Journal and Journal Articles: Recent submissions

Now showing items 121-140 of 5157

    • Assessment of effectiveness of maize seed treated with cyantraniliprole and thiamethoxam for management of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) 

      Chinwada, P.; Fiaboe, K.; Akem, C.; Dixon, A.; Chikoye, D. (2023-12)
      The effectiveness of maize seed treatments for management of fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda) was evaluated under natural infestation conditions in Zambia in 2019, 2020 and 2022. Two seed treatments were tested: cyantraniliprole (Fortenza® 600 FS) + thiamethoxam (Cruiser® 600 FS) (combination marketed as Fortenza® Duo) and Fortenza® 600 FS. Other treatments included each of the two seed treatments supplemented with threshold-based rotational sprays of Denim Fit® 50 WG (emamectin benzoate ...

    • Drivers of consumer acceptability of cassava gari-eba food products across cultural and environmental settings using the triadic comparison of technologies approach (tricot) 

      Olaosebikan, O.; Bello, A.A.; de Sousa, K.; Ndjouenkeu, R.; Adesokan, M.; Alamu, E.O.; Agbona, A.; van Etten, J.; Kegah, F.N.; Dufour, D.; Bouniol, A.; Teeken, B. (2023-07-18)
      BACKGROUND Nigeria and Cameroon are multi-ethnic countries with diverse preferences for food characteristics. The present study aimed to inform cassava breeders on consumer-prioritized eba quality traits. Consumer testing was carried out using the triadic comparison of technologies (tricot). Diverse consumers in villages, towns and cities evaluated the overall acceptability of eba made from different cassava genotypes. Data from both countries were combined and linked to laboratory analyses of eba ...

    • Analyzing the drivers of smallholder farmer’s market participation in the Sahelian region of Niger 

      Zakari, S.; Moussa, B.; Ibro, G.; Abdoulaye, T. (2023-06-02)
      Many sub-Saharan farmers rely on agricultural production for home consumption and sell crops to meet their other needs. Farmers’ market intervention enhances economic expansion and helps to improve household food security. In our current study, we strive to explore the determinants of farmers’ decisions and the intensity of market participation in the Sahelian region of Niger, where little has been published, thereby filling the gap in the literature. A double hurdle approach was employed to achieve ...

    • A global assessment of the state of plant health 

      Ortega-Beltran, A.; Kumar, P.L.; Menkir, A.; Bandyopadhyay, R.; Mahuku, G.; Legg, J.; Fiaboe, K.; Tripathi, L. (2023)
      The Global Plant Health Assessment (GPHA) is a collective, volunteer-based effort to assemble expert opinions on plant health and disease impacts on ecosystem services based on published scientific evidence. The GPHA considers a range of forest, agricultural, and urban systems worldwide. These are referred to as [Ecoregion × Plant System], i.e., selected case examples involving keystone plants in given parts of the world. The GPHA focuses on infectious plant diseases and plant pathogens, but ...

    • Development and validation of near-infrared spectroscopy procedures for prediction of cassava root dry matter and amylose contents in Ugandan cassava germplasm 

      Nuwamanya, E.; Wembabazi, E.; Kanaabi, M.; Namakula, F.B.; Katungisa, A.; Lyatumi, I.; Ezuma, W.; Alamu, E.O.; Dufour, D.; Kawuki, R.; Davrieux, F. (2023-09-04)
      Background Cassava utilization for food and/or industrial products depends on inherent properties of root dry matter content (DMC) and the starch fraction of amylose content (AC). Accordingly, in this study, NIRS models were developed to aid breeding and selection of DMC and AC as critical industrial traits taking care of root sample preparation and cassava germplasm diversity available in Uganda. Results Upon undertaking calibrations and cross-validations, best models were adopted for validation. ...

    • The input reduction principle of agroecology is wrong when it comes to mineral fertilizer use in sub-Saharan Africa 

      Falconnier, G.N.; Cardinael, R.; Corbeels, M.; Baudron, F.; Chivenge, P.; Couedel, A.; Ripoche, A.; Affholder, F.; Naudin, K.; Benaillon, E.; Rusinamhodzi, L.; Leroux, L.; Vanlauwe, B.; Giller, K. (2023-09)
      Can farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) boost crop yields and improve food availability without using more mineral fertilizer? This question has been at the center of lively debates among the civil society, policy-makers, and in academic editorials. Proponents of the “yes” answer have put forward the “input reduction” principle of agroecology, i.e. by relying on agrobiodiversity, recycling and better efficiency, agroecological practices such as the use of legumes and manure can increase crop ...

    • Assessing the impact of Gliricidia agroforestry-based interventions on crop nutritional, antinutritional, functional, and mineral compositions in eastern Province, Zambia 

      Alamu, E.O.; Njoloma, J.; Akello, J.; Ngumayo, J.; Ray, C.; Mehreteab, T.; Chikoye, D.; Nyoka, I.; Dale, L.; Nagothu, U.S. (2023-09-10)
      Agroforestry practices improve soil health which in turn improves crop nutrient concentrations and quality. This study examined how the agroforestry tree Gliricidia sepium intercropped with soybean, groundnuts, or maize affects crop nutrient compositions. The study was conducted in five Zambian chiefdoms for three crop-growing seasons (2019–2022) on 13 farmer-led demonstration trial sites. Seven treatments were tested that included maize, soybean, and groundnut plots with and without Gliricidia ...

    • Drivers of transformation of the maize sector in Nigeria 

      Assfaw Wossen, T.; Menkir, A.; Alene, A.; Abdoulaye, T.; Ajala, S.; Badu-Apraku, B.; Gedil, M.; Mengesha Abera, W.; Meseka, S.K. (2023-09)
      Maize is widely used for food, animal feed, and industrial raw material in Nigeria. This paper documents the important changes that characterize Nigeria’s maize production and area expansion along with contributing factors that have transformed maize from a backyard food crop to a dominant food security and commercial crop. Using both secondary and primary data on maize production and varietal adoption over the last six decades, we found that Nigeria now produces ten times more maize than it did ...

    • The IITA agripreneur movement: a dynamic approach to youth empowerment across Africa 

      Sanginga, N.; Adenmosun, A.; Obaniyi, J.; Mulinganya, N.; Woomer, P. (2023-08-29)
      The Agripreneur Movement of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) allows youth to assume their rightful place in African agricultural transformation. It started as a single exploratory agribusiness incubation at IITA Headquarters in 2012, involving 37 youths. It has since grown to 10 countries through nine sponsoring organizations. We compiled the characteristics and outcomes of 40 Agripreneur projects between 2012 and 2021 to describe the movement’s growth. With time, the ...

    • Farmers’ perspective toward a demand led yam breeding in Nigeria 

      Kalu, C.; Nnabue, I.; Edemodu, A.; Agre, A.P.; Adebola, P.O.; Asfaw, A.; Obidiegwu, J.E. (2023-09-08)
      This study seeks to increase the efficiency of yam breeding practice using farmers’ insight at the trait and socioeconomic levels. A three-staged multisampling procedure was employed and 792 yam farmers from four geopolitical zones, comprising 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in Nigeria were randomly selected. Farmer’s preference criteria and factors pertinent to improving the efficiency of yam breeding in Nigeria were documented. The data obtained were analyzed using a 5-point ...

    • The income and food security impacts of soil and water conservation technologies in Tanzania 

      Manda, J.; Tufa, H.A.; Alene, A.; Swai, E.; Muthoni, F.K.; Hoeschle-Zeledon, I.; Bekunda, M. (2023-09-01)
      Soil and water conservation technologies are critical in reducing drought and soil erosion risks and increasing crop yields and incomes. Yet, there is limited empirical evidence on the extent and impacts of adopting soil and water conservation technologies in Tanzania. The study’s objective is to evaluate the adoption (as well as the duration of adoption) and the impacts of soil and water conservation technologies on income and food security in Tanzania. The study employs a control function approach ...

    • Multiple year influences of the aflatoxin biocontrol product AF-X1 on the A. flavus communities associated with maize production in Italy 

      Ouadhene, M.A.; Ortega-Beltran, A.; Sanna, M.; Cotty, P.J.; Battilani, P. (2023-02-28)
      AF-X1 is a commercial aflatoxin biocontrol product containing the non-aflatoxigenic (AF-) strain of Aspergillus flavus MUCL54911 (VCG IT006), endemic to Italy, as an active ingredient. The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term persistence of VCG IT006 in the treated fields, and the multi-year influence of the biocontrol application on the A. flavus population. Soil samples were collected in 2020 and 2021 from 28 fields located in four provinces in north Italy. A vegetative compatibility ...

    • Uneven ground? Intersectional gender inequalities in the commercialized cassava seed system in Tanzania 

      Liani, M.L.; Cole, S.M.; Mwakanyamale, D.F.; Baumung, L.; Saleh, N.; Webber, A.; Tufan, H.A; Kapinga, R. (2023-10-02)
      Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important crop in Africa, especially to women who rely on it as a household staple food and source of income. In Tanzania, a recent move toward commercializing the cassava seed system resulted in significantly fewer women than men farmers, known as Cassava Seed Entrepreneurs (CSEs), producing improved seed for sale to fellow farmers. To document the barriers and constraints that create gender inequalities in the seed system to better understand women’s low ...

    • Performance of testers with contrasting provitamin A content to evaluate provitamin A maize for resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin production 

      Mboup, M.; Aduramigba-Modupe, A.O.; Sayadi Maazou, A.R.; Olasanmi, B.; Mengesha Abera, W.; Meseka, S.K.; Dieng, I.; Bandyopadhyay, R.; Menkir, A.; Ortega-Beltran, A. (2023-05-10)
      In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), millions of people depend on maize as a primary staple. However, maize consumers in SSA may be exposed to malnutrition due to vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and unsafe aflatoxin levels, which can lead to serious economic and public health problems. Provitamin A (PVA) biofortified maize has been developed to alleviate VAD and may have additional benefits such as reduced aflatoxin contamination. In this study, maize inbred testers with contrasting PVA content in grain were ...

    • flatoxin contamination of maize and groundnut in Burundi: distribution of contamination, identification of causal agents and potential biocontrol genotypes of Aspergillus flavus 

      Nsabiyumva, G.; Mutegi, C.; Wagacha, M.; Mohamed, A.B.; Njeru, N.K.; Ndayihanzamaso, P.; Niyuhire, C.; Atehnkeng, J.; Njukwe, E.; Callicott, K.; Cotty, P.; Ortega-Beltran, A.; Bandyopadhyay, R. (2023-03-13)
      Aflatoxin contamination of the staples maize and groundnut is a concern for health and economic impacts across sub-Saharan Africa. The current study (i) determined aflatoxin levels in maize and groundnut collected at harvest in Burundi, (ii) characterized populations of Aspergillus section Flavi associated with the two crops, and (iii) assessed aflatoxin-producing potentials among the recovered fungi. A total of 120 groundnut and 380 maize samples were collected at harvest from eight and 16 ...

    • Addressing another threat to food safety: conflict 

      Ortega‐Beltran, A.; Bandyopadhyay, R. (2023-01-14)
      Societal Impact Statement The conflict between Ukraine and Russia will negatively affect not only food security but also food safety. Crops produced in Ukraine and Russia are at little risk of contamination by mycotoxins such as aflatoxin. However, due to the conflict, wheat, maize, sunflower, and other crops that would have been produced in and exported from Ukraine will need to be produced somewhere else. If done in warm production areas, strategies will need to be implemented to prevent mycotoxin ...

    • Aflatoxin biocontrol in practice requires a multidisciplinary, long-term approach 

      Ortega-Beltran, A.; Bandyopadhyay, R. (2023-02-10)
      One of the most elusive food safety problems is the contamination of staple crops with the highly carcinogenic aflatoxins produced by Aspergillus section Flavi fungi. Governments, farmers, institutions, consumers, and companies demand aflatoxin solutions. Many aflatoxin management technologies exist, but their real-life use and effectiveness is determined by diverse factors. Biocontrol products based on atoxigenic isolates of A. flavus can effectively reduce aflatoxins from field to fork. However, ...

    • Variation in the morphology and effector profiles of Exserohilum turcicum isolates associated with the Northern Corn Leaf Blight of maize in Nigeria 

      Bankole, F.; Badu-Apraku, B.; Salami, A.O.; Falade, T.D.O.; Bandyopadhyay, R.; Ortega-Beltran, A. (2023-08-10)
      Background Maize production in lowland agro-ecologies in West and Central Africa is constrained by the fungus Exserohilum turcicum, causal agent of Northern Corn Leaf Blight (NCLB). Breeding for resistance to NCLB is considered the most effective management strategy. The strategy would be even more effective if there is adequate knowledge of the characteristics of E. turcicum in a target region. Maize leaves showing NCLB symptoms were collected during field surveys in three major maize growing ...

    • The fate of nitrogen during agricultural intensification in East Africa: nitrogen budgets in contrasting agroecosystems 

      Tully, K.L.; Hickman, J.E.; Russo, T.A.; Neill, C.; Matata, P.; Nyadzi, G.; Mutuo, P.; Palm, C.A. (2023-07-09)
      The intensification of agricultural systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is necessary to reduce poverty and improve food security, but increased nutrient applications in smallholder systems could have negative consequences for water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and air quality. We tracked nitrogen (N) inputs and measured maize (Zea mays) biomass, grain yields, N leaching, and nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide fluxes from a clayey soil in Yala, Kenya and a sandy soil in Tumbi, Tanzania, with ...

    • Genetic enhancement of early and extra-early maturing maize for tolerance to low-soil nitrogen in sub-Saharan Africa 

      Badu-Apraku, B.; Fakorede, M.; Annor, B.; Adu, G.B.; Obeng-Bio, E.; Abu, P.; Bhadmus, O.A.; Nelimor, C. (2023-03-14)
      To increase and improve food crop production and crop management for sustainable agricultural development, the Maize Improvement Program (MIP) of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has, in partnership with national and international organizations, focused attention on the genetic improvement of maize (Zea mays L.) for tolerance/resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses constraining maize grain production. One of the abiotic stresses into which new technologies have been ...