This study investigated the adverse effect of surface ozone on the maize yield using a unique panel from 880 counties in China.To identify the impact of elevated surface ozone concentrations,we constructed an economet...This study investigated the adverse effect of surface ozone on the maize yield using a unique panel from 880 counties in China.To identify the impact of elevated surface ozone concentrations,we constructed an econometric model by controlling the impact of climate variables and related economic variables.This study also considered the potential spatial correlation in the measurement of the impact of surface ozone on maize yield.Results confirmed that the increase of ozone concentration decreased the maize yield.Moreover,maize was found to be the most sensitive to ozone at the end of the second month of the growing season.The average annual loss of maize caused by ozone pollution is about 4.234 million tons in 2013–2015,accounting for 1.9%of the average output.展开更多
The practice of intercropping leguminous and gramineous crops is used for promoting sustainable agriculture,optimizing resource utilization,enhancing biodiversity,and reducing reliance on petroleum products.However,pr...The practice of intercropping leguminous and gramineous crops is used for promoting sustainable agriculture,optimizing resource utilization,enhancing biodiversity,and reducing reliance on petroleum products.However,promoting conventional intercropping strategies in modern agriculture can prove challenging.The innovative technology of soybean maize strip intercropping(SMSI)has been proposed as a solution.This system has produced remarkable results in improving domestic soybean and maize production for both food security and sustainable agriculture.In this article,we provide an overview of SMSI and explain how it differs from traditional intercropping.We also discuss the core principles that foster higher yields and the prospects for its future development.展开更多
Globally climate change has threatened agriculture and food security which is of great importance to the economy of a nation. In Nigeria it has become a great concern to the government and people because of the obviou...Globally climate change has threatened agriculture and food security which is of great importance to the economy of a nation. In Nigeria it has become a great concern to the government and people because of the obvious changes in the climate systems, therefore, assessing the impact of climate change on crop yield in an oil producing state is of great importance especially where rain fed agriculture is the main determinant for crop yield. Expost-facto research method in the context of quasi experimental research design was adopted for the study. Data for rainfall and temperature and that for crop yields were obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and federal ministry of Agriculture;Agricultural Development Program (ADP) respectively. Analysis of data was achieved using descriptive statistics, trend graphs and multiple linear regressions. Results showed that there had been a steady but gradual increase in the annual minimum, maximum and mean temperatures over the study period of thirty years and a decrease in rainfall. Mean temperature is increasing annually at the rate of 0.0253 per annum and rainfall is decreasing at the rate of -0.5817 mm per annum. The multiple regression model showed r2 values of 0.28 for maize and 0.29 for cassava revealing that only 28% - 29% of maize and cassava yields could be explained by rainfall and temperature in the state and the result was significant at p < 0.05 revealing that cassava and maize yields significantly depended on rainfall and temperature. This study strongly advocates for a better and practicable environmental policies and improved agricultural techniques alternative source of water which will include irrigation farming, mulching since it is evident that there is a reduction in rainfall and increase in temperature in the state while creating sustainable food security.展开更多
Traditional processing of fermented maize (“ogi”), a popular weaning food in the West African sub-region, results in considerable nutrient losses. Several attempts at improving its nutritional and sensory properties...Traditional processing of fermented maize (“ogi”), a popular weaning food in the West African sub-region, results in considerable nutrient losses. Several attempts at improving its nutritional and sensory properties have focused on fortification with plant and animal products. Banana flour, rich in micronutrients and vitamins, could increase the micronutrient and vitamin contents of ogi. This study aimed at evaluating the physicochemical properties and sensory attributes of ogi as influenced by banana flour supplementation. Fermented maize flour was substituted with ripe Cardaba banana flour at levels of 10% -?50% and the flour mixes subjected to chemical, rheological and sensory evaluation. Crude protein decreased from 1.59% to 1.43% as banana flour substitution increased, while ash, total sugar (3.64% to 4.97%), carbohydrate and acidity increased. However, diastatic activity, crude fibre and fat were not significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected. Results of functional properties revealed the following: 86.49 -?83.63 g/ml, 0.41 -?0.44 g/cm3, 6.44 -?7.46 g/ml, 3.30 -?4.50 g/ml, and 10.40 - 10.80 g/ml for water absorption capacity, bulk density, gel consistency, syneresis and swelling capacity, respectively. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) variations were observed in the pasting viscosities of the flours. The 50:50 maize-banana flour mix was the most preferred in terms of aroma, taste, colour and general acceptability. The addition of Cardaba banana flour to ogi may enhance its micronutrient content as evidenced by increased ash content, sensory, functional and pasting properties, thereby making it a potential substitute for complementary feeding of infants.展开更多
The increased population density, coupled with changes in dietary habits in developing countries towards high quality food and the increasing use of grains for livestock feed is projected to increase demand for food p...The increased population density, coupled with changes in dietary habits in developing countries towards high quality food and the increasing use of grains for livestock feed is projected to increase demand for food production by 70% by 2050. Crop yields would continue to grow but at a slower rate than in the past. Yield growth will play an important role as only a slow expansion of agricultural land is expected. Future yield increases on lands currently supporting high production levels must come from continued yield enhancing genetic modifications. The most important grain and feed is maize. Genetic improvement has not only contributed to yield increases but also to other desirable plant components such as resistance to lodging and tolerance to increased plant populations, insects, and diseases. Maize production has increased from 200 million tons in 1960 to over 800 million tons in 2011 but has not changed very much recently. The reviews suggest that the overall assessment of farm-level costs and benefits of GM maize has severe limitations. Nonetheless, GM maize is a potential tool to increase farmers’ income and thus might contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable social and rural economic development, especially in developing countries. The results support the contention that the adoption of GM maize leads on average to a higher economic performance, i.e., benefits, for farmers than conventional (non-GM) crops. An important finding of the analysis is that the kind and magnitude of benefits are heterogeneous across crops, traits, countries and regions. However, while the literature on the economic impact of GM crops has grown in recent years there is still a need for more comparative studies across space and time in order to pin down these impacts and allow for a better assessment of the contribution that this technology can make to sustainable development.展开更多
Four complementary foods were prepared from local foodstuffs which are maize （Zea mays）, soyabean （Glycine max） and banana （Musa acuminate colla）. Four complementary samples were produced from the proportion of ...Four complementary foods were prepared from local foodstuffs which are maize （Zea mays）, soyabean （Glycine max） and banana （Musa acuminate colla）. Four complementary samples were produced from the proportion of maize/soyabean/banana composite flours as 60%： 30%： 10% （B）, 60%： 25%： 15% （C）, 60%： 20%： 20% （D）, 50%： 30%： 20% （E） and Nestle Cerelac was the control sample （A）. The formulated diets were subjected to nutritional analysis-along with a commonly used proprietary infant cereal （Nestle Cerelac） as control. Standard chemical methods were used to determine the proximate nutrient composition, some micronutrients and anti-nutritional factors. The samples produced have increased nutrients of fibre that enhances digestibility （2.07%-3.11%）, protein and ash contents. The supplementation of up to 20% soybean flour and banana flour recorded the best results in terms of proximate and mineral compositions and compared favourably with the control sample, in terms of sensory evaluation using hedonic method, sample A was most accepted but did not differ significantly from sample D. Therefore, nutritious and acceptable complementary food can be produced from fermented maize, soybean and banana flours. Results of molar ratios of some minerals and anti-nutritional factors in the compounded diets suggest that the anti-nutrients will not pose any serious problem in the usage of the complementary diets. The cost of producing the formulated diets is about N50-N100 （50 cents） per gram cheaper than cerelac. The study has therefore, revealed that with proper selection of local foodstuff, it is possible to prepare nutritious complementary diets that would be acceptable, readily available, affordable and nutritionally adequate.展开更多
This paper analyzes the food consumption patterns of poor and non-poor rural households in Eswatini using the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) model to derive the estimates of price and expenditure elasti...This paper analyzes the food consumption patterns of poor and non-poor rural households in Eswatini using the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) model to derive the estimates of price and expenditure elasticities for seven major food commodities. The derived elasticities are used in estimating the distributional welfare effects of a 43% price increase for maize using the compensating variation approach. The results of the study indicate that majority of the food items are demand inelastic with meat and dairy exhibiting elasticities greater than one, while maize is the least responsive to both price and expenditure. The results further show that high maize prices have a negative effect on poor households who generally spend more on maize to supplement their consumption requirements. Therefore, policy strategies that focus on expanding agricultural production and diversification of production activities especially at the household level can raise rural household income, lower the price of maize and ultimately improve food consumption for rural households. Moreover, this will insure net-buying households against market risks by lowering high reliance on the market and enable more consumption from own production. This study makes an important empirical contribution by providing useful insights on the estimates of demand elasticities for major food items consumed, taking into account that little attention has been devoted to empirical analysis of food consumption behavior in Eswatini.展开更多
基金the financial support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (71673137)the Nanjing Agricultural University, China (Y0201400037, SKCX2015004)+4 种基金the Education Department of Jiangsu Province, China (2014SJD069)the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD)the China Center for Food Security Studies at Nanjing Agricultural UniversityJiangsu Rural Development and Land Policy Research InstituteJiangsu Agriculture Modernization Decision Consulting Center, China
文摘This study investigated the adverse effect of surface ozone on the maize yield using a unique panel from 880 counties in China.To identify the impact of elevated surface ozone concentrations,we constructed an econometric model by controlling the impact of climate variables and related economic variables.This study also considered the potential spatial correlation in the measurement of the impact of surface ozone on maize yield.Results confirmed that the increase of ozone concentration decreased the maize yield.Moreover,maize was found to be the most sensitive to ozone at the end of the second month of the growing season.The average annual loss of maize caused by ozone pollution is about 4.234 million tons in 2013–2015,accounting for 1.9%of the average output.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971853)。
文摘The practice of intercropping leguminous and gramineous crops is used for promoting sustainable agriculture,optimizing resource utilization,enhancing biodiversity,and reducing reliance on petroleum products.However,promoting conventional intercropping strategies in modern agriculture can prove challenging.The innovative technology of soybean maize strip intercropping(SMSI)has been proposed as a solution.This system has produced remarkable results in improving domestic soybean and maize production for both food security and sustainable agriculture.In this article,we provide an overview of SMSI and explain how it differs from traditional intercropping.We also discuss the core principles that foster higher yields and the prospects for its future development.
文摘Globally climate change has threatened agriculture and food security which is of great importance to the economy of a nation. In Nigeria it has become a great concern to the government and people because of the obvious changes in the climate systems, therefore, assessing the impact of climate change on crop yield in an oil producing state is of great importance especially where rain fed agriculture is the main determinant for crop yield. Expost-facto research method in the context of quasi experimental research design was adopted for the study. Data for rainfall and temperature and that for crop yields were obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and federal ministry of Agriculture;Agricultural Development Program (ADP) respectively. Analysis of data was achieved using descriptive statistics, trend graphs and multiple linear regressions. Results showed that there had been a steady but gradual increase in the annual minimum, maximum and mean temperatures over the study period of thirty years and a decrease in rainfall. Mean temperature is increasing annually at the rate of 0.0253 per annum and rainfall is decreasing at the rate of -0.5817 mm per annum. The multiple regression model showed r2 values of 0.28 for maize and 0.29 for cassava revealing that only 28% - 29% of maize and cassava yields could be explained by rainfall and temperature in the state and the result was significant at p < 0.05 revealing that cassava and maize yields significantly depended on rainfall and temperature. This study strongly advocates for a better and practicable environmental policies and improved agricultural techniques alternative source of water which will include irrigation farming, mulching since it is evident that there is a reduction in rainfall and increase in temperature in the state while creating sustainable food security.
文摘Traditional processing of fermented maize (“ogi”), a popular weaning food in the West African sub-region, results in considerable nutrient losses. Several attempts at improving its nutritional and sensory properties have focused on fortification with plant and animal products. Banana flour, rich in micronutrients and vitamins, could increase the micronutrient and vitamin contents of ogi. This study aimed at evaluating the physicochemical properties and sensory attributes of ogi as influenced by banana flour supplementation. Fermented maize flour was substituted with ripe Cardaba banana flour at levels of 10% -?50% and the flour mixes subjected to chemical, rheological and sensory evaluation. Crude protein decreased from 1.59% to 1.43% as banana flour substitution increased, while ash, total sugar (3.64% to 4.97%), carbohydrate and acidity increased. However, diastatic activity, crude fibre and fat were not significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected. Results of functional properties revealed the following: 86.49 -?83.63 g/ml, 0.41 -?0.44 g/cm3, 6.44 -?7.46 g/ml, 3.30 -?4.50 g/ml, and 10.40 - 10.80 g/ml for water absorption capacity, bulk density, gel consistency, syneresis and swelling capacity, respectively. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) variations were observed in the pasting viscosities of the flours. The 50:50 maize-banana flour mix was the most preferred in terms of aroma, taste, colour and general acceptability. The addition of Cardaba banana flour to ogi may enhance its micronutrient content as evidenced by increased ash content, sensory, functional and pasting properties, thereby making it a potential substitute for complementary feeding of infants.
文摘The increased population density, coupled with changes in dietary habits in developing countries towards high quality food and the increasing use of grains for livestock feed is projected to increase demand for food production by 70% by 2050. Crop yields would continue to grow but at a slower rate than in the past. Yield growth will play an important role as only a slow expansion of agricultural land is expected. Future yield increases on lands currently supporting high production levels must come from continued yield enhancing genetic modifications. The most important grain and feed is maize. Genetic improvement has not only contributed to yield increases but also to other desirable plant components such as resistance to lodging and tolerance to increased plant populations, insects, and diseases. Maize production has increased from 200 million tons in 1960 to over 800 million tons in 2011 but has not changed very much recently. The reviews suggest that the overall assessment of farm-level costs and benefits of GM maize has severe limitations. Nonetheless, GM maize is a potential tool to increase farmers’ income and thus might contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable social and rural economic development, especially in developing countries. The results support the contention that the adoption of GM maize leads on average to a higher economic performance, i.e., benefits, for farmers than conventional (non-GM) crops. An important finding of the analysis is that the kind and magnitude of benefits are heterogeneous across crops, traits, countries and regions. However, while the literature on the economic impact of GM crops has grown in recent years there is still a need for more comparative studies across space and time in order to pin down these impacts and allow for a better assessment of the contribution that this technology can make to sustainable development.
文摘Four complementary foods were prepared from local foodstuffs which are maize （Zea mays）, soyabean （Glycine max） and banana （Musa acuminate colla）. Four complementary samples were produced from the proportion of maize/soyabean/banana composite flours as 60%： 30%： 10% （B）, 60%： 25%： 15% （C）, 60%： 20%： 20% （D）, 50%： 30%： 20% （E） and Nestle Cerelac was the control sample （A）. The formulated diets were subjected to nutritional analysis-along with a commonly used proprietary infant cereal （Nestle Cerelac） as control. Standard chemical methods were used to determine the proximate nutrient composition, some micronutrients and anti-nutritional factors. The samples produced have increased nutrients of fibre that enhances digestibility （2.07%-3.11%）, protein and ash contents. The supplementation of up to 20% soybean flour and banana flour recorded the best results in terms of proximate and mineral compositions and compared favourably with the control sample, in terms of sensory evaluation using hedonic method, sample A was most accepted but did not differ significantly from sample D. Therefore, nutritious and acceptable complementary food can be produced from fermented maize, soybean and banana flours. Results of molar ratios of some minerals and anti-nutritional factors in the compounded diets suggest that the anti-nutrients will not pose any serious problem in the usage of the complementary diets. The cost of producing the formulated diets is about N50-N100 （50 cents） per gram cheaper than cerelac. The study has therefore, revealed that with proper selection of local foodstuff, it is possible to prepare nutritious complementary diets that would be acceptable, readily available, affordable and nutritionally adequate.
文摘This paper analyzes the food consumption patterns of poor and non-poor rural households in Eswatini using the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) model to derive the estimates of price and expenditure elasticities for seven major food commodities. The derived elasticities are used in estimating the distributional welfare effects of a 43% price increase for maize using the compensating variation approach. The results of the study indicate that majority of the food items are demand inelastic with meat and dairy exhibiting elasticities greater than one, while maize is the least responsive to both price and expenditure. The results further show that high maize prices have a negative effect on poor households who generally spend more on maize to supplement their consumption requirements. Therefore, policy strategies that focus on expanding agricultural production and diversification of production activities especially at the household level can raise rural household income, lower the price of maize and ultimately improve food consumption for rural households. Moreover, this will insure net-buying households against market risks by lowering high reliance on the market and enable more consumption from own production. This study makes an important empirical contribution by providing useful insights on the estimates of demand elasticities for major food items consumed, taking into account that little attention has been devoted to empirical analysis of food consumption behavior in Eswatini.
