International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences

Livelihood strategies create a difference on food security in addition to geographical location and wealth. This study was intended to assess food security outcome of livelihood strategies in Lare woreda of Gambella region, Ethiopia. A survey of 133 sample households and four key informant interviews were employed to gain the data of the study. Descriptive statistics, calorie consumption and Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) were methods of data analysis used. The analysis was done by SPSS 20 and DAD 46. The distribution of households with livelihood strategy categories showed that On-farm (10.5%), On-farm and Non-farm (15.8%), On-farm and Off-farm (12%) and On-farm, Non-farm and Off-farm (61.7%). The FGT index results showed 23.3% of food insecurity problem among households, a calorie gap of 2.66% (56.49 kcal/AE/day) from food security line and a severity of 0.6% among food insecure households. The food security outcome was achieved by all of the livelihood strategies on average and 76.69% of households. On-farm livelihood strategy dependent households scored the lowest kcal consumption of 2534.33 and 35.71% of them were found food insecure which is higher than the other livelihood categories. There is no statistically significant difference between kcal consumption and livelihood strategies. Thus, general food insecure households targeting is possible for food security building interventions. The creation and development of Off-farm and Non-farm beside On-farm livelihood strategies were recommended as a way for a better food security attainment.

Keywords: Livelihood strategies, Food security, Wealth, FGT

One hundred and twenty (120) broilers birds of Abore acer, Cobbs and Ross breeds were used to determine the effect of breed on haematological indices of broilers birds given Mimosa diplotricha leaf meal (MDLM). The chicks were randomly assigned to three treatments with 40 birds in each treatment. Each treatment was replicated thrice with 10 birds per replicate and 10 birds as control, in a completely randomized design (CRD). At the end of the experiment which lasted for 7 weeks, blood sample were collected from the birds, and analyzed for haemoglobin, packed cell volume, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, heterophil, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophil and eosinophil. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using the one-way ANOVA in SPSS package. Result showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) among the treatments, in HB, PCV, MCHC, lymphocytes, monocytes heterophil, eosinophil and basophil, and there were significant differences in the WBC, RBC, MCV and MCH among the treatments. Thus, breed has no meaningful effect on the haematological profile of broiler chicks maintained on MDLM.

Keywords: Breed, MDLM and Haematology

The aim of this research was to improve the use of cocopeat as a growing medium with an addition of Trichoderma harzianum and Aspergillus niger as bio-activators having been proven to have the ability to improve soil structure and enhance growth quality as well as disease resistance of plants. To achieve this target, two tests were carried out, namely: 1) a test for the effect of bioactive fungus dosages (0, 5, 10 and 15 g polybag-1) in the mixture of cocopeat and topsoil on the chili production, and 2) a test for the effect of bioactive fungus dosages (0, 5, 10 and 15% polybag-1) in the mixture of cocopeat and topsoil on a damping-off causing pathogen (Rhizoctonia solani).
The first year’s research results showed that A. niger did not have a significant effect on disease index, plant height, number of primary branches, harvesting period and fruit length. However, the dosage of A. niger had an effect on the number of secondary branches, flowering period and fruit weight, where the best response was obtained from the treatment A2 (10 g polybag-1). On the other hand, the effect of T. Harzianum on the plant height, number of primary and secondary branches, harvesting period and fruit length was not significant, but significant on the flowering period and fruit weight, where the best response was obtained from the treatment T2 (10 g polybag-1).

Keywords: Cocopeat, Bio-activators, Rhizoctonia solani and Plants

Indonesia is a disaster-prone country. One of the volcanic disasters having been ongoing for a quite long time is the Mount Sinabung eruption in Karo Regency, North Sumatera. This region is the producer of horticultural products (fruits and vegetables), giving an agricultural contribution of 60% to the Gross Regional Domestic Product. By employing the Farm-Household Model Approach, the research conducted aims at studying (i) farmers’ responses toward the direct impacts of disasters on their farming, (ii) the socioconomic conditions that have indirect impacts on the farm management and (iii) the adaptation patterns used for overcoming the adverse effects of Sinabung eruption. The empirican findings show several impacts resulted from the eruption, among others (i) reduction in the area of land cultivated, (ii) reduction in the horticultural production, (iii) rise in the production cost and (iv) reduction in the farm income. The financial condition has been very bad that chili, tomato and carrot farming is no longer feasible, and even bears loss (R/C < 1). The socioeconomic conditions like infrastructure damage, distrubance of social relation, unavailability of pay workers in the agricultural sector and loss of access to credit of business previously provided by local informal financial institutions, have jeopardized farm management. To control the economic damage, farmers undergo technical adaptation by procuring water pumps for flushing the dust on the crops every day and by setting up nets to prevent pest outbreak. Besides, crop conversion from horticultural crops to staple food crops such as corn and dry land paddy, the cultivation of which does not require intensive labor but yields low production, is done. The crop conversion has disturbed the stability of farm household subsistency and existence, which have been supported by crop combination and rotational system with a plant hierarchy pattern.

Keywords: Mount Sinabung Eruption, Farm Household Model, Natural Disaster and Agriculture, North Sumatra

Cassava stem bedding has no significant effect on overall parameters. Slow release fertilizer with 5 tablets per plant (82.5) may have a significant effect on the total number of chlorophyll b on cassava leaves Clone L-18 UKM. The interaction of stem bedding and slow release fertilizer with 5 tablets per plant (82.5 g) has significant effect on plant height growth, stem diameter growth, total leaves, petiole length and total tubers grown into cassava Clone L-18 UKM.

Keywords: Soil Bedding, Fertilixer, Cassava, Vegetative Growth

Effect of cow-dung as biostimulant on Pseudomonas aeruginosa for the possible degradation of atrazine in contaminated soil was investigated. Enrichment culture was used to isolate the atrazine–degrading strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the activities of the enzymes viz. atrazine chlorohydrolase, hydroxyatrazine ethylaminohydrolase and N-isopropylammelide isopropylaminohydrolase produce by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were assayed. The results of the soil physicochemical analysis showed a low fertility profile. There was slightly significant percentage increase in microbial population by 74.2% and 75.2% before and after biostimulation of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa with cow-dung respectively. The activities of atrazine chlorohydrolase (AtzA), hydroxyatrazine ethylaminohydrolase (AtzB) and N-isopropylammelide isopropylaminohydrolase (AtzC in) were 0.69U/min, 0.32U/min and 0.29U/min, respectively at optimum pH of 7.0 while 0.51U/min, 0.41U/min and 0.31U/min, respectively at optimum temperature of 40oC. However, the effect of using consortia of microorganisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa species provided more promising results, with 83.6% and 85% before and after biostimulation respectively. It can be concluded that Pseudomonas aeruginosa may be efficient in bioremediation of atrazine contaminated soil using cow-dung as a biostimulant.

Keywords: Biostimulation, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Degradation, Atrazine, Soil Contamination

This paper summarizes the forage production program of the fourth livestock development project implemented in Ethiopia. Various promising improved forage production strategies were developed and successfully implemented in project areas. The strategies were evolved from experiences of other countries and an understanding of the importance of matching forage systems to different agro-ecological zones of the country. Moreover, the project involved in producing forage seed under contractual basis with individual farmers and cooperatives to enable the production of larger amount of seed per unit area with lower cost of production. Generation of different forage seed production technologies which are feasible for different agro-ecologies are extremely important for better quality forage and forage seed production but the technologies are not yet well demonstrated for most forage species. Therefore, identification of suitable sites, land preparation, seeding rate, sowing date, sowing methods, weeding management, fertilizer rate, forage and seed harvesting stages and others agronomic managements were considered for successful establishment and productivity of each introduced forage species. So, the project demonstrated different promising and high yielding forage species with recommended production packages for large number of farmers in different regions and the project farmers were well acquainted and successfully produced forage and forage seeds of the introduced improved forage species. Improved forage production program must be adapted to the economic, social and environmental conditions of each intervention region. Due to this, some fundamental requirements were included in the program for successful implementation of forage and forage seed production. Active farmer participation at all stages of production, strong institutional support, a planning approach to implementation, motivated technicians located throughout the project area to extend forage strategies and conduct adaptive research, initial importation of improved forage seed, financial mechanisms to enable contract seed growing, secure land tenure for farmers and monitoring and evaluation were some of the major requirements considered for successful implementation of the project. Generally, the project was the first of its kind in Ethiopia in implementing extensive forage development interventions which are specifically suitable to the smallholder mixed crop-livestock farmers and generated valuable lessons for similar livestock development programs in the country.

Keywords: Development Project, Forage Conservation, Forage Seed, Production Requirement