Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International

After Backyard Poultry farming enterprise a monthly income of every member of group is increased up-to Rs. 10500/- per youth per month as in addition to income from agriculture and other sources. This income was calculated on the basis of their yearly income. The consumers are getting healthy and pure chicken and eggs to consume. The farmer getting higher rate of products because of reducing mediator and transportation cost. This sets a good example to attract and retain of youth in agriculture at village level. This also enables youth to production of fresh chicken, eggs and good quality of manures from poultry farm.

Post-harvest deterioration is a major problem of onions (Allium cepa) in Nigeria. The use of chemicals has been the main control measure. Chemicals are hazardous and environmentally unfriendly. There is therefore, a need for search for effective bio-pesticides as alternatives. A survey of fungal onions diseases was conducted in two markets in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Two hundred onions bulbs (100 from each market) were collected separately from the two markets. The collected bulbs were put into separate polythene bags before taken to the laboratory for macroscopic and microscopic examinations. Fungal isolates were obtained from naturally infected bulbs and their pathogenicity confirmed using Kochs’ postulate. In vivo and in vitro testing based on growth inhibition were also carried out to determine the efficacy of the aqueous plant extracts. Phytochemical analysis of alcohol extracts was conducted following standard procedures. Results of market surveys indicated disease incidences of 26% and 23% from Akpaden and Ukam markets, respectively. Three fungal species were isolated and identified as Botrytis allii, Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria porri. Pathogenicity tests confirmed these isolates to be common agents of onion bulb rot. In vitro testing of Chromolaena odorata and Mangiferia indica leaf extracts at 10, 20 and 30% concentrations showed inhibitory effects of both extracts with increasing concentrations on the pathogens. C. odorata extracts indicated significantly higher inhibition, compared to M. indica. In vivo tests of the extracts also showed a significant growth inhibition of the pathogens on onion bulb rot, compared to the control. Phytochemical screening of the extracts indicated the presence of tannins, saponins, polyphenols and flavonoids. The antifungal activities of these extracts and their availability makes them potential control agents of fungal onion rot. C. odorata and M. indica plant extracts should therefore, be further explored as alternatives bio-control agents or onions fungal rot.

This study investigated the adoption rate and factors influencing the adoption of cassava technologies among farmers under Nigeria Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). A total of 60 participating cassava farmers were randomly selected through a multi-stage sampling approach. Data were collected with the aid of a well structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Tobit regression model. The results showed that the mean age of participating farmers under the program were about 47 years. On the issues of gender of the farmers, 75% and 25% of the cassava farmers were male and female respectively. Farmers have adequate access to extension education with average visits of 15 times per annum. It was observed that several technologies on cassava had been disseminated and promoted among farmers under ATASP-1 project. Higher adoption rate was observed among the farmers which hold good promise for increased productivity. Only few technologies such as mechanization, conservation of stem, record keeping and yields assessment had low rate of adoption rate. It was equally discovered that the adoption of cassava technologies were influenced by socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers such as age, gender and education of the respondents. The study recommends a continuous training on the use and benefit of the technologies to facilitate farmers’ understanding of the importance of these technologies as well as techniques behind their utilization with a view to sustaining adoption and productivity. Also, there is need to encourage women to participate in the project as well as encourage them to take up farming as a business

Over the years enrolment of students in to forestry programme is always low and many of the students in forestry programme do not always choose the programme. This underpinned the need for a comprehensive knowledge about the reasons behind the low enrolment in Forestry and forestry-related disciplines, with a view to provide the needed data that will guide stakeholders in taking an informed decisions that will help in addressing the challenges that resulted in the shortage of manpower in the forestry and wildlife sector. Stratified random and purposive sampling techniques were used in the selection of secondary schools in Makurdi metropolis. A total of 195 students were selected for interview from six schools using Taro-yamane formula. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential analysis. The study shows that 61.5% were male and majority of the students (68.2%) were within the age bracket of 11-15 years with mean age of 14 years. The students strongly agreed that they were aware of forestry as a course of study in high institutions (MWS =3.99, >3.05) and the career opportunities in forestry (MWS =3.67, >3.05). The level of students’ awareness of forestry as a course differ significantly (H=16.85 P<0.05) with type of school the students attended. Also, there was a significant difference (H=18.46, P<0.05) between the students’ level of awareness of career opportunities and types of school attended. The students’ strongly agreed that they will not choose forestry as a course of study in the high institutions because it is not their family choice (MWS =3.52, <2.95). The study recommends that parents should allow their children to choose any course of their choice instead of parents determining career choice for their children so as to enable effective study of career choices. Also government should make forestry agencies active and strong so that forestry graduates will be sure of job opportunities after school. There is need for massive public enlightenment on the importance and career opportunities in forestry.

To contribute to the accurate assessment of carbon of agroforest species of Sudano-sahelian ecosystems, a study based on the establishment of mono-specific allometric equations were investigated in the arboreous parks of the Far-North Cameroon. A total of 20 individual trees of Faidherbia albida was harvested in savannah and distributed across a range of diameter classes, from 10 to 60 cm. The diameter at breast height of these individuals and their height were measured. After tree cutting, biomass of compartments of leave, branches and stem were determined after drying and weighing. Various allometric equations between biomasses and two parameters of the tree (the diameter and the height) were tested. The adjusted coefficient of determination (R²adj), the residual standard error (RSE) and the Akaike Information Criteria were used for choosing the best models. The main results reveal that there is a positive and significant relationship between the height of the trees and their diameter (R² = 0.75, n = 17 and P < 0.05). The best model for the biomass prediction of all compartments of F. albida is in the form ln(B) = a + b*ln(^D2H), with ln(B) = -1.42 + 0.58*ln(D²H) for leaf biomass, ln(B) = - 5.83 + 1.11*ln(D²H) for the branch, ln(B) = - 4.01 + 0.94*ln(^D2H) for the stem, and finally ln(B) = -2.83 + 0.91*ln(D²H) for the total biomass. Their adjusted coefficient of determination is 0.71, 0.90, 0.93 and 0.93 respectively. The branch biomass represents about 42.16% of the total aerial biomass and is the highest relative to the other compartments. Theses equations bring a contribution to a reliable and quick assessment of carbon stock of arboreous parks to F. albida in the framework of study on climate change mitigation in Sudano-sahelian zone in particular and in the World in general.