Issue 04

PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIP OF MANGROVE SPECIES FOUND IN SRI LANKA BASED ON rbcL GENE SEQUENCE

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIP OF MANGROVE SPECIES FOUND IN SRI LANKA BASED ON rbcL GENE SEQUENCE Hirimuthugoda, N.Y.; Perera, P.W.A.; Aluthmuhandiram, V.J.; Ishuwara, A. Rashmi; Premakumara, M.M.K.; Lal, P.K. A fertile mangrove community can be seen along the sheltered coastline of Sri Lanka, which is an island in the Indian Ocean. Currently there are 21 species of mangroves that have not yet been genetically classified. Therefore, we intended to perform the Sri Lankan mangrove classification using the rbcL gene marker. Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) protocols for DNA extraction from mangroves and Silica extraction method were optimized to extract DNA. All the sequence data obtained in this study were deposited in the NCBI GenBank. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic trees revealed that, the Sri Lankan mangrove community can be classified genetically under 21 species and the Rhizophora anamalayana plant was identified as a hybrid of two species, R. apiculata and R. mucranata. As far as Ceriops is concerned, the vegetation of the Trincomalee and Puttalam areas seems to be distinctly different. Therefore, need to do more research on this clade in the future. The results of this study can be used as the baseline data for mangrove taxonomy in Sri Lanka and will be supported in future conservation and management actions.

COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS COUNTERFACTUALS: AN OVERVIEW OF POSTHARVEST VALUE CHAIN ACTORS IN NIGERIA

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS COUNTERFACTUALS: AN OVERVIEW OF POSTHARVEST VALUE CHAIN ACTORS IN NIGERIA Adegbola, J.A.; Owojaiye, O.B.; Ogunremi, O.B.; Aina, O.B.; Achime, K.C.; Lijoka, K.O.; Pessu, P.O. This investigation is borne out of the assumption that postharvest value chain actors experienced disruptions which are fallouts of the COVID-19 restrictions or otherwise. It examines the degree to which changes in livelihood and activities of postharvest value chain actors (farmers, processors, marketers, transporters and consumers) may be attributed to restrictions or the inter-play of intervening factors. The study is cross-sectional and employed the micro approach as its estimation methodology in 18 states across 6 geopolitical zones of the country. Data were obtained through key informant interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), questionnaires and interview guides. The purposive selection of 16 states with a high incidence of COVID-19 according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and formal restriction along with 2 states with no formal restriction as counterfactual preceded the random selection of 108,000 respondents across 5 categories of postharvest value chain actors from sampling frame provided by Agricultural Development Programme (ADP). Data components were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that the difference in earnings was significant (P ≤ 0.05) in restriction states but not significant (P ≤ 0.05) in counterfactual states; the difference in expenditure on food was not significant (P ≤ 0.05) in both restriction and counterfactual states; the difference in wages paid to work hands was not significant (P ≤ 0.05) in both restriction and the Cross-River States, however, it was in Kogi State; the difference in number of work hands employed was significant (P ≤ 0.05) in restriction States but not significant (P ≤ 0.05) in counterfactual states. This implies that the restrictions affected Nigerians in general irrespective of their restriction statuses because the effects of COVID-19 2restrictions in 34 states and the FCT overshadowed the non-restrictions in 2 states.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE ASPECTS OF CINNAMON (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl) BARK YIELD UNDER MODIFIED PLANTING SYSTEMS

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE ASPECTS OF CINNAMON (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl) BARK YIELD UNDER MODIFIED PLANTING SYSTEMS Aluthgamage, H.N.; Fonseka, D.L.C.K.; Benaragama, C.K. Cinnamon is one of the most important export crops in Sri Lanka, which generates a considerable amount of foreign exchange for the country. Therefore, special emphasis should be given to enhancing its production as well as quality. Hence, the study was conducted to evaluate some important quantitative and qualitative aspects of the cinnamon yield, namely, cumulative bark yield, bark dry matter percentage, biological yield, the composition of the biological yield and organoleptic properties under some modified planting systems. Seedlings and vegetatively propagated plants of cinnamon variety Sri Gemunu were planted under three different spatial patterns 1.2×0.6 m with three plants per hill, 1.2×0.4 m with two plants per hill and 1.2×0.2 m with one plant per hill while maintaining equal planting density in a unit area. Plants were harvested according to two harvesting intervals, 6 and 8 months and required measurements were taken. According to the results, the effect of harvesting interval and the interaction effect between planting material and the spatial pattern was significant (p < 0.05) for the cumulative cinnamon bark yield for two years (kg/ha). However, tested factors were not significant (p < 0.05) for the bark dry matter percentage. In contrast, the effects of harvesting interval and planting materials were significant (p < 0.05) for the biological yield of cinnamon plants. When considering the composition of the above ground biological yield of cinnamon plants, the interaction effect between planting material and the spatial pattern was significant (p < 0.05) for the percentages of all components (bark, leaves, stem wood, scrape, immature stems and the un-peelable portion of the mature stems and branches). Vegetatively propagated plants consist of a higher bark oil content and a cinnamaldehyde percentage than seedlings. In contrast, seedlings consist of higher eugenol and cinnamyl acetate percentage than vegetatively propagated plants. When considering benzyl benzoate, β-linalool and β-caryophyllene, an impact from the tested factors was not observed.

LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT IN THE HILL ECOSYSTEMS OF BANGLADESH: THE ROLE OF AGROFORESTRY

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT IN THE HILL ECOSYSTEMS OF BANGLADESH: THE ROLE OF AGROFORESTRY Jewel, K.N.A.; Wadud, M.A.; Rahman, G.M.M.; Saifullah, M. Agroforestry plays an important role in hill ecosystems by developing a combined production system integrating trees and crops. The primary aim of the study was to determine the impact of agroforestry practices on the livelihoods of the respondents in the hill ecosystems of Bangladesh. This study comparatively assessed 100 smallholder agroforestry farmers’ livelihoods in the hill ecosystem (Rangamati and Bandarban districts). An immense and in-depth field visit was conducted from June 2018 to August 2019, interviewing the farmers through both open-ended and closed-ended semi-structured questionnaires. Group discussion was also used to retrieve qualitative data. Five livelihood capitals: human, physical, natural, financial and social showed a mixed impact on agroforestry farmers’ livelihoods. The respondents were mostly (34%) young (20-30 years old), illiterate (44%) and experienced in farming (64%), but interested in adopting agroforestry practices for their livelihood maintenance. The financial capital is gained through crop income, farmers’ ownership of high-value equipment (motorcycles or thresher/dryer), and lease tenure of land. Farmers appear to have similar access to physical and natural capital and relatively higher access to social capital, although livelihood resources are interrelated. All these observations come together into a picture of the hill people’s socio-economic and farming characteristics. Farmers’ livelihoods are improved tremendously by practicing agroforestry as they’ve further access to food, fodder and fuel lumber, which is reflected by greater access to livelihood capital. Despite the prevalence of location, the sensitive questionnaire (income range) and the search for solutions to problems through group discussion are limitations of this study. Further research is recommended to more thoroughly investigate the impact of agroforestry systems on farmers' livelihoods