International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Research

Evaluation of poultry manure rates on growth and yield attributes of Kapok seedlings in Southeastern Nigeria

2026-03-08T06:56:08-05:00

A pot experiment examined the effect of poultry manure rates on Kapok seedlings' growth by evaluating above- and below-ground biomass production at the Teaching and Research Farms of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with five replications. Poultry manure (PM) was applied at five treatment rates (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 t ha^-1) to Kapok seedlings, and parameters for growth and yield were measured at different time periods. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results indicate that seedlings treated with 40 t ha^-1 of PM showed consistent growth in plant height. Poultry manure rates had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on stem girth across the months, except at 2 MAT, with the application of 40 t ha^-1 of PM consistently leading to greater stem girth measurements. A significant influence (p < 0.05) of PM rates was detected on the dry weight of shoot and whole seedling biomass, and the application of 40 t ha^-1 of PM recorded higher yield values compared to other treatments. The application of poultry manure at 40 t ha^-1 consequently favored increases in above- and below-ground biomass accumulation of Kapok seedlings, indicating its potential for organic production of Kapok seedlings.

Gendered impacts of conservation agriculture: Evidence of empowerment and constraint from Northwestern Ghana

2026-03-10T18:34:46-05:00

Across sub-Saharan Africa, women serve as key actors in smallholder agricultural production. However, they face gendered inequalities in land access, knowledge, labor, and farm and household decision-making, which continue to impede their capacity to benefit from innovative agricultural interventions such as conservation agriculture (CA). This research assesses how women are empowered through resource access, household decision-making power, workload dynamics, control of income, food security, and psychosocial achievement through their participation in the Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme’s Conservation Agriculture (GASIP-CA) in northwestern Ghana. The study employed a mixed-method research approach, comprising a survey of 180 beneficiary women farmers, 6 focus group discussions, and 10 key informant interviews. The study found that GASIP-CA has significantly improved women's access to resources through capacity-building training on CA principles and access to labor-saving technologies. But structural challenges such as insecure land access persisted. There have been improvements in women’s agency in household and community decision-making dynamics, as many reported training men on CA principles. Women also made significant achievements in terms of improved income and savings, food security, self-esteem, soil fertility, and household cohesion. Therefore, it was concluded that CA interventions can play a central role as a multidimensional empowerment pathway for addressing gendered disparities in land access, household decision-making dynamics, and labor dynamics. Agricultural policies and programs should target secure land and other resource access, leadership, and capacity-building opportunities for women as a basis for their empowerment.

Determinants of loan repayment among bank of agriculture loan beneficiaries in South East, Nigeria

2026-03-28T06:25:55-05:00

This study examined the determinants of loan repayment among beneficiaries of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) in South-East Nigeria. Specifically, it described the socio-economic characteristics of beneficiaries, identified factors influencing loan repayment, and highlighted constraints militating against effective repayment. Primary data were obtained through structured questionnaires administered to 270 beneficiaries selected through a multi-stage sampling technique combining purposive and random procedures across Anambra, Enugu, and Imo States. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model. Results indicated that 65.6% of beneficiaries were male and predominantly married, with a mean household size of six persons. Farming was the major occupation, with an average farm size of 1.5 hectares and a mean farming experience of 12 years. Regression results revealed that age, educational attainment, farm size, farming experience, farm income, distance to the bank, interest paid on loan, value of collateral, and loan amount significantly influenced loan repayment performance. Major financial constraints identified included high interest rates, delays in loan processing, untimely disbursement of approved loans, stringent collateral requirements, limited loan amounts, and short repayment periods. These challenges adversely affected beneficiaries’ repayment capacity and overall loan performance. The study recommends that the Bank of Agriculture develop and implement an efficient loan disbursement framework to ensure timely release of funds, reduce loan diversion, and strengthen beneficiaries’ capacity to meet repayment obligations.