ABSTRACT
Ambarella (Spondias dulcis) is a tropical plant with excellent phytochemicals properties and has long been used in many traditional medical practices. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different heat preservation methods; pasteurization (85ºC in 30 seconds), water bath canning (100ºC in 10 minutes) and jar processing (121ºC in 1 minute), on the antioxidant activity of Ambarella (Spondias dulcis) fruit juice. The Total Phenolic Content (TPC) of Ambarella juice was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu’s assay, while DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy) was used to analyze the free radical scavenging activity. The reducing power of Ambarella juice was assessed using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP). The result of Folin-Ciocalteu’s assay showed that the highest TPC value was detected in the raw juice (5.3002 ± 0.114 mg GAE/g) while the lowest was in the water bath juice (3.6137 ± 0.174 mg GAE/g). The result of free radical scavenging activity of the juice samples found that pasteurized juice exhibited the highest percentage of scavenging activity (55.81 ± 0.55%), while retorted juice was the lowest (33.44 ± 0.61%). The highest reducing power was obtained in the raw juice (98.30 ± 0.85%), while water bath juice recorded the lowest percentage of reducing power (65.66 ± 0.68%) out of all juice samples tested. The correlation between the total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities was determined as a positive, linear correlation with DPPH (r = 0.407) and FRAP (r 0.963). Similarly, a positive correlation was also observed between both of the DPPH and FRAP antioxidant assays (r = 0.625). The pasteurization method was determined as the best heat preservation method compared to water bath canning and jar processing, since it exhibited comparatively high TPC value and higher antioxidant activity percentage.

ABSTRACT
The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda J.E Smith poses a serious threat to cereal production in general and corn production in particular. It causes enormous damage and significant yield losses in Niger. To counter this damage, farmers are increasingly using synthetic pesticides despite their toxicity to humans and the environment. There is therefore an urgent need to find an alternative to this chemical control method, this is why a study on the biological effectiveness of biopesticides on FAW larvae was conducted during the cold dry season of 2023 and the wet season of 2024 in Kalapaté in the Birni department. The design was a completely randomized block with four replicates. The insecticide treatments were as follows: Emacot, Bocia senegalensis, Jatropha curcas, and Eucalyptus sp, 250 g of each fresh leaf/5 L of water), Neem (Azadirachta indica) grain powder 125g/2.5l of water and a negative control that was treated with plain water, i.e., 4L of water. The results shows that the severity rate was higher in the dry season (85%) than in the wet season (18%). The damage was more severe in the negative control than in the treated ones. In both seasons, the application of Emacot reduced the damage to corn plants, followed by Neem. These results reveal that aqueous neem seed extract (125 g/5 L of water) can be applied alternatively to the chemical insecticide against S. frugiperda in Niger in the presence and absence of rainfall.

ABSTRACT
This thesis investigates the proximate composition, antioxidant activity, and probiotic viability of smoked banana probiotic leather. Four samples were subjected to the proximate analysis, which included measurements of moisture, ash, protein, fat, and carbohydrate content: the non-smoked banana control (NSBC), smoked banana F1 (SBF1), smoked banana F2 (SBF2), and smoked banana F3 (SBF3). According to the findings, all samples had moisture content below 20%, with SBF3 having the greatest moisture level (3.36%) and SBF1 having the lowest (1.50%). SBF3 had the greatest ash content (0.46%), although there was a considerable variation in the ash content. The protein composition of the smoked and control samples varied significantly, ranging from 1.82% to 2.80%. The fat content remained low across all samples, while fiber content varied slightly, with SBF1 having the highest fiber content (4.17%). There were significant differences in the antioxidant activity between the samples, as determined by the DPPH radical scavenging activity, with SBF2 and SBF3 exhibiting higher activity. The product's antioxidant qualities may be strengthened by the smoking process and the addition of probiotics. There were no discernible variations between the groups in the probiotic viability ANOVA results, suggesting that Lactobacillus acidophilus was consistently viable throughout samples. This constancy is explained by the probiotic strain's stability and the homogeneity of the coating procedure. According to the study's findings, smoked banana probiotic leather can provide improved antioxidant qualities and nutritional advantages while preserving Lactobacillus acidophilus's viability. To further enhance the product's quality and health advantages, future studies should concentrate on refining the formulation and processing methods. According to the research, smoked banana probiotic leather has the potential to be a useful meal with a number of health advantages.

ABSTRACT
The Kenya Agricultural Marketing Strategy (AMS) 2023-2032 highlights on leveraging digital technologies to enhance market access for smallholder farmers by integrating mobile applications and e-commerce platforms into the agricultural landscape. Yet, implementation of these technologies among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains a challenge. This paper analyzes the role of stakeholder involvement in the development process and implementation of agri e-commerce platforms in Kenya. A participatory action research (PAR) design was adopted, integrating Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and Agile methodologies within the Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) framework. Data were collected through baseline and endline surveys bearing in mind the platform analytics through user interaction with the agri e-commerce platform. Results of the study indicate that participatory co-design significantly improved platform outcomes with users increasing by 88.9% at exit / endline survey. Average transaction time for farmers decreased by more than half while user satisfaction scores improved by 37.5%. Additionally, stakeholder participation levels increased by 46%, confirming that inclusive engagement and iterative feedback loops enhanced usability, adoption, and implementation success. Statistical t-tests further revealed that users with higher digital literacy achieved significantly greater implementation success (p < 0.05). This study was however limited to one county context and a single digital platform namely warumarket presenting difficulty in generalization of results to other regions. The findings underscore the value of participatory innovation frameworks for sustainable agri e-commerce adoption in developing regions.

ABSTRACT
The sesame web worm (Antigastra catalaunalis) is the most important and serious pest attacking sesame in its early stages. It feeds on tender foliage by webbing the top leaves and bores into the capsules thus feeds in the internal contents. The objective of this study was to study the’ Susceptibility of Sesame varieties and performance of plant extracts (neem powder, garlic powder, and insecticide Escort 19EC against sesame webworm (Antigastra catalaunalis) (lepdidoptera: pyralidae) on sesame production. The field experiment was established at the Gaheyr experimental field of Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Somali National University, Mogadishu, Somalia. The trial was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), featuring three replications with eight distinct treatments. This study evaluated the susceptibility of two sesame varieties—the local Somali 'Dunyar' and the Ethiopian 'Humera'—to webworm infestation. The trial included both treated and untreated (control) groups for each variety. To quantify infestation, five plants were randomly selected from each plot, and the percentage of infested plants was recorded. The result of this study indicates that the Treated varieties with Escort 19EC And Neem was less infested and the reduction of pest infestation was observed. The infestation percentage of all treatments before spray was recoded a similar percentage i.e. (100%) of infestation. However, the measured infestation after first spray relatively reduced into 30% at the treatment of Humera treated with Escort 19EC, and 40% for the treatment of local white treated with same insecticides thus insecticide Escort 19EC showed a great significant of the reduction of the Sesame webworm infestation. The study also briefly indicates that other treatments, neem powder, and garlic done slighter reduction on the infestation of the sesame webworm (Antigastra catalaunalis).

ABSTRACT
This study investigated the economic analysis of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) marketing in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Nigeria, with specific emphasis on the socio-economic characteristics of marketers, market structure, marketing efficiency, profitability, and the major constraints affecting performance. Primary data were collected from 200 randomly selected sweet potato marketers using a well-structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Gini Coefficient, marketing efficiency ratios, and profitability models. The findings showed that 67% of marketers were within the active age group of 30–49 years, predominantly male (60%), and 41% had attained secondary education. Furthermore, 63% operated at the retail level, while 59% were members of cooperative associations, implying a moderately experienced and organized marketing network. The Gini Coefficient for retail traders (0.44) signified a moderately concentrated and imperfectly competitive market, whereas that for wholesalers (0.10) indicated a highly competitive and equitable market structure. Marketing efficiency values stood at 234% for retailers and 196% for wholesalers, reflecting economic efficiency across both scales, with retailing performing slightly better. Profitability assessment revealed wholesalers earned ₦68,400 per truckload, with a Return per Capital Invested (RPCI) of 22% and a marketing margin of 33%, while retailers realized ₦10,100 per 100 kg unit, attaining an RPCI of 55% and a margin of 44%. Key constraints identified included poor road infrastructure (79%), high transportation costs (71%), unstable prices (67.5%), and inadequate credit facilities (64%). The study establishes that sweet potato marketing in AMAC remains profitable and efficient despite prevailing infrastructural and institutional bottlenecks.

ABSTRACT
The study was conducted at the experimental farm of the Mariano Marcos State University, Dingras, Ilocos Norte from August to December 2018. The area is rainfed and was grown with corn during dry season. The adjoining fields of the experimental area were planted with soybean, cowpea and peanut during the conduct of the study. The study was conducted to determine the yield and growth performance of the peanut varieties applied with Carrageenan Plant Growth Regulator (CPGR); to identify the best variety that would produce the highest yield under wet season cropping; and to determine the production economics of peanut applied with CPGR. The study was laid out in a 2 factorial RCBD design with three replications. The varieties: Farmers’ variety (Ilocos Red), improved peanut varieties (NSIC Pn 9 and NSIC Pn 12) was assigned as factor A, and CPGR (with and without) as factor B.