LJAS Maiden Issue Volume 1 No. 1

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14155/237

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    Characteristics and Trends in production and Market Potential of Certified Maize Seeds in Nigeria
    (National University of Lesotho: Faculty of Agriculture, 2007) Alimi, T.; Williams, S.B.; Bamire, A.S.; Akinrin, A. O.
    The study determined the characteristics and trends in market potential and production of certified maize seed in Nigeria. Data came from certified maize seed and maize grain farmers, and from various issues of Statistical Bulletins of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, markov chain process, time series analysis and budgetary technique. Results of the analyses indicated that certified maize seed production is a modern farming method, and producers were mainly male, literate, had mean age of about 42 years and mean experience of 9 years in certified maize seed production. Producers operated as sole proprietors, obtained farmland largely through inheritance and used informal farm financing sources. The seed farmers prefer selling to government agencies that guarantee purchase of their entire seed output. Significant proportion (55%) of maize grain farmers did not use certified maize seed largely because of ignorance and lack of complementary inputs. Both market potential and production of certified maize seed will grow with time.
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    Economic Analysis of Maize Production in the Maseru District,Lesotho:The case of the Masianokeng Resource Center
    (National University of Lesotho: Faculty of Agriculture, 2007) Matete, Mampiti
    Maize is a staple food and an important source of starch for many households in Lesotho. But, for many years, its domestic supply has failed to meet demand. In order to increase its supply, the Lesotho government has provided many incentives to maize producers, ranging from price support to input subsidies. Despite these efforts, maize supply continues to fall short of demand. Using the Maseru district as a case study, this study determined the economic efficiency of maize production in Lesotho, based on regression and budgetary analytical tools. The study further identified problems that hinder increased maize production in Lesotho. The regression analysis results indicated that, while farmers were economically efficient in using labor, they under-utilized land and fertilizer inputs. Budgetary analysis results indicated that farmers earned a net income of M272.93 per hectare. The study also observed that, lack of capital, unavailability of some inputs and high input costs, hindered maize production in Lesotho. From the overall results of the study, it is evident that maize production in Lesotho can be profitable and that domestic supply can be increased if farmers could use all the production inputs efficiently and if credit facilities and inputs can be made available.
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    Effect of Three Indegenous Pig Breeds and Creep Feeding on Pre-Wearing Litter Performance
    (National University of Lesotho: Faculty of Agriculture, 2007) Molapo, S. M.; Okello-Uma., I.; Odenya, W.O.
    The aim of this study was to determine the litter performance of three indigenous pig breeds in Lesotho based on birth weight and weaning weight. Twenty-seven suckling pigs weighing (0.90 – 1.30 kg) were assigned to three treatments of three levels of feeds. The experiment was designed as a randomised 3*3 factorial of three breeds and three dietary treatments of Makhulo feeds. Three piglets from each breed received the experimental diet (Makhulo commercial feeds) of 200g/day, 100g/day and 0g/day (control) for a period of six weeks. Mean birth weight was 1.13, 0.97 and 1.23kg for Breed 1 (black with smooth coat), Breed 2 (black with rough coat) and Breed 3 (black and white) and were significantly different (P<0.05). The mean weight at weaning (11.62, 7.85 and 10.72kg) was significantly different among the three breeds. The average weaning weight was 11.74, 10.13, and 8.32kg for the 200g/day, 100g/day and 0g/day, respectively. The GLM procedure was used for analyzing the dataset.
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    Irrigation Prospects in Lesotho:An Appraisal of the Seaka Irrigation Project
    (National University of Lesotho: Faculty of Agriculture, 2007) Moeti, L. D.
    Irrigation farming has been practised in Lesotho for over thirty years and yet, to date, there is very little noticeable success. The objective of the paper is to investigate the perceptions of farmers with regard to the causes of failure of the Seaka Irrigation Project. The findings of the study indicate that, the planning, design and implementation of the project were imposed by the decision-makers on the community of the Lower Senqu Valley. The community is generally uneducated and, as a result, struggled to understand the share-out mechanisms related to block farming. In addition, the financial implications of running irrigation farming were not properly understood. Despite past failures, the majority of the farmers within the study indicated readiness to participate in irrigation projects provided that factors which led to the collapse of the Seaka Irrigation Project are fully addressed. There was a strong feeling that a fully participatory project with community initiative could make a positive contribution to the valley’s economy.
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    Molasses Urea Blocks as Supplementary Feed Resource for Ruminants in Botswana
    (National University of Lesotho: Faculty of Agriculture, 2007) Aganga, A.A; Lelata, P.; Tsiane, M.V.
    The aims of this study were to produce low cost, high quality feed supplement for improving the performance of ruminants, and to determine the nutrients composition of the molasses urea blocks (MUB). In study 1 the same level of molasses (45%) and urea (15%) were used in three treatments of blocks, except for the fourth treatment (control) where molasses and urea were not included. Chemical analyses showed that the blocks with molasses and urea had the highest nutritional composition and all the blocks had various amounts of both major and trace elements. In study 2, MUB were used for supplementing Tswana sheep in a feeding trial that lasted 62 days. The sheep were divided into two groups of eight each, the control was given 100% veldt grass while the treatment group was given veldt grass plus MUB as supplement. The MUB increased growth rate of the supplemented Tswana sheep by 94%.
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    Phenotypic characteristics and selective indices of Bambara groundnut landraces for intercropping with sorghum in botswana
    (National University of Lesotho: Faculty of Agriculture, 2007) Karikari, S. K.
    The purpose of the study was to identify phenotypic characteristics and indices for selecting Bambara groundnut for intercropping. Three landraces, namely, Diphiri Cream (Dip C), OMotswasele6 (OM6) and National Tested SeedRed (NTSR) were intercropped with sorghum varity ‘Segaolane’ during 1995/96 and 1996/97 seasons in 3:1, 2:2, 1:3 ratios. The competitive relationship between sorghum and Bambara groundnut was determined by the Relative Crowding Coefficient (k) and Relative Yield Total (RYT). The suppression of Bambara groundnut growth and yield was significantly greater as the population of sorghum in the intercrops increased. The RYT values were higher for DipC than OM6 and NTSR, indicating that DipC could be developed as an ideotype Bambara groundnut for intercropping under semi-arid conditions such as those that pertain in Botswana and areas with similar climate.