GPH-International Journal of Agriculture and Research

Analysis of Gender Differential in Resource Utilization and Efficiency of Tomato Production in Kuje Area Council of Abuja, Nigeria

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:31:13 +0000

This study examined gender differentials in resource utilization and efficiency of tomato production in Kuje Area Council, Abuja. Primary data were obtained from 200 farmers using a multistage sampling technique, and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics, including stochastic frontier production analysis. The findings revealed that male farmers were slightly older (mean age=42.1 years) compared to females (39.3 years) and has higher years of farming experience (11.6 vs. 9.4 years). Men accessed more credit (₦158,000) than women (₦112,000) and had longer cooperative membership (6.8 vs. 4.6 years). Resource accessibility showed clear disparities: males recorded higher mean scores for land (4.00), cooperative support (3.80), and better access to farm inputs (4.00), while females reported lower values, especially for cooperative support (2.20) and adopting new technologies and farming innovations (2.20). Profitability analysis over 2022–2024 indicated higher Net Farm Income (₦171,067 for men vs. ₦133,067 for women) and Benefit–Cost Ratio (1.86 vs. 1.82), confirming profitability but with stronger gains for men. Stochastic frontier results indicated sub-optimal efficiency for both groups; however, women demonstrated higher mean technical efficiency (0.71) compared to men (0.55), reflecting better resource use despite limited access. Efficiency was significantly influenced by seed, fertilizer, seed, fertilizer, farm size, agrochemicals, and labour. The major constraints included high input costs (81.7% male; 78.8% female), limited credit (70.8% male; 85.0% female), poor storage (73.3% male; 81.3% female), and marketing challenges (75.0% male; 82.5% female). The study highlights pronounced gender disparities in access, profitability, and challenges, although women exhibited relatively higher production efficiency.

ANTHRACHNOSE DISEASE IN MELON (Cucumis melo L.)

I Made Sudarma, Dewa Ngurah Suprapta — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 11:55:16 +0000

Anthracnose (Colletotrichum obiculare) of melons is a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum species. It appears as sunken black lesions on the fruit and spots on the leaves and stems. Symptoms include yellow spots that turn brown and brittle on the leaves, dark, elongated lesions on the stems, and sunken circular spots on the fruit that can produce pink or orange spore masses in wet conditions. The disease is spread by wind, rain, and infected seeds or plant debris and thrives in warm, humid weather.

Effect of Various Leaf Meal Supplementation as a Source of Plant-Based Protein on the Growth of Red Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Yuli Andriani, Aisyah Aisyah — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:55:42 +0000

This study aims to evaluate the effect of adding various types of leafy greens in artificial feed formulations on the growth rate of red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. The research was conducted from January to March 2023 at the Aquatic Resource Management Laboratory, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jatinangor. The research method used was an experimental design with a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), consisting of five treatments with three replications each. The treatments included: Treatment A (control/no leafy green addition), Treatment B (10% Carica papaya leaf meal), Treatment C (10% Alocasia macrorrhiza leaf meal), Treatment D (10% Albizia falcataria leaf meal), and Treatment E (a combination of 3.33% the three various leaves). The results showed that the addition of leafy greens in the feed did not result in significant differences in growth rate and feed efficiency. However, the treatment with 10% Alocasia macrorrhiza leaf meal produced the highest daily growth rate at 1.22% and a feed efficiency of 26.21%. Based on these results, it can be concluded that adding up to 10% leafy greens in feed formulations can be considered an alternative source of plant-based protein for red tilapia fingerlings.

Effect of pulverized leaves of Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) and Pterocarpus santalinoides (utrukpa leaf) on liver function enzymes of indomethacin-induced ulcerated adult male Wistar rats

Chinonye G Ede, Vivienne N. Ibeanu, Nkechi G. Onodugo, Betha O. Ogwo — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated the effect of pulverized leaves of Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) and Pterocarpus santalinoides (utrukpa leaf) on the liver function enzymes activities of indomethacin-induced adult male Wistar rats. Fresh leaves of the samples were harvested, weighed and washed with tap water. One hundred grams of each leaf was blended with 200 ml of water to produce the pulverized samples used for the rat study. The results of the acute toxicity (LD₅₀) test of the two leaf samples showed that the leaves were safe at high doses. Forty-nine adult male rats used for the study were grouped into 7 (A-G) based on body weight. The groups B-G were induced with 30 mg/kg/body weight of indomethacin after a 3-day acclimatization. Two rats were randomly selected from each induced group and sacrificed to ascertain the presence of ulcer. The group A which was not induced served as the control; the Group B was the negative control (induced but not treated);Group C the positive (induced and treated with standard drugs); the Groups D and E were treated with 300 and 600 mg/kg/body weight of pulverized Ocimum gratissimum sample, respectively while the Groups F and G were treated with 300 and 600 mg/kg/body weight of pulverized Pterocarpus santalinoides sample, respectively. All the groups were fed rat chow and water for 14 days. Liver function enzyme activities of the rats were analyzed using standard methods for baseline and endline. Data collected were statistically analyzed using the statistical product for service solution (SPSS) version 24.0. T-test was used to compare the baseline and endline data within the groups. Analysis of variance and Duncan’s new multiple range test were used to separate the means. The results were presented as means and standard deviation and a significant level was set at p<0.05. The leaf samples significantly (p<0.05) reduced the liver enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP) of the treated rats. The 600 mg/kg/body weight of O. gratissimum had the highest effect on the ALP with 53.46% (60.60±13.01 to 28.20±4.97) difference between the baseline and endline. The 300 mg/kg/body weight of P. santalinoide had the highest effect on the AST and the ALT with 50.86% (46.72±2.73 to 22.96±3.71) and 54.65% (66.60±2.07 to 30.20±2.86) difference between the base and endlines values, respectively. The pulverized leaves of Ocimum gratissimum and Pterocarpus santalinoides reduced the elevated liver enzymes caused by induction with indomethacin to normal