The need to determine the mutagenic ability of waste waters from pharmaceutical industry is on the rise. With the aid of macro and micro assay of the root tip, this study was carried out to assess the genotoxic effects of varied concentrations of three pharmaceutical effluents (Ciprofloxacin, Arthemetrin and Psuedophedrin) on Allium cepa root tip during mitosis. The chemical evaluation of the effluents confirmed the presence of a few heavy metals with mutagenic potentials (Ni, Zn, Pb and Cu). The experiment carried out in the research and teaching laboratory of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The results showed extensive reduction in the length and number of the roots that were grown on the effluents. Noticeable reductions in the reproduction process of the cells were observed in Ciprofloxacin and Psuedophedrin than Arthemetrin effluent. The mitotic index ranged from 18.92 to 22.55% with Ciprofloxacin recording significantly (P < 0.05) the highest index. Both effluent concentrations and the time of treatment significantly affected the mitotic index. Conclusively, these untreated effluents are considered to be lethal following the aforementioned results and are environmentally risky. Therefore, a sound sewerage system in the pharmaceutical industry is therefore crucial. Key words: Cell, mitosis, pharmaceutical effluents, environmental pollution, sewage.&nbsp

This paper examines the competitiveness of The Gambia agri-food exports from 2012 to 2021 utilizing the revealed comparative advantage index, the Kaplan-Meier survival function, and Cox regression model. The results indicate that thirteen of the twenty-four products have comparative advantages in the global market, while seven of the twenty-four products have comparative advantages in the regional market. In terms of product structure, raw materials are sources of comparative advantage in global trade. While processed products offer comparative advantages in regional trade. In general, global agri-food trade has comparative advantages over regional agri-food trade. However, the duration test indicates that competitive positions are generally declining. Survival chances fell from 96% at the start of the period to 13% at the end, indicating that The Gambia faces fierce competition in global and regional agri-food trade. The hazard regression analysis reveals that inflation and good governance significantly reduce the hazard rate and hence improve the duration of agro-food exports. Key words: The Gambia, cox regression, agro-food trade, comparative advantage, competitiveness.

The objective of this study was to identify the rate of molybdenum that when associated with nitrogen fertilization, would provide the best responses on the vegetative structure of Mombasa grass. Forty days after planting, a uniform pruning was made when the established levels of molybdenum were applied and the experimental period started. The experimental design was a randomized block, with four replications (blocks), in a 5×6 factorial scheme, considering the combinations of treatments, the combinations of five levels of molybdenum (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g ha-1 year-1), in six evaluation ages (days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 after pruning for uniformization) and four rates of nitrogen (0, 100, 250 and 500 of N. ha-1 year-1). The variables were subjected to variance analysis and adjustment in regression using orthogonal polynomials. Among the variables, an assessment of the number of leaves that were fully expanded (exposed ligula), in development or senescent in the main tillers (NFCE, NFEE and NFS, respectively) was carried out, as well as the total number of tillers per pot (NP) and the height of the vegetation (ALT). The rise in molybdenum supplies up to 200 g ha-1 increases the production of vegetative biomass of mombasa grass in pastures, by using levels of 500 kg ha-1 year-1 of N, but there is no difference between the other doses of nitrogen (0, 100 and 250 ha-1 year-1). Key words: Development, tropical grasses, intensive management of pastures, pots, biomass.

Functions of innovation systems framework have established their value as tools for exploring socio-technological transitions and economic development. Although the “seven functions” model has demonstrated its academic value across a vast literature, there have been few attempts to explore the role of the model in climate smart farming. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine relative importance of functions of innovation system on cassava climate smart farming in Kenya. The study focused on the following seven functions of innovations; entrepreneurial activities, knowledge development and diffusion, search for guidance, market development and stabilization, resource mobilization and legitimacy development. Data were collected from 150 cassva farmers in Nyando Sub-County, Kenya. Data analysis deployed the Best-Worst scaling (BWS) choice method and expanded to include the multinomial logistic regression modelling. Results revealed that knowledge development, diffusion and resource mobilization were the functions of innovation systems ranked highest in terms of shared importance among the seven innovation functions. In fostering cassava innovations, their relative importance was knowledge development (19.17%), knowledge diffusion (18.86%) and resource mobilization (14.88%). Evidence from the multinomial logistic regression revealed that farmers chose knowledge development as most important innovation function to foster cassava innovations in the Nyando CSV. Key words: Entrepreneurial activity, knowledge development, market formation, resource mobilization.

Heavy metal cycles in horticultural systems in areas supplying vegetables to Mbare Musika were characterized with reference to the soil, water, fertilizers used and crops grown from different ecological zones of Zimbabwe. Apart from inherent soil heavy metal properties, anthropogenic sources contributed through irrigation water and fertilizers. Different areas specialized in growing peculiar vegetables through influence of environmental traits within the horticultural system. The soil in Mutoko, Rusape and Seke had high levels of cadmium and lead unlike in other study areas. The water was a major source of cadmium, cobalt and lead. Most soils within the study area had an acidic pH noted to promote heavy metals solubility hence makes vegetables contamination inevitable. Irrigation water is the challenge in most of the study areas. Generally, soil pH, irrigation water quality and fertilizers need to be regulated together with other soil amendment programs to break the cycle of heavy metals in the horticultural systems. Key words:  Heavy metal, pH, cadmium, lead, maximum threshold, route, Mbare  Musika, horticultural system.

The objectives of this study were to characterize, classify and evaluate the potential and constraints  of  the soils of Sakure and Nginda Payams in Nzara and Yambio counties in the Greenbelt zone of Western Equatoria State, South Sudan. Ten soil pits were dug, described and sampled based on FAO soil profile description guideline and samples were analysed using standard routine lab analyses for physical and chemical properties. Data generated were analysed statistically using the coefficient of variation (CV) and correlation. Results showed that top and subsoil were dominated by sandy clay loams. The soil reactions were strongly to slightly acidic (pH = 5.4 - 6.7). The most limiting nutrients were P and N. SOC was highest in the top soil and consistently decreased with depth, the CEC was low  (4 - 14.4 Cmol kg-1). The soils were classified into six major soil types: Ferralsol, retisols, acrisols, umbrisols, fluvisols, and chernozems. The soils have poor inherent soil fertility. It is recommended that further soil survey be carried out in the Greenbelt zone and  to conduct more research to determine the type of soil fertility management feasible. Key words: Acid soils, Nginda Payam, Sakure Payam, soil fertility management, shifting cultivation.