Farm Production Research Articles

Design of a Simulation Model for the Diagnosis of Classical Swine Fever Virus in Ecuadorian Farms

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a disease that slows down animal production and international trade; therefore, its identification is key in pig farms to take the relevant health measures. Therefore, the objective of this research was to design a Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) simulation model to carry out epidemiological modeling for the identification of outbreaks of classical swine fever in the Sierra Region of Ecuador, using Python software and historical data on incidences of this disease in the provinces of the Ecuadorian highlands, considering the variables pig population, initial number of exposed pigs, initial number of infected, number of pigs removed, contagion rate (α), transmission rate (β), and recovery rate (γ). The results show that the SEIR model allowed us to determine that the population of susceptible (healthy) pigs decreases over time until reaching zero. This decrease in susceptibility occurred during the first 15 days, which shows that this is the time necessary to infect the entire population with an infected person. Therefore, the exposed population increases during the 15 days that the total infection process lasts and then decreases. It is also identified that throughout these five years of analysis of the past, it has been increasing from 2015 to 2019, which hurt the yields and productivity of pig farms in the Ecuadorian mountains.

Impacting Arable Farmers’ Perception of Processed Organic Fertilizer Use through Farm Demonstration: Evidence from Maize Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Fertilizer use supports productivity in arable farming. However, improper use of inorganic fertilizers can harm the environment, accelerate climate change and slow down the achievement of the 13th SDG. This study examined the use of farm demonstration in improving maize farmers’ perception of organic fertilizer use in the five major towns in Ikenne LGA of Ogun state. Sixty-five maize farmers were selected for the study using multistage sampling technique. Demonstration plots were established near the farmers to observe the agronomic impact of organic fertilizer use. Results showed that respondents’ average farm size was less than 1 hectare, 58% had undulating or sloppy lands which are vulnerable to degradation. Only 22% of the farmers mostly use organic fertilizers which they source from unprocessed animal waste. Only 32% of the farmers are aware of commercially processed organic fertilizers. Using the pair-sample t-test, the perception level of the farmers at the end of the demonstration was significantly higher than before the demonstration (t = 14.87, p <0.05). The study recommended that perception enhancing intervention be introduced to farmers in order to increase the use of clean and safe commercially available fertilizers.

Welfare effect of rice outgrower scheme participation: empirical evidence from northern Ghana

Outgrower schemes can improve farmers’ welfare by boosting farm productivity and increasing market participation. In this context, we examined the effect of participating in outgrower schemes on household welfare indicators while controlling for potential observed and unobserved biases that could influence the outcomes. To address this objective, we employed an endogenous switching regression model to analyze primary data from 555 rice farmers in northern Ghana who use irrigation. The results revealed significant effect of sex of household’s head, age, marital status, education, dependency ratio, non-farm work, extension contact, access to credit, membership of farmer group, proximity to commercial markets, distance to outgrower schemes, familiarity with scheme operations, and the geographical location of the farmer on the propensity to participate in outgrower schemes. Importantly, participation in outgrower schemes resulted in a 57.6%, 23.6%, and 48.1% increase in household consumption expenditure per capita, income per capita, and asset ownership, respectively, exceeding what participants could have gained if they had not participated. Similarly, the non-participants, would have experienced a 21.2%, 34.0%, and 26.1% increase in household consumption expenditure per capita, income per capita, and assets, respectively, if they had joined the scheme Therefore, strategies to improve farmer groups and extension services are required as they are critical channels for encouraging more farmers to participate in the schemes and thereby improving their welfare.

An evaluation of soil carbon models and their role on finding ways to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems

The estimation of changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key issue for national green-house gasses (GHG) inventories, climate change mitigation programs and the estimation of carbon footprint of farm products in life cycle assessments. Any strategy related to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems needs to quantify the SOC balance. In this way, SOC models help decision makers involved in agriculture to understand the dynamics of the SOC and the interaction between all variables related to soil, climate, land use, and management, to design the best solution to reduce emissions or enable carbon sequestration. Likewise, it is important to identify suitable models for the region. This study aims to address three main subjects: a) a discussion on the importance of SOC estimation for GHG inventories and the carbon footprint of crops, using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 1 method and AMG model; b) an evaluation and brief description of the IPCC “Steady State Method” (SSM), using experimental data from two sites in Argentina, comparing these results to AMG and RothC models (both previously validated at those sites); and c) a brief discussion about the potential use of SOC models for what-if management scenarios, their real limitations and future research needs. The three models were consistent in predicting the impact of tillage and the long-term trends in changes in SOC stocks under different management practices. The SSM model was evaluated for the first time in Argentina and performed even better than the other two models. It was consistent with the observed values, when predicting the effect of tillage system under different crop rotations, including pasture systems. Regarding efficiencies of the models, they showed acceptable Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was also acceptable between 3 % and 7 %, within a range of 4–5 Mg C.ha−1. Therefore, the SSM model proved to be a valuable tool to estimate SOC trends for crop and pasture rotations under different management scenarios (i.e., tillage systems and fertilization), to identify best practices that allow for a zero or positive SOC balance, in two different soil and climate conditions of the Pampean Region of Argentina. In our study, the SSM did have a better fit to the data and, furthermore, this Tier 2 method is simpler than the Tier 3 models, and, therefore, is advantageous for conducting regional assessments and GHG inventories.

Plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria for sustainable tomato production

Numerous phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are found in the rhizosphere, benefiting the host plant in different mechanisms and promoting sustainable agriculture. They improve soil fertility with minimum cost requirements using an eco-friendly approach, which is an essential attribute for small-scale farm production. Thus, isolation, characterization, and evaluation of symbiotic effectiveness are hierarchical procedures to develop bioinoculants. Using a dual (plate and liquid medium) screening technique and a greenhouse trial, four potential PSB strains (Mk-1–25, Mk-13–16, Mk-20–7, and Mk-20–20) were selected from tomato rhizosphere soil. All isolates exhibited the following traits: produced colony clear-zone, lowered liquid medium pH, gram-positive, produced urease and IAA, dissolved substantial P from various substrates, symbiotically effective, and improved tomato growth and yield. Taxonomically, they belong to Bacillus and Priestia species (i.e., Mk-1–25 Bacillus halotolerance, Mk-13–16 Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Mk-20–7 Bacillus megaterium, and Mk-20–20 Priestia megaterium). Among the current strains, Bacillus halotolerance recorded higher SI (3.11), was able to grow in extreme conditions (10% salt, up to 45 °C), produced HCN and siderophore, and improved tomatoes’ shoot length and weight, in contrast, Mk-20–20 produced HCN, siderophore, was able to fix nitrogen, improved tomato germination, shoot dry weight, and fruit weight. Various P-supplements (Ca3(PO4)2, bonemeal, FePO4, AlPO4, compost, and DAP fertilizer) were added to induce tomato-strain symbiotic interaction; hence, compost substantially promoted the interaction and resulted in higher symbiotic effectiveness. Ca3(PO4)2 was a good media composite preferred by most PSB strains; consequently, a higher concentration (219 µg/ml) of dissolved P was recorded from the liquid medium after 10 days of incubation than other substrates. Based on the data obtained from laboratory and greenhouse trials, the current strains were found to be potential candidate. Future work should confirm their efficacy at the field level using model host crops at different sites to recommend them as farm inputs and biofertilizer.

Risk Management of Green Bean Farming Production in Gluranploso Village, Gresik District

Green beans are the most important food crop in Indonesia and production continues to increase to meet domestic demand. However, production is still insufficient due to several risks faced by farmers. This research analyzes the risk management of green bean production in Gluranploso Village using the Coefficient of Variation (KV) and Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) methods. The results showed that yield variation was relatively low with a KV value of 17%, indicating good yield stability. The FMEA analysis identified four main sources of risk affecting production: seed aspect with an RPN value of 5.808, weather with an RPN value of 7.04, pests and diseases with an RPN value of 12.936, and technical aspects with an RPN value of 47.88, particularly delays in pest and disease control spraying. In addition, the market aspect is also a source of risk with the largest value in the increase in production input prices at 12.288. These sources require special attention in risk management. The study concludes that the implementation of appropriate risk management strategies, focusing on the identified key risk sources, can help farmers improve yield stability and farm profitability. These strategies include improving seed quality, mitigating weather risks, controlling pests and diseases, and improving technical procedures in cultivation and market risks. Thus, effective risk management can be key in increasing the productivity and sustainability of green bean farming in Gluranploso village.

Impacts of winter crop choice and ewe body condition score change on whole farm profitability and production

Variations in body condition score (BCS) in ewes influences lamb survival, ewe survival and ewe lactation performance. Feeding a low protein diet such as fodder beet to ewes in mid-to-late pregnancy increases lamb losses and reduces lamb weaning weight even further. However, using high yielding forages such as fodder beet can reduce the area of winter crop required, introducing potential whole-farm benefits which may alter profitability. We analysed the effects of winter crop choice (brassica or fodder beet) and BCS (maintaining or reducing) on whole-farm production and profitability, using a targeted supplement to offset the impacts of fodder beet feeding. Eight farms were selected to represent low or high rainfall (590 and 1090 mm/annum respectively) regions of the South Island. Impacts of changing BCS on ewe and lamb survival at lambing, and lamb liveweight gain to weaning were calculated when fed either adequate (brassica) or low protein (fodder beet) diets in mid-to-late pregnancy. Production statistics and profitability were calculated using Farmax. Whole farm profitability was analysed using BCS change and winter forage crop as main treatments, blocked by low or high rainfall. Applying the effects of BCS and low protein diets on reproductive performance from prior published studies resulted in variation of 102 to 141 lambs weaned per 100 ewes mated, with the lowest value when the low protein, fodder beet only diet was used. Greatest number of lambs weaned was achieved when BCS was maintained through winter through provision of a balanced supplement, regardless of winter forage diet (P<0.05). Lamb sale dates were later when fodder beet was used, due to lower lamb weaning weights, resulting in marginally higher prices due to changes in pricing schedule. Farm profitability was increased by 25% when BCS was maintained though winter (P<0.05) irrespective of the diet used. Use of fodder beet must be accompanied by targeted supplementation to avoid ewe BCS loss increased lamb losses and the negative effects on wastage and animal welfare. Extra profitability could only be generated by opportunities to sell surplus feed during the summer. These responses were similar in both high and low rainfall environments. This study is unique in testing measured responses of BCS and targeted nutritional supplementation under specific physiological conditions on whole-farm profitability. Farmer decisions on feed utilisation and sale also have a significant influence on the potential to mitigate the effects of variations in winter forage choice.

Household Level Determinants of Wheat Packages Adoption in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Wheat has been considered as one of the strategic food security crops in Ethiopia. A number of research efforts have been done by different research institutions to improve the production and productivity of the crop and as a result a number of wheat production packages has been released and promoted all across the country, including Tigray. Yet, in Tigray, there is no adequate evidence on the adoption status of wheat packages and their determinant factors. Hence, this adoption study was initiated with the objective to analyze the status of wheat packages adoption, and determinant factors for further adoption. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 493 households from five wheat growing districts of the region. Data were collected through the administration of semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using both descriptive statistics and Multivariate Probit (MVP) model. The descriptive results described that, the average wheat packages adoption status was 67%, of these only 17% of farmers adopted all five packages. The result of MVP model revealed that sex, age, livestock size, extension services, average plot distance, off-farm income source, farmer perception on his status and credit access were the determinant factors which facilitate/and/or hinder wheat packages adoption in Tigray. Thus, the policy and development interventions should focus on improving institutional support and wealth creation opportunities to improve production and productivity of wheat producer farmers in Tigray.

Microbial dysbiosis in the gut–mammary axis as a mechanism for mastitis in dairy cows

Mastitis is a significant and costly disease in dairy cows, reducing milk production and affecting herd health. Recent research highlights the role of gastrointestinal microbial dysbiosis in the development of mastitis. This review focuses on how microbial imbalances in the rumen and intestines can compromise the integrity of the gastrointestinal barriers, allowing harmful bacteria and endotoxins, such as lipopolysaccharide, to enter the bloodstream and reach the mammary gland, triggering inflammation. This process links gastrointestinal health to mammary gland inflammation through the gut–mammary axis. Furthermore, disruptions in glucose metabolism and immune responses are implicated in the progression of mastitis. This review underscores the potential for non‐antibiotic interventions aimed at restoring microbial balance to reduce mastitis incidence, providing new insights into improving dairy cow health and farm productivity. Our findings emphasise the critical need to explore preventive measures targeting the rumen and intestinal microbiota for effective mastitis control.

Performance Evaluation of a Power Rotary Slicing Machine

This paper presents the performance evaluation of a power operated rotary slicer capable of slicing plantain, cocoyam, cassava among others. The machine is designed and fabricated to aid production of chips in plantain, cassava, cocoyam and other related farm products for frying and as well drying for immediate consumption and storage purposes. The machine is made up of two blades cutter and operated at speed of 1440rpm to overcome drawbacks of existing hands or power operated slicer and to meet the demand of small scale processing industries. Samples was taken for plantain, cocoyam and cassava to evaluate the efficiency and capacity of the machine. The machine has 83% efficiency and capable of producing 22.9kg/h.

The Critical Roles of Phosphatidylethanolamine-Binding Proteins in Legumes.

Legumes, characterized by their ability to form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, play crucial roles in agriculture, ecology and human nutrition. Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins (PEBPs) are the key genetic players that contribute to the diverse biological functions of legumes. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of important roles of PEBP genes in legumes, including flowering, inflorescence architecture, seed development and nodulation. We also delve into PEBP regulatory mechanisms and effects on plant growth, development, and adaptation to the environment. Furthermore, we highlight their potential biotechnological applications for crop improvement and promoting sustainable agriculture. This review emphasizes the multifaceted roles of PEBP genes, shedding light on their significance in legume biology and their potential for sustainable productive farming.

Advancing carbon sequestration and nutrient management in the South African dairy industry for sustainable growth

The dairy industry in South Africa is currently grappling with significant challenges, including escalating costs and diminishing profit margins. However, these difficulties also create a pivotal opportunity for the sector to embrace sustainable practices that not only enhance environmental stewardship but also encourage economic resilience. A crucial step in this transition is to dispel prevalent misconceptions about the industry’s environmental footprint and to highlight its positive contributions to sustainable agricultural practices. Farmers are encouraged to adopt innovative strategies that enhance soil health and reduce their ecological impact. This review focuses on essential factors influencing nutrient management and the processes that contribute to soil carbon enhancement. Effective management is crucial for the sustainability of pasture-based dairy systems, as herbage biomass significantly influences nutrient cycling and soil organic matter accumulation. For instance, well-managed pastures with high biomass can efficiently recycle nutrients from manure, enhancing plant growth. This process contributes to soil organic carbon buildup, which aids in carbon sequestration. In contrast, poor nutrient management can lead to nutrient imbalances and lower herbage production, reducing carbon storage potential. Moreover, the movement of nutrients below the surface is a critical pathway for enhancing soil health and promoting ecological balance. By implementing sustainable practices and refining nutrient stewardship strategies, pasture-based dairy farmers can significantly advance their sustainability goals. This includes recognizing the broader implications of soil health on farm productivity and environmental resilience, as well as the potential for improved biodiversity.

Irrigation automation: overcoming challenges and promoting opportunities in family farming

Family farming in Brazil faces significant challenges regarding access to modern technologies, such as mechanisation and irrigation, which are more accessible to agribusiness. This disparity directly impacts the productivity and sustainability of family farming. The article aims to explore the economic and environmental benefits of irrigation automation for family farming, highlighting the importance of adapting this technology to local conditions and techniques already used by small producers. A multidisciplinary approach was used, combining literature review, data analysis, and the inclusion of a proposed irrigation automation board. Data were collected through interviews with agricultural producers and content analysis to identify patterns and research gaps. The proposed irrigation automation board proved efficient and accessible for small producers, allowing control of up to four distinct irrigation zones. The technology provided more precise and efficient irrigation, reducing costs and increasing productivity. Additionally, automation allowed farmers more time for other activities, improving their quality of life. Irrigation automation offers significant benefits for family farming, such as greater water efficiency, cost reduction, and increased productivity. However, it is essential to adapt this technology to local conditions and techniques already used by small producers. Public policies that encourage and value local production are essential to promote the sustainable development of family farming and reduce social inequalities

Mid infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics as tool to monitor the impact of heat stress and dietary interventions in lactating sows.

Heat stress in hyper-prolific lactating sows is recognised as a factor reducing feed intake, milk production, and welfare, with significant losses in farm productivity. Individual capacities for body thermoregulation during environmental hyperthermia determine the adaptation of the animal during long and recurrent events. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mid infrared (MIR) spectroscopy as a high-throughput method to identify markers of stress in plasma and milk collected from lactating sows under heat stress conditions fed with two levels of protein in the diet defined as low (16%) and standard (20%). The MIR spectra were analysed using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and principal component analysis and validated using cross-validation. The results obtained indicated that MIR spectroscopy, in combination with chemometrics, was able to identify changes in the spectra associated with heat stress in wavenumbers corresponding with amide groups (proteins) (highest loadings observed in the regions between1065 and 1635cm-1), lipids and unsaturated fatty acids (regions between 1746 and 3063cm-1), lipo-polysaccharides (in 1247cm-1) and carbohydrates (around the region1050 cm-1). These results also indicated that the information provided by these wavenumbers can be used as metabolic markers of the adaptation of the sows to hyperthermia. It was concluded that MIR spectroscopy is a rapid and inexpensive tool capable of detecting and evaluating the main biochemical changes of hyperthermia on lactating sows, facilitating the development of palliative management strategies such as dietary manipulations.

Wind Farm Power Maximisation via Wake Steering: A Gaussian Process‐Based Yaw‐Dependent Parameter Tuning Approach

ABSTRACTMaximising the power production of wind farms is vital to meet the growing demand for wind energy and reduce its cost. Wake effects, resulting from the aerodynamic interactions between turbines in a wind farm, significantly impact farm efficiency, leading to substantial annual power losses. Wake steering, an influential control strategy, involves mitigating wake effects by strategically yaw misaligning upstream turbines to deflect their wakes. Conventional wake steering approaches typically rely on physics‐based analytical wake models with their parameters often calibrated using higher fidelity data. However, these approaches determine a fixed set of parameters prior to conducting wake steering, neglecting each parameter's dependency on yaw misalignment (i.e. the optimisation variables) exhibited throughout the optimisation process, potentially affecting its accuracy. To address this limitation, this paper introduces a novel data‐driven parameter tuning approach that integrates higher fidelity power measurements using Gaussian processes to continuously adapt parameters in lower fidelity wake models based on the current farm's yaw configuration. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated on a wind farm and a layout corresponding to the Horns Rev wind farm, where various wind directions are investigated. The results reveal that the approach can enable a lower fidelity model to capture more complex physics, thereby improving its accuracy in wake steering optimisation, while maintaining robustness and computational efficiency. This method holds promise for real‐time control applications and can be extended to other control strategies and closed‐loop frameworks.

AUTOMATED TECHNOLOGY OF MEASUREMENT OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF FARM ANIMALS

Abstract. The development and application of automated technologies in the agricultural sector have significantly transformed the management and monitoring of farm animals. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of existing technical systems for measuring the physiological parameters of farm animals, particularly focusing on cows. The primary goal of these technologies is to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of health monitoring and to optimize livestock management through continuous data collection and analysis. Key technological solutions include the use of wireless data transmission systems, radio monitoring devices, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These technologies enable real-time tracking of animal health parameters such as body temperature, heart rate, movement patterns, and other critical indicators. The use of various sensors, including ear, neck, and intra-body sensors, plays a crucial role in collecting primary physiological data. These sensors are integrated into a broader system that includes radio modules with built-in controllers for converting raw data into digital formats, enabling wireless transmission to central systems for processing and storage. The radio monitoring of animals allows for the continuous tracking of physiological and behavioral parameters across large areas, providing crucial insights into their well-being. It is particularly beneficial in detecting early signs of disease or health issues, ensuring timely intervention, and preventing potential economic losses for farmers. The integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) further expands the capabilities of monitoring systems, enabling the visual assessment of animals' behavior and movement across vast pastures. Equipped with video cameras and data relays, UAVs collect video footage that is transmitted to a central processing unit for real-time analysis and storage. The combined use of radio monitoring and UAV technology forms a comprehensive framework for livestock management, allowing farmers to make data-driven decisions, optimize resource allocation, and improve overall herd health and productivity. By leveraging these automated systems, it becomes possible to reduce the dependency on manual labor, minimize human error, and ensure that animals are closely monitored without the need for constant physical presence. This represents a significant advancement in modern animal farming, aligning with global trends toward smart farming and precision agriculture. In conclusion, the integration of automated physiological monitoring technologies in farm animal management presents an innovative solution for enhancing animal welfare, improving farm efficiency, and reducing operational costs. These systems hold considerable potential for further advancements in the field of animal health monitoring, ultimately contributing to more sustainable and productive farming practices.

Assessing Key Constraints in Cashew Production: Insights from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India

India ranks among the world’s top cashew producers, with Kerala and Tamil Nadu serving as key contributors to the country's cashew production. Among the Plantation sector, specifically cashew cultivation plays a pivotal role in boosting farm economy in India. This particular study explores field constraints experienced by cashew growers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which significantly impacts cashew cultivation. The key objective is to compare field challenges experienced by cashew growers among major producers in southern regions of India. The methodology involves a purposive multi-stage sampling approach to select regions, with an equal proportion of 80 respondents from each state selected through simple random sampling. Totally, 160 cashew growers were investigated for data collection through pre-tested structured interview schedule. The data sets were analysed using SPSS software, with frequency and percentage analysis employed to rank the identified constraints. The significant findings were pest and disease infestations, labour scarcity, unstable market price, lack of technical know-how and inadequate processing facilities. Notably, 100 per cent of growers reported that, Cashew Stem and Root Borer (CSRB) infestation as a most critical issue in both states. This paper highlights, region-specific and timely technical interventions, commodity-specific assured markets, proper pricing system and infrastructure development. The study's interpretation highlights the need to address high-priority and specialized constraints through targeted policy reforms and technical support systems, aiming to enhance the productivity and sustainability of cashew farming in India. These findings also provide valuable insights that can be applied to other cashew-producing regions and contribute to shaping national agricultural policies.

Effect of road infrastructure on food sovereignty in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The study was designed to assess the effect of road infrastructure on food Sovereignty in Akwa lbom State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to: ascertain the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents; identify the food sovereignty in the study area and ascertain the effect of road infrastructure on food sovereignty in the study area. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised all rural farming households in Akwa Ibom State. The study adopted multi-stage and simple random sampling techniques. Three blocks were selected from each of the three Agricultural Zones in the state. Three cells were randomly selected from each of the blocks sampled, which gave a total of twenty-seven (27) cells. A total of 450 respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected with the aid of a semi structured questionnaire. Data obtained were analyzed using percentages, means and standard deviation as well as ranking. The results of the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents showed that 58.90% of the respondents were males (265), while 41.10% of them were females (185). A good number of the respondents, 53.60%, were married (241), while 24.20%were single (109). Also, the results showed that 19.60% of the respondents had no formal education (88), while 30.70% attained secondary level of education (134), and about 33.70% of the respondents had tertiary level of education (152). The socio-economic characteristics of the respondents also indicated that 40.0% of the respondents had farm size ranging from 1-2 hectares, while 5.80% had farm size of 5 hectares and above. A good number of the respondents had access to credit (59.60%), while a small proportion (40.40%) had no credit facilities. The study revealed that 21.30% of the respondents had income ranging from N351,000 to N450,000, less than one US$ while a small proportion of the famers (8.90%) had income of about N251,000 to N350,000 only from farming activities. The main sources of food sovereignty of the people were crop farming and livestock production, though some were involved in trading and artisanal activities. The study noted that road projects have reduced accident (x ̅=2.75), increased farmers’ income (x ̅=3.20), increased trading and shopping activities (x ̅ =2.62), and reduced floods (x ̅ =2.64) among others. It was also concluded that road projects have positive effects of food sovereignty although some of the abandoned projects have caused some hardship and environmental challenges. The study recommended the completion of all abandoned road projects carried out in rural Akwa Ibom State in particular, and Nigeria in general. The study, however, concluded that in Akwa Ibom State, rural road projects have brought the much needed relief from accidents, wastage, spoilage, and food sovereignty to many hitherto isolated rural communities. Key words: Akwa Ibom State, Effect, Farmers, Food, Sovereignty, Road infrastructure

The potential use of Alpinia galanga and Piper betle as growth promoters in the broiler industry: A review

Phytogenic feed additives (PFA) have been studied in many poultry researches primarily as growth promoters due to the growing interest in using natural products in farming. However, few researchers opted to study Piper betle and Alpinia galanga as growth promoters in broilers despite these plants' abundance of beneficial phytoconstituents. Thus, this narrative review aims to provide insights to the readers on the characteristics and properties of Piper betle and Alpinia galanga to be used as growth promoters. This article also reviewed previous research on supplementing Piper betle and Alpinia galanga in broiler in-vivo studies. Issues and knowledge addressed in this review article help poultry researchers and industry to explore the potential of Piper betle and Alpinia galanga to improve the performance of poultry flocks in the future.

Evaluation of Current Farm Machinery Utilization and Farm Productivity in Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia

Evaluation of Current Farm Machinery Utilization and Farm Productivity in Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia