots and their implications for breeding f... more Farmers ' perceptions and management of maize ear rots and their implications for breeding for resistance
Farmers ' perceptions and management of maize ear rots and their implications for breeding f... more Farmers ' perceptions and management of maize ear rots and their implications for breeding for resistance
The European Journal of Development Research, 2021
The significant role of agriculture in the transformation of emerging economies has been well fou... more The significant role of agriculture in the transformation of emerging economies has been well founded in the literature. This has contributed to the implementation of a number of intervention programs aimed at improving agricultural productivity and, subsequently, household welfare. However, the magnitude of the impact of adoption of any innovation, such as improved sweetpotato varieties developed for both as human food and livestock feed and hence called dual-purpose sweetpotato (DPS) varieties, is of critical concern. This paper estimates the potential impact of DPS varieties on productivity and household welfare (proxy by consumption expenditure per capita) using an endogenous regime-switching regression that corrects both observed and hidden endogeneities. Consistent with findings in many pieces of the literature, our study shows that adoption of DPS leads to significant productivity and welfare gains, and that farmers who did not adopt would have been better-off have they adopted. In addition, DPS adoption has heterogeneous effects among the adopters’ group that varies with characteristics such as membership of farmer groups and household size. There is, therefore, a need to target specific groups among the farming households. The results of the study also indicate that development practitioners should support the production and promotion of agricultural technologies to boost productivity and improve welfare, especially among rural households. Le rôle important de l'agriculture dans la transformation des économies émergentes est bien développé dans les publications existantes. Cela a contribué à la mise en œuvre d'un certain nombre de programmes visant à améliorer la productivité agricole et, par la suite, le bien-être des ménages. Cependant, une préoccupation capitale est l'ampleur de l'impact provoqué par l'adoption d’une innovation, quelle qu’elle soit, telle que les variétés améliorées de patate douce mises au point à la fois pour l'alimentation humaine et animale - variétés que l’on appelle patate douce à double usage. Cet article évalue l'impact potentiel de ces variétés sur la productivité et le bien-être des ménages (avec, comme indicateur indirect, les dépenses de consommation par habitant) à l'aide d'une régression à changement de régimes endogènes, qui corrige le problème d’endogénéité, qu’il soit observable ou non. Conformément aux résultats présentés dans de nombreuses publications, notre étude montre que l'adoption de la patate douce à double usage mène à des gains significatifs en terme de productivité et de bien-être, et que les agriculteurs qui ne l'ont pas adoptée auraient été mieux lotis s'ils l'avaient fait. En outre, l’utilisation de la patate douce à double usage a des effets hétérogènes chez ceux qui l’ont adoptée, qui varient selon des caractéristiques telles que l’appartenance à des groupes d’agriculteurs et la taille du ménage. Parmi les ménages qui vivent de l’agriculture, il est donc nécessaire de cibler des groupes spécifiques. Les résultats de l'étude indiquent également que les praticiens du développement devraient soutenir la production et la promotion de technologies agricoles pour stimuler la productivité et améliorer le bien-être, en particulier chez les ménages vivant en milieu rural.
The European Journal of Development Research, 2021
The significant role of agriculture in the transformation of emerging economies has been well fou... more The significant role of agriculture in the transformation of emerging economies has been well founded in the literature. This has contributed to the implementation of a number of intervention programs aimed at improving agricultural productivity and, subsequently, household welfare. However, the magnitude of the impact of adoption of any innovation, such as improved sweetpotato varieties developed for both as human food and livestock feed and hence called dual-purpose sweetpotato (DPS) varieties, is of critical concern. This paper estimates the potential impact of DPS varieties on productivity and household welfare (proxy by consumption expenditure per capita) using an endogenous regime-switching regression that corrects both observed and hidden endogeneities. Consistent with findings in many pieces of the literature, our study shows that adoption of DPS leads to significant productivity and welfare gains, and that farmers who did not adopt would have been better-off have they adopted. In addition, DPS adoption has heterogeneous effects among the adopters’ group that varies with characteristics such as membership of farmer groups and household size. There is, therefore, a need to target specific groups among the farming households. The results of the study also indicate that development practitioners should support the production and promotion of agricultural technologies to boost productivity and improve welfare, especially among rural households. Le rôle important de l'agriculture dans la transformation des économies émergentes est bien développé dans les publications existantes. Cela a contribué à la mise en œuvre d'un certain nombre de programmes visant à améliorer la productivité agricole et, par la suite, le bien-être des ménages. Cependant, une préoccupation capitale est l'ampleur de l'impact provoqué par l'adoption d’une innovation, quelle qu’elle soit, telle que les variétés améliorées de patate douce mises au point à la fois pour l'alimentation humaine et animale - variétés que l’on appelle patate douce à double usage. Cet article évalue l'impact potentiel de ces variétés sur la productivité et le bien-être des ménages (avec, comme indicateur indirect, les dépenses de consommation par habitant) à l'aide d'une régression à changement de régimes endogènes, qui corrige le problème d’endogénéité, qu’il soit observable ou non. Conformément aux résultats présentés dans de nombreuses publications, notre étude montre que l'adoption de la patate douce à double usage mène à des gains significatifs en terme de productivité et de bien-être, et que les agriculteurs qui ne l'ont pas adoptée auraient été mieux lotis s'ils l'avaient fait. En outre, l’utilisation de la patate douce à double usage a des effets hétérogènes chez ceux qui l’ont adoptée, qui varient selon des caractéristiques telles que l’appartenance à des groupes d’agriculteurs et la taille du ménage. Parmi les ménages qui vivent de l’agriculture, il est donc nécessaire de cibler des groupes spécifiques. Les résultats de l'étude indiquent également que les praticiens du développement devraient soutenir la production et la promotion de technologies agricoles pour stimuler la productivité et améliorer le bien-être, en particulier chez les ménages vivant en milieu rural.
Abstract Cotton is a major fibre crop grown in South Africa; and is subjected to pest attacks, wh... more Abstract Cotton is a major fibre crop grown in South Africa; and is subjected to pest attacks, which reduce its yield and profitability for farmers. Field trials were conducted in 2017 and 2018 to evaluate three biopesticides, namely, Eco-Bb®, Bb endophyte, and Metarhizium rileyi in comparison with the insecticides Chlorpyrifos® 480 EC, Karate® EC, and Bandit® 350 SC. The objective was to determine their efficacy against sucking pests, leafhoppers Jacobiella facialis, aphids Aphis gossypii, thrips Thrips tabaci, whiteflies Bemisia tabaci, red spider mite Tetranychus urticae, and cotton stainers Dysdercus spp. Karate® significantly reduced the leafhopper population and outperformed all the other treatments. Eco-Bb® and Bb endophyte did not control the aphids in 2017. However, in 2018 the best aphid control resulted from the biopesticides used. In 2017 plots treated with Eco-Bb® had the lowest number of thrips, while in 2018 plots treated with Bandit® had the least thrips, followed by treatments with M. rileyi and Karate®. There were no significant differences in the populations of whiteflies, however, insecticides were more effective than the biopesticides. All the treatments, except for Bandit®, significantly reduced the number of spider mites compared in 2017. Applications of Eco-Bb® and Bb endophyte significantly reduced spider mites in 2017, while in 2018 plots treated with Karate®, followed by M. rileyi, resulted in the lowest number of spider mites. Application of Bb endophyte, Chlorpyrifos®, and Karate® resulted in the lowest number of cotton stainers. The highest mean cottonseed yields of 6 395 kg ha-1, 6 295 kg ha-1, and 6 141 kg ha-1 were recorded in plots sprayed with Bandit®, Bb endophyte, and Eco-Bb®, respectively. Biopesticides and chemical insecticides can be combined or alternated for future IPM programmes to control cotton pests.
Combining ability effects for grain yield, yield-related traits and resistance to maize streak vi... more Combining ability effects for grain yield, yield-related traits and resistance to maize streak virus (MSV) were determined using 10 parents, 45 single crosses and five standard hybrid checks. Genotypes were evaluated at three locations (Ngaramtoni, Inyala, and Igomelo) over two seasons (2012/13 and 2013/14) using a 6 x 10 simple lattice design with two replications. Data were collected for days-to-50% silking (DSL), days-to-50% anthesis (DA), reaction to MSV disease, plant height (PHT), ear height (EHT), number of ears per plant (EPT), husk cover of cobs (HSC) and grain yield (YLD). General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were significant (P < 0.05) for all traits except DA and DSL. Parental line TL2012-42 was the best general combiner for YLD, while the parents TL2012-41, TL2012-1 and TL2012-42 were the best combiners for maize streak virus resistance, with negative GCA effects of -10.9%, -10.8% and -10.7%, respectively. The highest SCA effec...
Despite Rwanda's impressive economic success over the last decade, household food insecurity ... more Despite Rwanda's impressive economic success over the last decade, household food insecurity persists, particularly in rural areas. Empirical evidence is therefore deemed necessary to inform policies addressing food insecurity, hunger and poverty in general. This study examines household food security and its determinants in the rural areas of Southern and Northern provinces of Rwanda. Using cross-sectional data collected from 534 farming households, we estimated household food security status by Food Consumption Score (FCS) and Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and applied ordered Probit model to identify drivers of household food security. The results indicate that a significant proportion (74.4%) of households had an acceptable FCS, but 36.52% of the farming households experienced moderate and severe food insecurity when assessed with FIES. Ownership of livestock was identified as a key determinant of food security using both metrics, which affirms the importance of combating hunger and food insecurity in Rwanda through their 'one cow per household policy' and recommends that this policy be strengthened.
Once harvested, fruit continue to respire, which is further exacerbated by elevated temperatures ... more Once harvested, fruit continue to respire, which is further exacerbated by elevated temperatures in the field and during transport to packhouses. This favors the proliferation of pathogens, which is detrimental to the postharvest fruit quality and, consequently, results in a decrease in the fruit shelf life. The aim of this review is to highlight the common citrus postharvest disorders and the various pre-packaging treatments that can be used to alleviate such disorders and promote fruit quality. Hot water, surface coatings, ultra-violet irradiation, chlorine (hypochlorous), salt treatments and microbial antagonists have been beneficial in maintaining the citrus quality and reducing the prevalence of postharvest decay. Environmentally friendly anolyte water has also proven to be a favourable postharvest treatment. Integrated treatments, such as hot water treatments and chlorine disinfection, have been successfully used in the global citrus industry. The use of integrated pre-packaging treatments improved the quality and shelf life of citrus, compared to individual treatments. An effective combination of pre-packaging treatments should include: (1) disinfectant; (2) curative and (3) preventive treatments to control pre- and postharvest pathogens.
Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is an effective, low-priced, and sustainable source of β-carote... more Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is an effective, low-priced, and sustainable source of β-carotene (provitamin A). However, most OFSP varieties have low storage root dry matter content (DMC), which influences their acceptance by small-scale farmers and hence needs to be improved. The objective of the study was to determine the combining ability, type of gene action, heterosis and heritability of storage root DMC, β-carotene content, and yield-related traits of selected sweetpotato clones for further evaluation and breeding. Crosses were conducted using a 7 × 7 half-diallel mating design and a total of 28 genotypes (seven parents and 21 crosses) were evaluated at four locations in Ethiopia using a 7 × 4 alpha lattice design with two replications. The performance of the genotypes was significantly different (P < 0.01) across the four locations for storage root DMC, β-carotene content, sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) reaction, storage root yield, and harvest index (HI). The genera...
Cotton is one of the most valuable materials in the world, popularly used in the clothing industr... more Cotton is one of the most valuable materials in the world, popularly used in the clothing industry and other products. However, its production is limited by the high infestation of insect pests. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different biopesticides on the control of the African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) under cotton field conditions. Four biopesticides—namely, Eco-Bb® (Beauveria bassiana), Bb endophyte (Beauveria bassiana), Bolldex® (Nucleopolyhedrovirus), and Delfin® (Bacillus thuringiensis)—were evaluated and compared with the pyrethroid Karate® (lambda-cyhalothrin) and an untreated control against H. armigera. Field trials were conducted at the Agriculture Research Council, Rustenburg, in the North West Province of South Africa during the 2017 and 2018 cotton seasons. The results revealed that in plots sprayed with Karate® and Bolldex®, the numbers of H. armigera were significantly reduced compared to the untreated controls. Plots treated with Bolldex® ha...
Cotton is one of the most valuable materials in the world, popularly used in the clothing industr... more Cotton is one of the most valuable materials in the world, popularly used in the clothing industry and other products. However, its production is limited by the high infestation of insect pests. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different biopesticides on the control of the African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) under cotton field conditions. Four biopesticides—namely, Eco-Bb® (Beauveria bassiana), Bb endophyte (Beauveria bassiana), Bolldex® (Nucleopolyhedrovirus), and Delfin® (Bacillus thuringiensis)—were evaluated and compared with the pyrethroid Karate® (lambda-cyhalothrin) and an untreated control against H. armigera. Field trials were conducted at the Agriculture Research Council, Rustenburg, in the North West Province of South Africa during the 2017 and 2018 cotton seasons. The results revealed that in plots sprayed with Karate® and Bolldex®, the numbers of H. armigera were significantly reduced compared to the untreated controls. Plots treated with Bolldex® ha...
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is traditionally cultivated under drought-affected and low-input agr... more Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is traditionally cultivated under drought-affected and low-input agro-ecologies in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Wheat productivity in these agro-systems is considerably low (<2.4 t/ha) due to climate change-induced drought and heat stress, a lack of modern production technologies, including climate-smart varieties, and an array of biotic and abiotic factors. The objective of this study was to determine the potential of wheat production in drought-prone agro-ecologies and to assess farmers’ practices and sustainable coping mechanisms and the role of improved cultivars in Ethiopia. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) study was conducted involving 170 randomly selected wheat farmers in the drier areas of Arsi Zone of the Oromia Regional State. Results showed that wheat and tef (Eragrostis tef Zucc.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were the most widely grown cereal crops in the study areas as the primary food source and cash income. Yield los...
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is traditionally cultivated under drought-affected and low-input agr... more Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is traditionally cultivated under drought-affected and low-input agro-ecologies in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Wheat productivity in these agro-systems is considerably low (<2.4 t/ha) due to climate change-induced drought and heat stress, a lack of modern production technologies, including climate-smart varieties, and an array of biotic and abiotic factors. The objective of this study was to determine the potential of wheat production in drought-prone agro-ecologies and to assess farmers’ practices and sustainable coping mechanisms and the role of improved cultivars in Ethiopia. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) study was conducted involving 170 randomly selected wheat farmers in the drier areas of Arsi Zone of the Oromia Regional State. Results showed that wheat and tef (Eragrostis tef Zucc.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were the most widely grown cereal crops in the study areas as the primary food source and cash income. Yield los...
Drought stress is one of the major abiotic constraints affecting production and productivity of t... more Drought stress is one of the major abiotic constraints affecting production and productivity of tef (<i>Eragrostis tef</i>). Genetic resources and selection methodologies are among the prerequisites to improve the efficiency of breeding for drought tolerance. The objectives of this study were to determine the principal selection indices and to identify promising genetic resources of tef for drought tolerance breeding. A total of 144 tef genotypes were evaluated using a simple lattice design with two replications. Genotypes showed highly significant (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.01) differences for 10 drought tolerance indices. Principal component and correlation analyses revealed mean productivity, harmonic mean, geometric mean productivity and stress tolerance index as the principal indices highly correlated with grain yield in the stressed and non-stressed environments, indicating their suitability for identifying superior tef genotypes. Genotypes 215678 (g25) and Dschange...
Drought stress is one of the major abiotic constraints affecting production and productivity of t... more Drought stress is one of the major abiotic constraints affecting production and productivity of tef (<i>Eragrostis tef</i>). Genetic resources and selection methodologies are among the prerequisites to improve the efficiency of breeding for drought tolerance. The objectives of this study were to determine the principal selection indices and to identify promising genetic resources of tef for drought tolerance breeding. A total of 144 tef genotypes were evaluated using a simple lattice design with two replications. Genotypes showed highly significant (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.01) differences for 10 drought tolerance indices. Principal component and correlation analyses revealed mean productivity, harmonic mean, geometric mean productivity and stress tolerance index as the principal indices highly correlated with grain yield in the stressed and non-stressed environments, indicating their suitability for identifying superior tef genotypes. Genotypes 215678 (g25) and Dschange...
Farmers ' perceptions and management of maize ear rots and their implications for breeding f... more Farmers ' perceptions and management of maize ear rots and their implications for breeding for resistance
Farmers ' perceptions and management of maize ear rots and their implications for breeding f... more Farmers ' perceptions and management of maize ear rots and their implications for breeding for resistance
The European Journal of Development Research, 2021
The significant role of agriculture in the transformation of emerging economies has been well fou... more The significant role of agriculture in the transformation of emerging economies has been well founded in the literature. This has contributed to the implementation of a number of intervention programs aimed at improving agricultural productivity and, subsequently, household welfare. However, the magnitude of the impact of adoption of any innovation, such as improved sweetpotato varieties developed for both as human food and livestock feed and hence called dual-purpose sweetpotato (DPS) varieties, is of critical concern. This paper estimates the potential impact of DPS varieties on productivity and household welfare (proxy by consumption expenditure per capita) using an endogenous regime-switching regression that corrects both observed and hidden endogeneities. Consistent with findings in many pieces of the literature, our study shows that adoption of DPS leads to significant productivity and welfare gains, and that farmers who did not adopt would have been better-off have they adopted. In addition, DPS adoption has heterogeneous effects among the adopters’ group that varies with characteristics such as membership of farmer groups and household size. There is, therefore, a need to target specific groups among the farming households. The results of the study also indicate that development practitioners should support the production and promotion of agricultural technologies to boost productivity and improve welfare, especially among rural households. Le rôle important de l'agriculture dans la transformation des économies émergentes est bien développé dans les publications existantes. Cela a contribué à la mise en œuvre d'un certain nombre de programmes visant à améliorer la productivité agricole et, par la suite, le bien-être des ménages. Cependant, une préoccupation capitale est l'ampleur de l'impact provoqué par l'adoption d’une innovation, quelle qu’elle soit, telle que les variétés améliorées de patate douce mises au point à la fois pour l'alimentation humaine et animale - variétés que l’on appelle patate douce à double usage. Cet article évalue l'impact potentiel de ces variétés sur la productivité et le bien-être des ménages (avec, comme indicateur indirect, les dépenses de consommation par habitant) à l'aide d'une régression à changement de régimes endogènes, qui corrige le problème d’endogénéité, qu’il soit observable ou non. Conformément aux résultats présentés dans de nombreuses publications, notre étude montre que l'adoption de la patate douce à double usage mène à des gains significatifs en terme de productivité et de bien-être, et que les agriculteurs qui ne l'ont pas adoptée auraient été mieux lotis s'ils l'avaient fait. En outre, l’utilisation de la patate douce à double usage a des effets hétérogènes chez ceux qui l’ont adoptée, qui varient selon des caractéristiques telles que l’appartenance à des groupes d’agriculteurs et la taille du ménage. Parmi les ménages qui vivent de l’agriculture, il est donc nécessaire de cibler des groupes spécifiques. Les résultats de l'étude indiquent également que les praticiens du développement devraient soutenir la production et la promotion de technologies agricoles pour stimuler la productivité et améliorer le bien-être, en particulier chez les ménages vivant en milieu rural.
The European Journal of Development Research, 2021
The significant role of agriculture in the transformation of emerging economies has been well fou... more The significant role of agriculture in the transformation of emerging economies has been well founded in the literature. This has contributed to the implementation of a number of intervention programs aimed at improving agricultural productivity and, subsequently, household welfare. However, the magnitude of the impact of adoption of any innovation, such as improved sweetpotato varieties developed for both as human food and livestock feed and hence called dual-purpose sweetpotato (DPS) varieties, is of critical concern. This paper estimates the potential impact of DPS varieties on productivity and household welfare (proxy by consumption expenditure per capita) using an endogenous regime-switching regression that corrects both observed and hidden endogeneities. Consistent with findings in many pieces of the literature, our study shows that adoption of DPS leads to significant productivity and welfare gains, and that farmers who did not adopt would have been better-off have they adopted. In addition, DPS adoption has heterogeneous effects among the adopters’ group that varies with characteristics such as membership of farmer groups and household size. There is, therefore, a need to target specific groups among the farming households. The results of the study also indicate that development practitioners should support the production and promotion of agricultural technologies to boost productivity and improve welfare, especially among rural households. Le rôle important de l'agriculture dans la transformation des économies émergentes est bien développé dans les publications existantes. Cela a contribué à la mise en œuvre d'un certain nombre de programmes visant à améliorer la productivité agricole et, par la suite, le bien-être des ménages. Cependant, une préoccupation capitale est l'ampleur de l'impact provoqué par l'adoption d’une innovation, quelle qu’elle soit, telle que les variétés améliorées de patate douce mises au point à la fois pour l'alimentation humaine et animale - variétés que l’on appelle patate douce à double usage. Cet article évalue l'impact potentiel de ces variétés sur la productivité et le bien-être des ménages (avec, comme indicateur indirect, les dépenses de consommation par habitant) à l'aide d'une régression à changement de régimes endogènes, qui corrige le problème d’endogénéité, qu’il soit observable ou non. Conformément aux résultats présentés dans de nombreuses publications, notre étude montre que l'adoption de la patate douce à double usage mène à des gains significatifs en terme de productivité et de bien-être, et que les agriculteurs qui ne l'ont pas adoptée auraient été mieux lotis s'ils l'avaient fait. En outre, l’utilisation de la patate douce à double usage a des effets hétérogènes chez ceux qui l’ont adoptée, qui varient selon des caractéristiques telles que l’appartenance à des groupes d’agriculteurs et la taille du ménage. Parmi les ménages qui vivent de l’agriculture, il est donc nécessaire de cibler des groupes spécifiques. Les résultats de l'étude indiquent également que les praticiens du développement devraient soutenir la production et la promotion de technologies agricoles pour stimuler la productivité et améliorer le bien-être, en particulier chez les ménages vivant en milieu rural.
Abstract Cotton is a major fibre crop grown in South Africa; and is subjected to pest attacks, wh... more Abstract Cotton is a major fibre crop grown in South Africa; and is subjected to pest attacks, which reduce its yield and profitability for farmers. Field trials were conducted in 2017 and 2018 to evaluate three biopesticides, namely, Eco-Bb®, Bb endophyte, and Metarhizium rileyi in comparison with the insecticides Chlorpyrifos® 480 EC, Karate® EC, and Bandit® 350 SC. The objective was to determine their efficacy against sucking pests, leafhoppers Jacobiella facialis, aphids Aphis gossypii, thrips Thrips tabaci, whiteflies Bemisia tabaci, red spider mite Tetranychus urticae, and cotton stainers Dysdercus spp. Karate® significantly reduced the leafhopper population and outperformed all the other treatments. Eco-Bb® and Bb endophyte did not control the aphids in 2017. However, in 2018 the best aphid control resulted from the biopesticides used. In 2017 plots treated with Eco-Bb® had the lowest number of thrips, while in 2018 plots treated with Bandit® had the least thrips, followed by treatments with M. rileyi and Karate®. There were no significant differences in the populations of whiteflies, however, insecticides were more effective than the biopesticides. All the treatments, except for Bandit®, significantly reduced the number of spider mites compared in 2017. Applications of Eco-Bb® and Bb endophyte significantly reduced spider mites in 2017, while in 2018 plots treated with Karate®, followed by M. rileyi, resulted in the lowest number of spider mites. Application of Bb endophyte, Chlorpyrifos®, and Karate® resulted in the lowest number of cotton stainers. The highest mean cottonseed yields of 6 395 kg ha-1, 6 295 kg ha-1, and 6 141 kg ha-1 were recorded in plots sprayed with Bandit®, Bb endophyte, and Eco-Bb®, respectively. Biopesticides and chemical insecticides can be combined or alternated for future IPM programmes to control cotton pests.
Combining ability effects for grain yield, yield-related traits and resistance to maize streak vi... more Combining ability effects for grain yield, yield-related traits and resistance to maize streak virus (MSV) were determined using 10 parents, 45 single crosses and five standard hybrid checks. Genotypes were evaluated at three locations (Ngaramtoni, Inyala, and Igomelo) over two seasons (2012/13 and 2013/14) using a 6 x 10 simple lattice design with two replications. Data were collected for days-to-50% silking (DSL), days-to-50% anthesis (DA), reaction to MSV disease, plant height (PHT), ear height (EHT), number of ears per plant (EPT), husk cover of cobs (HSC) and grain yield (YLD). General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were significant (P < 0.05) for all traits except DA and DSL. Parental line TL2012-42 was the best general combiner for YLD, while the parents TL2012-41, TL2012-1 and TL2012-42 were the best combiners for maize streak virus resistance, with negative GCA effects of -10.9%, -10.8% and -10.7%, respectively. The highest SCA effec...
Despite Rwanda's impressive economic success over the last decade, household food insecurity ... more Despite Rwanda's impressive economic success over the last decade, household food insecurity persists, particularly in rural areas. Empirical evidence is therefore deemed necessary to inform policies addressing food insecurity, hunger and poverty in general. This study examines household food security and its determinants in the rural areas of Southern and Northern provinces of Rwanda. Using cross-sectional data collected from 534 farming households, we estimated household food security status by Food Consumption Score (FCS) and Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and applied ordered Probit model to identify drivers of household food security. The results indicate that a significant proportion (74.4%) of households had an acceptable FCS, but 36.52% of the farming households experienced moderate and severe food insecurity when assessed with FIES. Ownership of livestock was identified as a key determinant of food security using both metrics, which affirms the importance of combating hunger and food insecurity in Rwanda through their 'one cow per household policy' and recommends that this policy be strengthened.
Once harvested, fruit continue to respire, which is further exacerbated by elevated temperatures ... more Once harvested, fruit continue to respire, which is further exacerbated by elevated temperatures in the field and during transport to packhouses. This favors the proliferation of pathogens, which is detrimental to the postharvest fruit quality and, consequently, results in a decrease in the fruit shelf life. The aim of this review is to highlight the common citrus postharvest disorders and the various pre-packaging treatments that can be used to alleviate such disorders and promote fruit quality. Hot water, surface coatings, ultra-violet irradiation, chlorine (hypochlorous), salt treatments and microbial antagonists have been beneficial in maintaining the citrus quality and reducing the prevalence of postharvest decay. Environmentally friendly anolyte water has also proven to be a favourable postharvest treatment. Integrated treatments, such as hot water treatments and chlorine disinfection, have been successfully used in the global citrus industry. The use of integrated pre-packaging treatments improved the quality and shelf life of citrus, compared to individual treatments. An effective combination of pre-packaging treatments should include: (1) disinfectant; (2) curative and (3) preventive treatments to control pre- and postharvest pathogens.
Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is an effective, low-priced, and sustainable source of β-carote... more Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is an effective, low-priced, and sustainable source of β-carotene (provitamin A). However, most OFSP varieties have low storage root dry matter content (DMC), which influences their acceptance by small-scale farmers and hence needs to be improved. The objective of the study was to determine the combining ability, type of gene action, heterosis and heritability of storage root DMC, β-carotene content, and yield-related traits of selected sweetpotato clones for further evaluation and breeding. Crosses were conducted using a 7 × 7 half-diallel mating design and a total of 28 genotypes (seven parents and 21 crosses) were evaluated at four locations in Ethiopia using a 7 × 4 alpha lattice design with two replications. The performance of the genotypes was significantly different (P < 0.01) across the four locations for storage root DMC, β-carotene content, sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) reaction, storage root yield, and harvest index (HI). The genera...
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Papers by Mark Laing