Perceptions Paysannes des Déterminants de la Faible Productivité des Ignames (Dioscorea spp) et de Leurs Niveaux de Gravité au Sud-Ouest des Savanes Sèches au Togo (Afrique de l’Ouest)

Extensive yam production by means of slash-and-burn cultivation practice holds a prominent place in the south-west of the dry savannahs of Togo cultivation systems. Like in West Africa, yam cultivation in Togo is subject to many constraints that have remained insufficiently known. These constraints lead to lower yields, and volumes of tubers in the field at postharvest, and affect the productivity of this sector. Seeking to identify the main causes of the decline in yam production or productivity in Togo, the present study has carried out a participatory diagnosis with producers and stakeholders in the yam sector in 27 villages in the dry savannah zone of Togo and has identified 15 main factors with severity levels between 0.03 and 3.32. Average losses of yam tubers, seed yield and market value in one cropping season represent 20.62 ± 1.86, 15.72 ± 3.13% and 45.42 ± 5.63% per hectare of 4000 mounds, respectively. The 80/20 law and the ABC analysis have revealed that the variability and instability of rainfall, the continuous decline of soil fertility and the insufficiency of seed are perceived by farmers as constraints to yam production. The study, therefore, indicates that mitigation of these major factors, which account for about 20% of causal factors affecting yam productivity, can improve yam tubers production. However, the high severity of rainfall anomalies mandates future work on local perceptions of the manifestations of climatic variability and the evaluation of local practices for improving the resilience of yam cultivation in the face of climate impacts in Togo. La production extensive d’igname par la pratique de défriche brûlis occupe une place prépondérante dans les systèmes de culture au Sud-ouest des Savanes Sèches togolaises. À l’instar de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, la culture de l’igname au Togo est sujette à de nombreuses contraintes qui induisent une faible productivité des ignames et des pertes post-récolte importantes. La présente étude vise à identifier les principales causes de la baisse de de la productivité des ignames au Togo. Un diagnostic participatif avec les producteurs et les acteurs de la filière igname a été réalisé dans 27 villages de la zone à savanes sèches du Togo. La loi 80/20 et l’analyse ABC ont été appliquées pour l’analyse des données recueilles. Les résultats ont permis de dégager 15 principaux facteurs avec des niveaux de gravité compris entre 0,03 et 3,32. Les pertes moyennes de tubercules d’igname de consommation, de semenceaux et de leur valeur marchande, en une campagne agricole, ont, respectivement, représenté 20,62 ± 1,86 ; 15,72 ± 3,13% et 45,42 ± 5,63% par hectare de 4000 buttes et par campagne agricole. La variabilité et l’instabilité des pluies, la baisse continue de la fertilité des sols et l’insuffisance de semenceaux sont perçus par les agriculteurs comme des contraintes à la production d’igname. La mitigation de ces contraintes majeures peut améliorer la production des tubercules d’igname

Harnessing data science to improve integrated management of invasive pest species across Africa: An application to Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

After five years of its first report on the African continent, Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is considered a major threat to maize, sorghum, and millet production in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the rigorous work already conducted to reduce FAW prevalence, the dynamics and invasion mechanisms of FAW in Africa are still poorly understood. This study applied interdisciplinary tools, analytics, and algorithms on a FAW dataset with a spatial lens to provide insights and project the intensity of FAW infestation across Africa. The data collected between January 2018 and December 2020 in selected locations were matched with the monthly average data of the climatic and environmental variables. The multilevel analytics aimed to identify the key factors that influence the dynamics of spatial and temporal pest density and occurrence at a 2 km x 2 km grid resolution. The seasonal variations of the identified factors and dynamics were used to calibrate rule-based analytics employed to simulate the monthly densities and occurrence of the FAW for the years 2018, 2019, and 2020. Three FAW density level classes were inferred, i.e., low (0–10 FAW moth per trap), moderate (11–30 FAW moth per trap), and high (>30 FAW moth per trap). Results show that monthly density projections were sensitive to the type of FAW host vegetation and the seasonal variability of climatic factors. Moreover, the diversity in the climate patterns and cropping systems across the African sub-regions are considered the main drivers of FAW abundance and variation. An optimum overall accuracy of 53% was obtained across the three years and at a continental scale, however, a gradual increase in prediction accuracy was observed among the years, with 2020 predictions providing accuracies greater than 70%. Apart from the low amount of data in 2018 and 2019, the average level of accuracy obtained could also be explained by the non-inclusion of data related to certain key factors such as the influence of natural enemies (predators, parasitoids, and pathogens) into the analysis. Further detailed data on the occurrence and efficiency of FAW natural enemies in the region may help to complete the tri-trophic interactions between the host plants, pests, and beneficial organisms. Nevertheless, the tool developed in this study provides a framework for field monitoring of FAW in Africa that may be a basis for a future decision support system (DSS).Harnessing data science to improve integrated management of invasive pest species across Africa: An application to Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)publishedVersio

The LabTogo-Project

A joint project between West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), the University of Lomé and the German Biomass Research Center (Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum; DBFZ) was initiated in 2020. The project aims at evaluating alternative and regenerative energy sources for rural areas and creating the basis for successful implementation. In three different work packages, therefore, biomass potentials should be quantified, technologies should be examined with regard to their suitability and - in the case of biogas application - a research structure, pilot biogas laboratory, should be created that is necessary to enable the sustainable implementation of technologies

A Fuzzy-Based Model to Predict the Spatio-Temporal Performance of the Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris Natural Enemy against Tuta absoluta under Climate Change

The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta, causes up to 100% tomato crop losses. As Tuta absoluta is non-native to African agroecologies and lacks efficient resident natural enemies, the microgastrine koinobiont solitary oligophagous larval endoparasitoid, Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris (Marsh) (Syn.: Apanteles gelechiidivoris Marsh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was released for classical biological control. This study elucidates the current and future spatio-temporal performance of D. gelechiidivoris against T. absoluta in tomato cropping systems using a fuzzy logic modelling approach. Specifically, the study considers the presence of the host and the host crop, as well as the parasitoid reproductive capacity, as key variables. Results show that the fuzzy algorithm predicted the performance of the parasitoid (in terms of net reproductive rate (R0)), with a low root mean square error (RMSE) value (<0.90) and a considerably high R2 coefficient (=0.98), accurately predicting the parasitoid performance over time and space. Under the current climatic scenario, the parasitoid is predicted to perform well in all regions throughout the year, except for the coastal region. Under the future climatic scenario, the performance of the parasitoid is projected to improve in all regions throughout the year. Overall, the model sheds light on the varying performance of the parasitoid across different regions of Kenya, and in different seasons, under both current and future climatic scenarios

Biological reinforcement learning simulation for natural enemy -host behavior: Exploring deep learning algorithms for population dynamics

This study introduces a simulation of biological reinforcement learning to explore the behavior of natural enemies in the presence of host pests, aiming to analyze the population dynamics between natural enemies and insect pests within an ecological context. The simulation leverages on Q-learning, a reinforcement learning algorithm, to model the decision-making processes of both parasitoids/predators and pests, thereby assessing the impact of varying parasitism and predation rates on pest population growth. Simulation parameters, such as episode count, duration in months, steps, learning rate, and discount factor, were set arbitrarily. Environmental and reward matrices, representing climatic conditions, crop availability, and the rewards for different actions, were established for each month. Initial Q-tables for parasitoids/predators and pests, along with population arrays, were used to track population dynamics. • The simulation, illustrated through the Aphid-Ladybird beetle interaction case study over multiple episodes, includes a sensitivity analysis to evaluate the effects of different predation rates. • Findings reveal detailed population dynamics, phase relationships between predator and pest populations, and the significant influence of predation rates. • These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of ecological systems and inform potential pest management strategies

Alternative Fuels Substitution in Cement Industries for Improved Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

The conventional energy source in cement industries is fossil fuels, mainly coal, which has a high environmental footprint. On average, energy expenditures account for 40% of the overall production costs per ton of cement. Reducing both the environmental impact and economic expenditure involves incorporating alternative energy sources (fuels) such as biomass, solid-derived fuel (SDF), refuse-derived fuel (RDF) etc. However, within cement plants, the substitution of conventional fossil fuels with alternative fuels poses several challenges due to the difficulty in incorporating additional fuel-saving techniques. Typically, an additional 3000 MJ of electricity per ton of clinker is required. One of the most effective solutions to this is thermal optimization through co-processing and pre-processing, which makes it possible to implement additional fossil-fuel-saving techniques. In developing nations such as Togo, waste-management systems rely on co-processing in cement factories through a waste-to-energy relationship. Also, there are some old cement plants with low-efficiency, multi-stage preheaters without pre-calciners, reciprocating huge coolers, low-efficiency motors etc., which still operate and need to be made environmentally sustainable. However, compared to modern kilns which can have up to 95% of energy recovery from waste, an old suspension preheater kiln can recover only up to 60% of its heat energy depending on the cooler type, and due to the lack of a bypass and combustion chamber (pre-calciner). This research paper evaluated the performance of a cement plant incorporating AF and presents the procedures and recommendations to optimize AF substitution in cement plants. To achieve this, a comparative performance study was carried out by assessing the alternative fuel characteristics and the equipment performance before and after the incorporation of the alternative fuel. Data were collected on the optimum substitution ratio, pre-processing and co-processing performance, raw-meal design and economic analysis. Results indicated that the cost to be covered per ton of waste input is €10.9 for solid-derived fuel (SDF), €15 for refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and that the co-processing cost optimization for the cement plant could have a cost saving of up to 7.81€/GJ. In conclusion, it is recommended that appropriate kiln and alternative-fuel models be created for forecasting production based on various AF

E-Technology Enabled Sourcing of Alternative Fuels to Create a Fair-Trade Circular Economy for Sustainable Energy in Togo

Sustainable energy projects in Africa are particularly vulnerable in terms of sourcing vital alternative fuels due to the complexity of sourcing processes, contract agreements and relationships between society managers or directors and supplier chain entities. These challenges can affect any phase of a sustainable project, and the losses can be as high as 3.2 EURO/GJ. In addition, there is reduced competition and fair trade, low profits and poor quality of the fuel purchased. Technology (mobile application) is one powerful tool that can solve the above challenges by controlling or managing the supply and demand of biomass-based fuels, agriculture residue, industrial waste and many more. Thus, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a developed digital platform to remove barriers in the trade of alternative fuels. Data collection began with the identification of the key production areas (sources) and quantities of three selected AFs. Secondly, data on the seasonal variations in alternative fuel (AF) quantities were obtained from the identified locations. Thirdly, the acquisition costs were calculated based on the quality and characteristics of the AFs. Results were then transferred into a mobile application where industries could assess, compare, and bargain for AF based on quality and price. Due to the introduction of competitive pricing, overall, the mobile application improved the savings on sourcing for AFs by industries by 2.89 EURO/GJ. In terms of profit optimization, the farmers have value for money and fair bargaining for their products, thus increasing their revenues for the planting season. It was also observed that the cost of the fuel was based on the proximity of the source to the demand industry. In conclusion, the mobile application facilitates a circular economy between the farmers, suppliers and industries where industries receive fair and competitive prices for their fuel whiles farmers receive extra income for farming businesses and agricultural waste is sustainably managed through a circular economy

Effet de quatre souches de champignons mychoriziens arbusculaires sur Meloidogyne spp., principal nématode parasitaire du soja (Glycine max, L.) au Togo.

Objectif : L’objectif de cette étude est d’évaluer l’effet de quatre souches de champignon mycorhizien arbusculaire d’origine locale sur la production du soja et le contrôle des nématodes parasitaires, Meloidogyne sp. au champ.Méthodologie et résultats : L’essai a été conduit à la Station d’Expérimentation Agronomique de Lomé au Togo, de Juillet à Octobre 2016 suivant un dispositif de Fisher à quatre répétitions. Glomus mosseae, Glomus hoï, Acaulospora spinoza et BEN 10 ont été testées en comparaison au témoin. L’inoculation a été faite lors du semis du soja. Il ressort de cette étude que les plants de soja inoculés sont fortement mycorhizés. Sur les quatre souches dans cette étude, Glomus mosseae a induit la meilleure réduction de la densité des nématodes dans les racines, entrainant une amélioration du rendement en graines du soja.Conclusion et applications des résultats : Cette étude a montré que l’inoculation directe des CMA pendant le semis entraine une réduction de la densité des nématodes parasites et améliore le rendement du soja. Elle peut donc être un des moyens écologiquement durable de production du soja au Togo.Mots clés : Inoculation mycorhizienne, nématodes, rendement, soja

Review of Togolese Policies and Institutional Framework for Industrial and Sustainable Waste Management

Waste and resource management in Togo is expected to become more difficult due to increasing socioeconomic development, industrialization, and renewable energy investments. Although there are numerous elements that affect waste and resource management, legislation and policy frameworks are essential. In response to the growing demands for environmental protection, the legal provisions and regulatory frameworks of waste and resource management, as well as the legal implementation process, must be more and more comprehensive. Some actions have been taken in Togo to improve the incorporation of more sustainable industrial processes, which include restrictions and regulations on MSW generation, decentralization of MSW management, policies and incentive systems that promote waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, improvement of enforcement through investigation and treatment of violations, and encouragement of macro-socio-economies in the management of municipal solid waste. In spite of the presence of these policies, the sector is still plagued with numerous challenges, mostly in terms of implementation and the application of these policies to develop tailor made and locally feasible solutions. This research paper highlights relevant policies relating to MSW management in Togo as well as key international conventions and policies. It also discusses the contribution that “transition management” can make to such processes, emphasizes the role of governance for sustainable development, and it suggests solutions with a long-term transformation impact such as the incorporation of waste to energy systems into industrial processes. The paper further identifies some flaws and challenges with law implementation on MSW management and suggests solutions to improve the effectiveness of law implementation and the conditions and criteria for a safe and secure way to use waste-derived materials and fuels or by-products coming from society or other industries. These policy suggestions may also be applicable globally at an individual industry level to encourage the creation of more Green Industrial Companies (GICs)