Ex Ante Economic Impact of Genetically Modified (GM) Cowpea in Benin

The net impact of pest-resistant GM crops on the welfare of both producers and consumers in developing countries is currently unknown and subject to speculation. This study uses choice-based conjoint protocol to estimate the net impact of pest-resistant Genetically Modified (GM) cowpea on net social welfare in Benin given price and income risks. Results imply that Bt cowpea will increase expected net social welfare by about $US 50 million per year in Benin given no inefficiencies in the seed sector. If inefficiencies in the seed sector are such that cowpea growers can access Bt cowpea seeds only 50$US 11 million per year.Crop Production/Industries,

The Impact of Incubators on the Success of Innovative Agribusinesses Founded by Youths in Cameroon

Entrepreneurship is a credible option for countries that aim to solve the problem of youth employability by supporting them. Therefore, the relevance of support structures such as incubators in an agricultural developing country like Cameroon is still relevant, and the analysis of their impact is necessary to the relevance and effectiveness of their action. The objective of this article is to analyze the impact of incubators in the agricultural sector, on the success of incubated firms by analyzing the direct impact of accessing the proposed services on the performance (development and growth) of incubated firms; we started from the Service-Dominant Logic to analyze the value of the proposed services from the point of view of the incubates. We mainly used the PLS method and found that incubators through their services (infrastructure, training and coaching, consulting and assistance, and networking) have an impact on the development (management, strategic alliances, innovation development) and growth (employment and wealth) of agribusinesses founded by young people. However, this impact is somewhat weak

The Impact of Incubators on the Success of Innovative Agribusinesses Founded by Youths in Cameroon

Entrepreneurship is a credible option for countries that aim to solve the problem of youth employability by supporting them. Therefore, the relevance of support structures such as incubators in an agricultural developing country like Cameroon is still relevant, and the analysis of their impact is necessary to the relevance and effectiveness of their action. The objective of this article is to analyze the impact of incubators in the agricultural sector, on the success of incubated firms by analyzing the direct impact of accessing the proposed services on the performance (development and growth) of incubated firms; we started from the Service-Dominant Logic to analyze the value of the proposed services from the point of view of the incubates. We mainly used the PLS method and found that incubators through their services (infrastructure, training and coaching, consulting and assistance, and networking) have an impact on the development (management, strategic alliances, innovation development) and growth (employment and wealth) of agribusinesses founded by young people. However, this impact is somewhat weak

Multiple insecticide resistance in an infected population of the malaria vector Anopheles funestus in Benin.

BACKGROUND Knowledge on the spread and distribution of insecticide resistance in major malaria vectors such as Anopheles funestus is key to implement successful resistance management strategies across Africa. Here, by assessing the susceptibility status of an inland population of An. funestus Giles (Kpome) and investigating molecular basis of resistance, we show that multiple resistance and consistent plasmodium infection rate are present in Anopheles funestus populations from Kpome. METHODS The insecticide susceptibility level of collected Anopheles funestus was assessed. Synergist (PBO) was used to screen resistance mechanisms. The TaqMan technique was used for genotyping of insecticide resistant alleles and detecting plasmodium infection levels. The nested PCR was used to further assess the plasmodium infection rate. RESULTS The TaqMan analysis of plasmodial infections revealed an infection rate (18.2 %) of An. funestus in this locality. The WHO bioassays revealed a multiple phenotypic resistance profile for An. funestus in Kpome. This population is highly resistant to pyrethroids (permethrin and deltamethrin), organochlorines (DDT), and carbamates (bendiocarb). A reduced susceptibility was observed with dieldrin. Mortalities did not vary after pre-exposure to PBO for DDT indicating that cytochrome P450s play little role in DDT resistance in Kpome. In contrast, we noticed, a significant increase in mortalities when PBO was combined to permethrin suggesting the direct involvement of P450s in pyrethroid resistance. A high frequency of the L119F-GSTe2 DDT resistance marker was observed in the wild DDT resistant population (9 %RS and 91 %RR) whereas the A296S mutation was detected at a low frequency (1 %RS and 99 %SS). CONCLUSION The presence of multiple resistance in An. funestus populations in the inland locality of Kpome is established in this study as recently documented in the costal locality of Pahou. Data from both localities suggest that resistance could be widespread in Benin and this highlights the need for further studies to assess the geographical distribution of insecticide resistance across Benin and neighboring countries as well as a more comprehensive analysis of the resistance mechanisms involved

Mineral analysis reveals extreme manganese concentrations in wild harvested and commercially available edible termites

Termites are widely used as a food resource, particularly in Africa and Asia. Markets for insects as food are also expanding worldwide. To inform the development of insect-based foods, we analysed selected minerals (Fe-Mn-Zn-Cu-Mg) in wild-harvested and commercially available termites. Mineral values were compared to selected commercially available insects. Alate termites, of the genera Macrotermes and Odontotermes, showed remarkably high manganese (Mn) content (292-515mg/100gdw), roughly 50-100 times the concentrations detected in other insects. Other mineral elements occur at moderate concentrations in all insects examined. On further examination, the Mn is located primarily in the abdomens of the Macrotermes subhyalinus; with scanning electron microscopy revealing small spherical structures highly enriched for Mn. We identify the fungus comb, of Macrotermes subhyanus, as a potential biological source of the high Mn concentrations. Consuming even small quantities of termite alates could exceed current upper recommended intakes for Mn in both adults and children. Given the widespread use of termites as food, a better understanding the sources, distribution and bio-availability of these high Mn concentrations in termite alates is needed

Ex Ante Economic Impact of Genetically Modified (GM) Cowpea in Benin

The net impact of pest-resistant GM crops on the welfare of both producers and consumers in developing countries is currently unknown and subject to speculation. This study uses choice-based conjoint protocol to estimate the net impact of pest-resistant Genetically Modified (GM) cowpea on net social welfare in Benin given price and income risks. Results imply that Bt cowpea will increase expected net social welfare by about $US 50 million per year in Benin given no inefficiencies in the seed sector. If inefficiencies in the seed sector are such that cowpea growers can access Bt cowpea seeds only 50$US 11 million per year

Spatial integration of Vegetable Markets in West Africa: Case of Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) between Benin and Burkina Faso

The instability of world prices of traditional cash crops led to the promotion of nontraditional crops. Among the latter, vegetable farming is positioned as strategic cropping for meeting urban and periurban food consumption in most West African countries. Seasonality differences between coastal and sahelian countries, coupled with, the logic of vegetable producers, and the requirements of crops and the prices variability resulted in the development of production and marketing strategies favorable to market integration in West African countries. This study aims at providing preliminary information on tomato market integration between Benin and Burkina Faso. Data from fields surveys and on monthly prices, extracted from ONASA and DGSA databases are used to analyze the regional market integration. Cointegration models based on Johansen approach and Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach of Pesaran are used for analysis. The hypothesis on the existence of a potential weak integration of tomato markets was confirmed and corroborated in this study. Established chains of integration were identified between the Cotonou market and the main tomato-producing areas of Burkina Faso and Benin production areas with the markets of Boulkiemdé, Kénédougou, Oubritenga Sanguié respectively. The integration chain of Cotonou was found to be more established than the Bohicon and the Malanville chains and constitute a reference market for tomato wholesalers. However, there is need to conduct further in-depth analysis on integration to tap existing opportunities for enhanced vegetable producer’s income and poverty reduction

Impact of Youth-in-Agribusiness Program on Employment Creation in Nigeria

The increasing rate of youth unemployment in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, remains among the challenges to social and economic stability. Accordingly, the Nigerian government implemented several interventions, including the Youth-in-Agribusiness (YIA) program to reduce youth unemployment. However, the effect of these programs on gainful employment creation is yet to be documented. Therefore, this study examined the impact of the YIA program on creating gainful employment among the youth. Multistage random sampling was used to obtain cross-sectional data from 668 youth in Southwestern Nigeria. Propensity score matching and endogenous switching probit techniques were used for the estimations. Results indicated that variables such as educational attainment, access to training, non-agricultural activity, membership in a youth organization, access to credit, productive resources, and youth location were significant and positively influenced youth decision to participate in the YIA program. Furthermore, participation in the YIA program has a significant positive impact on gainful employment among the youth. Therefore, the study recommends that strengthening social capital such as youth organization, credit scheme (financed by private and government), vocational training, and educational system is vital in enhancing participation in the YIA program and eventually gainful employment of youth