In Ethiopia, maize is the second largest in production areas and first in its productivity but there are high yield gaps between the actual yield currently producing and the potential yield. Therefore, this study was aimed to identify factors that affecting maize production of smallholder farmers at the farm level in the Meta district in the east Hararge zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. A two-stage random sampling technique was employed and a total of 200 smallholder farmers were randomly and proportionally selected to collect primary data. Multiple linear regression models were used to analysis factors that affect maize production among smallholder farmers. The result showed that the production of maize was influenced by several factors. The coefficient provided that as the farmers obtained 1 dollar from non-farm activity, the maize production of farmers increased by 293.2 kg, keeping other factors constant. Thus, the farmers who had money from non-farm sources used as additional income to gain agricultural inputs for maize production and thus generate more maize quantity. The result was pointed out that the size of the cultivated areas of land had a positive influence on the quantity of maize production of farmers. The coefficient entailed that as the size of the cultivated areas of land increased by one hectare, the farmer’s quantity of maize production increased by 140.4 kg by keeping other factors constant. The result was also indicated that other factors being constant, the maize crop production of smallholder farmers of Meta district was decreased by 4 kg as Development Agent’s (DA’s) office distance increased by one minute. The possible explanation was that extension services were a critical source of information on agronomic practices. Therefore, policy makers should encourage the current maize production and supplying improved seed and chemical fertilizer which support to improve smallholder farm households’ welfare by increasing their sources of income.

‘Circular economy’ in agriculture centres on the production of agricultural commodities using a minimal amount of external inputs, closing nutrient loops and reducing negative discharges to the environment (in the form of wastes and emissions). This can be achieved through the (re)design of maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing, and recycling. Under the principles of CE, products and materials approaching their end-of-life stage can be regenerated or restored or replaced. Circular agriculture is aimed at closing the loop of materials and substances, and reducing both resource use and discharges into the environment. New measures like environmental taxes, insurance for liability resulting from environmental damage, cap and trade system and environmental labelling can be explored to promote transition of a current linear model to a circular one. The circular economy in Nepal is in infant stage and there is plenty of works to be done in this sector. The results of the paper will be instrumental for the transition of Nepalese agricultural sector to a more circular one.

Bu çalışma ile Aydın ili Umurlu, Dalama ve Çakmar mahallelerinden seçilen üç zeytin bahçesinde Zeytin sineği (Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin)) (Diptera: Tephritidae)’ nin mevsim içinde ortaya çıkış zamanı, populasyon değişimi ve meyvelerdeki bulaşıklılık oranı belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Çalışmada her bir bahçeye birer adet %2 diamonyum fosfat içeren McPhail (McPhail) ve feromon kapsüllü görsel sarı yapışkan tuzak (feromon), ayrıca üçer adet içerisine amonyum asetat konulmuş epondorf tüplerin monte edildiği görsel sarı yapışkan tuzaklar (AA) asılmıştır. Çalışma 2009-2011 yılları arasında yürütülmüş ve tuzaklar haftalık olarak kontrol edilmiştir. Yapılan populasyon takibi çalışmaları sonucunda tuzaklarda ilk ergin sinekler genel olarak Ekim ayının ortalarında yakalanmış ve mevsim süresince devam etmiş ve Aralık ayının ortalarına doğru popülasyonun sıfır düzeyine indiği gözlemlenmiştir. Örnekleme alanlarında Zeytin sineği populasyonu çok düşük düzeylerde seyretmiştir. Ancak popülasyonun maksimuma ulaştığı 2009 yılında Umurlu’ daki bahçede daha yüksek bir popülasyon ortaya çıkmış ve 30 Ekim 2009 tarihinde feromon tuzakta 307,0 birey/tuzak birey saptanmıştır. Popülasyon düzeyleri aynı tarihte aynı bahçede McPhail tuzakta 70,0 birey/tuzak, AA tuzaklarda ise ortalama 51,3 birey/tuzak olarak belirlenmiştir. Meyvelerde en fazla bulaşıklılık oranı ise yine aynı yıl %17,2 olarak Umurlu’da bulunmuştur. Aynı tarihte Dalama ve Çakmar’daki bahçelerde de sırasıyla feromon tuzaklarda 45,0 birey/tuzak ve 3,0 birey/tuzak; McPhail tuzaklarda 8,0 birey/tuzak ve 1,0 birey/tuzak; AA tuzaklarda ise ortalama 4,7 birey/tuzak ve 0,3 birey/tuzak olarak belirlenmiştir. Dalama ve Çakmar’da en fazla vuruk oranları sırasıyla %8,9 ve %3,7 olmuştur. Çalışmadaki diğer yıllarda hem popülasyon hem de meyvelerdeki vuruk oranları çok düşük gerçekleşmiştir.

Nowadays, immediate environmental friendly solutions such as the use of biopesticides and other methods to control and manage pests are well needed. They are imperative due to the continuous accumulation of toxic residues from synthetic insecticides into the environment, the contamination of global agro-ecosystem and resistance of certain insects and pathogens. The global renewed interest of botanical pesticides does not leave aside Turkey. Thus, many environmental reports pointed out contaminations in different regions of Turkey by chemical pesticide residues, like lambda-cyhalothrin in some conventional grapes farming in the Aegean region. The use of botanical pesticides like Pyrethrin extracted from Pyrethrum’s flowers (Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium) is part of sustainable agriculture goals to reduce the incidence of pests and diseases without any alteration to the natural balance. The purpose of this review is to analyse and identify the possibilities of Pyrethrum production in Turkey. Various research works around the world were compiled and some key informants were correlated to existing researches in Turkey. Subsequently, it was found that the Black-Sea region of Turkey has great potential in the growing and industrial production of Pyrethrum by its weather patterns (temperatures, pluviometry and humidity) and soil characteristics. The region has a similar climate with the East-African high-lands well-known for Pyrethrum production. Thus, the country has shown great technological advances and the capacity to produce vegetative and disease-free clones for other ornamental plants by using tissue culture techniques. Therefore, the multiplication of high-quality vegetative clones of Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium and their maintenance can sustain commercial and long term production of Pyrethrum in Turkey.

Minerals have crucial roles in terms of vital function in the organism including hormones, enzymes, cell formation etc. Oxidative stress and related hormones, regarding infectious diseases, affect all functions of body including mineral taking, metabolism and excretion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the pox disease on blood minerals composition of sheep and lambs. This study was conducted on 20 healthy sheep, 20 poxvirus infected sheep and their lambs (Totally 80 subjects). One-shot blood samples from sheep and lambs were collected and serums were separated immediately. Serum mineral levels were analysed in the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. In general, the level of Cu in infected animals was higher than in healthy ones. Zn, Fe, Mg and Na levels of healthy animals were found higher than infected subjects. The difference between healthy and infected animal groups for serum Ca and K levels was not significant. Positive correlations were found between serum Zn, Fe, Mg and Na levels. However, a negative correlation was found between Cu-Zn and Cu-Fe pairs. Consequently, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mg and Na levels in serum, which are vital for animal organisms, showed significant changes in sheep and their lambs during poxvirus infection. To rapid healing or prevention of the diseases, mineral disorders must be corrected urgently.

This study aimed to determine and compare aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) levels in conventional and organic milk, white cheese, and butter samples which are sold in the markets of Turkey. Within the scope of the study, totally 72 samples (36 for organic, and 36 for conventional) were collected, and analyzed between March 2010 and February 2011. After the samples were burned by microwave burning, element measurements were performed on atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) device. As a result of the study, on the 49 samples (29 conventional, 20 organic) of the 72 collected product, element levels were determined above the limit of detection (LOD) (0.02 ppm). Pb and Al were the most common elements above the LOD. However, milk samples with a Pb level above the LOD still remained below the limit reported by the Turkish Food Codex Regulation for Contaminants. Since Turkish Food Codex Regulation does not have legal limits for Al, As, Cd and Pb for dairy products (cheese and butter), it was accepted as safe in terms of Al, As, Cd and Pb according to food limits in Turkish Food Codex and ADI values of FAO / WHO.

White and red cocoyam starches were physically modified by heat moisture treatment at 16, 24 and 32 % moisture levels. The functional and pasting properties of the modified and native starches were evaluated using standard methods. The swelling power at 60oC, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, least gelation concentration, packed bulk density and loose bulk density of heat moisture treated white and red cocoyam starches ranged between 1.90 - 2.18 and 1.89 – 2.21; 1.00 – 1.80 ml/g and 0.80 – 1.60 ml/g; 1.40 – 1.80 ml/g and 1.20 – 1.40 ml/g; 8.00 – 10.00% and 8.00 – 10.00%; 0.51 – 0.62 g/ml and 0.54 – 0.64 g/ml; 0.41 – 0.51 g/ml and 0.43 – 0.53 g/ml respectively. For both white and red cocoyam starches, heat moisture treated starches at 16% moisture content level had the highest swelling power in the temperature range 60oC to 90oC; also starches treated at 32% moisture level had the highest water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, packed bulk density and loose bulk density. Red cocoyam native starch had higher peak, trough, breakdown, final and setback viscosity than white cocoyam starch. Heat moisture treatment generally increased the pasting properties of white cocoyam starch. The modification of red cocoyam starch at moisture levels of 16% and 24% reduced the pasting properties, however at higher moisture level, the pasting properties increased. These results suggest that moisture level of cocoyam starches influence their physicochemical properties during heat moisture modification; this will increase the array of food products in which the starches can be used.

The management of forests, a source of livelihood in Nigeria, especially in the rural areas has received little attention in recent times. As a result, most of the forest dwellers who depend on these forests for survival are poor and are beginning to diversify their livelihood into off and non-forest activities as a relevant source of income. This study assessed participation in forest management practices, livelihood diversification and, the welfare of forest dwellers in Gambari Forest Reserve, Oyo State, Nigeria. Primary data, collected from 121 respondents using a multistage sampling Procedure were analyzed employing Descriptive Statistics, Logit, Tobit, and Ordinary Least Squares model. The decision to participate in forest management practices was significantly linked to gender, age, and membership in a forest association. Also, participation in forest management practices, gender, age, and credit accessibility significantly influenced livelihood diversification positively while farm size and monthly income had negative effects. The welfare of forest dwellers was found to be positively influenced by being a married indigene, having access to credit, participation in forest management practices, livelihood diversification, and monthly income while age, education, and market distance from homestead negatively affected the welfare of forest dwellers.

Uncertain heat shock by a rapid increase in temperature particularly at the critical growth stage affects plant productivity. The study aimed to assess qualitative changes in wheat grains when plant exposed to high temperature shock (HTS) at starting anthesis for limited durations (48, 72 and 96h). Selected wheat cultivars (Pirsabak-2005, Pakhtunkhwa-2015, Pakistan-2013, DN-84, P-2, P-12 and P-18) were exposed to extending HTS effective from anthesis in the field covering plants within plastic tents for a limited duration. The experiment was conducted in 2017-18 and 2018-19 at the Research Farm, the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan in a randomized complete block design, in three replications. Temperatures inside and outside plastic tents were manually noted. Two years mean data showed significant effects of HTS on the wheat grain quality. Imposed HTS for 48, 72 and 96h resulted in a reduction on grain amylose by 23, 39 and 48% and wet gluten by 16, 25 and 36%, respectively when compared with the control (i.e. no HTS). Contrary to this, as compared to the control treatment an increase noted in the grain amylopectin by 7, 11 & 17% and in the grain N-content by 13, 28 & 41% with imposing HTS extending to a duration of 48, 72 and 96h, respectively. The study concluded adverse effects of HTS at the anthesis stage on wheat grain quality disturbing amylose and amylopectin ratios, which latter on brought changes in floor structure and gluten elasticity. However, cultivar did differ to respond to the changes but have the option to choose the best one.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of pulsed UV light on the the preservation of the Şavak cheese. In this study, the samples of Savak cheese (average 2 cm) that were produced from raw milk were exposed to two-sided pulsed UV light. The microbial analysis (enterobacteria, psychrophilic aerob, lactic acid, sulphate reducing bacteria, S.aureus and yeast-fungus) and chemical analysis (acidity, pH and the number of thiobarbituric acid) of şavak cheese were performed during storage time (25 days) at 4°C. According to the results, spoilage was observed in the control group after ten days, Group 1 was the best in terms of microbiological quality. When experimental samples were compared to the control group, no statistically differences were observed in terms of TBA, acidity, and pH value.