Browsing by Author "Oloo-Abucheli Grace Opetu"

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    Effect of Calcium Chloride, Cytokinin and Abscisic Acid on Growth of Rose Cut-flower (Rosa hybrida)
    (Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research, 2025-03-18) Mburu Reginah Wakomi; Gathungu Geofrey Kingori; Oloo-Abucheli Grace Opetu; ; ;
    Rose (Rosa hybrida) is a popular and extensively cultivated cut flower amongst commodities in the floriculture industry.However, there has been an increase in losses both in quantity and quality of cut roses which has significantly affected the production and return on investment. The highest loss reported has been at 18.87% at the producer level. These losses have been attributed to inadequate adaptability under circumstances involving humidity and temperature extremes, leading to high respiration, rapid cell disintegration and loss of aesthetic value of cut rose. This study therefore, investigated the effect of calcium chloride, cytokinin, and abscisic acid on the growth of tea hybrid rose, Rhodos variety. The study was cultivated over two flushes, August 2023- November 2023 and November 2023-January 2024 in Redlands Roses PLC, in Ruiru, Kiambu County. The field experiment was laid out in RCBD. There were 10 treatments including non- application (control); CaCl2 (250, 500 and 750 mg/L), CKs (150, 250 and 350 mg/L), and ABA (5, 10 and 15 mg/L). Data was collected at seven days’ interval throughout the growth period, starting from 3 weeks after initial bending in flush 1 and after pruning in flush 2. Data obtained was analyzed using SAS version 9.4 and significant means were separated using the Least Significant Difference at ∝=0.05. The analysis of variance for flush 1 and 2 respectively, showed that CKs significantly (p<0.05) increased the number of shoots produced per plant (4.22 and 2.78 shoots), stem length (83.22 cm and 82.56 cm), leaf area (76.67 and 72.44 cm2), number of suckers (17.83 and 15.67), flush days (51.72 and 53.67 days), and chlorophyll content (72.95 and 70.77 SPADS) in cut flowers. On the other hand, the shortest stem length was recorded on plots treated with ABA (68.56 and 68.78 cm), flush days (49.06 and 50.67 days), chlorophyll content (64.74 and 65.13 SPADS) and leaf area (61 and 54.11 cm2). CaCl2 reduced incidences of bent peduncles in flushes one and two (2.07 and 1.13). To improve on the growth qualities (number of shoots produced per plant, stem length, leaf area, flush days, and chlorophyll content) the growers should consider application of cytokinin at 250 mg/L and 350 mg/L. However, application of cytokinin comes with a risk of increased number of suckers. To reduce incidences of bent peduncles, growers should always apply 750 mg/L of CaCl2 before the formation of the flower bud. To reduce the number of flush days in target of a specific market, growers can apply ABA (15 mg/L) at prebloom stage.
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    Smallholder Farmers’ Perception of Sunflower Commercialization: A Case in Kimilili Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya
    (Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, 2024-10-20) Wafula Elijah Barasa; Oloo-Abucheli Grace Opetu; Njogu Martin Kagiki; Ireri Dave Mwang
    Low-income generation among Smallholder farmers could be attributed to their low sunflower commercialization with subsequent effects from their knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, commercializing efforts, and trust in critical stakeholders in the agricultural value chain. Thus, this study analyzed smallholder farmers’ perception of sunflower commercialization, which may contribute to improving sunflower commercialization. A pilot study was carried out in Kabuchai Sub-County before the Kimilili Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya survey. 288 sunflower smallholder farmers were interviewed using an open and close-ended questionnaire where a multi- stage sampling procedure was applied. The study used factor analysis and structural equation models to analyze the perception of smallholder farmers on sunflower commercialization. The factor analysis model reflected that smallholder farmers firmly trust agricultural cooperatives, media, and the national government in sunflower commercialization. However, they moderately trusted producer groups, farmer groups, and neighbour farmers. Smallholder sunflower farmers also strongly trusted different market outlets based on Factors 1 and 2. They strongly trusted exporters, producer groups, and neighbor farmers under factor 1 as their market outlets but lowly trusted brokers and supermarkets. Further, they highly trusted brokers and supermarkets under factor 2 as their market outlets and lowly trusted exporters, producer groups, and neighbor farmers as their market outlets. Additionally, smallholder farmers expressed their proactiveness strongly on commercial impact, commercial efficiency, and farmers’ view concerns about their sunflower commercialization. They lowly suggested marketing channels contracts, and commercial contributions to their livelihoods to shape their proactiveness on sunflower commercialization. An alpha reliability scale of over 0.79 per measurement variable and a KMO value of over 0.8 was obtained for this study, showing the internal consistency of the data. The SEM analysis showed that smallholder farmers’ entrepreneurship, trust in institutions, and market outlets influenced sunflower commercialization. However, their proactiveness negatively affected sunflower commercialization. The study recommends support of sunflower smallholder farmers in access to market information and strengthening their trust through institutions viable outcomes on them through the agricultural cooperatives, the national government, and coordination by the international markets.