Fibre crops
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Item Agave Fibres. I. Morphology, Histology, Length and fineness; Grading Problems(1936) Nutman, F.J.; East African Agricultural Research Station, Amani, Tanganyika TerritoryThe paper is in the nature of a progress report on the work done on agaves as fibre producing plants at Amani during the last few years. Agave fibres are of 3 fairly well-defined types: - Mechanical, most strongly developed round the periphery of the leaf; these fibres are of great importance commercially; owing to their shape they seldom divide during manufacture and on their fineness depends the fineness of the sample. Ribbon fibres occur always in association with the conducting tissues though they are present in various sizes in all parts of the leaf except the extreme periphery; they form the longest fibres in the leaf and are important in that they split longitudinally, unlike the mechanical fibres, and therefore their original size does not influence fineness. Xylem fibres are of no commercial importance, being broken up and lost during decortication. Short leaves, whether caused by early cutting or environment, do not produce a markedly finer fibre than long leaves. Fineness of fibre is varietal, in which respect A. amaniensis and A. cantala are much superior to A. sisalana. A. amaniensis possesses a larger amount of short fibres than A. sisalana, but this is offset by the greater length of its leaves. The proportion of mechanical to ribbon fibre in A. amaniensis is twice as great as in A. sisalana. This fact is of technical importance, giving the fibres a different intrinsic make-up and probably affecting spinning behaviour. Methods of mechanical grading to replace the present grading by eye are thoroughly discussed and the defects of the present system pointed out. Nevertheless, expensive grading schemes cannot be put into operation until the consumer gives some indication of the type of fibre required, and so far, this has not been forthcoming.Item Agricultural Research in the Sudan Gezira(1956) Maxwell, D.R.C.; Sudan Gezira Board, Wad MedaniIn recent years the high quality of the long staple cotton grown in the Sudan Gezira has gained world-wide recognition. As the following survey shows, much of the credit for the success of the Gezira Scheme is due to extensive experiment and research devoted to controlling pests and improving the breeds of plants.Item The Conservation of the Nitrogen of Cotton Seed(November 1939) ap Griffith, G; Chandler, P.; A.I.C.T.A., A.I.C., ChemistIn seasons when the price is favorable a considerable proportion of the cotton seed produced in Uganda is exported as such. In districts remote from railhead export is rarely profitable, and again in years of low prices none except the most favourably situated ginneries can dispose of their seed at an economic price.Item Cotton Research at Barberton(July, 1938) Gaddum, E. W.; Department of Agriculture, Kenya ColonyThe writer spent six months of 1937 studying cotton problems at the Empire Cotton Growing Corporation's Station at Barberton, in the Transvaal, South Africa. As many of the problems which are being investigated there are identical with, or similar to, those affecting the cotton grower in East Africa, it was thought that a brief account of the work at Barberton would be of interest.Item Experimental Breeding of Fibre Agaves in East Africa Part I-the Materials and the Methods of the Breeder(November, 1937) Doughty, L. R.; N.D.A., East African Agricultural Research Station, Amani, Tanganyika TerritoryArtificial pollination results in a much greater set of fruits than open pollination, but even so the number of seeds obtained is usually only a small proportion of the possible maximum; counts of the number of ovules in a fruit give totals in excess of three hundred and it is very rarely that more than 150 viable seeds are obtained from a fruit.Item Factors affecting the adoption of selected wheat (triticum aestivum) production technologies by farmers in Njoro and Rongai Divisions of Nakuru Districts, Kenya(Ndiema, A.C., 2001) Ndiema, A.C.Despite the of continuous generation of new technologies from agricultural research stations for wheat production among the farming communities in Kenya, adoption of the same has been very low. Wheat is usually grown for commercial purpose and its production over the years has not been able to meet the country's demand. The shortfall is supplemented by imports that can be reduced by farmers ' adoption of recommended wheat production technologies. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe factors affecting the adoption of selected wheat production technologies by farmers in Njoro and Rongai divisions ofNakuru district. The factors, derived from previous studies and observations, included high yielding varieties, land preparation, fertilizer application, improved seed, pests, disease and weed control. The design was Ex-Post facto with a population of (273) wheat farmers. A sample size of (150) wheat farmers was selected from Njoro and Rongai divisions using stratified proportional random sampling technique. The data was collected using a validated questionnaire and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Hypotheses were tested using Chi-square at a=0.05. Based on the results, it is concluded that an average level of20.02% adoption of wheat production technologies was very low with 10% of the sampled farmers having adopted the use of high yielding varieties. The most constraining factors were delay in distribution (98.7%), and unaccessibility of the technologies (96.7%). Access to credit was possible only to 7.3% of the farmers. The Common source of information to the wheat farmers was their fellow farmer (52%) and only 38.7% could purchase seed from authorised dealers, on perception, the farmers in Rongai had a higher mean score (1.90%) than that of Njoro mean (1.68%). Chi-square test showed that independent variables, namely, education level, kind of land ownership and farm size significantly affectedItem Factors Affecting the Attacks of Sucking Insects on Cotton(1938) Gwynn, A.M.; Department of Agriculture, Uganda ProtectorateIt is often convenient to distinguish between insect pests with biting mouthparts (locusts, caterpillars, beetles, etc.) and those with sucking mouth-parts (Thrips, and the many divisions of the Hemiptera, such as Aphids, scales, Capsid bugs, etc.). The cotton crop is attacked by a large variety of pests of both groups, but in the present article attention is confined to the latter. In a sense the biting insects are more straightforward to deal with, since the result of their feeding is usually obvious; the amount of damage done is correspondingly easy to assess, and often their activities are little affected by the health of the plant. On the other hand, with sucking insects it is frequently necessary to do experiments to determine the effect of their feeding; it is usually difficult to assess even roughly the amount of damage they cause, and any estimate of loss is almost bound to be speculative and open to controversy; finally, they may be much influenced by the health of their host plants, so that it is nearly always a matter for argument whether they are doing any damage at all. It is sometimes maintained that the presence of sucking insects is always a symptom of ill-health in a crop, and that any loss incurred is in fact due to the ill-health of the plants, or at least that the only way to reduce insect damage is to improve the health of the plants.'In answer to this it may be said that. while the health of the plant undoubtedly influences the degree of insect attack in many cases, it is by no means the only factor involved; that, even where the degree of insect attack is largely governed by factors operating through their effect on the health of the plant, the pests concerned often cause severe damage to crops which woulo otherwise have produced fair yields in spite of somewhat adverse conditions; and lastly that it is frequently easier to control such pests by direct methods than by treating the plants. It is worth examining the effect of plant health on insect attack in some detail. The first point which arises is whether the health of the plant affects the insects feeding on it as much as is often made out. Often the severity of insect attack may be correlated with poor soil, waterlogging, or other unfavourable factors which would be reflected in yield, even in the absence of insects. Here it seems legitimate to say that the health of the plant does influence the amount of insect attack. On the other hand there are cases where the extent of insect'attack may be correlated with other factors, such as varietal susceptibility, climate, or other ecological circumstances, which may not be connected with the health of the plant. Examples of both sorts are discussed below, under the individual pests. Secondly, it is necessary to distinguish between the effect of climate and weather, and the effect of plant health, on the insect population. It is of course obvious that climate has a profound effect on the health of the plant. At the same time it has an equally great effect on insect population, having a direct influence on the activities of the insects, on their reproduction, on their natural enemies.Item A Feeding Trial with Sisal Waste(1956/1957) Frank, P.J.During the past few years the price of sisal fibre has dropped so steeply that the sisal industry is looking for means to increase the financial return from its estates. At present, only 4 percent of the leaf is recovered as fibre, and to improve this extraction rate some estates are using a machine for the secondary removal of fibre, in addition to the preliminary decortication. The material produced after this second removal is known as Sisal waste, and consists mainly of the leaf pulp together with a small amount of fibre.Item A Feeding Trial with Sisal Waste(1957) Frank, P.J.; Veterinary Department Experimental Station, Naivasha, KenyaDuring the past few years the price of sisal fibre has dropped so steeply that the sisal industry is looking for means to increase the financial return from its estates. At present, only 4 per cent of the leaf is recovered as fibre, and to improve this extraction rate some estates are using a machine for the secondary removal of fibre, in addition to the preliminary decortication. The material produced after this second removal is known as sisal waste and consists mainly of the pulp together with a small amount of fibre.Item Fertilizer Experiments on Small Cotton Farms in Kenya 1968-1971(1973) Tveitnes, S.; Nyaas-Aakerbakken, O.; National Agricultural LaboratoriesDuring the period 1969-1971, a total of 384 fertilizer experiments were successfully completed in Western, Nyanza, Eastern, Central and Coast Provinces. The purpose was to define the requirement of cotton for fertilizers containing the primary nutrients nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. In Eastern and Western provinces, sulphur was used instead of potassium during the last two years of the experimental preriod.Item Hand Spinning and Weaving in Nyanza Province, Kenya(1944) Smith, D. G.A year ago the crafts of spinning and weaving were very nearly unknown in the Nyanza Province. A little spindling had been taught by one or two public-spirited women in their very limited spare time, but a wheel and a loom were still the" unknown quantity". During a rather hurried tour of the Province early in July, I made a point of finding out how the craft was being received by the Africans. Everywhere it was the same story—" we like this work—we want to learn more". At Mumias I was told the little children make themselves a spindle with a lump of clay on the end of a stick, pick up the waste bits of wool, teach themselves to spin a thread and then take it to the Sisters at the Convent saying" now you see we can spin let us join your class". Other Missions tell me they have had to forbid the girls taking their spindles to class, and that every available moment between other work is given to spindling.Item Introducing BT Cotton - Policy Lessons for Smallholder Farmers in Kenya, 2004.(African Center for Technology Studies Acts Press, P.O. Box 45917, Nairobi, Kenya ICRAF Complex, United Nations Avenue, Gigiri Tel.: (254-2) 524700 or 524000 Fax: 524701 or 524001: E-mail:acts@cgiar.org, 2004) Wakhungu, J.W.; Judi, W.W.; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteThis study investigates the extent to which Bt. cotton can address production constraints facing smallholder cotton farmers in Kenya. A historical overview of the decline in cotton production in Kenya is presented. It unravels the various causes of the decline, including the economic, institutional and technological facets. Evidence and lessons are drawn from China, India, South Africa and Mexico to give an account of the extent and circumstances under which Bt. cotton can be harnessed in Kenya to address causes of this decline. The study is driven by the premises that the policy, institutional and regulatory context in which the technology has been introduced is extremely fundamental and will to a large extent determine whether cotton farmers will reap the benefits or not. The study is structured as follows: The first chapter comprises of the introduction, background to the study sites and the cotton industry in Kenya, overview of the problem, justification and methodology. The second chapter locates the theoretical framework and conceptual lens of the study. The third chapter identifies various constraints facing the cotton sector in Kenya. Empirical data on cotton production and marketing in the study sites is presented. This chapter examines the intricacies of cotton trade from the broader global perspective and how a few countries determine cotton supply and demand and consequently producer prices. The opportunities and challenges that AGOA offers are analysed from an institutional perspective. This chapter also reflects on farmers' assessment of the AGOA initiative. The fourth chapter is dedicated to biotechnology and agrarian change. It focuses on the current status and trends in biotechnology at the global, regional and national levels. The state of biotechnology in Kenya is reviewed. The position of Bt. cotton vis-a-vis other genetically modified crops is discerned. Evidence on Bt. cotton from case study countries and the conditions under which Bt. cotton has been introduced and commercialised in those countries is examined in chapter five. Issues emerging from the previous chapters feed into the last chapter on analysis and implications for Kenya. It isolates the conditions required for harnessing Bt. cotton for smallholder farmers in Kenya. The understanding of biotechnology in general and perceptions on Bt. cotton in particular, are enunciated from the standpoint of farmers, ginners and government agricultural officers. Recommendations and conclusions are given based on issues emerging from and cutting across the entire study.Item Irrigation And Drainage Research Project Possible Alternatives for sugarcane in the West Kenya(Ministry Of Agriculture, 1979) Houtman, C.B. Van der Wal, O.A.The West Kano Pilot Irrigation Project faces problems as not enough cane can be cut and transported in time. Since it is questionable, due to several circumstances discussed in this report, whether this situation will improve, NIB requested the services of the IDRP's Agronomist and Agroeconomist to look into the matter and to come with alternatives, if any, for the sugarcane production.Item Kenya Agricultural Research Institute 1st Adaptive Research Conference Programe and Abstracts(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2003) Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteMacadamia has been grown commercially in Kenya for about 40 years, however, selection and introduction of superior trees was embarked on during the last 25 years. From 300 mother trees that were previously selected only 17 superior clones are currently under investigation in four agro-ecological zones. Currently 4 of 17 clones have been recommended for commercial production in the central, eastern, and western highlands. Local adaptability tests show that there are no significant differences in age to bearing, yield and kernel quality of the majority of the macadamia (M. intergrifolia) clones in Kenya. Amongst the M. integrifolia clones evaluated, EMB-l, MRG-20, and KRG-15 had acceptable yields (55 to 80 kg) and kernel recovery (31.3 to 33.7%) in three agro-ecological zones (main coffee, marginal coffee, and coffee/tea zones. However, MRG-20 was considered the clone with a wide adaptability. KRG-15 has excellent yields (80 kg, 92 % grade 1 nuts, 32.4% kernel recovery) and is recommended for growth in the main coffee zone, marginal coffee zone and sunflower maize zone. KMB-3 (macadamia hybrid) performs particularly well in the coffee/tea zone (yield – 60 kg; 90 % grade 1, 35.3% kernel recovery). Seven new clones from Meru, (MRV-24 and MRV-25), Wondanyi (TTW-2), Embu (EMB-H and EMB-2) and Kiambu (KMB-4 and KMB-25) are been evaluated for adaptation in the main coffee or coffee/tea zone.Item Major Pests and Diseases of Sisal(1970) Kachiciiba, J.L.The geographical distribution spread and control methods of insect pest the Mexican sisal weed and two fungal diseases with reference to East AfricaItem Masai and Kipsigis Notes on East African Plants: Part II—Domestic Uses of Plants.(1966) Glover, P.E.; Stewart, J.; Gwynne, M.D. ; E.A.A.F.R.O., Muguga, Kikuyu, KenyaPart II includes edible plants, dye plants and plants used for string and rope. The list in part III is grouped under disorders. All groups are subdivided according to plant families.Item Notes on the Economic Possibilities of Blue Sisal (Agave amaniensis)(1938) Lock, G.W.; N.D.A., A.I.C.T.A., Tanganyika TerritoryThe production of blue sisal (Agave amaniensis) is still in the experimental stage and has not yet developed into an economic proposition. Since the discovery in 1929 of a few plants growing in a remote corner of the East African Agricultural Research Station at Amani, lack of planting material has prevented the cultivation of blue sisal on any extensive scale. The position is rapidly changing, for bulbils and suckers are now distributed to estates in larger numbers, so that the area under blue sisal is increasing annually. Within the next few years fibre should be forthcoming in exportable quanties.Item Notes on Trials of Ramie in Tanganyika Territory(1937) Eyre, J.C; Department of Agriculture, Tanganyika TerritoryRamie was introduced many years ago into Tanganyika Territory. There are now a number of small acreages in the Tanga and Moshi districts, but the only planting of any size is one of some thirty acres near Pongwe in the Tanga district, and a smaller one on an estate in the Nguu Hills of Handeni. There has been no recent extension of planting in the Tanga area, and the planter who laid down the large area now considers conditions on his estate to be unsuitable for this crop. The variety mainly planted was Boehmeria nivea; B. utilis is only being grown on a very small scale owing to lack of planting material.: There is no very noticeable difference in the response of these two species; B. utilis produces a somewhat longer but proportionately thinner stem. Observations have been made on the crop planted in both good and bad situations. It usually flourishes during the first year or two, providing there is sufficient rain, after which it very rapidly deteriorates. The stems become progressively shorter and thinner, and harden up very much more quickly, while at the same time the number of stems on a given area rapidly increases. Often, however, ramie shows poor growth even in the first year or two, like that on the Sisal Experiment Station at Ngomeni. From observations it appears that to make an economic success of the crop—apart from marketing considerations—it will be necessary to find some means of controlling the increase in the number of stems aridprobably also to manure. The cost of establishing 36 acres in the Tanga district amounted to Sh. 5,323/50, which included the cost of clearing the land of fairly heavy rubber and also of cleaning a part of the area for three years. On another estate the cost of clearing, planting and cultivating up to the time of the first cutting was said to be approximately Sh. 50 an acre. The accuracy of the figures is, however, doubtful. The cost of maintaining a plantation is not available, since both estates have allowed their areas to revert partly to, bush. It is thought, however, that the cost of upkeep, even without manuring, would be high, since the land would have to be clean cultivated and the number of growing stems controlled. No accurate figures of yield are available, since on each occasion that any quantity of material was harvested the area had to be searched for sufficiently long stems and only these were cut. On a good site and under favourable conditions, stems up to six and seven feet high are Obtained in the first year, but in, the third year or when the rainfall is insufficient the average height is not moze than three and a half feet..Item Observations on the Spacing of Sisal(1946) Lock, G.W.; Sisal Experimental Station, TanganyikaThe early field trials on the Mlingano Sisal Experimental Station showed that of all the factors affecting sisal yields, spacing, in so far as it determined the density of plants, was by far the most important. As the population of plants per unit area increased so did the total tonnage of fibre obtained during the life cycle. A paucity of plants, such as 1,500-2,000 per hectare, only yielded about five to six tons against 30 tons reaped from 10.000 plants per hectare. Intermediate populations likewise yielded according to plant number. The total fibre yield and the longevity of the sisal were closely and positively correlated with plant density. It is not proposed to deal with the results of spacing trials in this article beyond pointing out the profound influence of plant density upon yield. The optimum density will vary according to climatic and soil conditions and no hard and fast rule can be laid down beyond stating that one aim should be to have as many plants as possible without seriously impairing the development of the sisal. Within reason, the more favourable the growth conditions are, the greater the density may be, and, conversely, the poorer the conditions the lower the plant population. The proper approach to determining any spacing for an estate, or section thereof, is first of all to decide how many plants the land will carry satisfactorily. Having reached this decision the actual espacement to be adopted should then be considered. Frequently these two factors are dealt with in the wrong order. For example, should a density of 5,000 plants per hectare be settled upon, then the question whether the spacing should be 2 x 1 m., 2.50 x. 80 m., 4 x 1 m. x. 80 m., or any other variant giving 5,000 plants, should be answered afterwards.Item Plant Hairiness in Allen Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum)(1973) Innes, N.L.; Busuulwa, L.N.; Namulonge Research StationCotton varieties developed from the variety Allen (Gossypium hirsutum) have been successful in several African countries (Innes and Jones, 1972). The present commercial varieties of Uganda, BPA and SATU (Arnold, Costelloe and Church, 1968), both stem from Albar 51 which was selected from Nigerian Allen. To preserve genetic variability, seed stocks of various Allen accessions are maintained at Namulonge. These accessions have been screened for characters of economic importance.
