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Models Comparative Study for Estimating Crop Water Requirement and Irrigation Scheduling of Maize in Metekel Zone, Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia
Ashebir Haile Tefera,
Demeke Tamene Mitiku
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
59-70
Received:
13 December 2020
Accepted:
4 January 2021
Published:
15 January 2021
Abstract: This study was aimed to compare estimation methods of crop water requirement and irrigation scheduling for major crops using different models and compare the significance of models for adoption in different situations of the Metekel zone. Crop water requirement and irrigation scheduling of maize in selected districts of Metekel zone were estimated using CropWat model based on soil, crop and meteorological data, and AquaCrop based on soil, crop and meteorological data including Co2, groundwater, field management, and fertility status. Model performance was evaluated using Normalized Root mean square errors (NRMSE), model by Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), Prediction error (Pe), and Model efficiency (MF). It is observed that the maximum reference evapotranspiration in the study area was found to be 7.1 mm/day in Guba and the minimum reference evapotranspiration was 2.9 mm/day in Bullen district. In all cases, the maximum ETo in all districts was fund to in March and the lowest in August. The maximum ETc of maize was found to be 702.4mm in Guba district and the minimum ETc was found to be 572.6mm in Bullen district using CropWat but the effective rainfall (Pe) for maize was determined as 185mm respectively in Wembera district. However, using the AquaCrop model the maximum ETc of 565 mm was recorded in Guba but 425 mm was recorded as a minimum in the Wembera district for irrigated maize in the study area. The study revealed that the irrigation scheduling with a fixed interval criterion for maize 10 days with 12 irrigation events has been determined. Moreover, furrow irrigation with 60% irrigation application efficiency was adjusted during irrigation water applications for all districts. The performance of the irrigation schedule and crop response was evaluated by the analysis results in the simulation using different models. It has been observed that there were a strong relationship and a significant relation between the simulated and observed values for validation. Hence, Normalized Root mean square errors (NRMSE), model by Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), Prediction error (Pe), and Model efficiency (MF) showed that the AquaCrop model well simulated in all parameters considered. AquaCrop model is the most suitable soil-water-crop-environment management model, so future studies should suggest a focus on addressing deficit irrigation strategy with different field management conditions to improve agricultural water productivity under irrigated agriculture for the study area for major crops.
Abstract: This study was aimed to compare estimation methods of crop water requirement and irrigation scheduling for major crops using different models and compare the significance of models for adoption in different situations of the Metekel zone. Crop water requirement and irrigation scheduling of maize in selected districts of Metekel zone were estimated ...
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Analysis of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices Among Maize Farmers in Funtua Agricultural Development Zone of Katsina State, Nigeria
Akinyemi Mudashiru,
Adeola Segun Solomon,
Hassan Christiana Onyohu,
Balogun Stanley Olusegun,
Ekpa Daniel,
Adaraniwon Bolaji Samuel,
Hassan Muili Tunde
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
71-77
Received:
1 August 2020
Accepted:
20 February 2021
Published:
17 March 2021
Abstract: Farming techniques in sub-Saharan African is not progressing at the same stride with advancement of modern agriculture practice. The resultant effects are obscenest and foulest recital in agricultural productivity which culminate in food insecurity, impoverishment and deprived national economy. This study examined climate smart agricultural practices among maize farmers in Funtua agricultural development zone of Katsina State. Primary data was collected with the aid of structured and pre-tested questionnaire administered to One hundred and sixty respondents using multi-stage sampling technique. Questionnaire administration was done by the researchers abetted by trained enumerators. Data collected from respondents was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Socio-economic diagnosis shows that the mean age of the respondents was 48 years. This suggests that majority of the maize CSAP practioners in the study area are in their youthful age and mainly (53%) are fully involved in maize farming with majority (75%) having more than 11 years maize farming experience. This implies that most of the maize farmers are energetic, this can translate to better performance in maize farming activities. The majority of the farmers (68%) are educated. This would further enhanced in espousal of CSAP technology. The study further revealed that the most CSAP techniques in the study area is minimum tillage and mixed farming as used by 90% of the respondents, while about 85% of the maize farmers interviewed practiced cover cropping. Inferential statistics reveals that coefficient of multiple determination R-squared value of 51.5%. Three out of seven exogenous variables were significant, these are Household size, farm size and education. Household size was negatively significant (P < 0.01). It implies that an increase in the size of the farming household would decrease the practice of CSAP in the study area. Education was positively significant (P<0.01). This connotes that advancement in farmers education will influence the practice of CSAP in the study area. Farm size was positively (P < 0.1). This implies that an increase in the farm size will stimulate the practice of CSAP among the maize farmers. The study concludes that there are ample evidences of CSAP activities among maize farmers in Funtua agricultural zone. The study recommends that bottleneck occasioned from non-availability of land for maize production should be tackled through government intervention. Knowledge update with respect to CSAP farming techniques should be championed by the farmers’ group and agricultural institutions. Household size should be regulated and synchronized with focus on agricultural productivity.
Abstract: Farming techniques in sub-Saharan African is not progressing at the same stride with advancement of modern agriculture practice. The resultant effects are obscenest and foulest recital in agricultural productivity which culminate in food insecurity, impoverishment and deprived national economy. This study examined climate smart agricultural practic...
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Impact of Major Vegetable Production on Youth’s Income the Cause of Gidda Ayana District, East Wollega Zone, Oromia Region Ethiopia
Waktole Bayisa Debelo,
Abayineh Amare,
Birki Gurmessa
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
78-87
Received:
16 December 2020
Accepted:
7 February 2021
Published:
26 April 2021
Abstract: Vegetable production is an agricultural activity that demands intensive labor and plays dominant role in human nutrition, health improvement, income generation and poverty reduction. The general objective of this study was to analyze the impact of major vegetable production on rural youth income in the study area. Three stage sampling procedures were used in this study. The primary data were collected through focus group discussion and key informant interview. Secondary data were collected from review of related literatures and documents. Propensity scoring match (PSM) was used for analyzing quantitative data. Eight explanatory variables were hypothesized for this study. Accordingly five of them have positively impact on major vegetable production. Based on this age, access to irrigation, access to input and land size were positive affect on youth engagement in vegetable production while, sex of youth was negative impact. The result of PSM analysis indicated that participation in major vegetable production has increased annual youth’s farm income by 2812.20 ETB for participant youth than non-participant youth which is significant at 1% significant level. The sensitivity analysis result showed that the impact results estimated by this study were unobserved selection bias. It was concluded that major vegetable production has positive and significant impact on youth’s annual income. So to extend their source of income, it is best for youth to find the way with woreda agricultural office to engage in major vegetable production as regular job. Therefore looking collective action should be advisable to improve and sustain the positive impact of major vegetable production by reducing constraints that face youth farmers regarding on major vegetable farming in the area.
Abstract: Vegetable production is an agricultural activity that demands intensive labor and plays dominant role in human nutrition, health improvement, income generation and poverty reduction. The general objective of this study was to analyze the impact of major vegetable production on rural youth income in the study area. Three stage sampling procedures we...
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Empirical Analysis of Determinants of Poverty Among Farmers in Rural Northern Ghana
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
88-97
Received:
26 December 2020
Accepted:
6 February 2021
Published:
29 April 2021
Abstract: In the northern parts of Ghana, the prevalence of extreme poverty is threatening security of household food and nutrition. Deprivation is more extreme compared to the southern territories of the country. Though poverty is more of a rural phenomenon, its severity is much prominent among farmers living in the rural savannah enclave of the northern territories. In line with the universal declaration of human rights, some forms of commitments have been made to ameliorate the living conditions of the poor people. However, in spite of large number of state and privately initiated poverty alleviation programmes, the levels of poverty remain significantly high in the northern part of Ghana. The impact of such intervention programmes towards poverty reduction in the region is modest. This study seeks to evaluate the possible causes of poverty among smallholder farmers in rural northern Ghana. The study used data from a recent survey of 420 smallholder farmers in five randomly selected districts of northern region, Ghana. The study applied multi-stage sampling strategy to select 420 famers from 188,275 farmers in the five selected districts of the northern region of Ghana. The study applied simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques as part of the multi-stage sampling process. Five districts were selected at random in the first level and the second stage involved a selection of six farming communities in each of the five districts. Purposive sampling technique was then used to identify the required number of farmers. Analytically, logit regression estimation was applied to establish the strength of the correlation between the independent variables and the dependent variable (poverty). The survey revealed that the most important determining factors of household poverty were labour force (workforce), gender, farm experience, assistance to farmers, access to farm lands (land holding) and dependency ratio. As far as the literature search on the subject is concerned, the author is convinced that this study is the first of its kind to examine the determinants of poverty among smallholder farmers in the northern Ghana.
Abstract: In the northern parts of Ghana, the prevalence of extreme poverty is threatening security of household food and nutrition. Deprivation is more extreme compared to the southern territories of the country. Though poverty is more of a rural phenomenon, its severity is much prominent among farmers living in the rural savannah enclave of the northern te...
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