Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement

NG Agricultural Sciences (NGAS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and follows the principles and best practices set out by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
The following statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their submissions are original works, free from plagiarism. Any use of others’ work must be properly cited.

  • Authorship Criteria: Only individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study should be listed as authors.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper acknowledgment of all sources of information must be made.

  • Data Accuracy: Authors must ensure that all data presented are accurate and verifiable. Falsification or fabrication of data is considered unethical.

  • Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the work.

  • Multiple or Redundant Publication: Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently constitutes unethical publishing behavior.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

  • Fair Play: Manuscripts are evaluated solely on their academic merit, without regard to the author’s race, gender, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.

  • Confidentiality: Editors must not disclose information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, or other editorial staff.

  • Conflict of Interest: Editors must not handle manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest.

  • Decision-Making: Editors are responsible for making final decisions on manuscripts, based on the reviewers’ reports and the journal’s editorial policies.

  • Handling Misconduct: Editors will investigate suspected cases of research or publication misconduct in accordance with COPE guidelines.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Confidentiality: Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.

  • Objectivity: Reviews must be conducted objectively, with constructive feedback and without personal criticism.

  • Promptness: Reviewers should complete reviews within the agreed time frame.

  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should point out any relevant published work not cited by the authors.

4. Research Misconduct Policy

NGAS considers the following to be forms of research and publication misconduct:

  • Plagiarism

  • Data fabrication or falsification

  • Improper authorship

  • Redundant publication

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

  • Manipulation of the peer review process

Allegations of misconduct will be investigated following COPE flowcharts. Proven cases may result in retraction of the article and notification to relevant institutions.

5. Retraction and Correction Policy

  • Retractions will be issued for articles found to have significant errors, ethical violations, or evidence of misconduct.

  • Corrections will be issued when minor errors are found that do not alter the conclusions of the work.

  • All retractions and corrections will be clearly identified and linked to the original article.

6. Publisher’s Responsibilities

The publisher ensures that the journal’s operations adhere to recognized standards of ethical publishing, supports the editorial team in investigations, and maintains the integrity and transparency of the scholarly record.