MENACE SUR LA CAPACITE DE CHARGE ANIMALE ET HUMAINE DES TERRES AU TOGO: CAS DES SAVANES SEPTENTRIONALES

HREAT TO ANIMAL CARRYING CAPACITY AND LAND DOMAIN IN TOGO: CASE OF NORTHERN SAVANNA The populations of the northern savannahs of Togo draw most of the resources they need for their subsistence from their environment. Food products, fodder, wood for crafts, but above all construction and firewood, traditional medicine products, etc. The natural environment! provides in addition to other needs other functions: in fact, vegetation provides shelter for humans and animals, protects the soil against erosion and maintains its fertility, etc.This vegetation also forms the privileged support of the spiritual life of a good number of local populations through the fetish trees and the sacred woods. Similarly, this vegetation provides an important socio-cultural function real since it nourishes the spiritual life of a good number of natives

Trends in the Production, Trade, and Consumption of Food-Legume Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

Food legumes in Sub-Saharan Africa play a vital role by being a source of livelihood for millions of people; and offer tremendous potential to contribute to the alleviation of malnutrition among resource-poor farmers. They contribute to the sustainability of cropping systems and soil fertility. Cowpea and dry beans are the two main food legume crops grown in Sub-Saharan Africa. Area harvested under all food legumes was more than 20 million ha in 2006-08, representing 28% of the global food legume area harvested. Yields are low compared to other developing and developed countries; however they have increased at an annual rate of 1.6% with an increase in production of 3.9% per year. The region has stayed a net importer over the period. Price has increased 5% in real terms from mid 1990s to 2006-08. Per capita availability for consumption has increased at an annual rate of 1.7% and is estimated to be 12.3 kg in 2006-08, which is about 35% higher than the average for developing countries. The future of the legume crop sector remains positive in Sub-Saharan Africa if these crops get the required policy attention in terms of research and institutional infrastructure. However, factors such as scientific breakthroughs and policies regarding competing crops for land use (such as biofuels) or protein sources are highly unpredictable and could rapidly change this positive outlook.Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production, Demand and Price Analysis, Food Security, Poverty, International Development, Marketing, Production Economics, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, International Development, Marketing, Production Economics,

Impact of Michigan’s “Dark Store” Method of Property Taxation and Potential Solutions

Recent successful big box tax appeals in Michigan have led to halving their tax base. This drastic reduction in the tax base, and consequently tax revenue to local governments, has led to budget shortages in local governments. This study helps not only to understand and assess the impact of the big box tax abatement on local communities, and governments, but also explores new forms of collaboration between communities and big box stores, including community benefits agreements (CBAs)

Modelling predicts that soybean is poised to dominate crop production across Africa

The superior agronomic and human nutritional properties of grain legumes (pulses) make them an ideal foundation for future sustainable agriculture. Legume‐based farming is particularly important in Africa, where small‐scale agricultural systems dominate the food production landscape. Legumes provide an inexpensive source of protein and nutrients to African households as well as natural fertilization for the soil. While the consumption of traditionally grown legumes has started to decline, the production of soybeans (Glycine max Merr.) is spreading fast, especially across southern Africa. Predictions of future land‐use allocation and production show that the soybean is poised to dominate future production across Africa. Land use models project an expansion of harvest area, while crop models project possible yield increases. Moreover, a seed change in farming strategy is underway. This is being driven largely by the combined cash‐crop value of products such as oils and the high nutritional benefits of soybean as an animal feed. Intensification of soybean production has the potential to reduce the dependence of Africa on soybean imports. However, a successful ‘soybean bonanza’ across Africa necessitates an intensive research, development, extension and policy agenda to ensure that soybean genetic improvements and production technology meet future demands for sustainable production

L'évolution récente du marché des produits vivriers au Togo

Foodcrops market evolution in Togo. The production and the commercialisation of foodcrops in Togo is of paramount socio-economic importance. If Togo 's overall demographic growth rate is 2,8 percent, this rate raises to 4,4 percent in the urban areas and shrinks to 1,9 percent in rural areas. The urban populations demand for foodcrops grows faster than the total amount of household labor in rural areas. An analysis of the foodcrops production 's evolution in the 1980s reveals that the tendency is satisfactory for some products (e.g. millet, sorghum, yam) but alarming for others (e.g. corn, beans, groundnuts and most of all the rice production is for from matching with the consumption). The official importations have to do with wheat and rice and maize and reflect a change in feeding habits in the case of wheat and a production foodcrops market makes it possible to put into perspective the main factors accounting for both the formation and the movement of prices. The very high share going into local consumption (50 to 60 percent in the case of corn, 80 to 90 percent in the case of millet, sorghum and beans) produces a weak production variation due to the climatic conditions, and has caused the supply on the urban market to notably decrease. In the absence of every means to regulate the supply between the deficit years and the excess years, prices are very sensitive to the quantities supplied to the consumers. Agriculture in Togo is very much grounded in routine and mainly caters for the producers' subsistence. On the one hand it does not adapt itself quickly enough by ajusting the productions of every foodcrops in relation to the demand and the available socks, and on the other hand it does not adapts itself quickly enough by putting the soils to the best use possible. On top of this one must mention the very weak productivity due to the non-intervention of modern factors of production and a loose technical training. The non-existence of a banking system designed for farmers working in the foodcrops sector makes the perpetuate.La production et la commercialisation des produits vivriers au Togo ont une très grande importance socio-économique. Si le taux de croissance démographique global du Togo est de 2,8 %, il est de 4,4 % pour la population urbaine et de 1 ,9 % pour la population rurale. La demande urbaine en produits vivriers croît plus rapidement que le nombre des actifs agricoles. L'évolution de la production agricole durant les années 19 80 est satisfaisante pour certains produits (millet, sorgho, igname), mais préoccupante pour les autres (maïs, haricot, arachide et surtout riz dont la production est loin de suivre la consommation). Les importations officielles concernent le blé, le riz et le maïs, et reflètent un changement des habitudes pour le blé et un déficit de production pour le maïs et surtout le riz. L'analyse du marché des produits vivriers permet de mettre en évidence les principaux facteurs explicatifs de la formation et du mouvement des prix. La très forte part d'autoconsommation (50 à 60 % pour le maïs, 80 à 90 % pour les mils et le haricot) a pour effet qu'une variation faible de la production, due aux aléas climatiques, produit une importante diminution de l'offre sur les marchés urbains. En l'absence de tout moyen de régulation de l' offre entre les années déficitaires et excédentaires, les prix sont très sensibles aux quantités offertes à la consommation. L'agriculture togolaise reste très routinière et essentiellement tournée vers la subsistance du producteur. Elle ne s'adapte pas rapidement d'une part en ajustant les productions de chaque culture vivrière à la demande et à l'état des stocks, d'autre part en utilisant les sols au mieux de leurs aptitudes culturales. A cela s'ajoute une productivité très faible, due à la faible pénétration des facteurs de productions modernes et à un encadrement technique peu dense. L'absence du crédit agricole dans le secteur du vivrier tend à perpétuer cette situation.Akibode Ayéchoro K. L'évolution récente du marché des produits vivriers au Togo. In: Cahiers d'outre-mer. N° 192 - 48e année, Octobre-décembre 1995. Togo - Bénin. pp. 477-500

Trends in the Production, Trade, and Consumption of Food-Legume Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

Food legumes in Sub-Saharan Africa play a vital role by being a source of livelihood for millions of people; and offer tremendous potential to contribute to the alleviation of malnutrition among resource-poor farmers. They contribute to the sustainability of cropping systems and soil fertility. Cowpea and dry beans are the two main food legume crops grown in Sub-Saharan Africa. Area harvested under all food legumes was more than 20 million ha in 2006-08, representing 28% of the global food legume area harvested. Yields are low compared to other developing and developed countries; however they have increased at an annual rate of 1.6% with an increase in production of 3.9% per year. The region has stayed a net importer over the period. Price has increased 5% in real terms from mid 1990s to 2006-08. Per capita availability for consumption has increased at an annual rate of 1.7% and is estimated to be 12.3 kg in 2006-08, which is about 35% higher than the average for developing countries. The future of the legume crop sector remains positive in Sub-Saharan Africa if these crops get the required policy attention in terms of research and institutional infrastructure. However, factors such as scientific breakthroughs and policies regarding competing crops for land use (such as biofuels) or protein sources are highly unpredictable and could rapidly change this positive outlook