International Journal of Agricultural Research, Innovation and Technology

1-12

Authors: W. Turyahikayo, F.B. Matsiko, J.J. Okiror, B.B. Obaa and J.H. Hanf

Agricultural innovation platforms are increasingly seen as a panacea for mitigating the agricultural value chain challenges through enabling the co-evolution of different elements in the innovation process. A number of previous studies on IPs show processes for their formation and contribution to innovations. Very few studies have attempted to investigate the perceived benefits from platforms as important determinants for actor participation. Using a sample of 319 randomly selected farmers from one innovation platform in Uganda, it was established that the uncertain markets for the agricultural output, sources of inputs and agricultural information were perceived to be the key motivators for the formation of the platform. The study found a positive significant relationship between transaction cost challenges of environmental uncertainty and structural embeddedness (p<0.01) and frequency of interaction and structural embeddedness (p<0.05). On the other hand, environmental uncertainty, asset specificity and frequency of interactions were significantly correlated with relational embeddedness (p<0.05). However, the complexity of tasks in the value chain was not significantly correlated with structural and relational embeddedness (p≥0.05). It therefore means that to ensure effective participation and implementation of platform activities, efforts ought to be placed on fulfilling the platform’s promise as a forum for mitigation of transaction cost challenges such as inadequate markets for both output and inputs, customized products and inputs and lack of valuable agricultural information.

24-31

Authors: P. Chowdhury, M.Z. Hossain, N.A. Raushon and M.S. Rahman

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different amounts of organic fertilizers on growth and production of Tilapia (monosex GIFT tilapia) in monoculture system for a period of 120 days. The experiment was carried out in six earthen ponds, which were situated at the south-east corner of the Fisheries Faculty Building under the Department of Fisheries Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. The experiment was designed with three treatments and each of them consisted of two replications. Fish population density was 120 fish per decimal for all the treatments. Ponds were treated with organic fertilizers (cow dung) at the rate of 2 kg, 4 kg and 6 kg per decimal were supplied fortnightly for treatment-I, treatment-II and treatment-III, respectively. The ranges of water temperature, transparency, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, free CO2, phosphate-phosphorus and nitrate-nitrogen found were 15.82 to 24.49 ºC, 17.00 to 32.00 cm, 7.00 to 10.30 mg L-1, pH 7.20 to 7.90, 140.00 to 192.00 mg L-1, 2.00 to 6.00 mg L-1, 1.40 to 1.95 mg L-1 and 3.30 to 3.73 mg L-1, respectively. All the physical and chemical parameters except temperature were within the productive range and more or less similar among all the ponds under three treatments. 18 genera of phytoplankton under five major groups and 9 genera of zooplankton under three major groups were identified in the experimental ponds. Average survival rate of fish under treatment-I, treatment-II, and treatment-III were 94.50%, 94.00% and 95.00%, respectively. The calculated net fish production under treatment-I was 3.554 ton ha-1 yr-1 and that under treatment-II was 3.648 ton ha-1 yr-1 and under treatment-III was 2.919 ton ha-1 yr-1. The net fish productions under treatment-II and treatment-III were 102.64% and 82.13% comparing with treatment on which was taken for 100%. According to cost-benefit analysis, the ratios of net profit under treatments I, II, and III were 1:0.81, 1:0.54, and 1:0.04. According to specific growth rate, treatment-II was the best and survival rate of treatment-III was the best, and according to cost-benefit analysis, treatment-I (ratio 1:0.81) was the best. So, organic fertilizer at the rate of 2 kg per decimal (treatment-I) was considered the best among three treatments in this experiment.

42-46

Authors: J. Chirchir, G. Chemining’wa, F. Nzuve and R. Murori

Rice production has been inconsistent in Mwea irrigation scheme due to poor crop management practices and reduced soil fertility. Proper rice nutrition conserves the environment, increases sustained crop production, farmer’s crop yield and profits. A field experiment was conducted at MIAD Center, in Kirinyaga County, during 2016-17 and 2017-18 to determine the response of rice varieties to different N, P and K fertilizer treatments. The trial was conducted in randomized complete block design, with three replications of 13 N, P and K fertilizer regimes as the main plots treatments and varieties Basmati 370 and BW 196 as the sub-plot treatment. The N kg ha-1: P2O5 kg ha-1: K2O kg ha-1 fertilizer treatment ratios used were: 00:00:00, 60:40:40, 80:60:60, 100:80:80, 60:40:00, 80:60:00, 100:80:00, 60:00:40, 80:00:60, 100:00:80, 00:40:40, 00:60:60 and 00:80:80. Plant height, number of tillers hill-1, panicle length, and grain yield responded positively to fertilizer application, but 1000-grain weight did not. Variety BW 196 recording shorter plants and panicles, more tillers hill-1, higher grain weight and yield than variety Basmati 370. 00:40:40, 00:60:60, 00:80:80, 60:40:00 and the no-fertilizer control treatments recorded the least number of tillers hill-1. 60:40:40, 80:60:60, 100:80:80, fertilizer treatments had longer panicles than the no fertilizer control and 00:40:40. Except for 100:80:00 and 00:40:40, in the first season and 60:40:00, 80:60:00, 100:80:00 in the second season, all the fertilizer regimes increased grain yield relative to the control. The highest grain yield was realized in fertilizer regime 80:60:60, 100:80:80, 80:00:60 and 100:00:80. 80:00:60 is the recommended fertilizer regime.

54-60

Authors: M. Leta and B.B. Tegegn

Only 6 East African countries and 15 years (1996-2010) macroeconomic data was considered due limitation of data availability. Secondary data sources was used and necessary data were collected from the World Bank Development Indicator, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United State, and International Monetary fund base line data. Both descriptive and econometric models were employed. A Demand and Supply Linear Model was employed for the analysis. The selection test result confirmed that random effect to be an appropriate model for the analysis. Findings of the study revealed that the supply side of Agricultural Product Export were found to be statistically significant at P< 0.01 level, while the demand side Ln Growth Domestic Product of China variables was found to be statistically significant at P< 0.01.