Innovare Journal of Agricultural Sciences

PROGRESS OF FOOD PRODUCTION AND FOOD PROCESSING BIOTECHNOLOGY IN AFRICA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

MELAKU TAFESE AWULACHEW — 2023-10-12

The increase in human population worldwide has become a major threat to food security and nutrition. Food production and processing sector particularly the agriculture and food processing are asked to satisfy two apparently contradictory needs, to become more productive, and at the same time, more sustainable. Biotechnology is one of the sectors with significant contribution in modernizing agriculture, food security, and nutrition. Africa including Ethiopia has started research in agricultural-food processing biotechnology a few decades ago. However, research and public awareness on biotechnology is inadequate. This review appraises the agriculture/food production and food processing biotechnology progress in developing societies particularly in Africa so as to understand the roles which agricultural and food processing biotechnology could play therein. The paper concludes with the recommendation that individual countries need to identify their specific national priorities and preferences in food production and harness the growing body of science and innovations in genetic engineering and food processing to address specific issues.

A REVIEW OF FISH DIVERSITY AND MANAGEMENT OF THE VJOSA BASIN: THE FIRST FREE FLOW RIVER PROTECTED AREA IN THE BALKANS

SPASE SHUMKA — 2023-10-12

Vjosa River, an ecologically important area and the last Europe free-flowing river, is an essential aquatic ecosystem for the Albanian ecological, social, and cultural aspects. Fish and other aquatic species are notable among livings composition found in this region. The river environment is unfortunately seriously threatened by the excessive use of its resources, and hence, the goal of this study was to examine the status of fish biodiversity and the demands of the ecosystem for management. The Vjosa river is home of at least 34 species of fishes inhabiting the river and delta system, of which 29 are native, including eight species endemic to the Balkans. With 12 species, Cyprinidae is by far the most specious family, followed by Mugilidae (five). Salmonidae and Acipenseridae are represented by 2 species each. The remaining ten families are represented by a single species. At least four species (Pseudorasbora parva, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Carassius spp., Gambusia holbrooki) were introduced into the Vjosa basin. The lower river reach is populated by other species as European eel (Anguilla anguilla), species of Family Mugilidae (Mugil cephalus, Liza ramada, Liza salienes, and Chelon labrosus), Seabream (Sparus aurata), Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), Flatfish (Platichthys flesus, common sole (Solea spp.), etc., while the resident species associated with saline water include numerically prevalent with the two species Atherina boyeri and Aphanius fasciatus showing presence and significance.

EFFECT OF FREE-FLOATING PLANTS ON WEED EMERGENCE, GROWTH, AND YIELD OF TRANSPLANTED AMAN RICE VARIETIES

TANVIR WAHID — 2023-10-12

At Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University’s agronomy field in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a study was carried out from July to December 2019 to determine the suppressing capacity of floating weeds in T. aman rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment consisted of two factors, namely, rice varieties (three), including Tulshimala, BR11(Mukta), and Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) hybrid dhan6, and weed management (five), including weedy check (control), integrated weed management (IWM) (Pretilachlor 6% + pyrazosulfuron 0.15% and one hand weeding), spreading of Pistia stratiotes, Lemna minor, and Salvinia molesta in 0.5 m2 area in a split-plot design with three replications. The ranking of the relative rate of spreading over the experiment was L. minor > S. molesta > P. stratiotes. A total of six weed species representing five families were found from the transplanting to the later stage of rice growth, where the occurrence of weed infestation related to rice variety and crop growth. BRRI hybrid dhan6 significantly suppressed weeds in related plots. Although weed biomass was significantly reduced, the morphological and biomass characteristics of T. aman rice varieties got disadvantages when grown with P. stratiotes and S. molesta. Cultivation of BRRI hybrid dhan6 and weed control through IWM gave the highest grain yield (5.92 t ha-1). However, the spreading of L. minor facilitated optimal weed control, and good yields were harvested without significant differences, irrespective of varieties. Therefore, competitive weed variety should be considered along with the spreading of L. minor to reduce herbicide loads in the environment and to the evolution of cross-resistant weed populations.

CONSUMERS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PERCEPTION OF FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEMS: THE CASE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA, NIGERIA

IFEOMA QUINETTE ANUGWA — 2023-10-12

Consumers’ knowledge and attitude toward food production systems and its potential impact on the environment drive the demand for food, especially from non-conventional systems. This study seeks to advance the literature on consumers’ preferences for food, by assessing consumers’ knowledge, attitude, and perception of food production systems in the University of Nigeria Nsukka community. Multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 129 respondents drawn from students, academic, and non-academic staff in the university. Data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The data were collected in-person using a questionnaire. The study revealed that the internet, friends/neighbor, social media, and television were the dominant platforms for sourcing information on the food production systems. The food consumers had little knowledge of genetically modified food products but were quite knowledgeable about organic and conventional food products, respectively. However, they had a positive attitude and perception of food products obtained mainly from organic production system. In addition, the quality of products (M=2.26), income (M=2.14), and cultural beliefs (M=1.54) were some of the factors that affected the intention of consumers to purchase food products obtained from the different food production systems. The study further revealed that packaging of various types of food products (M=1.64) and health implication of consuming food products (M=1.58) were some of information needed by consumers. There is a need for more consumer education in the university community to increase the knowledge of consumers on the health, environmental, and economic benefits of consuming the various food products.

ASSESSMENT OF THE NATURAL REGENERATION STATUS OF IRVINGIA GABONENSIS (BUSH MANGO) IN THE KWANO FOREST OF GASHAKA GUMTI NATIONAL PARK, NIGERIA

FEBNTEH E B — 2023-10-12

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) describes the bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis) species as currently listed in the “lower risk or near threatened” category of its red list and an important versatile tree species in the family Irvingiaceae. I. gabonensis regenerates through seeds and it produces seeds with good germination as such; its natural size in natural habitat is actively regenerating. The present study was conducted to assess the natural regeneration status of I. gabonensis in Kwano Forest of Gashaka Gumti National Park in Nigeria. Through the biophysical survey, the number of regenerants (seedling, saplings, poles, and adults) and trees per hectare (based on diameter classes) was assessed in the forest. The study revealed that there was an increasing trend of I. gabonensis seedlings with good regeneration status. While saplings and adults are fair in regeneration per hectare in Kwano forest, respectively. Furthermore, poles had poor regeneration potentials in the study area. Hence, collectively, there was an apparent diminishing of the natural regeneration trend of I. gabonensis trees among pole classes in the Kwano Forest as a result of constant invasion and disturbances of bush pigs feedings on the ripe fruits thereby creating a setback on regeneration trend. The information is a basis to conservationists toward preservation and sustainable use of the tree species. Hence, the need for concurrent development of possible and efficient alternative method of regeneration is necessary.