Quantitative impacts of invasive Senna spectabilis on distribution of welfare: a household survey of dependent communities in Budongo forest reserve, Uganda

This paper presents the results of a household survey designed to qualitatively evaluate the impacts of the invasive alien species Senna spectabilis on the distribution of welfare across dependent communities in Budongo forest reserve (BFR) in Uganda. BFR is the largest forest reserve in Uganda with globally significant conservation values. The study establishes that households in BFR have high levels of knowledge on its conservation values, they are aware of the invasiveness of S. spectabilis and its potential to compromise the conservation values of BFR, and that S. spectabilis confers tangible benefits to dependent households, whose levels significantly vary with proximity to the reserve. The study concludes by evaluating strategies designed to manage the spread of S. spectabilis in BFR which consider its demonstrated socioeconomic impacts.Invasive Senna spectabilis, distribution of impacts, Budongo forest reserve, Uganda, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

A socio-economic assessment of the impacts of invasive alien plant species on forestry production : the case of Senna spectabilis in Budongo forest reserve, Uganda

In 2006, a baseline survey for the UNEP/GEF-IAS Project was conducted in BFR to assess the status of IAS in the area. Findings indicated that extensive forest parts had severe S. spectabilis encroachment which appeared to interfere with the normal functioning and productivity of the forest. This study was motivated by the magnitude of S. spectabilis invasion in BFR, the level of public and government concern about the invasion, and the magnitude of the IAS problem across East Africa. This study was thus undertaken to address a specific need of the research and capacity building components of the UNEP/GEF-IAS Project. The study1 was carried out to assess the impacts of S. spectabilis invasion on the productivity of BFR and the socio-economic implications on the livelihoods of the dependent stakeholders (local resident population, timber suppliers and the tourism sector). The study used descriptive statistics to assess the levels of awareness of S. spectabilis invasion, perceptions and knowledge of the conservation values of BFR, knowledge on the benefits and costs of living with S. spectabilis and impacts of S. spectabilis on the flow of quantities and revenues from the benefits it generates. The impact on financial profitability and efficiency of timber firms was assessed using Gross margin analysis (GMA) and financial efficiency ratio analysis respectively. The impact on the population structure of chimpanzees was studied using mean differentials and focused group discussions. Results indicate that the level of awareness about S. spectabilis invasion and the knowledge of the conservation values of BFR were high among all the three stakeholder groups. GMA revealed that S. spectabilis invasion increases variable costs in timber production thus reducing profit margins and financial efficiency of timber firms. Alteration of habitat environment occasioned by S. spectabilis invasion was advanced, though with uncertainty, as a possible reason for the difference in chimpanzee numbers between the infested and non infested forest conditions. Like other IAS, S. spectabilis was found to have both benefits and costs though the distribution of the same differs. S. spectabilis can be considered a net benefit to the local dependent communities whereas it may be a net loss to both the timber and tourism sectors. Conflict of interest in S. spectabilis management is discussed and possible solutions suggested. It was recommended that the threat of invasive species should be tackled through a multisectoral approach.Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2009.Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Developmentunrestricte

Ru on N‐doped Carbon for the Selective Hydrogenolysis of Sugars and Sugar Alcohols

Glycols are accessible via metal‐catalyzed hydrogenolysis of sugar alcohols such as xylitol obtained from hemicellulose. Ru‐based catalysts are highly active but also catalyze side‐reactions such as decarbonylation and deoxygenation. To achieve high selectivity, these reactions need to be suppressed. In our study, we introduce heteroatom doped carbon materials as catalyst supports providing high selectivity. Heteroatom doping with nitrogen and oxygen was achieved by treating activated carbon with HNO₃, NH₃ and H₂ or carbonization of organic precursors. For all N‐doped materials a high glycol selectivity of ∼ 80 % for sorbitol and xylitol and 44 % for xylose and glucose was reached. XPS analysis confirms the presence of different nitrogen species at the carbon surface and varying ligand effects for oxygen and nitrogen. Oxygen has an electron withdrawing effect on ruthenium and leads to a decreased activity. Nitrogen has weaker electron withdrawing properties, resulting in an enhanced selectivity

The household welfare impacts of an agricultural innovation platform in Uganda

Technical approaches to food production are important to the food security of growing populations in developing countries. However, strategic investments in research and farm-level adoption require greater coherence in agricultural, societal, and local policies. The Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) and the formation of the Cassava Innovation Platform (CIP) in Uganda were designed to stimulate interactions between researchers and farmers, leading to the development of improved cassava varieties through Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) and Participatory Variety Selection (PVS). Moreover, the establishment of a community-based commercialized seed system allied Cassava Seed Entrepreneurship (CSE) has made an important contribution to the rapid multiplication and dissemination of clean planting materials in Uganda. The impact of CIP participation on rural household welfare was measured by household consumption expenditure per capita. The Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model was applied to data from a formal household survey conducted in the Eastern, Northern, and Mid-Western regions of Uganda. The education, farm size, livestock size, access to credit, cost of cassava planting materials, access to extension service, access to training, and social group membership are significantly associated with CIP participation. CIP participation resulted in a 47.4% increase in household consumption expenditure. This important evidence highlights the need to promote agricultural innovation platform for improving rural livelihoods. Moreover, CIP participation has impact heterogeneity within the participant group that is conditional on household characteristics such as the gender of the household head, pointing to the need to tailor specific interventions and target specific groups within farm households

Employment experiences of Polish migrant workers in the UK hospitality sector.

2010-2011 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journa

Impact of cassava innovations on household productivity and welfare in Uganda

Agriculture remains the mainstay of Uganda’s economy, employing its majority population and contributing significantly to its GDP. Cassava is a national priority crop for Uganda and remains a globally competitive source of food, nutrition and income security as well as an industrial commodity due to its unique attributes. However, its productivity remains inadequate due to low technology uptake, dysfunctional seed systems, poor farmer organisation and policy failures. Motivated by several problematized research gaps, this study carried out an empirical investigation to answer seven research questions: (a) what are the causal determinants of participation in cassava Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) initiatives? (b) what is the impact of participation in cassava AIS interventions on cassava productivity and household welfare? (c) what are the causal factors influencing the choice of cassava seed access sources? (d) what are the determinants of cassava technology adoption? (e) what is the impact of improved-uncertified cassava seed adoption on cassava productivity and household welfare? (f) what is the impact of improved-certified cassava seed adoption on cassava productivity and household welfare? (g) do different impact estimation strategies yield consistent impact estimates? This study used cassava stem and root yield as measures of productivity while household welfare was measured using cassava cash income and household total consumption expenditure both adjusted to per capita levels using Adult Equivalent Units. The results indicate that educated households and those that belong to other forms of farmer groups were more likely to join AIS initiatives than their less educated counterparts and those that do not belong to other groups. Propensity Score Matching results reveal that participation in AIS initiatives enhances cassava productivity and household welfare outcomes. Agricultural Innovation Platform (AIP) members were more likely to adopt production enhancing inputs such as improved certified seed. Promotion of AIS approaches is advised. Farmer perceptions about the use of improved certified seed and seed sources, household decision-making and input access shocks influence farmers’ choice of a given seed source. It is recommended that both state and non-state actors should fund decentralized cassava seed multiplication centers. AIP membership, access to extension services, land size, education, family size, and age of the household head are some of the causal determinants of adoption and adoption intensity of cassava technologies. The study also obtained consistent results from Ordinary Least Squares, PSM and Endogenous Switching Regression that use of improved certified cassava seed is productivity- and welfare-enhancing. Finally, the study has contributed to knowledge by providing one of the first sets of empirical evidence to support spousal roles in household decision-making, use of AIS concepts in technology promotion, importance of seed inspection and certification programmes in Uganda. The study has also contributed to the knowledge and literature on impact of agricultural technology adoption by extending robust methodologies to the previously neglected but all-important cassava commodity

Quantitative impacts of invasive Senna spectabilis on distribution of welfare: a household survey of dependent communities in Budongo forest reserve, Uganda

This paper presents the results of a household survey designed to qualitatively evaluate the impacts of the invasive alien species Senna spectabilis on the distribution of welfare across dependent communities in Budongo forest reserve (BFR) in Uganda. BFR is the largest forest reserve in Uganda with globally significant conservation values. The study establishes that households in BFR have high levels of knowledge on its conservation values, they are aware of the invasiveness of S. spectabilis and its potential to compromise the conservation values of BFR, and that S. spectabilis confers tangible benefits to dependent households, whose levels significantly vary with proximity to the reserve. The study concludes by evaluating strategies designed to manage the spread of S. spectabilis in BFR which consider its demonstrated socioeconomic impacts