Rice is an important staple food inNigeria, affected by several diseases especially viruses. This study was carried out to evaluate the incidence and severity of two important viruses on rice plants and to identify associated insects in the Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T), Abuja in 2019. Field experiment was carried out from June to October, 2019 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja, Nigeria, where ten rice varieties were assessed for incidence and severity. The seed and leaf samples were collected for serological indexing. Data collected was subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS and mean separation was done with Duncan Multiple Range Test. Of the 210 leaf samples collected, FARO 61 and 44 had the lowest incidence (19%), while FARO 65 recorded the highest (25.3%). FARO 52 recorded the highest severity (46%) while FARO 61 and FARO 60 had the lowest severity (30.1%) for rice yellow mottle sobemo-virus (RYMV) and maize streak geminivirus (MSV). Insects such as Spittle bug (Locris rubens and Poophilus costalis), Ladybird beetle (Cheilomenes sulphurea) and Groundhopper (Paratettix sp) were trapped on the field. All rice seed and leaf samples collected did not test positive to RYMV and MSV using Enzyme-Linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This study provides the first research work on rice viruses in the FCT and further studies are recommended.
The present economic challenges in Nigeria call for a serious sustainable environment-friendly agricultural enterprise with a great potential that improves export earnings. It is our fervent believe that the contribution of the apiculture sector to its sustainable human development and specifically increases the income of beekeepers and traders of bee products through improved commercialization of quality bee products in Nigeria which will in turn lead to a drastic increase in the GDP of the nation. The overall goal of the Nigeria Apiculture Value Chain (AVC) Development Program is to contribute to an increase income of beekeepers and other actors on the AVC through increase in production capacity, stimulate the efficiency and competitiveness of the AVC products by improving standards, processing capacity so as to access higher value niche markets through Fairtrade International (FLO) certification or organic certifications and to achieve a total sales value of over $5 million by 2035 (Sustainable Development Goal SDG) target on Food Security. Apiculture provides highly desirable products such as honey, comb/wax, pollen, propolis, bee venom, royal jelly, apilarnil and apilanil prop, value added products and pollination services. It is of note to stress the need to urgently embrace the use of modern techniques in keeping honeybees for industrial development of Nigeria and also to enhance exportation of the products to earn growth in the Nigeria's GDP by diversifying the monolithic economy that is presently based on crude oil exportation.
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