International Journal of Agricultural Science Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems
Volume:11 Issue: 4, Dec 2021

The reductions in quality and quantity of marketable mango fruits due to fruit fly infestation have impact on farmers through revenue losses. The study identified the common fruit flies on mango plantation; assessed the control measures of fruit flies infestation; among others. Interviewers administered questionnaire was used to elicit information from 200 mango farmers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The results revealed that majority of the respondents were males (55.5%), had non-formal education (47.5%), with mean age of 60 years, mean household size of 4 members and years of farming experience was 20 years. The study further revealed that marula fruit fly (92.5%) was ranked first. Hand picking (94.0%) was identified as the most prominent control measure. The respondents perceived fruit flies as causing premature dropping of fruits (62.0%) as the major effect of fruit flies on mango. The result further revealed that at p<0.05, age (r=0.267), household size (r=-0.297) and years of experience (r=-0.158) were significant to farmers’ perception on the effect of fruit flies infestation. The study concluded that fruit flies infestation affect mango farmers in several ways. The study therefore recommended that extension training in orchard management should be organized for the mango farmers.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate and present a model of competitiveness of agricultural products and rank the select cities and products based on the competitiveness advantages in Khuzestan. The study was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive correlation in terms of nature. Data was collected using a semi-structured interview whose reliability was confirmed using the test-retest method. Besides content validity, convergent validity and factor validity were used in the study, where the results confirmed the validity. The population was 15 managers and employees of agricultural departments and managements in Khuzestan selected using the purposive (judgmental) sampling method. The theme method was used to answer the question and analyze the collected results. According to the results, economic factors, cultural, infrastructure, institutional and political factors, rainfall and geographical factors of agriculture, threatening new the new competitors, bargaining power of suppliers, competition between current competitors, and bargaining power of buyers were identified as the aspects of the evaluation model of the competitiveness of agricultural products. The findings indicate that the most competitive cities in terms of the products are Dezful, Shoush, Andimesh, Ahwaz, Shoushtar, Behbahan, and Ramhormoz, respectively. One of the important advantages of the current study is the identification, omission, or replacement of plants with a lower competitive advantage.

This study identifies the determinants of students’ academic performance at the tertiary level of agricultural education in Bangladesh. Primary data were collected through interview survey with a pre-tested interview schedule over a period of three months from randomly selected 437 students of four agricultural universities of Bangladesh. Regression analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting students’ academic performance. Students are seemed to perform better provided they had a good result in the first semester at the university as the coefficient value of this variable is found statistically significant at one percent level. Their academic achievements are largely influenced by their motivation along with their active participation in different extra-curricular activities. Teaching and research facilities provided by the institutions influence academic achievement of the students positively as well. The study further reveals that pre-university results, family income, connectivity with family members, parents' occupation, and residence positively influence academic results. In contrast, the uncongenial environment of the residential hall and non-cooperation from supporting staffs make students apathetic in achieving better academic results, which is evident in the data with the statistically significant relationship at a one percent level having a negative effect on academic results. The findings emphasize on creation of enabling environment for the fresher, enhancement of need-based teaching and research facilities, and provision of extra-curricular activities to foster the academic performance of the students.

The study analysed women’s participation in processing cassava to gari in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Primary data were obtained from 120 respondents with the use of a well-structured interviw schedule in the study area. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The mean age of the reespondents was 48 years and had the mean household size of 5 persons. The mean processing experience, annual income and quantity of processed tubers were 15 years, ₦472,200.00 and 7 bags respectively. Women’s participation was high (3.1) in gari processing activities. Participation of women in cassava processing was significantly influenced by household size, annual income, processing experience and quantity of cassava roots processed. The major constraints to gari processing were inadequate storage facilities, poor transportation network, government policies on agricultural marketing, low capital, inadequate processing facilities, low returns from product sales and poor marketing channels. The study therefore, recommends that the government should encourage participation in packing activities by women gari processors to add value to processed products, ensure increased production of cassava roots by cassava producers, provide good transportation network, storage, credit and processing facilities, and formulate good agricultural marketing policies for these women for increased income and enhanced food security.

The current study was piloted to assess the status of utilization of agrochemicals in fish farming by the farmers in Trishal upazila (sub-district), Mymensingh District, Bangladesh. Data were collected for a period of five months during January to May 2019 through individual interviews from a sample of 80 fish farmers. Descriptive statistics: percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that most severe fish diseases in the study area are epizootic ulcerative syndrome in Pangus (Pangasianolan hypophthalmus), Thai koi (Anabas testudineus), Shing (Heteropneustes fossilis), and black spot in Sarpunti (Barbodes sarana). To eliminate diseases in fish farming, 21 agrochemicals were employed (2 water quality management chemicals, 3 disinfectants, 3 antibiotics, 4 growth promoters, 3 oxygen suppliers, 2 gas reducers, and 4 disease treatment chemicals). The Department of Fisheries (DOF) and other relevant organizations should take proper attempts to enhance fish farmers’ knowledge and capability in disease diagnosis and agrochemicals application for profitable fish farming.

Inter-generational farm transfer, a multifaceted process involving succession plan, retirement and inheritance has been recognized as the main and major approach to overcome the issues of ageing population and family farm sustainability. The study therefore focused on the perception of inter-generational farm transfer by cocoa farmers in South-west, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 331 cocoa farmers. The data was collected through interviewer administered questionnaire and analyzed using percentage, frequency distribution, means, charts and chi square. Results showed that majority of the respondents were male (77.0%), having farm size of 5 ha and below, the mean age of the respondents was 58 years while the mean household size was 6. The result showed that 77.0% of the respondents have not retired from active involvement on cocoa farm while 83.0% of the have not identified a successor. The result further shows that 85.0% of the respondents have high (positive) perception of inter-generational transfer. Moreover, only few of the respondents (5.4%) had a formal or written inter-generational farm transfer plan. The study concluded that majority of the cocoa farmers have not retired from the farm and had positive perception of inter-generational farm transfer. The study recommended that cocoa farmers should start planning for inter-generational farm transfer early by selecting and grooming selected individuals in their family. Moreover, relevant stakeholders should create more awareness and orientate cocoa farmers on the importance and need to identify and engage possible successors early in order to ensure family farm sustainability and food security.