Livelihoods Of Smallholder Farmers Research Articles

Farm Partial Budget Analysis of Onion (Allium Cepa L.) for the Application of Nitrogen and Spacing in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia

This study aimed to assess the economic viability of onion production under varying nitrogen fertilizer rates and intra-row spacing in the study area using partial budget analysis. The experiment employed a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design, conducted at Alamata Agricultural Research Center in Kara Adishabo in 2020. Experimental treatments included nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 23, 46, 69, and 92 Kg N ha-1) and intra-row spacing (5, 10, and 15 cm) with three replications. The partial budget analysis indicated that the treatment combination of 69 kg N ha-1 and 5 cm intra-row spacing yielded the highest net benefit of birr 642602.3. However, based on the marginal rate of return, the recommendation of 46 Kg N ha-1 and 15 cm intra-row spacing, which had a lower net benefit, was rejected after residual analysis. Consequently, the recommended treatment combination is 69 Kg N ha-1 and 5 cm of intra-row spacing, contrary to the previous recommendation. Onion cultivation is a significant economic activity in the southern zone, playing a crucial role in the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Consequently, understanding the production costs and analyzing the financial profitability of this on-farm business is essential in the study area to enhance crop productivity.

Toward a critical theory of social-ecological resilience: Maize and cattle in Southern Province, Zambia.

Climate change threatens the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers throughout the global South. In order to address the challenges these farmers face, researchers and practitioners need reasonable theoretical models of how humans and the environment interact within social-ecological systems (SES). Social-ecological resilience theory has proved to be a popular model for understanding human environment relationships within SES; however, the theory lacks a sophisticated understanding of power, relying instead on outdated functionalist sociological approaches. We reconstruct social-ecological resilience theory through a case study of smallholder climate change adaptation in Southern Province, Zambia. Farmers in the region focus on cattle and maize production. Though the changing environment would seem to favor different crops and livestock, institutional (power) dynamics determine whether or not individuals have the capacity (or desire) to adapt. Our critical reconstruction provides researchers and practitioners with an improved social-ecological lens for understanding the causes and consequences of vulnerability and adaptation.

The Perceived Impact of Climate Change on the Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers in Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa

The Perceived Impact of Climate Change on the Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers in Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Spatial and temporal analysis of haemorrhagic septicaemia outbreaks in India over three decades (1987–2016)

Haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) is an economically important disease affecting cattle and buffaloes and the livelihoods of small-holder farmers that depend upon them. The disease is caused by Gram-negative bacterium, Pasteurella multocida, and is considered to be endemic in many states of India with more than 25,000 outbreaks in the past three decades. Currently, there is no national policy for control of HS in India. In this study, we analysed thirty year (1987–2016) monthly data on HS outbreaks using different statistical and mathematical methods to identify spatial variability and temporal patterns (seasonality, periodicity). There was zonal variation in the trend and seasonality of HS outbreaks. Overall, South zone reported maximum proportion of the outbreaks (70.2%), followed by East zone (7.2%), Central zone (6.4%), North zone (5.6%), West zone (5.5%) and North-East zone (4.9%). Annual state level analysis indicated that the reporting of HS outbreaks started at different years independently and there was no apparent transmission between the states. The results of the current study are useful for the policy makers to design national control programme on HS in India and implement state specific strategies. Further, our study and strategies could aid in implementation of similar approaches in HS endemic tropical countries around the world.

Spatiotemporal trends and variability of rainfall across agro-ecologies in East Guji Zone, Southeast Ethiopia

Distribution and trends of rainfall reveal spatial and temporal variability that have a paramount effect on the life and livelihood of small-holder farmers. This study aimed to analyze spatial variability and temporal trends of rainfall distribution across the three Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs) of East Guji. Time series gridded daily rainfall data (1990–2020) were collected from the Ethiopian Meteorological Institution. Different descriptive statistics, trend tests: Man Kendal and Sen’s slope estimator, Inverse Distance Weighted Index and Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) was used in the study. The finding demonstrated that altitude and rainfall decrease as one advances from the western (highland) to the eastern (lowland) direction in the study area where the highest rainfall was recorded in Solemo (highland) and the least in Negele (lowland).The study showed that as altitude increases annual rainfall also increases and rainfall variability decreases. Similarly the mean length of the growing season declines as one advance from the highlands to the lowlands. The PCI of the lowlands, midlands, and highlands AEZs was 19%, 17%, and 12% respectively. The PCI showed that those highlands had moderately concentrated rainfall but both lowlands, and midlands, had an irregular distribution of rainfall. The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicated that highland areas had moderate variability in rainfall in all seasons except winter. In contrast, the low and midlands had shown high variability of rainfall (>30%) in all seasons. From a seasonal perspective, both CV and PCI revealed that the winter season showed more variability than others. Moreover, a significant increasing trend of annual rainfall was observed in the highlands AEZs (Bore 15.3mm/year and Solemo14.6mm/year), lowland AEZs (Chembe 10.9mm/year, Dawa 8mm/year and Bitata 7.8mm/year) as well as midland AEZs (Kercha 14.5mm/year) at a significant level of 5%. Therefore, strategies should be designed to use additional water resources for irrigation; and provide short-cycle grown and drought-resistant crops in the rest of the midlands and lowlands AEZs.

Exploring the impact of agricultural digitalization on smallholder farmers' livelihoods in Ghana

With the government's pursuit of a digitalization agenda, Ghana is at the forefront of championing digital transformation in Africa. However, people in rural areas are being left behind in harnessing the immense benefits of digitalization for their livelihoods. This study contributes to policy efforts aimed at bridging that gap by investigating the drivers of agricultural digitalization (AD) as well as its effects on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in rural Ghana. Data from a cross-sectional survey of 525 rural farmers across northern, middle and southern Ghana was employed. The study used the probit and tobit estimators to analyze the drivers and intensity of adoption of digital technologies in agriculture and the inverse probability weighting and regression adjustment estimator to mitigate endogeneity concerns. The results show that while female farmers trail male farmers in the intensity of applying digital technologies, higher educational attainment, better perception of digitalization, group/cooperative membership, number of economically active household members, and access to reliable electricity, internet and mobile money services significantly promote the use of digital technologies in agricultural activities. The results further show that AD is significantly associated with perceived improvements in livelihood assets, and ultimately livelihood outcomes of smallholder farmers in rural Ghana. These findings highlight the importance of investing in rural digital infrastructure by policymakers, the private sector and other stakeholders, so as to expand access to and the uptake of digital technologies in agriculture to bolster rural development in Ghana.

Understanding and managing seed degeneration in potato: Implications for potato resilient seed system and food security. A review

Abstract Understanding seed degeneration in potato farming systems requires updated and pertinent information across different cropping systems and circumstances to find ways to deal with the problem. As a vegetatively propagated crop, potato is susceptible to pathogens and pest accumulation in seed tubers over successive cycles of vegetative propagation especially, where small-scale farmers replant their source seed for several production seasons. Seed degeneration in potatoes is a complex phenomenon, caused by a variety of soil, vector, and seed-borne pathogens resulting reduction in yield and quality of the crop. By providing an extensive overview of the current state of knowledge on the impacts and coping strategies of potato seed degeneration, mostly in the global south, this review aims to help underpin such relevant information and better development of the seed sector. This review article also provides insights on seed system bottlenecks leading to seed degeneration which impact food security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in developing countries including Ethiopia. We discussed the causes of seed degeneration and possible approaches to conquer the problem under smallholders’ perspective for sustainable potato production and improved food security.

Assessing the Socioeconomic Impact of Minimum Support Price and e-NAM on Smallholder Farmers in Haryana

Implementation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the Electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) has had a substantial impact on India's agricultural landscape, particularly in the state of Haryana. This research paper examines the socioeconomic impact of MSP and e-NAM on smallholder farmers in Haryana. Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, the study assesses the influence of these policies on farmers' income, market access, and crop choices. This research also seeks to contribute to the understanding of their implications for the economic well-being, agricultural productivity, and overall livelihoods of smallholder farmers by examining the historical context, current implementation, and outcomes of these policies. The findings indicate that while MSP has positively affected farmers' income, e-NAM has improved market access, and both policies have contributed to crop diversification. However, the paper also highlights the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in leveraging these policies effectively. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to enhance the welfare of smallholder farmers in Haryana.

Cassava molecular genetics and genomics for enhanced resistance to diseases and pests.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is one of the most important sources of dietary calories in the tropics, playing a central role in food and economic security for smallholder farmers. Cassava production is highly constrained by several pests and diseases, mostly cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak disease (CBSD). These diseases cause significant yield losses, affecting food security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Developing resistant varieties is a good way of increasing cassava productivity. Although some levels of resistance have been developed for some of these diseases, there is observed breakdown in resistance for some diseases, such as CMD. A frequent re-evaluation of existing disease resistance traits is required to make sure they are still able to withstand the pressure associated with pest and pathogen evolution. Modern breeding approaches such as genomic-assisted selection in addition to biotechnology techniques like classical genetic engineering or genome editing can accelerate the development of pest- and disease-resistant cassava varieties. This article summarizes current developments and discusses the potential of using molecular genetics and genomics to produce cassava varieties resistant to diseases and pests.

Assessing climate change-induced poverty of mixed crop-livestock smallholders in Wolaita zone

Climate changes manifest itself through increased temperature, a more variable rainfall and more extreme events. As a matter of fact, smallholder farmers who produce climate-sensitive crop-livestock species are among the most affected to it due to reliance on rainfall, inadequate use of irrigation, and weak adaptive capacity. Accordingly, there are little evidences that reveals climate change is causing multi-dimensional poverty among mixed crop-livestock smallholders. Thus, this study was aimed at analyzing climate change-induced multidimensional poverty and its factors which contribute to it. Thus, data from households on socio-economic and environmental issues and thirty years rainfall and temperature data were collected. At the meantime, multi-dimensional poverty index, probit model, parametric test were applied to analyze data along with descriptive statistics. Accordingly, eleven variables showed statistically significant differences between poor and non-poor. Furthermore, the temperature in the study area was increased but rainfall trend decreased overtime. Since the livelihood of smallholder farmers is extremely dependent on rain-fed agriculture, the change in these climatic parameters negatively affected their livelihood. On the other hand, using a multidimensional-based measure of poverty; the estimates show that 82% of the sample households were multi-dimensionally poor. The incidence of poverty was highest in Abala Gefeta village (89%) followed by Bossa Wanche (80%) and Abala Shoya (84%). The result of probit regression estimation procedure revealed that variables such as access to climate information, productive safety net program and off/non-farm income at (1%), credit amount gained at (5%), sex, utilizing improved agricultural technologies and livestock holding at (10%) affects climate change-induced poverty negatively and significantly. Therefore, it is concluded that climate change-induced poverty of crop-livestock smallholders would be reduced through improving agricultural technology utilization by the farmers and providing timely climatic information and putting early warning system in place.

LOGISTIC APPROACH OF THE EFFECTS OF FINANCIAL INCLUSION ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN PLATEAU STATE

The overall study's goal was to look into a logistic approach to the effects of financial inclusion on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Plateau State. The study's particular goal was to find out if Financial Inclusion has a positive effect on the livelihood of smallholder farmers. The study's audience was smallholder farmers who were active in agricultural practices in Plateau State, Nigeria. The sample size was 399 households that par-took in agricultural practices in Plateau State. Primary data were gathered for the study using structured questionnaires. The collection of primary data was done through the administration of questionnaires to selected smallholder farmers. From the data collection process, the researcher was assisted by research assistants that made frequent follow-up on the respondents to ensure that high response rate was achieved. The study used the logistic regression model in carrying the analysis in order to achieve the objective of the study. The study found that financial inclusion plays a significant role in transforming the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Plateau State. Access to formal financial services such as savings accounts, credit facilities, and insurance products positively influenced farmers’ economic outcomes. The findings of this research study indicate that financial inclusion has a significant positive impact on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Plateau State, Nigeria. Access to financial services and financial literacy were identified as crucial factors influencing farmers' economic well-being. However, variables such as age, gender, and education did not show significant effects in this context. Based on the research findings, the following recommendations are made: Improve access to financial services, strengthen financial literacy programs, targeted support for vulnerable groups and continuous monitoring and evaluation.

The contribution of cassava production and marketing on smallholder farmers’ livelihood in Dodoma Region, Tanzania

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has remained a major source of food security and income generation for most developing countries including Tanzania due to its ability to drought and disease resistance. At present, its production in Tanzania stands at 630,000 tons while the country's market demand is expected to grow at 7% by 2026. Therefore, this study assessed the contribution of cassava production and marketing on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Tanzania particularly in the Dodoma region, so as to explore its potential contributions to the society welfare. A cross-sectional research design was employed whereby a multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting a sample of 240 cassava smallholder farmers from four districts in the Dodoma region namely Kondoa, Chemba, Kongwa, and Mpwapwa. Quantitative data were collected through self-administered structured questionnaires and focus group discussion, interview and observation methods also were used in collecting qualitative data from the study area. Content analysis was used in analyzing qualitative data. A binary logistic regression model was employed to estimate the contribution of cassava production and marketing on smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in the region. The findings from the study indicated that family size, farmers’ experience, land size, education, number of visits by extension, and market access statistically were significant with showed a positive relationship with the improvement in the livelihood of farmers in the selected districts. On the other hand, transportation costs showed a negative relation with the improvement of farmers’ livelihood. Generally, it can be concluded that an increase in production and improvement in marketing variables could contribute much to the improvement of smallholder farmers’ livelihood. Based on these findings, it is recommended that Ministries responsible for cassava production and marketing which included the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry and Trade focus more on the design, promotion, and implementation of policies and programs that are intended to enhance cassava production in rural areas and increase the provision of best farming practices through employing more extension officers.

Impact of Membership to Certified Coffee Marketing Cooperatives on the Income of Smallholder Farmers in Jimma Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Purpose: Coffee is one of the most important agricultural commodities with a significant contribution to the growth and well-functioning of Ethiopia’s economy, and to the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers and laborers. Despite its importance, smallholder coffee production and marketing performance have been unsatisfactory due to various reasons. The introduction of voluntary coffee certification schemes such as Fairtrade (FT) and Organic (Org) certification schemes through cooperatives are viewed as mechanisms to overcome the constraints smallholder farmers face in accessing high value coffee markets and earn better income. However, the impacts of these schemes on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers were not analyzed yet. The main purpose of this study was to estimate the impact of joining (FT, Org or dual FT-Org) certified coffee cooperatives on gross annual incomes earned by member farmers.
 Methodology: The study employed cross-sectional data collected from randomly selected sample smallholder coffee farmers through a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive and simple inferential statistical tests (e.g., frequency, percentage, mean, t-and chi2-tests), and PSM methods were employed to analyze the data.
 Findings: Results of the descriptive statistics depict that 234 (62.07%) of the total 377 samples farmers were members of certified coffee marketing cooperatives. Among the cooperative members, 83 (35.47%), 84 (35.90%) and 67 (28.63%) were members of FT, Org and dual FT-Org certified coffee marketing cooperatives, respectively. The results of the binary probit model however show that the decisions to join certified coffee marketing cooperatives was significantly influenced by sex, marital status, total livestock holding size, total coffee land size (ha), log total quantity of coffee produced (kg), credit access, and walking distances to development agent’s office, coffee marketing center and all-weather road in minutes, respectively. The PSM analysis results show that membership to certified coffee marketing cooperatives has a positive and significant impact on average annual gross income (ETB) earned. The average gross annual income earned by coop member farmers was ETB 14639.15, which is by 36.51% higher than their counterpart non-coop member farmers. The difference is statistically significant at 1% probability level.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that Cooperatives should be encouraged to establish credit and saving units in their internal structure and/or work in collaboration with other saving and credit providing institutions (such as Cooperative Bank of Oromia) to be able to provide demand-driven credit services to member farmers.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vegetable farmers in Bangladesh

The COVID-19 pandemic not only imposed severe health risks but also raised major challenges to the economy, due to widespread and severe measures to control the spread of the disease. Food value chains were disrupted by restrictions of the movement of people and commodities, which had significant impacts on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. The purpose of this research is to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Bangladeshi vegetable farmers. A total of 320 vegetable farmers were selected from the North-West region of Bangladesh. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through a digital survey method. Analysis revealed that around 3–5% of the marketed surplus of the farms was reduced during the pandemic due to the disturbances. The majority of the farm households reported that there was a significant reduction in their family income and, as a consequence, around 38% of farm households had cut down on their food consumption during the pandemic. The farmers were found to follow different strategies to cope with the difficulties and respond to government initiatives to mitigate such impacts. Despite all the restrictions and risks, extension services were still available to help the farmers. On the basis of the findings, this study suggests the importance of collaborative participation of the relevant bodies to decrease the effects of COVID-19 on farm households by employing all available mechanisms and focusing more on identifying effective coping strategies that can be supported in the event of future shocks, for more sustainable and resilient food systems.

Responsible governance of land tenure in the context of agricultural investment from theory to Practice: Lessons from Ethiopia

Following the 2007 and 2008 global food crisis, emphasis has been placed on large-scale acquisition and transfer of land for agricultural investment to foreign and domestic investors from the global south as a strategy to address food shortages. Worldwide promotion for large scale agricultural investment has again resulted in land grabbing in the global south with potential threats to the land rights and livelihoods of smallholder farmers or local communities. This situation has opened a room for discussion on how to improve governance or administration of agricultural investment land so that the land rights and livelihoods of smallholder farmers or local communities and other vulnerable groups are protected. As a result, the idea of responsible governance of land gained significant attention and various guidelines and frameworks have also developed and endorsed to promote responsible governance of agricultural investment land at global level. As a result, the purpose of this study is to analyze and understand the attention paid to promote responsible governance of land in the context of agricultural investment in Ethiopia. This study has employed a mixed research approach by using both quantitative and qualitative data collected from three case study regional states in Ethiopia. It primarily discusses the practice of land acquisition and transfer for agricultural investment purposes from the perspective of responsible governance of land. The findings of this study show that agricultural investment practices in Ethiopia significantly deviate from the principles of responsible governance of land. The conventional state controlled land acquisition and transfer of agricultural investment lands is more prevalent practice, with little emphasis to local community interests and environmental demands. Finally, this study has advised introduce and promote responsible governance of land as a way out to safeguard local communities’ interests and environmental concerns in the context of agricultural investment in Ethiopia.

Towards sustainability in the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: Implications on household poverty, food and nutrition security

The study assessed the impact of sustainably adopting Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPs) on household poverty, food and nutrition security. Different scholars have assessed the impact of adopting agricultural practices including SAPs on livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Nonetheless, through the focus on one-time survey season adoption decisions, the findings on potential impacts of SAPs which are aimed at informing policy direction remain inconclusive. The current study introduced the concept of sustainability in the adoption of SAPs to iron out inconsistences in the adoption of such practices, and hence assessed whether farmers were better off in terms of poverty status, food and nutrition security than their counterparts. Through the use of Selectivity-corrected Endogenous Switching Regression models on a sample of 2100 farmers, the study notes that gender of household head, education of the household head, natural log of household annual income, Tropical Livestock Units (TLU), farmer membership of farmer clubs and village savings and loan groups significantly influenced the probability of smallholder farmers sustaining their adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Practices. Furthermore, the study notes tangible evidence of an improvement in household food and nutrition security by farmers sustainably adopting SAPs as compared to their counterparts. Nevertheless, no evidence exists that sustained adoption of the practices would alleviate poverty of smallholder farming households. The study recommends the development of an agricultural productivity enhancement program that cuts across the gender divide and social barriers of smallholder farmers, further focusing on promoting farmer clubs and village savings groups to ensure sustained adoption of agricultural practices. Such a program should employ a clear targeting strategy with an aim of targeting food insecure as opposed to poor households in order to eradicate hunger.

Effect of Land Use Change on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties under Different Land Use System in Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

The establishment of artificial plantation using Eucalyptus globules in Ethiopia is becoming economically important for improving the livelihoods of small holder farmers. The species are adapted to different soil depths with varied responses to soil physical and chemical properties that have an implication on the proper management of environmentally sensitive areas. However, the sources of variations of soil physical and chemical properties have not been well investigated and documented for most vertisol in Ethiopia. This study was designed to investigate soil physical and chemical properties variations under different land use systems of cropland, grazing land and trees covered area with Eucalyptus globulus plantation at Gusha Temela Kebele, Arsi Zone and Oromia, Ethiopia. A total of 48 composite soil samples with 4 replicates * 3 treatments * 2 sampling plots * 2 at soil depths of 0–10 and 10–20cm were used for laboratory analysis. Some of the soil physical and chemical properties were analyzed and interpreted including soil texture, bulk density), soil moisture content, pH, available phosphorus (available P), soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio). The results showed that, except in a few cases, all considered soil properties showed significant differences with land use types and soil depths. Soil Bulk density (r=0.0002), soil moisture content (r<0.0001), soil pH (r<0.0001), available phosphorus (0.0002) and soil organic carbon (r<0.0001) were significantly varied with land use types. Textural fractions of sand, silt and clay showed no significant difference with land use types and soil depths. Although not significant, the clay content was slightly higher under grazing land. On the other hand, soil parameters including bulk density, soil moisture content, pH, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen were higher under grazing land than in the rest land use types and significantly varied with respect to soil depths; greater in the lower soil depth except for soil organic carbon and total nitrogen which were higher in the upper soil depth. The textural fraction of clay across all land use types was higher in the lower depth than in the upper surface layer which could be due to the translocation of this fine particle from the upper soil layer to the lower one. Findings of the present study indicated that land use change has more effect on soil chemical than physical parameters that grazing land is more fertile than other land use types. It implies that management practices significantly influence soil chemical properties variations especially the soil organic carbon concentrations for better employment of land management practices through implementation of climate smart agriculture.

Assessing the contribution of the Adhoc crop health surveillance tool on the food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Uganda

AbstractOne of the perennial causes of food insecurity in Sub‐Saharan African countries is crop pests and diseases that affect agricultural production. To address this concern in Uganda, a mobile phone crowdsourcing Adhoc surveillance tool, Adsurv, was deployed and used by smallholder farmers. Adsurv is a crop health surveillance and monitoring mobile application that facilitates diagnosing and managing crop pests and diseases. Existing literature has examined the impacts of mobile technologies on food security or livelihoods in isolation, but has not conducted a holistic assessment of both. This study on the other hand aimed at assessing the contribution Adsurv made towards improved food security and livelihood assets of the smallholder farmers, which were not fully understood. The study contributes to applying the sustainable livelihood framework (SLF) as theory in evaluating Mobile for Development (M4D) initiatives. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was further adopted to facilitate the development of a hierarchical assessment model of the multidimensional food security and livelihood aspects using data collected from 56 out of the targeted 70 participants. Results show that Adsurv mainly contributed towards food availability rather than utilization or access. These gains mostly enhanced the human assets of the smallholder farmers, empowering them with skills that positively impacted all other assets to support the attainment of sustainable livelihoods. The implication of these results in both research and practice is the need for further research trials, which will motivate farmers to recognize the importance of the nutritional value of food in their agronomic practices.

The Efficacy of Additives for the Mitigation of Aflatoxins in Animal Feed: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

The contamination of animal feed with aflatoxins is an ongoing and growing serious issue, particularly for livestock farmers in tropical and subtropical regions. Exposure of animals to an aflatoxin-contaminated diet impairs feed efficiency and increases susceptibility to diseases, resulting in mortality, feed waste, and increased production costs. They can also be excreted in milk and thus pose a significant human health risk. This systematic review and network meta-analysis aim to compare and identify the most effective intervention to alleviate the negative impact of aflatoxins on the important livestock sector, poultry production. Eligible studies on the efficacy of feed additives to mitigate the toxic effect of aflatoxins in poultry were retrieved from different databases. Additives were classified into three categories based on their mode of action and composition: organic binder, inorganic binder, and antioxidant. Moreover, alanine transaminase (ALT), a liver enzyme, was the primary indicator. Supplementing aflatoxin-contaminated feeds with different categories of additives significantly reduces serum ALT levels (p < 0.001) compared with birds fed only a contaminated diet. Inorganic binder (P-score 0.8615) was ranked to be the most efficient in terms of counteracting the toxic effect of aflatoxins, followed by antioxidant (P-score 0.6159) and organic binder (P-score 0.5018). These findings will have significant importance for farmers, veterinarians, and animal nutrition companies when deciding which type of additives to use for mitigating exposure to aflatoxins, thus improving food security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in developing countries.

Factors that influence smallholder farmers' decisions to employ hermetic bag technology for maize grain storage in Kilosa District, Tanzania

The huge maize grain losses caused by a lack of improved storage methods have a negative impact on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and national food security. Despite the effectiveness of hermetic bags against pest insects and fungal growth; and aflatoxins accumulation, the technology is not widely used by smallholder farmers. The survey study was conducted to evaluate the factors that influence the adoption of hermetic bag technology among smallholder farmers in Kilosa district. A total of 180 respondents were purposively selected based on their ability to store maize produce for six months. The data was collected using a smartphone android and responses recorded by open data kit (ODK). The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model in SPSS software. The descriptive results indicated that overall existing maize storage options among smallholder farmers included interwoven polypropylene bags 43.5%, hermetic bags 17.8% and synthetic chemicals and metal silos account for 38% of respondents. The model results indicated that price, access, awareness, farmer’s experience and training factors had a positive and significant impact on the use of hermetic bags. The price variable significantly and negatively influenced the use of hermetic bags at a P&lt;0.01 level of significance. Other independent variables such as awareness, training, access and farmers experience were positively significant at P&lt;0.05 level of significant. The government and other actors could promote and disseminate hermetic storage bag technology as a sustainable approach of lowering grain storage losses while taking identified factors into account.