Journal Article

Common bean is the most consumed legume by humans and hence significant for global food security and nutritive value mainly iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of harvesting time and genotypes on proximate and mineral composition of common bean. Two field experiments were carried out in Sebele (24o 33′S, 25o 54′E, 994 m above sea level) horticultural fields during summer 2018/2019. Treatments included two common bean genotypes DAB 564 (white) or 520 (red) and three harvesting stages as the early, mid and late season harvest. In both seasons, genotype and harvesting time significantly (P < 0.05) influenced proximate, macro and micro mineral composition of common bean seeds. Generally genotypes studied had a sufficient amount of proximate and mineral content with crude protein, iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content as the most abundant minerals at a range between 20-22%, 33-101 mg g-1 and 41-45 mg g-1, respectively across harvesting times. Genotype DAB 564 (white coloured) significantly (P < 0.05) produced seeds with the highest concentration of proximate and mineral contents especially zinc (45 mg g-1) and iron (70 mg g-1) content irrespective of season. Harvesting common bean seed early or mid-stage produced high seed concentration of proximate, micro and macro mineral content across genotype or season.

Background: Crop yields in the semi-arid regions are low due to climatic and soil related constraints. Soybean as one of the most important legume crops grown worldwide, has a role to contribute nitrogen to improve nutrient poor soils in Africa. A study was conducted to examine the effects of Bradyrhizobium spp inoculations on the growth and yield of soybean varieties in a glasshouse.

Methods: The study was arranged in a randomized complete block factorial design, with factor A being two soybean varieties (Bimha and Status) while factor B was inoculation using four Bradyrhizobium strains and the uninoculated control.

Result: Bradyrhizobium inoculation significantly (P<0.001) affected days to 50% flowering, days to emergence, nodule number, root dry weight and grain yield and yield traits. Parameters that were affected by both inoculant strain and variety included days to 50% flowering, days to emergence, number of pods per plant, pod weight and number of seeds per pod. The interaction effect of variety and Bradyrhizobium inoculant strain was observed only on number of pods per plants. Our study shows that soybean grows well when inoculated with Bradyrhizobium inoculants, in semi-arid conditions of Botswana.

Maize is the principal crop and major staple food in the most African and South American countries. The main problem in human nutrition in developing countries, and in livestock feed in developed countries, is insufficient production and poor quality of cereal proteins. In the case of maize, due to the very low content of essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan in grain endosperm, biological value is very low, which is main limiting factor of common maize in human nutrition and feeding of monogastric animals. Quality protein maize (QPM) can help in solving of this problem. Maize production also faces serious constraints caused by agro-ecological conditions and poor socio-economic situation. To alleviate the effect of the constraints, selected genotypes with more desirable traits and appropriate field-plot techniques to create multiple-stress conditions, were used. It was found that, in downy mildew nursery distance up to 35 m from spreader plot is providing sufficient down load of spores for plant infection, provided that the testing breeding materials are planted towards to down-stream direction of the dominant wind. Using these breeding approaches large number of early, white and flint synthetics, composites and inbred lines were created with resistance or tolerance to downy mildew (DMR), maize streak virus (SR) and drought (DT). Created genotypes exhibited very good kernel modification and yield potential under low and normal inputs. In the case of synthetics and composites, besides tolerance to multiple stress factors, they were competing in yield with local QPM and normal maize checks. In the case of created inbred lines high combining ability was exhibited both in non-conventional and conventional maize hybrids. Trial data revealed that in the most cases the best entries were over-yielding the best checks.

Goats have a key role in ensuring food security and economic livelihood to smallholder farmers in rural areas. Women play a vital role in goat rearing, promoting economic autonomy within households. Indigenous goats dominate and are of high significance due to their adaptive traits that are relevant for climate change and low maintenance. However, lack of emphasis on farmer-centered technology development and proper breed characterization remains a hitch to sustainable utilization and breed development of indigenous goats. This can be overcome through proper linkage between market and production, workable regional and national agricultural policies, community breeding programs, collaborative research work within the region, and consistent government support.

This documnet is about Sex of calf and age of dam adjustment factors for birth and weaning weight in  Tswana and Composite beef cattle breeds in Botswana 

This document looks at the Impact of Genetic Selection for Increased Cattle Resistance to Bovine Tuberculosis on Disease Transmission Dynamics

This document looks at Genomic regions underlying susceptibility to bovine tuberculosis in Holstein-Friesian cattle

Genetic parameters for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG1), 18-months weight (18 MW) and post-weaning average daily gain (ADG2) were estimated using single-trait and multi-trait analyses. Data consisted of 2257 records for the Botswana Composite and 5923 records for the Tswana collected between the period of 1988 and 2006. The individual animal model (AM) and animal maternal model (AMM) were fitted in both analyses.

APPSA Lesotho engaged a South African based consultancy firm on the drawn terms of reference to develop the Management Information System (MIS). The agreement reached between APPSA and the consultants resulted in the establishment of a series of back-and-forth communication to gain in-depth understanding on the direction of the proposed MIS

The compendium is a compilation of stories about project activities (research and development, agricultural extension, trainings, project management and monitoring) implemented under APPSA Lesotho. It is the mandate of the Communication Working Group (CWG) to manage project communication and technology dissemination for visibility and awareness, knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders. The roles of Technology Dissemination Office; and Information Technology and Knowledge Management are responsible for ensuring the functionality and delivery of the objectives of the CWG.