October 2020

Trends in livelihoods options over a five year period: A case of Murewa smallholder farmers

Inter and intra seasonal trends in livelihoods options have been reported at country and rarely at ward level in Zimbabwe. Evidence based on local level trends in livelihoods options is rare. This study thus   reviewed data on livelihoods activities based on the Agriculture Food Security Monitoring System (AFSMS) surveillance system. It was conducted by the Department of Crop and Livestock Production formerly...

Author(s): Tamburirio Tecla Pasipangodya and Dorah Mwenye  

December 2020

Effects of soil organic resource management practices on crop productivity and household income in Chipata district of Zambia

Soil organic resource management practices such as use of green manure, cover crops, improved fallows, mulch, animal manure, compost and residue retention are options that promote the environment and potentially increase farmer crop yields and income. However, there have been low levels of adoption of most of these practices, and their ability to improve crop yields and farmer income has come into question. The...

Author(s): Henry Nkhuwa, Elias Kuntashula, Thomson Kalinda and Benson Chishala  

December 2020

Modernizing extension services to improve rice productivity: Lessons from Ghana’s planting for food and jobs program

The Government of Ghana introduced Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) program in 2017 to help raise farm productivity, improve food security, create jobs and modernize agriculture. Among the core pillars of PFJ program include the provision of modernized extension service to farmers. This study analyzed the productivity difference between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the modernized extension service among rice...

Author(s): Augustine T. Zoogah and Tekuni Nakuja

December 2020

Survey on indigenous knowledge of farmers in identifying enset varieties at Labu Koromo Kebele in Dore Woreda, Sidama Zone

Enset is a multipurpose plant, of which every part is thoroughly utilized, cultivated, as a food and crop only in Ethiopia, particularly in the southern and southwestern parts of the country. The main objective of this research is to assess the indigenous knowledge of farmers for identifying the different enset varieties grown in Labu Koromo kebele, Dore woreda. The data were collected using open and close ended...

Author(s): Tiruha Karssa and Huwatu Darebo