AGRO INFORMATION

The arrival of human in an area, to live or to conduct agriculture necessarily has environmental impact, these range from simple crowding out of wild plants in favor of more desirable cultival to larger scale impacts such as reducing biodiversity by reducing food availability of native species which can propagate across food chains. The use of agricultural chemical such as fertilizer and the magnify those impact while advance in Agro chemistry have reduced those impact for example by the replacement of long lived chemicals with those that reliably degrade, even in the best case they remain substantial ,these effect are magnified by the use of older chemistries and poor management practices. Courtesy : folorunsho Franklin temidayo Aec/15 /1363

Maize or corn is a cereal crop that is grown widely throughout the world in a range of agroecological environments. More maize is produced annually than any other grain. About 50 species exist and consist of different colors, textures and grain shapes and sizes. White, yellow and red are the most common types. The white and yellow varieties are preferred by most people depending on the region. Maize was introduced into Africa in the 1500s and has since become one of Africa’s dominant food crops. Like many other regions, it is consumed as a vegetable although it is a grain crop. The grains are rich in vitamins A, C and E, carbohydrates, and essential minerals, and contain 9% protein. They are also rich in dietary fiber and calories which are a good source of energy. Importance Maize is the most important cereal crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and an important staple food for more than 1.2 billion people in SSA and Latin America. All parts of the crop can be used for food and non-f...

Cochliobolus miyabeanus (formerly known as Helminthosporium oryzae) is a fungus that causes brown spot disease in rice. This disease was the causal agent of the Bengal famine of 1943. Local name: Kandu, Chukke, Roga Period of occurrence: Seedling to maturity Extent of yield loss: 50-90% in extreme cases Mode of transmission/ dissemination: wind Sources of inoculum: Seed, Collateral hosts, Rice straw or Stubble Hosts and symptoms  Brown spot of rice is a plant fungal disease that usually occurs on the host leaves and glume, as well as seedlings, sheaths, stems and grains of adult host plants. Hosts include Oryzae sativa (Asian rice), Leersia (Cutgrass), Zizania (Wild rice), and other species as well such as Echinochloa colona (junglerice) and Zea mays (maize). Cochliobolus miyabeanus may cause a wide range of symptoms. General symptoms occurring on the hosts can be observed on many parts of the plant, including leaves, seeds, stems and inflorescences, along with the pres...

                                                                                Advantages of technology in agriculture include expediting crop production rate and crop quantity, which in turn reduces costs of production for farmers and food costs for consumers, and even makes crops more nutritious and livestock bigger and meatier. Technology in agriculture produces benefits for small-scale farms and national farming operations alike. These technologies include using environmentally sound and sustainable farming methods, such as no-till agriculture, and sophisticated equipment, including biotechnology. Biotechnology serves as an evaluative and forecasting tool, helping farmers address issues like poor soil conditions, lower crop output and low nutritional value. Biotechnology lets humans...

Poverty is a significant and persistent problem in developing countries. Over 1.1 billion people live in households that earn a dollar a day or less per person. Almost half of the population of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa lives in absolute poverty; only East Asia has managed to substantially reduce the proportion of its population that is absolutely poor. Agricultural growth stimulates economic growth in nonagricultural sectors, which, in turn, results in increased employment and reduced poverty. This further stimulates demand for agricultural goods, acting as a growth multiplier in the agricultural sector. The limited availability of new land, however, means that agricultural intensification -- increasing the productivity of land already under cultivation--is the key to alleviating poverty through an agricultural growth strategy. Thus addressing rural poverty in the first instance is a crucial catalyst in igniting agriculture as an engine of growth in an economy. The authors con...

How to control  maize disease  using actellic (primophos methyl) 2 percent dust for proper protection against damage. 1. One and half large match-box full of acetilic dust and should be measured. 2. The walls and floor of rumbu or granary must be cleaned thoroughly. 3. About 22.73 kg of threshed grains equivalent of cobs should be spread in the store 4. The dust should be sprinkled evenly over the cobs in store 5.Another layer of cobs should be added to give 22.73kg of threshed grains and this should be repeated until all maize is treated and the store is full 6. Then the store for granary should be tightly closed OLE MOSES OKPAYI MATRIC NUMBER: AEC/15/1384

We know that agroforestry can provide a range of benefits for subsistence farmers. But just how does agroforestry reduce farmers’ vulnerability to climate change? New research shows at least five ways. According to climate models, warmer temperatures, greater rainfall variability and increasingly severe and frequent extreme weather events are in store. These changes are expected to decrease agricultural productivity in the developing world, carrying a host of negative repercussions for farmers. Among those most vulnerable are people farming at the subsistence level, partly because they lack the money to invest in innovative practices. A new study by Tannis Thorlakson of Harvard’s Sustainability Science Program and Henry Neufeldt, head of climate change research at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) explored just how agroforestry can help reduce farmers’ vulnerability, using a farmer-managed agroforestry project developed by ICRAF and located in the Nyando District of western Ke...

Sustainable agriculture is the farmers’ ability for producing food without affecting the environment as well as the surrounding ecosystem. There are a few issues which are connected to agriculture and one of them is the biophysical issue. I is linked with activities like fertilizer usage use of artificial nutrients and crop rotation along with the availability of resources like sunlight, water and wind. While all these factors are equally important for plant growth, fertilizers are given extra importance, as they are the ones that help plants in the initial stages o growth. Fertilizers are materials of synthetic or natural origin which are applied to the plant tissues or soil for supplying plant nutrients crucial to plant growth. Fertilizers are meant for enhancing plant growth. The objective is met in 2 different ways: 1. Additives for providing nutrients, 2. And fertilizers for enhancing soil’s effectiveness by modifying aeration and water retention. When it comes to fertilizers,...

Agricultural health is the study of environmental, occupational, dietary, and genetic factors on the health of farmers, farm families, pesticide applicators, and others who work with and are exposed to agricultural chemicals.It's true that many types of health problems are associated with traditional farming methods, including falls, skin problems, burns, eye injuries, psychological stress, and musculoskeletal disorders. Historically, farming was never an easy occupation -- it has always taken a toll on farmers' bodies. But modern agricultural machinery and chemicals also subject today's farmers to many new types of health problems, such as machinery-related injuries and deaths, respiratory disorders, certain cancers, neurologic disorders, and hearing loss. The most pervasive of these problems are respiratory issues plus cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Modern Agriculture and Cancers plus Neurodegenerative Diseases in Farmers Cancers plus neurodegenerative diseases...

Agriculture is a changing industry that are often driven by technology, such as advance in engineering and biology. It is an industry that will always be needed because there are more than 7 billion of people in the world who want and need to fed everyday, as well as needing energy for machines and carbon feedstock for other products. Often time farmers whinge about the invasion of pest and diseases on their farm which reduces the output of the product. You can avoid many of these toxic chemicals by using natural pest control methods instead. Taking a preventative approach will also save you time and money in the long run.For all pests, the best defense is vigorous, healthy plants. Make sure your plants have plenty of water, nutrients, sunshine and attention. You can also boost beneficial microorganisms in your soil by applying compost tea  to help reduce damage from insects and diseases. Here are some tips on how to control pest and disease; FUNGAL DISEASES Keeping your plant...