Search

A thriving black-market economy of scam scholarly publishing, typically referred to as ‘predatory publishing,’ threatens the quality of scientific literature globally. The scammers publish research with minimal or no peer review and are motivated by article processing charges and not the advancement of scholarship. Authors involved in this scam are either duped or willingly taking advantage of the low rejection rates and quick publication process. Geographic analysis of the origin of predatory journal articles indicates that they predominantly come from developing countries. Consequently, most universities in developing countries operate blacklists of deceptive journals to deter faculty from submitting to predatory publishers. The present article discusses blacklisting and, conversely, whitelisting of legitimate journals as options of deterrence. Specifically, the article provides a critical evaluation of the two approaches by explaining how they work and comparing their pros and cons to inform a decision about which is the better deterrent.

This training module aims to support the capacity building processes of professionals involved in the strengthening of SPCs in Ethiopia. By zooming in on elements related to seed quality control and assurance, it builds on the previous module’s focus on quality seed production. It is particularly aimed at executive members of SPCs, seed quality control committees, woreda experts, implementing partners, SPC farmers and SPC/PSP store workers.

This training module aims to support the capacity building processes of professionals involved in the strengthening of SPCs in Ethiopia. By zooming in on elements related to value addition, it builds on the previous module’s focus on seed quality control.

Seed production is a key component of a functional seed system and is expected to produce sufficient quantity seed of adequate quality within the nationally prescribed rules, regulations and standards. Successful agricultural work depends on improving the production and marketing of cereals, pulses, vegetables and cash crops, and thus raising income.

The experiment was conducted on intercropping of lupine (Lupinus albus L.) with wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgar) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana) in 2009 at Adet Agricultural research station, in Western Gojam. The treatments were sole wheat at a seed rate of 175 kg/ha, sole barley at a seed rate of 125 kg/ha, sole finger millet at a seed rate of 30 kg/ha, sole lupine at a seed rate of 90 kg/ha, and an additive series of 25, 50 and 75% of the sole lupine seed rate combined with the full cereal seed rate to determine the effect of intercropping on competition (CR) among the different species, the land equivalent and area time equivalent ratios (LER and ATER); and the economic feasibility of each intercropping system(MAI) as compared with sole cropped. The experimental design was a completely randomized block with nine intercropping and four sole cropping systems in three replications. Lupine was planted in rows after establishment of main crops. JMP-5 (SAS, 2002) software’s was used to compute the analysis of variance. Partial LER of lupine was lower than LER of cereal, indicating an advantage for main crops and a disadvantage for the minor crop. Values of ATER showed 4.9%-31.3% and 11.1%-37.8% advantage in lupine-wheat and lupine-finger millet combinations, respectively, whilst lupine-barley combinations showed ATER of 54.5%-60.9% disadvantage. CR showed dominancy of wheat and barley over lupine while lupine was higher CR than finger millet. Positive MAI values were recorded in lupine-wheat and lupine-finger millet mixtures indicating that these intercropping systems were a definite yield advantage and the most profitable as compared to sole cropped. In conclusion, the lupine-finger millet mixture at the 50:100 seeding ratio and 75:100 seeding ratio; and lupine-wheat mixture at the 75:100 seeding ratio indicated a significant advantage from intercropping which was attributed to better MAI and land use efficiency (higher LER and ATER), lower CR and thereby enhanced sustainability of crop production in West Gojam, but the other socio-economic and cost of production aspects of intercropping should also be assessed especially under small scale farmers’ conditions.

For maintaining food security and livelihood, farmers in marginal areas of production environments make use of high levels of crop genetic diversity. The exchange of seed and varieties among villagers, and also the relative isolation of local varieties in their production environments, contributes to the continued existence of locally adapted genotypes. In Tigray, one of the major barley-growing regions of Ethiopia, local varieties and local seed systems are dominant. The annual barley seed requirement is met with seed produced, saved and exchanged by farmers. In order to understand the flows of seed and varieties within and between villages, a study was conducted using a survey to gather information from 130 respondents in seven villages. Seed network analysis was used as an analytical tool to assess flows of seed and varieties and to identify farmers who play different roles in the seed system. Within the major seed exchange network, nodal or connector farmers linked seed subnetworks. The flow within villages was much more dominant than beyond. Rare varieties appeared to be sourced from farms that maintain a broad variety portfolio. Varieties seemed to disseminate informally across farms, in their target environments, following participatory varietal selection. The methodology of social seed network analysis proved to be a powerful tool for monitoring seed and variety flows. Furthermore, it identified farmers as critical partners in the conservation and on-farm management of plant genetic resources, recognized the role of plant breeders in participatory varietal selection and that of seed experts, engaged in strengthening local seed supply and in disseminating quality seed of superior varieties.

Ten genotypes were tested for their adaptability study at five wheat growing areas of Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. The elite varieties were arranged in RCB design with three replications. Data on grain yield was taken and subjected in to analysis of variance using Genstat 12 statistical software. Univariate stability analysis was also computed using different stability models. The combined analysis of variance showed that there were significant variations among genotypes, locations and their interaction. Based on grain yield, Mekelle-03 (3.24 t/ha) and FRET1 (3.15 t/ha) had scored the highest yield, while the local check yielded the least (2.35 t/ha). With respect to the univariate stability parameters, the different models identified the stability performance of the varieties. Based on the overall rank sum of stability parameters, the local check, M20ESWYT-46, Picaflor and FRET1were the most stable varieties, while HAR-1668, HAR-2501 and JEFERSON the least stable once. Since the tested varieties had shown differential yield responses across the environments, it is concluded that varietal recommendation should be based not only on overall mean yield, but also on their stability performance.