The Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) in Campania Region: the challenges facing the first implementation of experimental model

Purpose: In this context, the current study aims to carry out an implementation analysis of knowledge network in Campania region, Italy. This region has implemented, using Measure 1, Measure 2 and Measure 16 of Rural Development Plan 2014-2020, an experimental model of AKIS.Methodology: The methodology was based on a living-lab approach where involved actors have an active role as co-innovators.Findings: The results give hints to implement, in the last period of the Cap 2014-2020, others experimental AKIS based on the Rural Developments Plans.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The development of new agricultural practices and its spread to obtain more sustainable agriculture has become an important issue for researchers and policy makers. In particular, growing attention is paid to the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) expression used to describe the whole knowledge exchange system, the ways people and organisations interact within a country or a region. AKIS can include farming practice, businesses, authorities, research and can vary a lot, depending on the country or sector. However, the complexity of the AKIS implemented in Campania region requires particularly effective governance instruments and a continuous monitoring and evaluation processes to elicit innovation needs. Therefore, in the next CAP 2014-2020 measure related to advice (Art. 13 - COM (2018) 392 final) and ‘knowledge transfer and information actions’ (Art. 72 – COM (2018) 392 final) should be strategically integrated to implement modern and tailored advisory programmes based on different advisory work approaches to better meet the needs of all parties. This issue needs a testing time useful to better plan policy intervention for the next CAP.

Effect of Fertilizer Types and Rates on The Production of Moringa (Moringa Oleifera) In Ogbomoso

Purpose: An experiment was conducted to study the effect of fertilizer types and rates on the production of moringa in Ogbomoso on the Teaching and Research Farm of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, in 2012 and 2013 planting seasons.Methodology: The experimental design was randomized complete block design with 3 replicates. Nine treatments were used. The treatments were no fertilizer, 400 kg/ha NPK, 600 kg /ha NPK, 800 kg/ha NPK, 1000 kg/ha NPK, 2.5 t/ha tithonia compost, 5.0 t/ha tithonia compost, 7.5 t/ha tithonia compost and 10.0 t/ha tithonia compost. The land was prepared by ploughing and harrowing after the pre cropping soil sampling to determine the physical and chemical properties of the soil. Data collected were plant height, number of leave/plants, dry matter yield, fruit and seed yield components, biomass proximate and elemental compositions. The analyses of variance done were on the data collected and means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (P <0.05).Results: Vegetative growth of moringa was better enhanced by the application of 1000 kg/ha NPK, as it produced the tallest plant height and the greatest number of leaves/plants which is followed by the 10.0 t/ha tithonia compost. The fertilizer application had significant effect on the seed and fruit yield of moringa. 1000kg/ha of NPK gave the highest seed and fruit yield components such as fruit set, number of fruits per plant and 100 seed weight. The application of 10.0 t/ha tithonia compost had highest proximate and nutrient composition in moringa leaves production.Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: In conclusion, the application of 10.0 t/ha tithonia compost produce a comparable result as 1000 kg/ha NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer and may be used as alternate to NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer in the production of moringa. Hence 1000kg of NPK/ha or 10.0 tons tithonia compost/ha were recommended for moringa biomass and seed production in Ogbomoso

Occurrence and Distribution of Aflatoxin in Maize from Selected Counties, Eastern Region, Kenya

Purpose: The study aimed to assess the occurrence and distribution of aflatoxin contamination on dry maize in different types of stores in Meru, Embu, Isiolo, Makueni and Machakos Counties of Eastern region of Kenya.Methodology: Automatic spear sampler was used to collect maize samples from each bag at even intervals. 280 maize samples were collected from 29 stores in five Counties. 100 g of each maize sample was ground, resampled into 50g, blended, extracted, centrifuged, filtered and a quantified for Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2. Samples were prepared and extracted with methanol/water. The bulky of the samples were analyzed with enzyme-linked immunoassay test kits. Confirmation of positive samples was done with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with fluorescence detector. Data analysis was done with SPSS and Microsoft excel.Findings: Maize samples from Counties in eastern region of Kenya had significantly high levels of (93.10%) aflatoxin contamination. The mean values for aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 were: 50.08± 4.42, 17.26±1.08, 30.17±2.06 and 10.54± 1.52 (ng/g) in that order. Only nine samples had total aflatoxin within the accepted limit for human consumption of 15 ng/g. The highest total aflatoxin contamination recorded was 198.45ng/g in Makueni county and the lowest recorded was 8.76ng/g in Embu county. Makueni and Embu had mean values for aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 being (83.07±7.53, 22.15± 1.36, 49.38±3.11, 20.52± 0.70 ng/g) and (18.71 ±2.63, 8.07 ±0.64, 17.02 ±1.38, 8.86 ±1.62 ng/g). Makueni NCPB depot had the highest mean contamination with aflatoxin B1 of 92.67± 5.78 ng/g and Embu had the lowest with 6.26 ± 4.14 ng/g. All the county markets recorded high aflatoxin B1 contamination with exception of Embu county which had a mean of 4.0 ±0.84, Makueni (83.67± 10.42 ng/g), Isiolo (51.27± 32.29 ng/g), Meru (46.02± 23.88 ng/g) and Machakos (36.34± 26.27 ng/g). The stores had aflatoxin load varied from on store to the other and county to county.Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: The counties in the region had high occurrence and distribution of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 in maize in all stores where samples were picked. Location for maize stores should be in areas with low levels of carbon dioxide because mycotoxins are produced under aerobic conditions. The design for maize threshing machines should not course shocks, breakage and cracks on maize grains to decrease chances of mycotoxins infestation during their storage.

EVALUATION OF VEGETABLE VERMICOMPOST ON THE CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF TWO DIFFERENT SOILS

Vermicompst is a rich source of vitamins and growth hormones and contains most nutrients in plant available form. Ten adult earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae) were cultured for three (3) months and three (3) weeks in sack made from old window mosquito net. The resultant product at harvest – vermicompost made of mostly worm casts was used to incubate sandy and clay soils respectively at the ratio of 50g: 300g for two (2) months and replicated five (5) times. The results of the study shows that the produced vermicompost enriched the two types of soil with favourable pH level, high content of P, Ca, Mg and OM. Available P, pH level, Ca, Mg and OM were significantly (P < 0.05 ) increased and varied among the treatments. Exch. K and microbial biomass (MB) result showed higher value in clay while sand recorded higher value in N, Na and exchangeable acidity (EA). The findings of this study are of evidence that vermicompost improved the fertility of the soils by releasing mineral elements in the forms that are available for uptake of crops.

RESOURCE STRUGGLE, RESULTANT REALITIES AND THE FUTURE OF MARAGOLI LAND USE

Land has remained one of the most basic and valuable economic resource right from the pre-colonial to the post independent Kenyan society. The success or failure of every society is always pegged on how prudent the society manages the resources within its reach in the midst of changes, challenges and opportunities that time and space avails every single moment. Being part of the Kenyan society, the Maragoli community has never been left out of the land question that has troubled Kenya over time. The pre-colonial Maragoli society had a land tenure system which was characterized by communal control of land together with its resources and practiced individual land ownership. Though land was communally owned at the general level, it was individually owned and tilled at the family level. The basis of land administration was the customary law executed by the elders who had the overall powers over the production resource. Through colonial policies such as alienation of the Africans’ land, confiscation of livestock, introduction of taxes and the cash economy; all these mechanisms brought about disequilibrium in the Maragoli pre-colonial land use. With this in mind therefore, this paper examined the nature and realities in resource struggle and the future of such struggles especially in regard to land use in the post-independence Kenya, using the case of the Maragoli. Through the articulation theory, this paper demonstrates that the interaction between the pre-colonial Maragoli land use practices and the colonial land policies greatly impacted on the Maragoli socio-economic and political structures. Due to the cash crop economy, the traditional Maragoli communal attitudes towards land as a resource are fading out resulting into individual emphasis on land use. This individual emphasis on land use is the major cause of uneconomical subdivision of land, insecurity and increased poverty. It is from the above perspective that the paper analyses the post-independence Maragoli land situation, some of the key causes of uneconomical subdivision of land and the possible solutions.

REVIEW OF TWENTY YEARS OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES RESEARCH AT HENFAES SILVOPASTORAL NATIONAL NETWORK EXPERIMENT

Purpose: This study systematically reviewed and synthesised all the scientific literature that has so far been conducted on the ecosystem services of the UK’s Silvopastoral National Network Experiment, the Henfaes Silvopastoral Systems Experimental Farm of Bangor University, Wales, and other studies in temperate Europe from 1988 to 2012 to establish what has been done to date, the benefits and contributions to our knowledge base, and potential knowledge gaps and priorities for future research.Methodology: All available papers and grey literatures, since the inception of the UK’s Silvopastoral National Network Experiment in 1988, were extracted and reviewed primarily by accessing various electronic databases and existing library collections. The research papers were split into peer-reviewed (published) and non-peer-reviewed (unpublished) papers. The ecosystem services framework was used to relate the four major categories of ecosystem services (provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting) to the scientific domain of the research studies. The scientific domains addressed include timber or wood-fuel potential, pasture/livestock management, carbon sequestration, soil improvement, water management, and biodiversity enhancement.Findings: Results show that 66 research studies were conducted over the 20-year study period on ecosystem services of which 45% were produced based on studies at Henfaes Silvopastoral Systems Experimental Farm, 32% at UK’s Silvopastoral National Network Experiment, 12% were from other silvopastoral systems trials in the UK, and 11% were from European-wide silvopastoral systems studies. The trendline indicated that the number of annual studies on ecosystem services were greatest in the mid and late 1990s than in any other time over the 20-year study period. The studied ecosystem services dealt with provisioning services (40%), regulating services (13%), and supporting services (47%). The scientific domains addressed include timber or wood-fuel potential (20%), pasture/livestock management (20%), biodiversity (20%), carbon sequestration (13%), water management (15%), and soils (12%).Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: It is hoped that the results of this study will lead to better understanding of the economic and environmental implications of silvopastoral system, and hence generate more attention towards accelerating its adoption and institutionalization in national rural development policies.

Consumption and Acceptability Pattern of 21 Evaluated Maize Hybrids for Fresh Maize Production in South-Eastern Nigeria

Purpose: Green (fresh) maize (Zea mays L.) provides food security and income to farmers especially when other crops are still in the field. However, research on green maize variety is scarcely reported in literature or information on the consumption or acceptability pattern of the developed maize hybrids. Unattractive colour, bad taste, kernel size and hard kernels are among factors that affect the level of fresh maize acceptability and subsequent consumption of genotypes in the South eastern part of Nigeria, therefore, the purpose of this work is to study the variation in sensory characteristics of hybrids generated from crosses between seven maize genotypes of two local varieties (Oka Mbaise and Oka Bende-white) and five improved varieties (DTMA-4, DMR-ESRY (POOL 18-SR), PVA SYM 8 F2 (PRO VIT A), POOL 66/ACR-91 SUWAN – 1- SR (QPM), DTMA – W, from IITA) was evaluated at the Centre for Agricultural Research, Federal University of technology Owerri and the sensory evaluation was done at different hostels in Umuchima, Ihiagwa and Centre for Agricultural Research, FUTO.Methodology: The methodology used in the field to develop these hybrids was the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Questionnaires were used to achieve the following palatability qualities measured; colour, kernel hardness, appeal, size and taste. The numerical scoring from the questionnaires was analysed using Genstat discovery 10th Edition.Results: The result of this work revealed that there were significant differences among the hybrids for kernel size and appeal. The cross between DTMA-4 and all other genotypes had the highest grain size (2.17) and was the most preferred by the respondents. The crosses between POOL 66/ACR-91 SUWAN – 1- SR (QPM) and Oka Mbaise; POOL 66/ACR-91 SUWAN – 1- SR (QPM) and Oka Bende-white; DTMA – W and Oka Mbaise; DTMA – W and Oka Bende-white; Oka Mbaise and Oka Bende-white had the hardest grain (3.00) and were least preferred by the respondents. Correlation matrix of the sensory evaluation revealed that grain size, colour and appeal were positively correlated while hardness was negatively correlated with appeal.Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: In contribution to practice, the study recommends the cross OKA MBAISE X OKA BENDE-WHITE as it was highly preferred by the respondents.

BIOECONOMIC POTENTIAL FOR SILVOPASTORAL AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM IN NORTH WALES

Purpose: This study evaluated the bio-economic potentials of temperate lowland silvopastoral agroforestry systems in North Wales, United Kingdom.Methodology: The bioeconomic analysis compared three land-use plausible scenarios (‘forestry’, ‘pasture / livestock’ and ‘agroforestry’) at 3.5% discount rate on a 10-hectare farm over a 30-year rotation using discounted cash flow analysis and national costs and prices for both livestock and tree products based on 2016 baseline data. Base case net present value (NPV) and annual equivalent value (AEV) were calculated for each production livestock grazing, farm forestry, and silvopastoral agroforestry scenario, assuming no policy interventions.Findings: Generally, results of the economic analyses indicated that under the baseline case, assuming no policy interventions, none of the options was viable. This study also showed that increase in lamb sale price, wood price, and wood yield improved the economic viability of the three investment options significantly. Again, the viability of the three investment options in this study is shown to decrease with increase in discount rates. Furthermore, this study disclosed that the application of prevailing government grant/subsidy schemes significantly improved the economic viability of the three investment options as livestock, forestry and agroforestry options showed positive NPV and AEV values at the baseline assumptions and are therefore adjudged economically viable as they all met the decision rule criteria for investment acceptance. Forestry was the most viable option with the highest NPV and AEV, followed by pasture/livestock and agroforestry options.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: This study underscored the imperative need for policy makers to improve awareness of the benefits of grant incomes and address farmers’ concerns about the economic viability of livestock, forestry and agroforestry investments. The results of this research will help promote greater awareness of the economic value of trees in extensively grazed landscapes in the United Kingdom as well as provide a basis for future comparisons and analysis of farm programs and ecosystem service markets.

Rainfall is not the most limiting factor to maize (Zea mays L.) production in intermediate rainfall regions of Zambia. Lessons from Choma District

Purpose: This study was based on the following objectives; (1) to investigate the sufficiency of rainfall received in Choma by assessing the differences in the precipitation received (PPT) against the potential evapotranspiration (PET) and actual evapotranspiration (ETa) for maize, and (2) to estimate potential for maize production in Choma under the current rainfall and temperature conditions.Methodology: The Soil Water Balance (SWB) crop growth model was used to analyze the rainfall-temperature interactions and estimate the maize stress index (SI) for analyses of crop water stress and potential yields (Yp). The relationships involving precipitation, potential and actual evapotranspiration were performed using time series auto regression and Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD).Findings: Choma was not in a state of water deficit as maize water requirements were lower than precipitation. Maize water stress was destructive when it occurred in the mid than late stages of maize development. Mean precipitation (799.29mm) was higher than mean actual evapotranspiration (719.23 mm), though the difference was insignificant (F = 1.281; p = 0.126). However, potential evapotranspiration for maize in the area was significantly higher than the actual evapotranspiration (mean = 719.23) (F = 5.621; p = 0.012). Less destructive moderately dry periods seldom occurred during the sensitive initial and mid periods of maize development.Results: Farmers in Choma can potentially increase their rain-fed maize yields from the current 1.89 t/ha/year to 4.9 t/ha/year by managing limiting factors to maize production such as reduced access to fertilizer, declining of soil nutrients, late delivery of inputs, lack of markets, pests and lack of proper nutrient management. The study also showed that management rather than climatic conditions is responsible for the low yields in Choma area. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study established a methodology for simulating potential yields of farmers given existing climatic and soil conditions. Policy should concentrate on improving crop management rather than the current concentration on mitigating impacts of climate change as these are not the factors responsible for observed reduced crop yields.

SMALLHOLDER FARMER’S LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AS A RESPONSE TO CHANGED CLIMATIC PATTERNS IN CHONGWE DISTRICT, ZAMBIA.

Purpose: Climate change affects local and global rainfall patterns and hence has a counter effect on smallholder agriculture. Impacts of climate change on agriculture are largely due to rainfall variability resulting in reduced yields due to crop-water stress and emergency of pathogens and diseases. In Zambia, climate change has been manifested through increased intensity of droughts and floods. These rainfall anomalies adversely affect agriculture and food systems. In order to survive the impacts of climate change and variability, smallholder farmers in Chongwe have adopted their livelihoods and farming systems to the new climatic patterns.Methodology: This study assessed how smallholder farmers in Chongwe District have adopted their livelihoods as a response to changed climatic conditions. It also investigated the perceptions of smallholder farmers as regards changes in aspects of their climatic conditions. Data collection involved a critical review of literature related to climate change and agriculture, observations, semi- structured interviews with 60 smallholder farmers and eight key informants. The data were analysed using multiple analysis techniques which included the descriptive statistics, One-way analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and the post-hoc Least Square Difference for pairwise comparisons of incomes from different livelihoods engaged in by smallholder farmers .The gendered comparisons of livelihood engagement was done using the chi-square test of association.Findings: The results showed that all farmers perceived occurrence of changes in climatic conditions in the light of changed rainfall patterns in that there has been uncertainty in onset of rains, short rainy season, more intermittent rainfall and increased frequency of intra-seasonal droughts. These changes have led to farmers to adopt such farming techniques as potholing in preference to oxen and tractor ploughing when farming is done on smaller pieces of land. There was a significant difference in the mean annual incomes generated from on-farm livelihoods (ZMW 3677.59; n=58) and off-farm livelihoods (ZMW 6840.91; n = 58) (p= 0.001). Farmers generated the highest income returns by engaging in casual work (ZMW 10307.69; n = 13) compared to every other livelihoods common in the area such as gardening (p=0.002), petty trade (p=0.002) and on-farm livelihoods (p=0.001).Contribution to policy, theory and practice: It was therefore concluded that diversification of income through diversified livelihoods would help smallholder farmers enhance their resilience in the face of changed climatic conditions. On-farm livelihoods should not always be the main income source for farmers as results indicated that farmers engaged in casual work generated higher incomes than those who depended on farming. It was recommended that policy direction should be towards introduction of a gender responsive credit facility that can help improve women’s engagement in off-farm income generating livelihoods, as well as encourage climate change resilience.