Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research

Impacts of Climate Change and Invasive Lantana camara on Livestock Production in East Africa

Beatrice G. Togo — 2026-05-26

Livestock production is vital to economic and nutritional security across East Africa, supporting millions of pastoral households. However, this sector faces severe pressure from the converging threats of climate change and Lantana camara invasion. Climate change manifests through prolonged droughts, rising temperatures, and irregular rainfall, which reduce pasture growth, water availability, and animal survival. Concurrently, Lantana camara invades degraded rangelands, forming dense thickets that suppress palatable forage by over 50% and produce hepatotoxic lantadenes that can be fatal to cattle, sheep, and buffalo. These pressures operate synergistically: climate-induced vegetation stress creates invasion niches that Lantana exploits, while its toxicity exacerbates livestock vulnerability during climatic extremes. The article concludes that pastoral communities, including the Maasai, Borana, and Afar, face escalating food insecurity without integrated strategies combining climate adaptation, Lantana management, and livestock livelihood support. Urgent policy action is needed to prevent the collapse of livestock systems sustaining regional economies and cultural heritage.

Crop Residues as Alternative Livestock Feed Resources for Enhancing Climate Resilience During Dry Seasons in Tanzania

Beatrice G. Togo — 2026-06-03

Climate change increasingly undermines livestock production in Africa’s arid and semi-arid regions, where frequent droughts and erratic rainfall cause severe feed scarcity. Traditional dependence on natural pastures is no longer viable due to shrinking grazing lands and growing livestock numbers. Although crop residues are abundant and locally accessible across these areas, their value as alternative feed sources remains largely untapped. Key limitations include low nutritional quality, poor storage methods, unclear impacts on soil health, and a lack of knowledge on effective processing and integration into farming systems, all of which hinder their use as a reliable feed solution. Addressing this challenge is critical, as improved feed availability directly determines livestock productivity, household income, and food security for millions of smallholder farmers. This opinion article explores the role of crop residues, such as maize stover, rice straw, wheat straw, and legume haulms, as affordable, climate-smart feed resources capable of sustaining livestock during dry seasons. It highlights that proper utilization not only supports animal performance but also reduces environmental pollution from residue burning and contributes to climate change mitigation. The paper outlines proven technologies including urea treatment, ammoniation, chopping, and bio-fermentation that significantly enhance nutrient content and digestibility. It further presents solutions to existing constraints through integrated crop-livestock systems, balanced supplementation, improved storage, and farmer training. Strategic use of crop residues offers a practical, sustainable pathway to strengthen climate resilience, boost livestock yields, and secure food supplies across Africa.

Prevalence of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Farm Women Engaged in Tobacco Farming: A Cross-sectional Study

Komal Patel — 2026-06-03

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a major global occupational health issue, especially causing low back and neck pain due to poor working conditions like repetitive tasks, awkward postures, and heavy lifting. Women agricultural workers in tobacco farming are particularly vulnerable due to unsafe work practices, lack of ergonomic tools, and additional hazards like pesticide exposure and green tobacco sickness.

Aims: To assess the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among women labourers engaged in tobacco farming and to identify associated ergonomic risk factors.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study design was adopted.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Middle Gujarat agro-climatic zone, specifically in Anand and Kheda districts, between May 2025 and January 2026.

Methodology: A multi-stage purposive-cum-random sampling technique was employed to select 1,515

women labourers from four blocks with substantial female participation in tobacco cultivation across Anand and Kheda districts of Gujarat. Socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire, while work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) were assessed using the Modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire.

Results: The findings revealed a high prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort, particularly in the lower back (over 85% in the past 12 months; 73% in the past 7 days), followed by ankles/feet, wrists/hands, upper back, and knees (75–80%). Age showed a statistically significant association (p ≤ 0.05) with musculoskeletal disorders across all body regions. BMI was not significantly associated with most regions, except hips/thighs and knees. Work experience and working hours were also significantly associated (p ≤ 0.05) with musculoskeletal discomfort in all studied body regions. Overall, the results indicate a significant variation in the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among women labourers with respect to selected characteristics.

Conclusion: The study highlights a significant burden of WMSDs among women labourers in tobacco farming, primarily due to poor ergonomic conditions and physically demanding tasks. There is an urgent need for targeted ergonomic interventions, improved agricultural tools, awareness programs, and structured work–rest cycles to reduce physical strain, enhance occupational health, and improve overall productivity.

Performance of Integrated Nutrient Management in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Agronomic, Yield and Post-Harvest Soil Quality Dynamics under Eastern Uttar Pradesh Conditions

Satyam Patel — 2026-06-03

Wheat production sustainability in India can be improved through Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), which combines chemical fertilisers, organic manures, and bio-inoculants to restore soil health and maintain productivity. The present study was undertaken during the Rabi season of 2024–25 at the Agricultural Research Farm of Udai Pratap College, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It aimed to assess the impact of integrated nutrient management on the growth, yield, and soil fertility status of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under the agro-ecological conditions of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The experiment consisted of seven treatments in a randomised block design with three replications, viz., T₁–Control, T₂–recommended dose of NPKS + Zn, T₃–50% recommended dose of NPKS + Zn, T₄–150% recommended dose of NPKS + Zn, T₅–recommended dose of NPKS + Zn + FYM + PSB + Azotobacter, T₆–50% recommended dose of NPKS + Zn + FYM + PSB + Azotobacter and T₇–150% recommended dose of NPKS + Zn + FYM + PSB + Azotobacter. All integrated nutrient management treatments significantly improved growth, yield and soil fertility parameters over control. Treatment T₆ recorded maximum plant height (93.40 cm), number of tillers (364.00 m⁻²), grain yield (46.45 q ha⁻¹) and improved soil fertility status after harvest. Superior performance of T₆ might be associated with balanced nutrient supply, higher nutrient-use efficiency and enhanced microbial activity due to combined application of inorganic fertilisers, FYM and biofertilizers. Excessive fertiliser application under T₇ possibly resulted in nutrient imbalance and comparatively lower microbial efficiency than T₆. The study indicated that integrated use of inorganic fertilisers, FYM and biofertilizers was found effective in sustaining wheat productivity and soil fertility under sandy loam soil conditions of eastern Uttar Pradesh.