Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment | ISSN (Online Version): 2708-5694 https://journal.safebd.org/index.php/jafe <p>The world’s population is expected to increase to 9.7 billion people by 2050 according to a United Nations report published in 2019. We have to face the threats such as global climate change and an increased demand for food from a growing population.</p> <p>Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment (JAFE) will complement our sister organization (Society of Agriculture, Food and Environment-SAFE), by providing an open platform dedicated to the applications of fundamental and applied sciences in agriculture, food and environment territories to find solutions for feeding our planet’s growing population and keeping the environment safe. The new journal brings together experts from academic, industry and policy spheres.</p> <p><strong>eISSN:</strong> 2708-5694</p> <p><strong>Abbreviated Title:</strong> J. Agric. Food Environ.</p> <p><strong>Frequency:</strong> 4 Per Year (March, June, September and December)</p> <p><strong>Publisher:</strong> <a href="https://safebd.org/">Society of Agriculture, Food and Environment</a></p> Society of Agriculture, Food & Environment (SAFE) en-US Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment | ISSN (Online Version): 2708-5694 2708-5694 Maternal inheritance: A new pathway for the industrialization of plant breeding https://journal.safebd.org/index.php/jafe/article/view/411 <p>An imagine character named CMS found in different plant species and has been utilized in hybrid cultivars development. CMS is linked to incorporation of specific fertility restoring genes, which are donated by the restorer line. In recent years, efforts to understand the factors inducing sterility and the associated fertility determinants (Rf) in plants. The creation of hybrids utilizing a CMS line has been successfully adopted across various plants. In addition, CMS can be engineered by currently developed CRISPR-Cas gene editing, which allows for the knockout of specific genes responsible for male gamete development. An environment-insensitive genic male system known as 3rd-generation hybrid rice technology (TGHRT) is effectively addressing the inherent challenges of two-line as well as three-line systems. Hence, the inception of TGHRT, a multitude of discoveries and innovations have emerged. This review tries to provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the development of CMS, along with their potential and future prospects in the industrialization of plant breeding.</p> Goswami G Copyright (c) 2025 Society of Agriculture, Food and Environment (SAFE) 2025-09-30 2025-09-30 6 3 1 7 10.47440/JAFE.2025.6301 Cancer inhibition, apoptosis induction and wound healing modulation potentials of Halfa Bar (Cymbopogon proximus) extracts https://journal.safebd.org/index.php/jafe/article/view/433 <p>The study on Cymbopogon proximus (Halfa Bar) investigated its anticancer, apoptotic, and wound-healing activities through a series of in vitro experiments. Methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were prepared and tested on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells using the MTT assay, which revealed moderate dose-dependent cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 155.13 µg/mL (methanolic extract) and 159.24 µg/mL (ethyl acetate extract). Flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/7-AAD staining confirmed that the methanolic extract induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner, with higher doses causing significant early and late apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy further supported apoptotic induction by showing nuclear condensation, membrane blebbing, and apoptotic body formation. In contrast, the wound healing (scratch) assay demonstrated that while control cells achieved 37.1% wound closure after 24 hours, cells treated with IC25 and IC50 concentrations of the methanolic extract showed inhibited migration and even increased wound size, indicating impaired healing capacity at cytotoxic doses. Overall, the results highlight that C. proximus extracts exert significant anticancer and pro-apoptotic effects, but their wound-healing efficacy is dose-dependent and limited by cytotoxicity at higher concentrations.</p> El-Khateeb AY Copyright (c) 2025 Society of Agriculture, Food & Environment (SAFE) 2025-09-30 2025-09-30 6 3 8 18 10.47440/JAFE.2025.6302 Assessment of inputs use pattern and profit margin of organic and inorganic country bean production in Bangladesh https://journal.safebd.org/index.php/jafe/article/view/434 <p>Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are a key vegetable in Bangladesh, valued for their nutritional and economic importance. This study examines inputs use patterns and profitability of organic versus conventional bean farming in Narsingdi district. Data were collected from 100 organic and 100 conventional farmers via structured questionnaires and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and conventional cost–benefit analysis. Organic farmers relied more on family labor (139.7 labor-days/ha) and manure (2,587 kg/ha), while conventional farmers used more hired labor (180.3 labor-days/ha), synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides. Conventional farming achieved higher yields (9.4 vs. 8.4 tons/ha) and net revenue (Tk. 89,493/ha vs. Tk. 66,598/ha), but organic farming showed greater efficiency in variable-cost utilization (BCR 1.99 vs. 1.86). Including fixed costs, conventional systems were slightly more profitable (BCR 1.30 vs. 1.23) than organic system. Both systems faced high labor costs, price volatility, limited storage, and constrained credit access, while organic farmers additionally struggled with market differentiation. To enhance bean farming sustainability, policy interventions should include affordable credit, improved storage and transport, stable pricing, organic certification, and dedicated markets. Extension support and disease-resistant varieties can further boost productivity. These measures can improve the competitiveness and profitability of organic bean production, supporting both economic and environmental sustainability in Bangladesh.</p> Hasan MR Copyright (c) 2025 Society of Agriculture, Food & Environment (SAFE) 2025-09-30 2025-09-30 6 3 19 25 10.47440/JAFE.2025.6303 Practices and perceptions on antibiotics among broiler farmers in three selected areas of Bangladesh https://journal.safebd.org/index.php/jafe/article/view/435 <p>The residual impact of antibiotics and their ineffectiveness against microorganisms has been identified as a global public health concern. This research involved 96 broiler farmers from three selected districts in Bangladesh, conducted between January to March 2024, to investigate the patterns of antibiotic use and farmers' perceptions of antibiotics. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Farmers reported using antibiotics mainly for therapeutic purposes (88.5%), while more than one-third (33.3%) employed them preventively; nearly half (49.0%) relied on the advice of a registered veterinary doctor, whereas 44.8% made independent decisions regarding their use. Ciprofloxacin (46.6%), colistin sulphate (25.0%), and enrofloxacin (19.8%) emerged as the top three therapeutic drugs of choice. Almost half (46.9%) of the participants believed that malabsorption was the primary residual effect of antibiotics. A significant majority (93.8%) of poultry farmers were unaware of antibiotic resistance. The study area shows a common use of antibiotics in broiler farms. To address the issue, appropriate strategies need to be introduced to curb the unethical and self-medicated use of antibiotics in the study region.</p> Debnath S Copyright (c) 2025 Society of Agriculture, Food & Environment (SAFE) 2025-09-30 2025-09-30 6 3 26 32 10.47440/JAFE.2025.6304 Influencers, barriers to adoption, and technical efficiency of integrated pest management in brinjal production: evidence from Narsingdi district, Bangladesh https://journal.safebd.org/index.php/jafe/article/view/436 <p>Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was introduced to reduce dependency on pesticides; however, farmers face significant challenges in its adoption. This study evaluated IPM practices among brinjal (eggplant) farmers in Bangladesh, identifying key influencers, adoption barriers, and the technical efficiency of brinjal production. Cross-sectional data were collected from 200 randomly selected IPM-practicing vegetable farmers in two sub-districts (upazilas) of the Narsingdi district through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested questionnaire from May to June 2024. Data analysis employed descriptive statistic and a Cobb-Douglas type stochastic frontier production function to assess technical efficiency and identify sources of inefficiency. The results indicate widespread adoption of sex pheromone traps (98.5%) and yellow sticky traps (91.5%) among brinjal growers. Agricultural extension officers (rated as highly influential reported by 70.5% of respondents) and IPM schools (72.5%) were the most effective influencers of IPM adoption. Major barriers to adoption included the unavailability of IPM inputs (89.0%), lack of training (86.0%), easy access to chemical pesticides (86.0%), and perceived bias in the selection for training programs (82.0%). The mean technical efficiency of brinjal production was 90.6%, indicating potential for output growth. The production function results showed that yield responded positively to increases in family labor, hired labor, power tiller cost, urea, TSP, DAP, zinc sulphate, and irrigation cost. Notably, IPM cost had a significant negative coefficient, suggesting potential pests pressure occurred and overuse or misallocation of resources. The inefficiency model revealed that contact with extension services significantly reduced production inefficiency. While specific IPM practices are being adopted, significant structural and informational barriers hinder wider implementation. The findings underscore the need for improved access to IPM inputs, comprehensive and unbiased training programs, and strengthened extension services to optimize inputs use and enhance the economic viability of IPM for Bangladeshi vegetable farmers.</p> Hasan MR Copyright (c) 2025 Society of Agriculture, Food & Environment (SAFE) 2025-09-30 2025-09-30 6 3 33 41 10.47440/JAFE.2025.6305 Consumer perceptions and willingness to pay for safe fish in Bangladesh: empirical evidence from Mymensingh district https://journal.safebd.org/index.php/jafe/article/view/437 <p>Ensuring food safety in aquaculture has become critical in Bangladesh, where fish is a vital source of protein. This study explored consumer perceptions and willingness to pay for safe Pangasius in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Data were collected from 80 consumers through a structured survey utilizing random sampling and analyzed using perception indexing and an Ordinary Least Squares regression model. The analysis revealed that 89 percent of consumers were willing to pay a premium for safe fish. Willingness to pay increased significantly with higher education, income, and profession of the consumers. Specifically, higher education levels were associated with an incremental willingness to pay of Tk. 22.02 per kilogram, while consumers with monthly incomes exceeding Tk. 50,000 were prepared to pay a premium of Tk. 26.67 per kilogram. Notably, teachers demonstrated the highest willingness to pay, with a premium of Tk. 29.38 per kilogram. The primary factors influencing consumer perceptions were health concerns, labeling and certification (index value of 0.82), and accessibility (index value of 0.7956). Among the reasons for avoiding Pangasius, 22.5 percent of consumers cited concerns over low-quality feed, followed by apprehensions about water quality and fat content, each at 17.5 percent. If safe aquaculture practices were adopted, the consumption of Pangasius could increase from 65 percent to 87 percent, reflecting heightened consumer confidence. The findings suggest that promoting certified safe aquaculture practices and transparent labeling could improve public health and enhance the profitability of the fisheries sector in Bangladesh.</p> Dewan MF Copyright (c) 2025 Society of Agriculture, Food & Environment (SAFE) 2025-09-30 2025-09-30 6 3 42 51 10.47440/JAFE.2025.6306 Evaluation of sprout performance of milked yam using the minisett technique https://journal.safebd.org/index.php/jafe/article/view/438 <p>Yam (Dioscorea rotundata) is a critical staple and cash crop in West Africa, contributing significantly to food security and income for thousands of people. However, yam production is mostly challenged by the scarcity and high cost of quality seed yams, which can constitute a great percentage of total production. Additionally, traditional propagation methods lead to uneven sprouting and high disease risk. The minisett technique, which is developed to address these issues by using smaller tuber portions (50-65g) to increase multiplication ratios up to 1:30, also faces low adoption by farmers. This study aimed to evaluate the sprouts performance of milked yam using the minisett technique and to compare the minisett sprout ratio and response of different varieties (Urlordo, Dante, Nyameti, and Abutrei). The experiment was conducted at the University for Development Studies, Nyankpala Campus in Ghana, using healthy milked yam varieties. Minisetts weighing 50-65g and treated with ash, were subjected to two soil treatments covered and uncovered soil in a nursery hut. Data recorded included key performance indicators such as sprout number, number of roots, rotten minisett, and changes in weight before and after sprouting. This data was analyzed using GenStat 18th Edition (using 2-way ANOVA). The findings demonstrated that variety had a highly significant (p &lt; 0.05) effect on sprout number, number of rotten minisett, and weight parameters both before and after sprouting. The soil condition significantly (p &lt; 0.05) influenced the final weight after sprouting, which showed that the soil covering was very important in moisture conservation. Nyameti demonstrated significant potential particularly under covered soil conditions. Nyameti proved promising for minisett multiplication from milked tubers due to its superior sprouting performance and robust resistance to rot. This research provides valuable insights for optimizing planting techniques, enhancing food security, improving farmer income, as well as promoting yam production in West Africa as a whole.</p> Yahaya D Copyright (c) 2025 Society of Agriculture, Food & Environment (SAFE) 2025-09-30 2025-09-30 6 3 52 56 10.47440/JAFE.2025.6307 Unveiling nutritional and antioxidant potential of Burmese grape (Baccaurea ramiflora Lour.) peel extract in different solvents: a sustainable source of functional food development https://journal.safebd.org/index.php/jafe/article/view/439 <p>The present study aims to unveil nutritional and antioxidant potential of Burmese grape (Baccaurea ramiflora Lour.)/lotkon peel, a common unexploited by-product. Proximate composition such as moisture content, crude protein, crude lipid, crude fat content was examined and phytochemical content like Total Phenolic Content (TPC), Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) as well as antioxidant potential such as phospomolybdenum and hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) assay was performed by solvent extraction method using pure methanol, pure ethanol and water. The Burmese grape fruit (BGF) peel contains high crude fiber (30.03%) and considerable protein levels of 9±0.27g/100g with low lipid content (0.87±0.04g/100g). The extraction efficiency of bioactive compound varied with the type of solvent used. Methanolic extract exhibit higher TPC and TFC content compare to ethanolic and water extract (67.28±0.55 μg of GA/g &amp; 45.29±0.59μg of quercetin/g). Total antioxidant activity of peel extracts of different solvents exhibited antioxidant activities ranking from the order methanol &gt; ethanol &gt; water which have positive correlation between total phenolic content among different extracts. Ethanolic extract showed higher antioxidant activities in case of hydrogen peroxide inhibition test. The combined findings highlight the solvent selection on antioxidant recovery where ethanol and water extract are suitable for functional food grade application and methanolic for laboratory analysis. The study demonstrates that lokton peel which is commonly discarded as waste could be suitable source of natural bioactive compound contributing both waste valorization and functional food processing. Future perspective should involve the fusion of this valuable extract into food system and evaluate their health benefits through in vivo study.</p> Sultana R Copyright (c) 2025 Society of Agriculture, Food & Environment (SAFE) 2025-09-30 2025-09-30 6 3 57 63 10.47440/JAFE.2025.6308 Prevalence and antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella spp. isolated from intestine of cattle sold in Abraka and environment https://journal.safebd.org/index.php/jafe/article/view/440 <p>Salmonella spp. remain a leading cause of foodborne illnesses globally, with cattle serving as key reservoirs for zoonotic transmission, particularly in low-resource settings like Nigeria where poor hygiene and antimicrobial misuse exacerbate risks. This study investigated the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of Salmonella spp. isolated from the intestines of cattle sold in Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional design, intestinal samples were collected post-slaughter from five market sites with varying hygiene levels and processed via standard microbiological methods, including enrichment on MacConkey agar, and biochemical tests (e.g., citrate utilization, TSI. Results revealed a high prevalence of Salmonella spp. at 60% among the 10 samples collected (n=6 isolates), dominating over other microbes like Bacillus spp. and Acinetobacter (40%). Biochemical profiles confirmed classic Salmonella traits: Gram-negative, citrate-positive, and glucose-fermenting with gas production. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing via Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion (CLSI guidelines) against 10 antibiotics showed widespread multidrug resistance (MDR), with Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index (MARI) values of 0.6–0.8. Isolates exhibited high resistance to streptomycin, augmentin, and cephalexin, with reduced inhibition zones visualized in assays, signaling threats to veterinary and human treatments. These findings show that informal markets are hotspots for MDR Salmonella dissemination, driven by unsatisfactory sanitation and over-the-counter antibiotic use. Urgent interventions, including biosecurity enhancements, stewardship programs, and surveillance programs, are recommended to mitigate zoonotic risks and safeguard public health in Nigeria's cattle industry.</p> Odogwu Deborah Angel Copyright (c) 2025 Society of Agriculture, Food & Environment (SAFE) 2025-09-30 2025-09-30 6 3 64 68 10.47440/JAFE.2025.6309 Bacteriological and physicochemical properties of sullage in the city of Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil https://journal.safebd.org/index.php/jafe/article/view/441 <p>The study evaluated the microbiological and physicochemical properties of sullage from sources like kitchens, showers, and laundry collected from various residential and commercial locations across four zones in Ilhéus City, Bahia State, Brazil. From October 2024 to February 2025, 100 sullage samples, 20 each from laundry, dishwashing, mopping, sink, and air conditioning (AC) outlets, were analyzed using standard bacteriological and biochemical techniques. Results showed a generally high bacterial load across all zones and sample types. Total bacterial counts ranged from 1.0±0.31×103 to 70.0±0.32×103 CFU/ml, while total coliform counts showed similar elevated ranges. Specifically, the Central Zone's laundry samples and the North Zone's mopping samples exhibited some of the highest bacterial counts. Gene sequencing identified five bacterial strains: Enterobacter strain MF3714, Proteus strain FCC64, Achromobacter strain MZ-19, Bacillus strain RD_MAAMIA_19, and Shewanella strain ST305. Enterobacter sp. was the most prevalent isolate across mopping (29.0%), dishwashing (27.0%), laundry (23.0%), and AC outlet (24.0%) samples. In sink samples, Proteus sp. was the most frequent (27.0%). While most physicochemical parameters and heavy metal contents were within WHO permissible limits, the levels of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and cadmium (Cd) exceeded these standards. The high bacterial load observed in the study indicates serious contamination. Hence, proper treatment of sullage before re-use will help minimize the risk of pathogenic microbes that can cause diseases, negatively affecting plant growth, development, and overall productivity.</p> Morka E Copyright (c) 2025 Society of Agriculture, Food & Environment (SAFE) 2025-09-30 2025-09-30 6 3 69 75 10.47440/JAFE.2025.6310