Author Guidelines
Types of Manuscripts
The journal publishes several categories of scholarly work. These include Original Research Articles, which present novel findings from empirical or experimental studies; Review Articles, which provide comprehensive analyses of existing literature on specific topics; and Short Communications, which report preliminary findings or concise studies of significant relevance. All submissions must demonstrate clarity, originality, and scientific rigor.
Manuscript Preparation
Authors are required to prepare their manuscripts in clear and concise English, ensuring that the content is well-organized and free from grammatical errors. Manuscripts should be typed using Times New Roman font, size 12, with 1.5 line spacing throughout the document. All margins should be set to 2.54 cm (1 inch) on all sides, and the text should be fully justified. Pages must be numbered consecutively at the bottom center to facilitate easy reference during the review process.
Each manuscript should follow a standard structure to ensure uniformity and readability. The title page must contain the full title of the paper written in bold uppercase letters and centered on the page. This should be followed by the full names of all authors, their institutional affiliations, and the email address of the corresponding author clearly indicated.
The abstract should not exceed 250 words and must succinctly summarize the objective, methodology, key results, and main conclusions of the study. Authors should provide between four and six relevant keywords immediately following the abstract to enhance indexing and discoverability.
The main body of the manuscript should be organized into clearly defined sections. The introduction should provide background information, highlight the significance of the study, and state the research objectives. The methodology section must describe the procedures, materials, and analytical methods used in sufficient detail to allow replication. The results and discussion section should present findings clearly, supported by appropriate analysis and comparison with existing literature. The conclusion and recommendations should summarize the key findings and suggest practical implications or areas for further research.
References must follow the author-date citation style and should be listed alphabetically at the end of the manuscript. Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of all references cited.
Tables and Figures
Tables and figures should be used to complement the text and present data clearly and effectively. Tables must be numbered consecutively and should have descriptive titles placed above them. Figures, including graphs, charts, and images, should also be clearly labeled and numbered, with captions placed below. Authors must ensure that tables and figures are of high quality, properly formatted, and not redundant with information already presented in the text.
Citation Style
JARD adopts an author-date referencing format. In-text citations should include the author’s surname and year of publication, while the reference list should provide complete bibliographic details. For journal articles, the format should include the author(s), year of publication, title of the article, journal name in italics, volume and issue number, and page range. Authors must ensure consistency in formatting and adherence to the journal’s citation style throughout the manuscript.
Submission Guidelines
Manuscripts should be submitted electronically via email to the editorial office at jard_unilorin@yahoo.com
Submissions must be in Microsoft Word format, either as .doc or .docx files. Authors are also required to provide complete author details, including institutional affiliations and contact information.
Submission Deadlines
JARD operates a biannual publication schedule with two issues released each year. For the first issue, manuscripts must be submitted on or before March 31, with publication scheduled for June. For the second issue, submissions are due by September 30, with publication in December. Manuscripts received after the stated deadlines may be considered for inclusion in the subsequent issue.
Peer Review Process
All manuscripts submitted to JARD are peer-reviewed to ensure objectivity and academic integrity. Each manuscript is evaluated by independent reviewers with expertise in the relevant field. The review process typically takes between two and four weeks, after which authors will be notified of the outcome. Decisions may include acceptance, acceptance with minor revisions, acceptance with major revisions, or rejection. Authors are expected to address reviewers’ comments promptly and thoroughly when revisions are requested.
Publication Fees
Authors are required to pay a processing fee of ₦5,000 upon submission of the manuscript and ₦25,000 upon acceptance. For international authors, a fee in the range of $50 to $100 may apply where applicable. Detailed payment instructions will be communicated to authors upon acceptance of their manuscript.
Ethical Guidelines
The journal maintains strict ethical standards in publishing. Authors must ensure that their work is original and free from plagiarism, as all submissions are subjected to plagiarism detection checks. Proper acknowledgment of sources through accurate citation is mandatory. Authors must also disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of their findings. Submissions found to violate ethical standards will be rejected.
Contact Information
All correspondence regarding manuscript submission, review, and publication should be directed to the editorial office of the Journal of Agricultural Research and Development (JARD), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Authors and interested contributors may contact the journal via email at jard_unilorin@yahoo.com for further inquiries or clarification.
