UNESWA Journal of Agriculture (UJA)

FACTORS INFLUENCING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRE-VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN ESWATINI HIGH SCHOOLS

M. Mpofu — 2023-06-27

The Pre-Vocational Education (PVE) programme in Eswatini was introduced in 2002 to sixteen (16) schools as pilot schools. The programme was supposed to have been implemented in all high schools in Eswatini but up to date, the programme is only being offered in the pilot schools. The purpose of this study was therefore, to determine factors affecting the implementation of the PVE programme to all high schools in Eswatini. This study employed the mixed methods research using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The research design used was the descriptive survey. Purposive sampling was used to select 16 school principals, 64 teachers and 64 students from the 16 schools that offer PVE across the country. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews for qualitative data and survey questionnaires for quantitative data. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data while SPSS Version 23.0 was used to for quantitative data. Findings of the study revealed that the major factors affecting the implementation of the PVE programme were inadequate resources such as equipment and lack of specialist teachers for the programme. The study concluded that the programme was underfunded and could not sustain on meager levies from the parents as the government could no longer fund the programme due to the economic meltdown. The study therefore recommends that PVE schools partner with non-governmental organisations and other private entities to exploit the resources available at the same time exposing students to real life situations. The Ministry of Education should liaise with tertiary institutions to offer Pre-Vocational Education training.

ASSESSMENT OF GENOTYPE BY ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS AND GRAIN YIELD PERFORMANCE OF ESWATINI MAIZE (Zea mays L.) LANDRACES

Victor B. Simelane — 2023-06-27

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the important commercial crops of the world. Beside its uses as food and feed, maize is a priority and strategic crop to respond to the world’s pursuit for alternative energy sources. In Eswatini, it ranks first in total production and yield per unit area and it is the staple crop for the majority of Swazis, especially those in rural areas. It is grown by both large-and small-scale farmers in the different agro-ecological zones of the country. The decision to recommend and distribute high yielding and adapted maize cultivars to these agro-ecological zones involves conducting multi-environment trials (METs) to identify the best cultivar across locations and years. Seventy (70) diverse maize landraces (accessions) conserved ex situ at the National Plant Genetic Resources Centre (NPGRC) were evaluated across three (3) locations during the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 cropping seasons. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent and nature of genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) on grain yield based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedures and to identify landraces that are specifically or widely adapted. The combined ANOVA indicated that the mean squares for landraces (G), years (Y), environments (E) and all interactions were all highly significant (P 0.01) on grain yield. Landraces, environments and years explained 26.35, 32.08 and 15.66% of the total treatment variance respectively, whilst GEI accounted for 7.78%. Crossover type of GEI was observed in all evaluated landraces and based on mean grain yield across locations and years, accessions M258, M17 and M251 had the highest mean grain yields of 6.49, 6.39, 6.38 t ha-1 respectively. A stability analysis based on univariate or multivariate parameters is further recommended to extract more information on the GEI.

INVENTORY OF FOREST FOODS IN RURAL AREAS OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

A.T. Olawumi — 2023-06-27

Forest supplies diverse products to mankind especially in the area of wild plants and animal food products. This research involved an inventory survey of forest foods in rural Areas of Oyo state, Nigeria. The research identified and described the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents; identified the available edible forest/wild plants and animals; determine the contribution of forest foods to nutrition and food security among the respondents as well as to identify and describe major problems facing forest foods collection. Primary data were collected from 150 respondents selected through random sampling techniques from seven Districts of the Local Government. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, logit regression and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The findings showed that a greater part of the respondents (58%) were male and 87% of the respondents were married. The results revealed that 47% of the respondents were in their active ages between 41-60 years and 76% of the respondents had family size of 1-5 persons. The study further revealed that over whelming majority of the respondents made use of forest food products. The major problem encountered by forest products users were unavailability of forest food products in the off season. Based on the findings, it was suggested that, there should be provision of good storage facilities and orientation of the farmers on modern ways of preserving wild foods to make them available throughout the year through staggered planting and processing.

IN-SERVICE TRAINING NEEDS OF JUNIOR SECONDARY AGRICULTURE TEACHERS IN ESWATINI

A. F. Tsikati — 2023-06-27

The purpose of the study was to find-out in-service training needs of Junior Secondary Agriculture Teachers in Eswatini. The study used a descriptive survey using simple random sampling to get agriculture teachers (n=180). The target population was all Junior Secondary agriculture teachers in Eswatini (N=340). A self-administered questionnaire was used for collecting data. One lecturer from Agricultural Education and Extension Department and two agriculture subject inspectors were used to establish the face and content validity of the questionnaire. The reliability coefficient was found to be 0.92. Descriptive statistics and Borich’s model were used to identify the in-service needs for Junior Secondary Agriculture teacher in Eswatini. The findings of the study indicated that Junior Secondary agriculture teachers need in-service training on inclusive education, positive discipline, innovative teaching, incorporating information communication technology in teaching, mushroom production, apiculture and entrepreneurship. Thus, the study recommended that the Ministry of Education and Training should urgently agriculture teachers provide needed in-service training on the identified areas reported in this study.

ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES USED BY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN ESWATINI FROM 2008 TO 2017

A. F. Tsikati — 2023-06-27

Agricultural Education in Eswatini is relatively a young discipline that emerged in the early 1970s; thus, still growing in areas such as research methodologies, rigour and focus among other aspects. Unfortunately, information on methodologies used in Agricultural Education is not systematically documented. Therefore, this study identified research methodologies used in Agricultural Education undergraduate research projects completed from 2008 to 2017 in the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension (AEE) at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA). This study was a descriptive survey employing desk review in data collection. Validity of the instrument was ensured through the use of two peers / experts from the Department of AEE, Faculty of Agriculture at UNESWA. Data analysis was performed using frequencies and percentages. Findings of the study revealed that Agricultural Education research was positivistic, quantitative, basic and descriptive in nature. Agricultural Education studies were mainly analysed using descriptive statistics. Thus, the study concluded that generally, undergraduate research in Agricultural Education was mainly descriptive. Therefore, there is a need for Agricultural Education students to conduct research studies that are explanatory, analytical and evaluative.

EFFECTS OF INORGANIC FERTILISERS ON MORINGA [Moringa oleifera (Lam.)] LEAF YIELD, NUTRIENT COMPOSITION, AND ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN BROILERS

Simangele C. Ngwenya — 2023-06-27

Poultry production is constrained by inadequate supply of quality feed and its escalating costs in Eswatini. One possible means of addressing the feed shortage can be use of Moringa oleifera leaves as supplement. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of inorganic fertilisers on M. oleifera growth, leaf yield and nutrient contents; and on the performance of broilers fed with moringa leaf supplemented diet. The field experiment had four treatments: 1) Control (no inorganic fertiliser), 2) 100 kg/ha 2:3:2(22) + 100 kg/ha Limestone Ammonium Nitrate (LAN), 3) 200 kg/ha 2:3:2(22) + 200 kg/ha LAN, 4) 400 kg/ha 2:3:2(22) + 400 kg/ha LAN in randomised complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The broilers experiment had five treatments; broiler finisher with the control (conventional broiler finisher, no moringa), and four treatments of broiler finisher supplemented with 20% M. oleifera feed grown under the fertiliser levels described in the above experiment in RCBD in five replications. Results showed that as the rate of inorganic fertiliser increased the growth parameters and leaf yield of M. oleifera were significantly (P < 0.01) increased, but no significant differences between [200 kg/ha 2:3:2(22) + 200 kg/ha LAN] and [400 kg/ha 2:3:2(22) + 400 kg/ha LAN]. Similarly, as the rates of fertiliser increased, crude protein and crude fibre contents of the leaves increased significantly. In contrast, broiler feed supplemented with M. oleifera grown at different rates of inorganic fertiliser resulted in significantly lower body weight gain as well as live, plucked and dressed weights while it significantly decreased faecal bacterial count. Thus, the application of 200 kg/ha 2:3:2(22) + 200 kg/ha LAN can be used for optimum early growth of M. oleifera to obtain nutritious leaf products while there is a need for further studies on M. oleifera supplementation to broilers feed at less than 20%.

UNESWA Journal of Agriculture Volume 21 Preamble

UJA Editorial — 2023-06-27

UNESWA Journal of Agriculture Volume 21 Preamble

Notes to Contributors of UNESWA Journal of Agriculture

UJA Editorial — 2023-06-27

Notes to Contributors of UNESWA Journal of Agriculture