| 1 |
Author(s):
Anya Adebayo Anya, Akinwale Victor Ishola, Kelechi Adura Anya, Eke Kehinde Anya.
Page No : 1-9
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Smart Agriculture, Food Security, and Rural Vulnerability: A Comparative Analysis of the United Kingdom and Africa.
Abstract
Food insecurity and rural vulnerability is a significant issue in high-income and developing environments particularly when they are exposed to climatic change and economic insecurity. The adoption of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, precision farming, and data analytics has become a part of smart farming, which is expected to improve the productivity and sustainability of agriculture. To investigate how institutional capacity, infrastructure and socio-economic factors contribute to the adoption and performance of smart agriculture, the paper conducts a comparative analysis of the United Kingdom and Africa. The review indicates that the United Kingdom has favorable policy, funding, and internet infrastructure, which can allow the country to adopt agri-technologies efficiently. Put differently, African countries are characterized with structural constraints, including funding, inadequate infrastructure, digital illiteracy, and access to data which usually impede adoption, particularly among smallholder farmers. The paper argues that, technological innovation is not the only way to address food insecurity. On the contrary, the governance framework, equal accessibility, and context-specificity determine the effectiveness of smart agriculture. It concludes that the inclusive policy design and equal partnership between the UK and Africa will be instrumental in enabling smart farming to contribute positively to food security and rural resilience.
| 2 |
Author(s):
Isirima P., Ifeanyi-Amos E., Obe-Nwaka M. O..
Page No : 10-20
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Utilization of Modern Research Tools among Postgraduate Students in the Faculty of Agriculture, Universities in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Abstract
The study analyzed the utilization of modern research tools among post graduate students in the Faculty of Agriculture, Universities in Rivers State. Data were collected through the use of a questionnaire. A total of one hundred and eleven (111) respondents (83 from RSU and 28 from UNIPORT) were used. Data were analyzed with the use of frequency, percentage, mean scores and logistic regression. Findings showed that majority (59%) in RSU were male while 53.6% in UNIPORT were female. Based on Department, most (20.5%) in RSU were of the Department of crop/soil science while 39.3% in UNIPORT were of anima science. Result on the types of modern research tools available shows that majority (100%) in RSU and UNIPORT indicated that Google was readily available to them. Result on utilization shows that RSU post graduate students utilized SPPS more while UNIPORT post graduate students utilized google more. Result on challenges to the utilization of modern research tools shows that high cost of internet subscription was a major challenge for post graduate students of RSU and UNIPORT. Result of hypothesis 1 showed that only income as a socio-economic characteristics influenced the use of modern research tools. The study recommends that the Universities should provide internet facilities for post graduate students to help mitigate the challenge faced in utilization of modern research tools.
| 3 |
Author(s):
Jumanne Ally Setonga.
Page No : 21-47
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Estimating the Effect of Technological, Institutional and Inputs Cost Drivers on Maize (Zea Mays) Productivity in Songea District, Tanzania: An Endogeneity Controlled Analysis.
Abstract
Maize is a staple crop in the region, and its productivity plays a vital role in ensuring food security and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Despite the potential for high yields, smallholder farmers face challenges in optimizing production due to factors such as limited access to modern farming technologies, insufficient institutional support, and high input costs. This study explores the effect of technological factors, institutional factors and production costs on maize productivity among smallholder farmers in Songea District, Tanzania. The study uses a cross-sectional design collected data from 397 smallholder maize farmers. To address potential endogeneity arising from key variables such as credit access, land size, and fertilizer use, the analysis employs an instrumental variable Two-Stage Least Squares (IV-2SLS) estimation. The IV regression results reveal that both technological and institutional factors play a significant role in improving maize productivity. In the second-stage estimates, land size (p < 0.05) and credit access (p < 0.01) significantly increase productivity, indicating that scale effects and financial access enable farmers to allocate inputs more efficiently. Technological variables including improved seed adoption (p < 0.01), inorganic fertilizer use (p < 0.01), integrated pest management (p < 0.01), and tractor use (p < 0.01) also have strong positive effects on maize output per worker. Institutional factors further contribute to productivity gains. Market access (p < 0.01) and training attendance (p < 0.01) significantly improve output; suggesting that improved information flows and market integration enhance production efficiency. Household labor (p < 0.01), household size (p < 0.01), income (p < 0.01), and favorable rainfall conditions (p < 0.01) also positively influence maize productivity. In contrast, higher fertilizer costs (p < 0.01), pesticide costs (p < 0.01), and seed costs (p < 0.01) significantly reduce productivity, indicating potential inefficiencies in input expenditure and diminishing marginal returns to cost increases. Elasticity estimates from the Cobb–Douglas IV model show that fertilizer use (0.499), land size (0.853), and labor (0.042) positively contribute to maize output. Hypothesis testing confirms diminishing marginal productivity of fertilizer and labor, while land size exhibits constant marginal productivity. The combined elasticity of core inputs suggests that maize production operates under constant returns to scale. Thus, strengthening access to agricultural inputs, credit services, extension programs, and market infrastructure can significantly improve maize productivity and contribute to food security and rural income growth in Tanzania.
| 4 |
Author(s):
Abugh Samson Hough, Nasebem Remigius Dondo, Selumun Solomon Ipav, Cephas Tersoo Msugh.
Page No : 48-60
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Investigation of Anti-Browning Activity and Antimicrobial Action of Tridax Procumbens Leaf.
Abstract
Browning of Yams due to Oxidative and Microbial action poses a major problem to food quality, shelf-life and economic value. The present study investigated the inhibitory effect of ethanolic and n-hexane extracts of Tridax procumbens on Oxidative browning in Yams.The plant material was extracted by soxhlet extraction and the concentrate was used to determine anti-browning activity compared with other standards such as Citric, Ascorbic, Hot water, Cold water using spectrophotometeric measurement. Antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH, FRAP and TPC, the Antimicrobial activity was carried out using disk diffusion method and the Phytochemical Screening was determine by GC-MS methods. The results of Anti-browning activities of the samples (A and B) showed high absorbance of 1.64±1.47c and 1.69±1.54c. The Antimicrobial activity of samples (A and B) revealed a high Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) of 19±2, 15±1 and 17±2 for E. Coli, S.aureus and B. subtilis microorganisms respectively. These results revealed that Tridax procumbens extracts have anti-browning and antimicrobial activities which could be traceable to the presence of Naphthalene, 2,6-dimethyl and 1-Tridecene which have antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. These findings highlights its potential application in food processing and preservation.
| 5 |
Author(s):
Fernand A. Sotondji, Kristina Karlsson Green, Sylvie Sénadé Hounzinme, Daniel C. Chougourou.
Page No : 61-83
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Comparative Effects of Different Maize Cropping Systems on the Management of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in Smallholder Farming Systems in Benin.
Abstract
The Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), commonly known as the fall armyworm (FAW), is a highly invasive pest that threatens diverse cropping systems worldwide, particularly maize-based systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Intensive reliance on synthetic insecticides has raised concerns regarding human health risks, environmental contamination, and disruption of natural enemies. This study evaluated whether maize intercropping with edible legumes, combined with botanical and biological treatments, could reduce FAW infestation and improve yield under field conditions in five municipalities of Benin during the 2025 rainy season. Nine treatments were tested: (i) maize monoculture with standard agronomic practices (control), (ii) maize–soybean treated with cashew balm, (iii) maize–groundnut treated with BotaniGard 22WP, (iv) maize–cowpea treated with Ricinus communis extract, (v) maize–mucuna treated with Thevetia neriifolia extract, (vi) maize–sorghum treated alternately with cashew balm and BotaniGard 22WP, (vii) maize monoculture treated with TopBio, (viii) maize monoculture treated with salt plus crushed charcoal, and (ix) the Push–Pull technique. Data collected included FAW infestation symptoms, severity scores, larval density, and maize yield.
Results indicated that several treatments significantly influenced infestation severity. The untreated control exhibited the strongest effect, increasing by more than fourfold the probability of belonging to a higher severity category (OR = 4.27; 95% CI: 3.25–5.61; p < 0.001). In contrast, the MSB (OR = 1.27; p = 0.092) and MSBB (OR = 0.84; p = 0.22) treatments showed no significant effect on severity. All tested treatments significantly reduced mean larval counts compared with the control plus agronomic practices (p < 0.05). The most pronounced reductions were observed with CS+A (IRR = 0.27), MSBB+A (IRR = 0.29), and MT+A (IRR = 0.37), corresponding to larval decreases exceeding 60%. Notably, MT+A significantly increased maize yield by 0.28 t ha⁻¹ (p = 0.018).
Overall, maize intercropping with edible legumes and the Push–Pull strategy significantly reduced FAW infestation compared with maize monoculture. These approaches represent promising, environmentally sustainable components of integrated FAW management in African smallholder systems.
