EFFICACY OF COMMERCIAL INSECTICIDE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF COWPEA POD BORER (MARUCA VITRATA) ON COWPEA (VIGNA UNGUICULATA (L.) WALP) UNDER FIELD CONDITION IN CHITWAN, NEPAL

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of commercially available insecticides for management of cowpea pod borer to know about the effective and safe chemical insecticide to manage the cow pea pod borer. A total of five treatments; (i. Neemix (2ml/L), ii. Flubendamide 48% SC (2ml/L), iii. Spinosad 45% SC (3ml/L), iv. Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC(2ml/L) and v. control) were tested using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications for each treatment. The results showed that the Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC was most effective to reduce cowpea pod borer larva followed by Flubendamide 48% SC and Spinosad 45% SC. The damage of pod by cowpea pod borer was recorded the highest control plot (20.53%) whereas lowest fruit damage was recorded Chlorantraniliprole (5.18%) followed by Flubendamide (5.44%). Among the treatments, the highest yield was obtained with Chlorantraniliprole (11.22mt/ha) followed by Flubendamide (9.21mt/ha) and Spinosad (8.27/ha). Whereas the lowest yield was obtained with control plot (6.59mt/ha) followed by Neemix (7.09mt/ha) treated plots. The benefit-cost (B:C) ratio for all the treatments revealed that chlorantraniliprole @ 0.2ml/L was highly economical with a B:C of 1:62.14 followed by spinosad with 1: 21.91. The chlorantraniliprole resulted the lowest larval count, lowest fruit damage, highest yield and highest marginal B: C thus could be the best insecticide to manage cowpea pod borer.

PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF APPLE IN APPLE SUB-SECTOR DOLPA, NEPAL

Dolpa is the largest district and one of the major apple-producing districts of Nepal. It had seemingly an increasing trend of production and productivity of apple despite having low productivity than the national average. A study was carried out to study the production and marketing status of the district. Preliminary studies were done and a household survey was carried out among 125 apple-growing farmers from different wards of Tripurasundari and Thulibheri Municipality. 10 commercial farmers in Juphal along with five wholesalers and retailers each based in Nepalgunj were also interviewed to observe the marketing status of apple. 16.59 % of the income was generated through apple production behind government jobs and other agricultural activities. Apple farming was found profitable with BC ratio of 1.39. Training, technical assistance, experience, and landholding were found to have a positive influence on the apple-growing farmers. The overall productivity of apple in the area was 7.55 MT per ha, which was lower than the national average. Improper Post-harvest handling and storage facility had created a post-harvest loss of 14.33 %. Most of the produce was marketed within the district only due to lack of good roads. Lack of irrigation and insect pest attack were the major production problems whereas lack of storage and poor transportation as the major marketing problems. Increasing the frequency of extension works, technical assistance and good transport of the produce were needed to be focused.

BENEFIT-COST RATIO ANALYSIS OF PLEUROTUS MUSHROOM CULTIVATION USING DIFFERENT SUBSTRATES IN CAMPUS OF LIVE SCIENCES, DANG, NEPAL

In order to determine the benefit cost ratio analysis of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom cultivation using different substrates an experiment was conducted in the field of Campus of Live Sciences, Tulsipur, Dang. Different substrates such as straw, khar, banana leaves and tree leaves were used for mushroom cultivation. On 30th day, the mycelium completely colonized the different substrate and reached pinhead stage of mushroom. After one week of mycelium colonization first harvesting was done and yield of 755gm,130gm,211gm and 300gm were obtained on rice straw,banana leaves,tree leaves and khar respectively. Then,second harvesting was carried out on 44th day and yield of 475gm,100gm,0gm and 180gm were obtained on rice straw, banana leaves, tree leaves and khar respectively. Total yield of 1230gm, 230gm, 211gm and 480gm were found on straw, banana leaves, tree leaves and khar respectively. Cost of cultivation under different substrates was almost similar and by anlaysing benefit obtained from mushroom cultivation under different substrates, benefit cost ratio was analysed and found to be 2.47,0.46,0.42 and 0.96 under straw,banana leaves, tree leaves and khar respectively. From this research it is clarified that it is benefical to grow Pleurotus mushroom using rice straw substrate as the benefit cost ratio is higher when rice straw was used as substrate than in any other substrates.

INSTITUTIONS, PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF MAIZE IN ZIMBABWE. CASE OF MARONDERA DISTRICT OF MASHONALAND EAST PROVINCE A TWO STAGE MODEL

This study evaluated the influence of institutions on production and marketing efficiency of A1 maize resettled farmers in Marondera district. Data Envelopment Analysis was used to determine the efficiency scores of farmers while Tobit model was used to determine institutional factors influencing technical efficiency for both production and marketing. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 343 farmers from Marondera District. Results showed that, farmers are technically, allocatively and economically inefficient for both production and marketing stages. Farmers are performing better at production stage than at marketing technically while there is better allocative and economic efficiency at marketing stage. Formal maize markets are more efficient than informal markets. Results for determinants of technical efficiency at production stage showed that, cattle ownership, farming experience, access to credit and social capital significantly influence maize production efficiency while access to credit, access to market, distance to market and road condition influences marketing efficiency. It can be therefore, recommended to the government of Zimbabwe to improve the institutional environment and arrangement in terms of provision of better roads, access to credit, access to markets so as to improve both production and marketing efficiency. Farmers are also recommended to join or form famer organisations as this will assist in improving both production and marketing efficiency.

THE EFFECTS OF FOREIGN AID TOWARDS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION INTENTION AMONG FARMERS IN AFGOOYE DISTRICT, SOMALIA

The study examines the factors influencing farmers’ dependency on foreign foods aid towards agricultural production intention in Afgooye district, Somalia. Multi-stage cluster sampling using a stratified procedure to select the sample was used and 400 farmers were randomly chosen from four villages in Afgooye district. Factor analysis results result revealed climate change effect explain 36.090% variance, epidemics and health explain 11.552% variance, farming inputs explain 6.886% variance, and dependency syndrome explained 57.319% variance of the respondents’ intention to engage in crop production in the study area. The Regression analysis was conducted to determine the most significant factors. The results of the findings show that Epidemics and health concern has the highest Beta value of 0.659 (P<0.000), followed by farming inputs which are 0.152 (P<0.000), then dependency syndrome with Beta value 0.147 and P-value significant at P<0.000. However, climate change (B= -0.007, P<0.866) has a very low negative Beta value and therefore, has no significant influence on crop production intention of the respondents. Finally, the crop production intention among Somali farmers in the wake of food aids occurred because they were not ready to embrace the use of new crop production technology or envisage starting crop production using improved technology in the future.

ANALYSIS OF CARP VALUE CHAIN IN BARA DISTRICT, NEPAL

Carp is the major fish produced under polyculture in Nepal. A study was conducted to analyze the value chain of carp in the Bara district from January to April 2020. A total of 120 respondents; 60 each from Simraungadh and Pachrauta municipality on an equal basis was sampled by using the cluster sampling technique. 60 respondents include; 45 carp producers, 10 traders (local collector, district collector, local wholesaler, processor, retailer), and 5 consumers from Simraungadh and Pachrauta municipality were sampled randomly. Data were entered and coded in SPSS 25 and analyzed using STATA 12.1. The study revealed a benefit-cost ratio was 1.76. The maximum share was contributed by the cost of feed (70%) to the total variable cost and cost of pond construction (80%) to the total fixed cost. The unit cost of production of carp under polyculture was NRs. 201.5. The key actors involved in the chains were producer, wholesaler, collector, processor, retailer, and consumer. The price spread was higher in the regional market chain i.e. NRs 66.73 as compared to the local market (NRs 40.38). The producer’s share was higher in the local market chain (87.5%) as compared to the producer’s share in the regional market chain (81.73%). The study revealed that the value chain of carp was dominated by the trader. Consumers kept the freshness of the carp under major consideration while purchasing. The major problem faced by the trader was identified as the unavailability of plastic crates. Carp production is a profitable enterprise, yet producers were not realizing potential benefits due to the involvement of middlemen and their dominant role while determining the price. Thus, carp enterprise could be bolstered through government stringent rules and proper policy to determine the price and to customize the efficient marketing channel.

EFFECT OF DROUGHT STRESS AND MANAGEMENT IN WHEAT - A REVIEW

Wheat is a major cereal crop in the world. However, drought stress causes a severe loss in the productivity of wheat in different growing regions worldwide. Water deficit at the critical stage of the wheat growth causes a significant loss in yield of wheat. Drought stress affects every aspect of wheat growth from germination to maturity. Drought stress hampers different metabolic processes in the plant. It reduces chlorophyll content and photosynthesis in the leaf. It increases the production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which affects the various cellular mechanisms and also causes oxidative damage to RNA and DNA. Production of appropriate wheat genotype along with the adjustment of agronomic practices like efficient use of irrigation water, changing the sowing time and seed priming helps to minimize the effect of drought. Here in this review various effects of drought stress in wheat and its management options are discussed in brief.

PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS OF BENISEED (SESAME) PRODUCTION IN LAFIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The research was designed to examine the profitability analysis of beniseed (Sesame) production in Lafia Local Government. Data collected was analysed using simple descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency count, percentage and gross margin analysis to satisfy all the objectives. From the data collected, it was deduced that majority of the respondents 94.2% that engaged in sesame production are male. Also, most of the respondents 37.5% are married men and women who participated in the production of beniseed in order to carter for their family needs. Most of the respondents have one form of education or the other but majorities of them 33.8% have primary education predominantly, people who engaged in the production of beniseed in the study area are the small-scale farmers. Most of the respondents have an average number of family 3 – 4 per household. Most of the respondents spend only few number of years 3 – 5 years in beniseed production, 66.67% of the respondents being small-scale farmers make use of their family as a source of labour. In terms of extension awareness, 70.8% of the respondents are aware of extension services while only few number 29.2% are not. In terms of access to credit facilities majority of the respondents 65.0% have no access to credit while only scanty number 35.0% have access to credit facilities majority of the respondents 46.7% have problem of inadequate fund as a source of capital.

CONSTRAINTS FACED BY THE KIWI FRUIT FARMERS IN ILAM MUNICIPALITY AND SANDAKPUR RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF ILAM DISTRICT

The survey research entitled “Constraints faced by Kiwi fruit farmers in Ilam Municipality and Sandakpur Rural Municipality of Ilam District” was conducted to access the problem faced by kiwi fruit farmers of Ilam district. For the study, 80 households were selected using simple random sampling method. 40 households each from Ilam Municipality and Sandakpur Rural Municipality were selected. The study shows that the production is in slightly increasing rate in both Ilam Municipality and Sandakpur Rural Municipality. In both Sandakpur and Ilam areas, 25 and 20 percent farmers are producing seedlings in their own nursery respectively and rest of seedlings requirement is met from other nursery. The major problem was wild animal Kala at Ilam and Sandakpur. Unavailability of quality saplings, lack of male and female plant management in field, lack of modified storage and lack of refrigerator van were major constraints of Ilam Municipality. Lack of cemented support system, lack of training and pruning knowledge, lack of modified storage and poor connectivity of road were major constraints of Sandakpur Rural Municipality. Overall constraints of Ilam was technical factors whereas of Sandakpur was disease and pest constraints. Despite of all these constraints, the B:C ratio was 2.67 and 2.53 in Ilam and Sandakpur respectively, which means that the kiwi cultivation is profitable.

PRODUCTION AND MARKETING CHANNEL OF POTATO IN JHAPA DISTRICT, NEPAL

Potato farming is being practiced in Nepal from the long time. The objective of this study was to assess the production status and marketing channel of potato including its production problems and cost of production in Jhapa district, Nepal. The study was carried out in Kachankawal Rural Municipality, Haldibari Rural Municipality, Bhadrapur Municipality and Birtamode Municipality of Jhapa district. Sampling was conducted among the total of 100 registered farmers by simple random sampling method among which 60 were chosen for gathering information on production status and price variation, 30 for cost of production and 10 local collectors for the study of marketing channel. The data were analyzed using SPSS, Stata and Microsoft excel. The result of study showed that the productivity of potato was found to be 19.12 mt/ha in the study area. The gross margin was NRs. 3410/- per ropani with B: C ratio of 1.29. The main problems faced by potato growers were low returns, limited availability of quality seeds, storage problem, poor extension services, disease and insect problem and, shortage and high labor charges. The farmers didn’t have problems in finding market to sell their potatoes as the local collectors collected the potatoes from the farm gate. The main markets for the potatoes were Birtamode, Siraha and Saptari. The most common marketing channel was from producer to local collector to wholesaler to retailer to ultimate consumer. Therefore, the findings suggest that, the production and income can be maximized if existing problems are minimized and resources are made available in time and used properly.