Research -1
Farmers’ Perceptions
of Socio - Economic Biosafety Considerations Regarding Adoption and Use of
Biotechnology: A Case Study of Sithobeleni and Lesibovu Communities in
Swaziland
Agriculture plays a great
role in the economy of Swaziland. It is also important for food production.
Over 70% of the agriculture is practiced in the rural sector where mainly food
crops are produced under subsistence farming systems characterized by large
hectares cultivated with corn and a high cattle population producing low
yields. Biotechnology has potential to improve agricultural production.
Biosafety procedures have been developed to ensure safe handling of products of
modern biotechnology. The aim of this study was to determine socio economic
considerations for risk assessment when products of modern biotechnology are
introduced into the environment. Information was obtained from key informants
and focus discussion groups of cotton, maize and cattle farmers from Lesibovu
and Sithobeleni communities. Key biotechnologies already practiced in the
communities included production and use F1 hybrid maize seeds as well as artificial
insemination in dairy cattle. The major socio economic factors that should be
considered when new technologies are introduced include consideration of
community norms and values such as seed sharing and seed saving, considerations
of cultural and religious beliefs such as objection to eating of some animal
species, and acceptability of products of modern biotechnology by markets.
Major constraints limiting implementation of technologies in the communities
include difficulties with acquisition of inputs, drought and shortage of
advisory services. It was observed that farmers were willing to adopt modern
biotechnology provided that it was safe to public health, animal health and the
environment. The technology should be legally acceptable in the country and be
approved for use elsewhere. It was
concluded that there is need to ensure that socio-economic factors form part of
the risk assessment protocol when applications are considered for the release
of products of modern biotechnology to the environment. Socio economic
considerations should also form part of public awareness campaigns and training
prior to the introduction of modern biotechnology into communities.
Research -2
Studies on the Effect
of Lugol’s Iodine on Reproductive Efficiency of Dairy Cattle
The present investigation
was conducted to study the effect of intra uterine infusion of 20 ml Lugol’s iodine
(0.25 %) on day 5 (Group I; n= 18), day 17 (Group II n= 17) on reproductive
performance as compared to untreated animals (Group III; n= 18). The average
inter estrus interval in the animals in treatment group I (14.12 ± 0.396 days)
was significantly (P<0.01) shorter than group II (23.93 ± 0.330 days) and
control group III (20.93 ± 0.870 days). The average duration (days) for first
postpartum fertile estrus was shortest (88.93 ± 10.053 days) in group I,
followed by group II (106.46 ± 8.743 days) and control group III (113.72 ±
7.131 days). The number of artificial insemination (A.I.) required per
conception was observed to be only 1.38 in group I while the values were 1.50
and 1.91 for group II and III, respectively.
Research -3
Effect of Skim Milk and Tris-citrate Extenders to Preserve the Semen of Indigenous Ram of
Bangladesh
In recent years, there has
been an increased interest in the sperm preservation and maintenance of genetic
resources of small ruminants. The study aimed to determine and compare the
preservation effects of skim milk and Tris-citrate on the quality of chilled
and frozen-thawed indigenous ram semen (n=13) during rainy monsoon season (June
to October) in Bangladesh. Semen was collected from four indigenous rams by
artificial vagina method to observe motility, viability and membrane integrity
at 0, 24, 48, 72 hrs of storage. The hypo-osmotic resistance test (HOST) was
used to evaluate the sperm membrane integrity. The ejaculates were divided into
two groups according to dilution with skim milk or Tris-citric acid egg yolk
media for chilling and freezing. Motility, viability and membrane integrity
were significantly (p<0.01) higher in chilled semen samples diluted with
skim milk in comparison to those of semen diluted with Tris-based extender at
all time-based observations. However, around 50% motility was preserved up to
48 hours by both extenders. Results also showed that motility, viability and
HOST (+ve %) decreased drastically after cryopreservation irrespective of
diluents. Similar to chilled semen, studied parameters were significantly
higher (p<0.05) in frozen-thawed semen diluted with skim milk based
extender, though quality parameter of frozen-thawed semen was not satisfactory.
In conclusion, skim milk based extender appears to be a better option compared
to Tris based extenders for chilling semen of indigenous ram up to 48 hours
with acceptable quality. Whether the differences found between the extenders
will be reflected in the fertility results after artificial insemination (AI)
is yet unknown and needs to be further studied.
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