The global coffee market is a complex and dynamic system influenced by a multitude of factors, resulting in continuous fluctuations in coffee prices. This study utilized time series analysis to examine the historical trends and dynamics of the monthly global price of coffee, Arabica, from January 1990 to July 2023. The data were transformed to achieve stationarity using a methodical process, and an ARIMA (0,1,2) model was found to be the best-fit model for forecasting. The analysis' findings show how complex the coffee market is. Coffee prices are influenced by factors like supply and demand, climate change, currency exchange rates, economic conditions, and trade policies. Since 2001, unstable markets have affected producers and consumers. The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to the coffee sector, disrupting consumption patterns and supply chains. Economic variables like GDP growth and exchange rates influence coffee prices and producer welfare. While the coffee industry is experiencing recovery, price fluctuations remain a concern. Understanding these factors is crucial for stakeholders, and time series analysis can help inform decision-making in this dynamic market.

The most popular metric for assessing or predicting global economic progress is the GDP. The objective of this report was to analyze the GDP of Ghana from the period 1960 – 2019. Secondary data was obtained, and trend analysis was done using the linear, quadratic, and exponential trend models to determine which model best fits the dataset. Trend analysis is a technique for examining and forecasting the movements of an item based on current and historical data. The results from the trend analysis showed that the exponential trend model had the lowest Mean Absolute Percent Error (MAPE), Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD), and Mean Square Deviation (MSD). When compared to the other models, the exponential trend model fits the dataset better, which is why it was chosen to forecast Ghana's GDP. The forecast showed that Ghana's GDP is expected to grow in the coming years to about $77 billion by 2026. Agriculture is considered as the backbone of Ghana and the country imports majority if its fertilizer from Russia. The challenges the Ghanaian economy is currently facing due to inflation, the global pandemic (COVID-19), and the Russia- Ukraine conflict could have an impact on the country’ economic growth. Moreover, a change in leadership in the coming 2024 presidential election, could also have an impact on the projection. There are both positive and negative effects due to changes in leadership on economic growth. Keywords: GDP, linear, quadratic, exponential, forecast, economic DOI: 10.7176/JESD/14-2-07 Publication date: January 31^st 2023

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is one of the most consumed berries worldwide. Despite improvements in management practices and breeding, maintaining soil health and minimizing environmental impact remain a challenge for agricultural systems. Biochar has been proposed as an effective strategy to mitigate climate change, enhance soil health, and promote plant growth. This study investigated the effects of sewage sludge biochar (SSB; 0% control, 5%, and 10% w/w) on the root-associated bacterial community of strawberry plants grown in pots under greenhouse conditions. Results obtained using 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a stable core bacterial community comprising 1207 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), representing 13.2% of all detected ASVs and shared across all treatments. In contrast, biochar-amended soils harbored distinct sets of unique ASVs, with 1795 ASVs (19.7%) in the 5% SSB treatment and 2097 ASVs (23.0%) in the 10% SSB treatment, indicating treatment-specific community differentiation. Phylum-level analysis showed that Cyanobacteriota and Proteobacteria dominated the root-associated bacterial communities across all treatments, with no significant differences between biochar-amended soils and control groups. Alpha diversity did not differ significantly among treatments (p > 0.05), but beta diversity indicated subtle shifts in bacterial community composition under SSB amendment. SSB application increased community homogeneity, while overall bacterial diversity remained unchanged, indicating bacterial community restructuring rather than functional enhancement.

Global climate change poses increasing challenges to agricultural production and global food security by intensifying temperature and precipitation variability and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. While several studies have examined farmers’ perceptions of climate change in the United States, limited empirical evidence exists for the Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (Delmarva) Peninsula. This study assessed farmers’ perceptions of climate change in the Delmarva region and identified key factors influencing these perceptions, as well as adaptation strategies employed to address climate-related risks. Primary data were collected through a structured survey administered to farmers across the Delmarva Peninsula, while secondary data consisted of historical temperature and precipitation records obtained from meteorological stations in the region. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize farmer perceptions and adaptation practices, and a logit regression model was applied to examine socioeconomic and experiential factors influencing perceptions of climate change. Analysis of climate data revealed notable variability in temperature and rainfall patterns, with the warmest temperatures occurring during June, July, and August and peak rainfall generally observed between May and September. Survey results showed that a large majority of respondents (88.2%) perceived that climate change is occurring. Logit model results indicated that farmers’ age, education level, acceptance of climate change adaptation practices, and observed changes in climate over the past 5–10 years positively influenced perceptions of climate change. Adaptation strategies included selective crop choices, avoiding cultivation in flood-prone areas, adoption of soil conservation practices, and the use of crop insurance.