Upper East Region Research Articles

The Risk Factors for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Incidence in Ghana: A Small Matched Case-control Study

Aims: Knowing the risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) opens up avenues for identifying target groups for intensified case finding. We aimed to identify the risk factors for pulmonary TB (PTB) incidence in a rural district in northern Ghana.
 Study Design: A matched case-control study.
 Place and Duration of Study: The Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region of Ghana, between February 2019 and March 2019.
 Methodology: This study was conducted in 4 public health facilities. Cases were newly confirmed PTB patients aged 15 years or over, controls were age and sex matched outpatients. A pre-tested questionnaire collected information on a range of possible risk factors from participants. Conditional logistic regression identified independent risk factors for PTB incidence in a multivariable model at 95% confidence level.
 Results: The analysis included 174 cases and controls. Multivariable analysis showed that the risk of PTB was increased with low household monthly income (AOR=3.45; 95% CI: 1.08-10.97; P=.03), smoking (AOR=2.69; 95% CI: 1.13-6.43; P=.02) as well as household exposure to a known TB case (AOR=2.57; 95% CI: 1.08-6.10; P=.03).
 Conclusion: Low household monthly income, smoking, and household exposure to a known TB case were independent risk factors for PTB incidence. These factors can be used to actively screen for PTB in the population.

High Hepatitis B Seroprevalence, Low Knowledge, and Poor Attitude towards Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Market Women in Bolgatanga Metropolis in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

The Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate has reported liver cirrhosis among the first three diseases causing mortality from 2013 to 2015. This implicates hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection considering its high prevalence among blood donors in the Upper East Region of Ghana. However, for a vulnerable group such as market women, there is not much information with regard to the prevalence, knowledge, and attitude towards HBV infection. Thus, this study sought to bridge this gap by determining the seroprevalence, knowledge, and attitude of market women in the Bolgatanga Municipality of Ghana, towards HBV infection. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted (from October 2017 to March 2018) among 404 market women using a pretested questionnaire to ascertain the knowledge and attitudes of market women towards HBV infection, while hepatitis B surface Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test strips were used to screen for the infection. The study revealed that the seroprevalence of hepatitis B among the market women was 15.6%, and majority of the study subjects (>60%) were unaware of HBV infection. Overall, knowledge on and attitude towards HBV infection were low and poor, respectively, with a significantly high number of the market women not wanting infected individuals to be isolated (p=0.049). A high seroprevalence, together with poor attitude and low knowledge levels, as seen in this study is of great public health concern. The study recommends regular HBV screening for market women for prompt treatment and vaccination as well as continuous health education to increase knowledge level and improve the poor attitudes of market women towards HBV infection.

Evolution of Antimalarial Drug Resistance Markers in the Reservoir of Plasmodium falciparum Infections in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

The majority of Plasmodium falciparum infections, constituting the reservoir in all ages, are asymptomatic in high-transmission settings in Africa. The role of this reservoir in the evolution and spread of drug resistance was explored. Population genetic analyses of the key drug resistance-mediating polymorphisms were analyzed in a cross-sectional survey of asymptomatic P. falciparum infections across all ages in Bongo District, Ghana. Seven years after the policy change to artemisinin-based combination therapies in 2005, the pfcrt K76 and pfmdr1 N86 wild-type alleles have nearly reached fixation and have expanded via soft selective sweeps on multiple genetic backgrounds. By constructing the pfcrt-pfmdr1-pfdhfr-pfdhps multilocus haplotypes, we found that the alleles at these loci were in linkage equilibrium and that multidrug-resistant parasites have not expanded in this reservoir. For pfk13, 32 nonsynonymous mutations were identified; however, none were associated with artemisinin-based combination therapy resistance. The prevalence and selection of alleles/haplotypes by antimalarials were similar to that observed among clinical cases in Ghana, indicating that they do not represent 2 subpopulations with respect to these markers. Thus, the P. falciparum reservoir in all ages can contribute to the maintenance and spread of antimalarial resistance.

Access to library services and facilities by persons with disability: Insights from academic libraries in Ghana

A group of the academic library’s vast untapped clientele to whom more attention is now being paid is persons with disability. Drawing from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions’ checklist on what constitutes disability-friendly libraries, this study sought to ascertain if academic libraries in the Upper East Region of Ghana have made provisions for persons with disability. The research adopted a qualitative approach. The data used for the analysis is drawn from interviews with respondents, the majority of whom were visually or mobility-impaired, who were purposively selected from 11 tertiary institutions. The findings reveal that academic libraries in the Upper East Region have yet to implement the stipulated regulations of the ratified Persons with Disability Act of Ghana. The majority of libraries are inaccessible to persons with disability beyond the main entrance of the libraries. The biggest challenge is the absence of diverse media information for persons with visual and hearing impairments. Also, the findings reveal that library staff lack adequate knowledge of issues relating to persons with disability and their right to access information. The study highlights the challenges which hinder persons with disability from accessing quality information from libraries. The study, therefore, recommends that relevant state institutions be empowered to implement the ratified Persons with Disability Act in Ghana and increase education among stakeholders on the need to improve access to information for persons with disability. Also, there should be increased investment and allocation of funds to libraries to provide for the information needs of persons with disability.

Socioeconomic factors influencing farmers’ specific adaptive strategies to climate change in Talensi district of the Upper East Region of Ghana

Purpose Farmers all over the country have been exposed to various adaptation strategies to climate change. The adaptation options however focus too closely on technical skills and technologies and fail to address critical social factors such as culture, beliefs and values that influence the adoption and effective implementation of new adaptation technologies, skills and capacity. This paper aims to assess the socioeconomic factors influencing farmers’ specific adaptive strategies to climate change in Pwalugu and Balungu communities in the Talensi district of the Upper East Region of Ghana. This study used purposive sampling technique to select the study communities, whereas simple random sampling technique was used to select a total of 100 respondents from the selected communities. Questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used in collecting data from respondents. This study used detailed statistical test to analyze the data, and the results are presented in the form of figures and tables. This study highlights the legal and institutional context which must be adopted for effective response to climate change impacts in rural communities in Northern Ghana. It also recommends that government and relevant stakeholders should collaborate with financial institutions to ensure that funds are readily available to farmers to enable them to effectively adapt to climate change as well as provide training/workshop programs to farmers to enhance their capacity in planning and implementing effective strategies to climate change. Design/methodology/approach This study used the integrated methodological approach where quantitative methods were combined with appropriate qualitative methods. According to Sandelowski (2000), this method ensures reliability (the extents to which results are consistent over time) and validity (the means of which measurements are accurate) of the research. A combination of participatory methods, including key informant interviews, household questionnaire surveys and focus-group discussions were used, allowing local people the opportunity to participate by sharing their experiences and knowledge to outline possible solutions to the problem at hand. Multiple methods (Yeasmin and Rahman, 2012) are good at reducing the inadequacies of a single method. Cross-sectional study was used in designing the research. Variables were measured or determined at the same period in a given population. This method allowed the assessment of practices, attitudes, knowledge and beliefs of a population in relation to a particular event or phenomenon (Olsen and George, 2014). Findings The findings of this study revealed farming as the major occupation in the two communities with males being dominant. Diverse livelihood activities such as fishing, animal/poultry rearing, firewood/charcoal production, hunting and driving were other activities respondents engaged to earn a living. In terms of institutional arrangements, avoidance of bush burning and tree felling were the norms influencing decision-making in the two communities. Fear of being punished, animals feeding on some of the grasses, trees inducing rainfall as well as benefits respondents get from trees were the reasons these norms were adhered to in the study area. Access to land, gender dynamics and finance were identified as the socioeconomic factors in the study area. High demands by landowners, last minute change of mind by landowners, limited fertile lands, lack of money to acquire lands, behavior of tenants, number of acres required and lands far from water bodies were the challenges associated with acquiring land in the communities. Access to finance influenced respondents’ ability to acquire fertile lands, lands closer to water bodies and any number of acres of their choice. Gender however impeded women adaptation strategies to climate change. Women were not allowed to own land and other property in the form of animals simply because they are seen as migrants and they do not know the history of the land. Originality/value This is a master’s thesis project. This paper shows the socioeconomic factors, which are influencing farmers’ specific adaptation to climate change in the Talensi district of Ghana.

\u201cTo die is better than to tell\u201d: reasons for and against disclosure of chronic hepatitis B status in Ghana

BackgroundPeople with a condition subject to stigmatisation, such as chronic hepatitis B, face the dilemma of whether or not to disclose their status. In Ghana, 12.3% of the adult population has the hepatitis B virus (HBV). One key strategy for breaking the cycle of hepatitis B transmission is the disclosure of hepatitis B status by people with chronic hepatitis B (PWHB). Disclosure can facilitate preventive actions to reduce hepatitis B transmission (e.g., not sharing personal items and avoiding contact with blood and body fluids). Disclosure can also motivate family members of PWHB to get tested, linked to care and clinically managed in order to reduce the progression of hepatitis B to liver cirrhosis and cancer. Given the importance of disclosure, we set out to explore reasons for and against disclosure of chronic hepatitis B status in the Greater Accra and Upper East region of Ghana.MethodsIn this exploratory qualitative study, 18 participants (10 from the Greater Accra region and 8 from the Upper East region) were recruited for semi-structured interviews. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were then processed using QSR Nvivo version 10.0 and analysed for themes.ResultsParticipants were selective disclosers, disclosing in some contexts and not in others. Reasons for non-disclosure of chronic hepatitis B status were: 1) fear of stigmatisation and 2) previous negative experiences with disclosure. Reasons for disclosure were: 1) wanting close contacts to get tested or vaccinated, 2) trusting the disclosure target(s), and 3) needing social and/or financial support.ConclusionsOur findings highlight various reasons for and against disclosure of chronic hepatitis B status in Ghana. Because anticipated, observed, and experienced stigma were important motivations for non-disclosure of chronic hepatitis B status, we recommend the development and implementation of theory and evidence-based stigma reduction interventions that are culturally appropriate, and that prioritize the participation of target populations. We also recommend the provision of counselling and support services that assist PWHB in their disclosure decision-making processes.

The use of the wetting front detector as an irrigation‐scheduling tool for pepper production in the Upper East Region of Ghana: Evidence from field experiment and farmers' perceptions

AbstractWe compare the effect of the wetting front detector on yield and water productivity with farmers' practices (FP) and irrigation requirements based on crop water requirement calculation (IRCWR). A field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of the wetting front detector, FP and IRCWR combined with six fertilizer rates. We also interviewed 50 farmers to understand their perception about the use and associated concerns with the wetting front detector. Analysis of variance and partial budget economic analysis were performed. The results show that the wetting front detector saved 16% of irrigation water compared to FP, which in turn led to 16% labour saving to irrigate pepper as compared to FP. Yield and water productivity of pepper were not significantly affected by the irrigation regimes. Regardless of irrigation regimes, yield of pepper was significantly influenced by fertilizer treatment in both years. Although the highest fresh fruit yield of pepper (8.6 t ha−1) was recorded from Fortifer granules, the highest marginal rate of return was obtained from application of inorganic fertilizer including 173 N, 36 P,18 K ha¯¹. The majority of farmers perceived the wetting front detector as low risk and compatible to use. The result also suggests that farmers are interested in buying and adopting the tool for future use. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Utilizing indicator kriging to identify suitable zones for manual drilling in weathered crystalline basement aquifers

Abstract: Manual drilling offers a practical and affordable method of increasing access to groundwater supply in regions struggling with economic water scarcity. However, manual techniques are limited to specific hydrogeological contexts and must be sited appropriately. Indicator kriging is proposed as an interpolation method that builds upon previous efforts to identify suitable zones for manual drilling, particularly in weathered crystalline basement aquifers. This approach allows for heterogeneity within weathering profiles and provides probability mapping of success for regional planning. Modeling was conducted in the Upper East Region of Ghana using available borehole-log data, including: well yield, static water depth, laterite thickness, depth to hard rock, water quality parameters, and the degree of weathering. Indicator kriging interpolations for depth to hard rock predicted binary variables with over 90% accuracy. The model predicts that drilling into highly weathered layers will often be necessary to reach the required depths for groundwater use, emphasizing the importance of percussion techniques. The results suggest that suitable zones occur near Bolgatanga, Bawku, and Zebila, which coincide with historical drilling efforts in the central and eastern portions of the region.

Assessment of vegetation dynamics in Upper East Region of Ghana based on wavelet multi-resolution analysis

Vegetation variation offers significant information for environmental planning, management, sustainability and prompts caution of ecosystem degradation, particularly for the semiarid regions. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) discloses the coverage growth situation, biomass and photosynthesis strength of vegetation and land-cover alterations. Wavelet was used to decompose NDVI time series into subseries at various timescales. This study used a multi-resolution analysis in association with Mann–Kendall and Sen’s Slope at 95% confidence interval to determine the trends in vegetation dynamics at the Upper East Region (UER) of Ghana. GIMMS NDVI3g time series was used to evaluate the performance of the vegetation at seasonal, interannual and intraannual timescale from 1982 to 2015. The results showed that the variability in NDVI in the region is annually significant. At the seasonal level, the whole surface area showed negative vegetation trend. In terms of the intraannual changes, 11.76% of the surface area showed critical patterns. At the interannual scale, results revealed that 4.40% of the surface area demonstrated significant patterns, while 95.60% indicated nonsignificant pattern. Overall, there was negative performance in the vegetation growth from 1982 to 2015. The 16.6% decrease in vegetation dynamics can be attributed to anthropogenic activities. The results from this study would benefit and provide helpful assistance to water resources managers, agricultural and ecological development officers for sustainable planning of UER.

Consistency of the determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding in Ghana: insights from four Demographic and Health Survey datasets

BackgroundEarly initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) is a key strategy in averting neonatal deaths. However, studies on the facilitators and risk factors for EIBF are rare in Ghana. We examined trends in EIBF and its major facilitators and risk factors in Ghana using data from Demographic and Health Surveys from 1998 to 2014.MethodsWe used complete weighted data of 3194, 3639, 2909 and 5695 pairs of mothers ages 15–49 y and their children ages 0–5 y in the 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2014 surveys, respectively. We accounted for the complex sampling used in the surveys for both descriptive statistics and multiple variable risk ratio analysis.ResultsThe proportion of children who achieved EIBF increased by about 2.5 times from 1998 to 2003 and there was a marginal increase in the proportion of children who achieved EIBF between 2003 and 2014. Children born by caesarean section were at higher risk of being breastfed later than 1 h across all four surveys. Being born in the Upper East Region (compared with the Western Region) of Ghana facilitated EIBF in 2003 and 2008.ConclusionsThe study revealed that the current estimate of the proportion of children achieving EIBF in Ghana was 55.1%, and delivery by caesarean section and region of residence consistently predicted the practice of EIBF in Ghana.

Equity dimensions of the decline in under-five mortality in Ghana: a joinpoint regression analysis.

There has been a global rise in interest and efforts to improve under-five mortality rates, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Ghana has made some progress in improving this outcome; however, the extent of such progress and its equity implications remains understudied. This study used a joinpoint regression analysis to assess the significance of changes in trends of under-five mortality rates in Ghana between 1988 and 2017 using data from seven rounds of the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Annual percentage change (APC) was estimated. The APCs of different dimensions of equity (residence, administrative region, maternal education and wealth quintile) were compared by coincidence test - to determine similarity in joinpoint regression functions via 10000 Monte Carlo resampling. There has been progress in reduction of under-five mortality in Ghana between 1988 and 2017 with an annual percentage change of -3.49%. Disaggregation of the trends showed that the most rapid improvement in under-five mortality rates occurred in the Upper East Region (APC=-5.0%). The closing of under-five mortality equity gaps in the study period has been uneven in the country. The gap between rural and urban rates has closed the most, followed by regional gaps (between Upper East and Ashanti Region), while the most persistent gaps remain in maternal education and wealth quintile. The findings suggest that programmatic interventions have been more successful in reducing geographic (rural-urban and by administrative region) than non-geographic (maternal education and wealth quintile) inequities in under-five mortality in Ghana. To accelerate reduction and bridge the inequities in under-five mortality, Ghana may need to pursue more social policies aimed at redistribution.

Pesticide Residues Detected in Selected Crops, Fish and Soil from Irrigation Sites in the Upper East Region of Ghana

Crops, soil and fish from irrigation farms were investigated in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Questionnaire was administered to collect pesticide use information from farmers, and tomatoes, okro, pepper and garden eggs as well as fish and soil samples were collected and analysed using Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD). The results were compared with standard acceptable Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). The results indicated that up to 35.9% of 50 respondent farmers frequently cultivated tomatoes. 50% of the farmers have been using agrochemicals for the past 5 years, with glyphosphate as the most commonly used (42%). 65 % of the farmers indicated that information on proper use or handling of agrochemicals was obtained from colleague farmers. High levels of organochlorine residues (2.232-5.112 ng/g) were found in okro and garden eggs from the Tono site, and also pepper and tomatoes from Pungu site. 6 pesticides residues were found in 5 varieties of tomatoes samples analysed with Lindane and Aldrin having the highest concentration of 0.00069 and 0.027 μg/g respectively. 4 soil samples contained detectable levels of β-HCH and α-Endosulfan (organochlorines), while all 6 samples had one or more traces of 10 organophosphate pesticides. Chlorpyrifos was widely available and in quite high levels. 21 organochlorine residues were detected in tilapia and mud fishes, 17 in fishes from the Precast yard water. Residual concentration of Aldrin and Cis-heptachlor (1069.7 ng/g and 780.7 ng/g respectively) in tilapia from the Tono dam was noted to be above the acceptable limits.

"I couldn't buy the items so I didn't go to deliver at the health facility" Home delivery among rural women in northern Ghana: A mixed-method analysis.

BackgroundMaternal mortality remains a major challenge to health systems in low and middle-incoming countries. Some pregnant women develop potentially life-threatening complications during childbirth. Therefore, home delivery is a precursor for maternal mortality. In this study, we aimed at not only estimating the percentage of deliveries occurring at home and examining the factors associated with home delivery, but we also explored the reasons for home delivery among women in rural Ghana.MethodsThe study was conducted among mothers with delivery experience in selected communities in the Builsa South district located in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guide respectively. A total of 456 mothers participated in this study. Regression models were used in the quantitative analysis whereas a thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the qualitative data.ResultsOf the 423 mothers in the quantitative research, 38.1% (95% CI: 33.5–42.8) delivered their index child at home. In adjusted analysis, women who were not exposed to information (AOR = 13.64, p<0.001) and women with 2 (AOR = 4.64, p = 0.014), 3 (AOR = 4.96, p = 0.025) or at least 4 living children (AOR = 9.59, p = 0.001) had higher odds of delivering at home. From the qualitative analysis, the poor attitude of nurses (midwives), lack of, and cost of transportation, cost of delivery kits, and traditional beliefs and practices were cited as reasons for home delivery.ConclusionDespite the government’s efforts to provide free maternal care services to women in Ghana, a significant proportion of rural women still deliver at home due to other ‘hidden costs’. Addressing poor staff attitude, transportation challenges, and negative traditional beliefs and practices through awareness creation may contribute to improving health facility delivery by rural pregnant women in Ghana.

Rainfall Distribution in the Upper East Region of Ghana, 1976 – 2016

The knowledge and understanding of rainfall distribution of a region are very essential and useful in determining the overall impacts of climate change, especially to the agricultural sector. Monthly rainfall data from 1976-2016 for five selected stations were acquired and subjected to various statistical techniques namely coefficient of variation, 5-year moving average and departure from the mean to obtain the variability and trends in the data. The results showed that the selected stations have uni-modal rainfall distribution and that the rain mostly starts in May and ends in September. High precipitation occurs in July, August and September, with August recording the highest amount with a low variability, indicating the reliable occurrence of precipitation within this period of the year. This is of high importance to farmers and the recharging of aquifers. The wettest station was Zuarungu, with a mean total monthly rainfall of 89.55 mm followed by Navrongo, Bolgatanga, Garu and Manga-Bawku with their respective mean total monthly rainfall as 81.08 mm, 80.59 mm, 79.64 mm and 78.86 mm. High annual variability was found in all the stations and long dry spells were observed from November to March. The rainfall season wet period is between July and September at all the stations and it is recommended that farmers should cultivate early-maturing crops and adopt irrigation farming practices as well as practices which utilize water efficiently.

Determination of Pesticide Residuals in Soil and Tomato Fruits from Two Tomato Production Areas in northern Ghana

Tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) is an important vegetable commodity in Ghana, as it is consumed daily in many households either heat-treated or without any form of heat treatments. Tomato production is a major source of income for many smallholder producers in Northern Ghana especially through dry season farming when the major supply of tomatoes from Southern Ghana is exhausted. Research conducted for the past decade confirmed the presence of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables such as cabbage, onion, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, okra and pepper. The objective of this study was to identify and estimate pesticide residual levels in the soil and tomato fruits in comparison with the maximum allowable residual limits. The research was carried out in two production communities namely Doba where the “Burkina” variety is mostly grown in the Kassena Nankana East District of the Upper East Region and Bunglung where the “Wosowoso” variety is cultivated in the Savelugu/Nanton Municipality of Northern Region. Soil samples were collected for residue determination before transplanting of tomato seedlings. Matured and ripe tomato fruits were also collected for the determination of the presence and amount of pesticide residues. All soil and plant samples were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography to determine the presence of twenty-four organochlorines and thirteen organophosphate pesticide residues. From the analysis, pesticide residues were present in different variations which ranged from 0.002 – 0.033 and 0.003 – 0.022 (soils) and 0.330 – 1.187 and 0.002 – 0.088 (fruits) for organochlorines and organophosphates respectively for both communities. Levels of pesticide residues were generally above the acceptable maximum residue limits as farmer practices produced fruits with more pesticide residues since the land areas could have been predisposed with residues from previous seasons for other food crops, which could be translocated into the tomato plant and through into the fruits. The presence of pesticide residues could also be attributed to the influence of run-off and drift from other cultivated lands. For effective determination of pesticides residues in the tomato plants, it is essential to use uncontaminated soil and water to facilitate the efficient estimation of pesticide residues in tomatoes and plants in general.

English

A study was conducted in the Guinea and Sudan Savannah zones in the Upper East Region of Ghana to investigate the effects of Faidherbia albida on some important soil fertility indicators. Soil sampling and analysis, litter trap, and litter bag techniques were employed to determine the soil’s content of major nutrients, the rate of litterfall production and litter decomposition, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine differences among treatment means, while Tukey’s highest significant difference (HSD) was used to perform post hoc tests among means within the same sample set. Soils under F. albida tree canopies were found to contain significantly higher organic carbon and total nitrogen than those outside the canopies. Peak leaf litter production occurred during the first three months of the onset of the rainy season. Annual leaf litterfall was 340 g m-2 year-1 in the Guinea Savannah zone and 264 g m-2 year-1 in the Sudan Savannah zone. The high leaf litterfall, followed by high decomposition and mineralization at the beginning of the cropping season, the high nutrient content of its leaves, coupled with its nitrogen fixing ability, make F. albida a potential candidate for soil improvement and improved productivity of major crops in smallholder farming systems. About 37 and 59 adult F. albida trees will be required to supply significant amounts of nitrogen in the Guinea and Sudan Savannah zones, respectively. Key words: Litter bag technique, litter decomposition, litter fall, litter trap technique, soil organic carbon, soil

Effect and infestation levels of groundnut pod borer (Elasmolomus sordidus) on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and farm control measures in Tedema, Builsa-North District of the Upper East Region, Ghana

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), an ancient oilseed crop is cultivated worldwide for its beneficial uses. It is one of the main cultivated crops in Northern Ghana. Pod borers (Elasmolomus sordidus) are the major biotic setbacks of groundnut production in the Upper East Region of Ghana, where it infests almost every farm in the region especially Tedema in the Builsa North District. The research hence assess the effects of the pod borer on the groundnut, and find measures to control it. There was a high positive correlation between days of exposer of the groundnut to Elasmolomus sordidus, and weight loss of the groundnut kernel with above 80% correlation coefficient and p < 0.05 for all analysis. The % pod infestation and weight loss ranged from 11.80% to 26.04% and 9.01% to 22.17%, respectively. The abundance of Elasmolomus sordidus on the field increase with time. The weight loss of groundnut kernel caused by Elamolomus sordidus also increases with time of exposer of the groundnut to Elasmolomus sordidus. Farm sanitation and immediate harvesting of the groundnut after the uprooting of the groundnut are control measures identified to offset the pod borer infestation. Platostoma africanum was also identified to repel Elasmolomus sordidus when placed within the groundnuts as it reduces the infestation of Elasmolomus sordidus on the groundnut. Further research strategies are recommended for the effect of pests on the oil content and germination properties of the groundnut.

Evapotranspiration in the Tono Reservoir Catchment in Upper East Region of Ghana Estimated by a Novel TSEB Approach from ASTER Imagery

Evapotranspiration (ET) is dynamic and influences water resource distribution. Sustainable management of water resources requires accurate estimations of the individual components that result in evapotranspiration, including the daily net radiation (DNR). Daily ET is more useful than the evaporative fraction (EF) provided by remote sensing ET models, and to account for daily variations, EF is usually combined with the DNR. DNR exhibits diurnal and spatiotemporal variations due to landscape heterogeneity. In the modified Two-Source Energy Balance (TSEB) approach by Zhuang and Wu, 2015, ecophysiological constraint functions of temperature and moisture of plants based on atmospheric moisture and vegetation indices were introduced, but the DNR was not spatially accounted for in the estimation of the daily ET. This research adopted a novel approach that accounts for spatiotemporal variations in estimated daily ET by incorporating the Bisht and Bras DNR model in the modified version of the TSEB model. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite imagery over the Tono irrigation watershed within the Upper East Region of Ghana and Southern Burkina Faso were used. We estimated the energy fluxes of latent and sensible heat as well as the net radiation and soil heat fluxes from the satellite images and compared our results with ground-based measurements from an eddy covariance (EC) station established by the West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) within the watershed area. We noticed a similarity between our model estimated fluxes and ET with the ground-based EC station measurements. Eight different land use/cover types were identified in the study area, and each of these contributed significantly to the overall ET variations between the two study periods: December 2009 and December 2017. For instance, due to a higher leaf area index (LAI) for all vegetation types in December 2009 than in December 2017, the ET for December 2017 was higher than that for December 2009. We also noticed that the land use/cover types within the footprint area of the EC station were only six out of the eight. Generally, all the surface energy fluxes increased from December 2009 to December 2017. Mean ET varied from 3.576 to 4.486 (mm/d) for December 2009 while from 4.502 to 5.280 (mm/d) for December 2017 across the different land use/cover classes. Knowledge of the dynamics of evapotranspiration and adoption of cost-effective methods to estimate its individual components in an effective and efficient way is critical to water resources management. Our findings provide a tool for all water stakeholders within watersheds to manage water resources in an engaging and cost-effective way.

English

This study employed the input-oriented DEA approach with variable returns to scale assumption to assess the technical, scale, allocative and economic efficiencies of 124 randomly selected tomato farmers under irrigation in the Upper East Region using data of the 2017/2018 production season. The mean technical efficiency and scale efficiency were 97.1 and 97% respectively with many farmers experiencing increasing returns to scale. The mean allocative and economic efficiencies were 42.1 and 41.5% respectively. Farmer&rsquo;s age, tomato land size, fuel quantity, fertilizer quantity and chemical quantity (herbicide and pesticide) were all significant determinants of technical efficiency scores whereas extension visit, tomato land size and chemical quantity significantly influenced both allocative and economic efficiencies. It is recommended that agro-inputs and fuel usage for tomato farmers under irrigation in the dry season be increased to improve technical efficiency. It is also recommended that extension education to farmers on effective inputs allocation and cost minimization strategies be intensified. Key words: Allocative, economic and technical efficiency, data envelopment analysis, Tobit regression, tomatoes, Upper East Region of Ghana &nbsp

Root-shoot Growth and Water Status of Garden Egg in Moisture Stressed Conditions in Ghana

Garden egg (Solanum spp) growth and development is affected in varying drought and poor soil conditions in Ghana. A study was conducted to identify the response patterns of garden egg genotypes root growth and plants water status under varying moisture stressed conditions of the Coastal and Sudan Savannahs of Ghana. A two year experiment was conducted on sixteen genotypes of the crop in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications at Manga Agricultural Research Station in the Upper East Region, and University of Ghana, Legon experimental farm in the Greater Accra Region. At the first fruit maturity stages of around 80-90 days after transplanting, genotypes roots and shoots dry matter and leaf relative water contents (LRWC) data were collected and analyzed using GenStat Statistical Software. The genotype x location interaction significantly affected the genotypes LRWC and root growth in the dry season and moisture-stressed conditions. The moisture stressed tolerant genotypes maintained relatively high LRWC and root-shoot dry matter across locations of Manga and Legon. There were varied and location specific genotypes in root growth and LRWC, with the conditions of Manga favouring higher root growth than Legon; and that of Legon favouring higher retention of LRWC than Manga. The genotypes under the moisture stressed conditions had their LRWC varying from 50.6% to 65% at Legon and from 47.4% to 56% at Manga. Their root-shoot ratios varying from 0.24-0.35 at Legon and from 0.39-0.52 at Manga. The contributions of roots to total plant dry matter also varied from 15.6% to 20.5% at Legon and 22.5% to 30.1% at Manga. The genotypes that sustained higher root growth and retained LRWC of 57% and above under the moisture stressed conditions across locations were A3, A6B, A7, A8, A9A, and A11. These are attractive genotypes for garden egg improvement under moisture stressed conditions of the Coastal and Sudan Savannah agro-ecologies of Ghana.