Dissemination pathways for cocoa research results in Ghana: The potential role of the radio

Studies have shown that farmers do not get requisite technological information they need to aid them in their decision-making processes. Using focus group discussions, questionnaire survey, and in-depth interviews, the study elicited information on socioeconomic features, information sources and constraints from farmers in East Akim and New Juaben districts inthe Eastern Region. Over 85 per cent of farmers had not met an extension officer in a year, but 63 per cent owned a radio and rated it highly. They preferred it to other possible communication channels. It is concluded thatthe radio could complement extension efforts in providing farmers’ information needs. The implications of these and other findings are discussed

Cocoa Farmer Characteristics and Access to Research-Based Information in Two Districts of Ashanti, Ghana

The main purpose is to review the state of cocoa extension system and its preparedness to meet the information needs of resource-poor farmers. It also sought to investigate the extent of farmer access to research-based information and how this access is influenced by certain farmer characteristics. Social survey involving questionnaire administration and statistical analyses were employed. Information was elicited from 278 farmers in ten communities in two political districts (Atwima Mponua and Amansie West) of Ashanti, Ghana. Contrary to recent review reports, this study found that 83.8% of farmers have not met an extension agent in the year preceding the study. Farmers relied heavily on their network of family members and friends for information on cocoa and only 13% regarded the extension system as reliable information source. The farmers preferred to receive information through the radio which almost all had. Of the farmer characteristics examined, only district of residence and class of farmer showed significant relationship with access to research-based information. The implications are that farmer access to research-based information is low such that the characteristics of the farmer are largely immaterial. The findings have implications for government policy on extension support systems to cocoa farmers. It suggests that the policy of merging cocoa extension with mainstream ministry of agriculture extension may be flawed because it was meant to improve farmers\' access to information and as the findings of this study indicates, not much has been achieved in that direction. The study has practical value for policy formulation and the choice of appropriate media for interacting with farmers. Keywords: Information, access, characteristics, cocoa Journal of Science & Technology (Ghana) Vol. 28 (3) 2008: pp. 10-1

Meeting the information needs of ghanaian cocoa farmers: are farmer field schools the answer?

A number of farmer-led approaches to technology transfer have emerged in recent times to replace the largely discredited Transfer of Technology (TOT) and Training and Visit (T&V) models of agricultural extension. One such initiative is the Farmer Field School (FFS), an experiential learning approach originally developed in Southeast Asia for the integrated management of rice pests but adaptable to other crops and even to livestock and fisheries. The experiences in the use of FFS in other crops have been applied to cocoa in studies in the Central and Ashanti regions of Ghana. This study used a mixed method of group interviews, questionnaire survey and in-depth one-on-one interviews to elicit information from farmers in Atwima and Amansie-West districts of Ashanti where the sustainable tree crops programme (STCP) has been conducting FFSs since 2002, with the object of evaluating the extent to which the FFS approach could augment existing extension strategies in meeting farmers' information needs. The sample included participants and non-participants alike providing a basis for comparative analysis. The results indicate that majority of the farmers (70%) rely on their social networks of friends, neighbours and family members for information and advice with only 13% regarding extension agents as their main source of advice. No significant differences (

Looking for convergence: Stakeholders’ perceptions of cocoa extension constraints in Ghana

This study was undertaken with the objective of evaluating the extent of convergence on the part of key stakeholders in the cocoa sector on the problems of cocoa extension and how to address it. The study was carried out in the Atwima Mponua and Amansie West districts of the Ashanti regionin 2008 although some of the stakeholders interviewed were outside these districts. Survey research methodology was employed including focus group discussions to obtain information from policy makers, researchers, extensionists, licensed buying companies, input dealers and farmers. The key findings were that all concurred that productivity should be boosted to improve the lot of farmers and that information provision is central to this. However, there was no convergence as to how this could be achieved. It emerged that the state of cocoa extension was deplorable requiring urgent policy intervention. The implications and conclusions are that farmers are not benefitting sufficiently from many years of cocoa research; to move productivity to a higher pedestal, the acknowledged knowledge gap between researchers and farmers need to be bridged

Defining Acceptable Colour Tolerances for Identity Branding in Natural Viewing Conditions

Graphic arts provide the channel for the reproduction of most brand communications. The reproduction tolerances in the graphic arts industry are based on standards that aim to produce visually acceptable outcomes. To communicate with their target audience brands, use a set of visual cues that may include the definition of a single or combinations of them to represent themselves. The outcomes are often defined entirely by their colour specification without an associating it to target parameters or suitable colour thresholds. This paper researches into the feasibility of defining colour tolerances for brand graphical representations. The National Health Service branding was used as a test case borne out of a need to resolve differences between contracted suppliers of brand graphics. Psychophysical evaluation of colour coded navigation used to facilitate wayfinding in hospitals under the varying illuminances across the estate was found to have a maximum acceptable colour difference threshold of 5ΔE00. The simulation of defined illumination levels in hospitals, between 25-3000 lux, resulted in an acceptable colour tolerance estimation for colour coded navigation of 3.6ΔE00. Using ICC media relative correction an experiment was designed to test the extent to which substrate white points could be corrected for colour differences between brand proofs and reproductions. Branded stationery and publications substrate corrections to achieve visual matches had acceptable colour difference thresholds of 9.5ΔE*ab for solid colours but only 2.5ΔE*ab. Substrate white point corrections on displays were found to be approximately 12ΔE*ab for solids and 5ΔE*ab for tints. Where display media were concerned the use of non-medical grade to view medical images and branded content was determined to be inefficient, unless suitable greyscale functions were employed. A STRESS test was carried out, for TC 1-93 Greyscale Calculation for Self-Luminous Devices, to compare DICOM GSDF with Whittle’s log brightness. Whittle’s function was found to outperform DICOM GSDF. The colour difference formulas used in this research were tested, using near neutral samples 2 judged by observers using estimated magnitude differences. The CIEDE2000 formula was found to outperform CIELAB despite unexpected outcomes when tested using displays. CIELAB was outperformed in ΔL* by CIEDE2000 for displays. Overall it was found that identity branding colour reproduction was mostly suited to graphic arts tolerances however, to address specific communications, approved tolerances reflecting viewing environments would be the most efficient approach. The findings in this research highlights the need for brand visualisation to consider the adoption of a strategy that includes graphic arts approaches. This is the first time that the subject of defining how brands achieve tolerances for their targeted visual communications has been researched

Influence of storage conditions and packaging materials on some quality attributes of water yam flour

The study investigated some quality attributes of water yam flour stored in three packaging materials [high and low density polyethylene and plastic container] under different storage conditions [relative humidity (36%, 56%, 75% and 96%), temperature (25±2, 35±2 and 45±2 °C)] for 24 weeks. The functional properties, proximate composition and microbial load of the samples were evaluated at 4 weeks interval. Significant differences (p<0.01) were observed for proximate composition, functional properties and microbial load of the samples during storage. The interactive effect of storage conditions and packaging materials was significant (p<0.01) on proximate composition and pasting properties (except trough viscosity). The yam flour samples were still shelf stable after the 24 weeks of storage

Spatial-temporal patterns of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) pollution in Accra

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is rapidly urbanizing, and ambient air pollution has emerged as a major environmental health concern in SSA cities. Yet, effective air quality management is hindered by limited data. We deployed robust, low-cost and low-power devices in a large-scale measurement campaign and characterized within-city variations in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) pollution in Accra, Ghana. Methods: Between April 2019 and June 2020, we measured weekly gravimetric (filter-based) and minute-by-minute PM2.5 concentrations at 146 unique locations, comprising of 10 fixed (~1-year) and 136 rotating (7-day) sites covering a range of land-use and source influences. Filters were weighed for mass, and light absorbance (10−5m−1) of the filters was used as proxy for BC concentration. Year-long data at four fixed sites that were monitored in a previous study (2006-2007) were compared to assess change in PM2.5 concentrations. Results: The mean annual PM2.5 across the fixed sites ranged from 26 μg/m3 at a peri-urban site to 40 μg/m3 at commercial, business, and industrial (CBI) areas. CBI areas had the highest PM2.5 levels (mean: 37 μg/m3), followed by high-density residential neighborhoods (mean: 36 μg/m3), while peri-urban areas recorded the lowest (mean: 26 μg/m3). Both PM2.5 and BC levels were highest during the dry dusty Harmattan period (mean PM2.5: 89 μg/m3) compared to non-Harmattan season (mean PM2.5: 23 μg/m3). PM2.5 at all sites peaked at dawn and dusk, coinciding with morning and evening heavy traffic. We found about a ~50% reduction (71 vs 37 μg/m3) in mean annual PM2.5 concentrations when compared to measurements in 2006-2007 in Accra. Conclusion: Ambient PM2.5 concentrations in Accra may have plateaued at levels lower than those seen in large Asian megacities. However, levels are still 2- to 4-fold higher than the WHO guideline. Effective and equitable policies are needed to reduce pollution levels and protect public health

Effect of water yam (Dioscorea alata) flour fortified with distillers spent grain on nutritional, chemical, and functional properties

It was envisaged that the inclusion of treated distiller ’ s spent grain ( DSG ) to yam fl our might increase its nutritional value, with the aim of reducing nutritional diseases in communities consuming yam as a staple. Hence, yam fl our was fortifi ed with DSG at 5–35%. The effects of this fortifi cation on the nutritional, chemical, and functional properties of yam fl our were investigated. The result showed a signifi cant increase ( P 0.001) in fat, ash, protein, total amino acids, total dietary fi ber, and insoluble dietary fi ber contents of the blends as DSG increased except for starch and soluble dietary fi ber contents, which decreased. The functional properties showed a signifi cant ( P 0.001) reduction with DSG inclusion. The inclusion of DSG increased both the tryptophan and methionine contents of the blends. Therefore, the DSG fortifi ed yam fl our could contribute to quality protein intake in populations consuming yam as a staple, due to its indispensible amino acid content

Drivers of Change or Cut-Throat Competitors? Challenging Cultures of Innovation of Chinese and Nigerian Migrant Entrepreneurs in West Africa

L'afflux remarquable des entrepreneurs migrants chinois dans différents pays d'Afrique occidentale au cours des dernières années a été heurtée à une résistance de plus en plus farouche par des entrepreneurs locaux établis. Que le premiers ont un avantage concurrentiel sur ce dernier en raison de traits socio-culturels distinctifs, ou si l'efficacité supposée chinoise est juste une caractéristique de toutes les diasporas mercantiles, est ouvert à la question. Cette étude exploratoire des migrants entrepreneuriales chinois et nigérians au Ghana et au Bénin tente de répondre à cette question. Apparemment, les forces culturels des agents du changement migrants ne sont pas limités à des systèmes de valeurs héritées ou religions, comme une éthique protestante ou le confucianisme, mais ils sont adaptés en permanence et ont inventé de nouveau par des réseaux transnationaux de la migration dans un monde globalisé. Il n'y a aucune preuve d'une prétendue supériorité de la culture d’innovation chinois par rapport aux cultures d’innovation africains des migrants entrepreneuriales. Plutôt, il existe une capacité accrue d'innovation d'une diaspora mercantile en général vis à vis des entrepreneurs locaux, indépendamment de l'origine de la culture nationale dans lequel il est intégré. En outre, la rivalité des entrepreneurs migrants chinois et nigérians dans les marchés africains ne conduit pas nécessairement à la concurrence coupe-gorge souvent suspectée sous l'impact de la mondialisation. Souvent, les deux groupes agissent plutôt complémentaires. Cela contribue, sous certaines conditions, même à la réduction de la pauvreté dans le pays d'accueil