Evaluation of farmers’ satisfaction to plant health advice offered through plant clinics in Rwanda

Plant pest and diseases are one of the major constraints of agriculture production in Rwanda. Plant clinic is rapidly gaining popularity in the region including Rwanda, and it was reported to be among potential solutions to overcome this challenge. However, there is little information documenting the appreciation of farmers toward advice given through plant clinics in Rwanda. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to assess farmers’ satisfaction vis-à-vis the services rendered to farmers by plant doctors, and to document major source of plant health information. A survey with plant clinic users, non-users of plant clinics, service providers, key informants and focus groups were conducted. Participants were selected in locations of eight clinics launched from 2011 to 2013 and a structured questionnaire and group discussions were used to collect all data. The survey results showed that plant clinics were ranked by plant clinic users as the major source of plant health information at 97.5% while 79.5% of respondents mentioned that plant doctors had competence and they highly appreciated the advice received from plant doctors. Establishment of plant clinics and awareness creation for farmers’ participation can contribute to increased agricultural productivity through effective management of pest and diseases in Rwanda. Keywords: diagnosis, diseases, disease, management, pest, plant docto

The value of monitoring data in a process evaluation of hygiene behaviour change in Community Health Clubs to explain findings from a cluster-randomised controlled trial in Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: A cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial evaluation of the impact of the Community Health Clubs (CHCs) in the Community Based Environmental Health Promotion Programme in Rwanda in 2015 appeared to find little uptake of 7 hygiene indicators 1 year after the end of the intervention, and low impact on prevention of diarrhoea and stunting. METHODS: Monitoring data was revisited through detailed community records with all the expected inputs, outputs and external determinants analysed for fidelity to the research protocol. Five household inventory observations were taken over a 40-month period including 2 years after the end of the cRCT in a random selection of the 50 intervention CHCs and data compared to that of the trial. Focus Group Discussion with all Environmental Health Officers of the Ministry of Health provided context to understand the long-term community dynamics of hygiene behaviour change. RESULTS: It was found that the intervention had been jeopardised by external determinants with only 54% fidelity to protocol. By the end of the designated intervention period in June 2014, the treatment had reached only 58% of households with 41% average attendance at training sessions by the 4056 registered members and 51% mean completion rate of 20+ sessions. Therefore only 10% of 50 CHCs provided the full so-called 'Classic' training as per-protocol. However, sustainability of the CHCs was high, with all 50 being active 2 years after the end of the cRCT and over 80% uptake of recommended practices of the same 7 key indicators as the trial was achieved by 2017. CONCLUSIONS: The cRCT conclusion that the case study of Rusizi District does not encourage the use of the CHC model for scaling up, raises concerns over the possible misrepresentation of the potential of the holistic CHC model to achieve health impact in a more realistic time frame. It also questions the appropriateness of apparently rigorous quantitative research, such as the cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial as conducted in Rusizi District, to adequately assess community dynamics in complex interventions

Comparative Assessment of Hygiene Behaviour Change and Cost-Effectiveness of Community Health Clubs in Rwanda and Zimbabwe

Two similar Community Health Club (CHC) interventions to achieve hygiene behaviour change and improved family health in Africa took place—one in Zimbabwe implemented by an NGO and the other in Rwanda as part of a Randomized Control Trial. Both interventions achieved high levels of community response, although the Zimbabwe project was more cost-effective, achieving blanket coverage of all households in the area with over 90% compliance in 12 recommended practices at a cost of US$4.5 per beneficiary in 8 months. In Rwanda, the spread of the intervention reached only 58$13.13 per beneficiary. By the end of three years, the spread had increased to 80% with over 80% of the 4056CHC Members adopting 10 new practices without any extra cost to the project. Although the Zimbabwe program showed better Value for Money, being more efficient, long term sustainability to prevent slippage of hygiene behaviour change depends on a strong monitoring system. Scaling up hygiene behaviour change is best achieved systematically by building the capacity of the Environmental Health Department to take responsibility for the supervision of CHCs in every village. Investing in an integrated national program, which can enable Government to coordinate NGO efforts, is a more cost-effective use of scarce resources in the long term

Surveillance of Transmitted Drug-Resistant HIV Among Young Pregnant Women in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso began rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) scale-up in 2003 and by December 2009, 26 448 individuals were on treatment. With rapid scale-up of ART, some degree of human immunodeficiency virus transmitted drug resistance (TDR) is inevitable. Following World Health Organization methods, between June 2008 and July 2009, Burkina Faso assessed TDR in primigravid pregnant women aged <25 years attending antenatal care clinics in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. TDR was classified as moderate (5%-15%) for both nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors and nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors. The observed moderate TDR in Ouagadougou is a cause for concern and calls for closer monitoring of Burkina Faso's ART progra

Comparative Assessment of Hygiene Behaviour Change and Cost-effectiveness of Community Health Clubs in Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Two similar Community Health Club (CHC) interventions to achieve hygiene behaviour change and improved family health in Africa took place - one in Zimbabwe implemented by an NGO and the other in Rwanda part of Randomised Control Trial. Both interventions achieved high levels of community response, although Zimbabwe project was more cost-effective, achieving blanket coverage of all households in the area in 8 months with over 90% compliance in 12 recommended practices at a cost of US$4.5 per beneficiary. In Rwanda the spread of the intervention reached only 58$13.13 per beneficiary over the first year. Although the Zimbabwe program showed better Value for Money, being more efficient, long term sustainability to prevent slippage of hygiene behaviour change depends on a strong monitoring system. This is best achieved systematically by building the capacity of the Environmental Health Department to take responsibility for the supervision of CHCs in every village. Investing in a national program which can enable Government to coordinate NGO efforts through an integrated development program is a more cost-effective use of scarce resources in the long ter

Urban plant diversity patterns, processes and conservation value in Sub-Saharan Africa: case of Bujumbura in Burundi

This study focuses on the vegetation of the African city of Bujumbura, Burundi. Urban flora is detailed according to the origin of the species (native or introduced), their life form, the use of these species by the local population and their behaviour (invasive or not). The correlation between different natural and anthropogenic environmental factors and the composition of plant communities has been demonstrated through the analysis of vegetation plots. Three types of green areas were studied: spontaneous vegetation on terra firma, wetlands and domestic gardens.The main ecological factor correlated to the composition of the spontaneous vegetation of terra firma is the degree of urbanization. From the suburb to the city centre, savannah species typical for the region are replaced by alien invasive species, mostly ruderals. The latter generally have a large distribution, often on several continents. The physiognomy of the vegetation also changes, with hemicryptophytes and phanerophytes in the outskirts and the dominance of therophytes and chamaephytes in the city centre.In most of wetlands, a large proportion of the plant species are natives, but some wetlands are almost totally invaded by alien species. Soil type is the main environmental factor correlated with the variability of the vegetation.The flora of domestic gardens is mainly composed of introduced species used as ornamental, food or medicinal plants. The socio-economical status of the neighbourhood is the main factor correlated with the variability of the garden flora. In high standing neighbourhoods, most species are onamental, with many trees and shrubs. In popular neighbourhoods, the flora is mainly utilitarian (vegetables and fruits), with a significant proportion of native species, and composed mainly of annual species. A small proportion of the alien species cultivated in gardens has become invasive in the semi-natural vegetation of the city and its surroundings. Many other species cultivated in the gardens could become invasive, based on their ecology and their invasive behaviour in other regions with a climate similar to that of Bujumbura.Overall, the city of Bujumbura has a diverse flora, with many useful species (vegetables and fruits, traditional medicine, construction of fences and roofs, material for mats and art objects.). The vegetation also hosts wildlife: birds, fishes, hippos, crocodiles etc… In conclusion, the vegetation of Bujumbura contributes to biodiversity conservation and provides services to the urban population, but the expansion of alien invasive species and the consequent homogenization of the vegetation is a challenge for the future.Doctorat en Sciencesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Urban plant diversity patterns, processes and conservation value in Sub-Saharan Africa: case of Bujumbura in Burundi

This study focuses on the vegetation of the African city of Bujumbura, Burundi. Urban flora is detailed according to the origin of the species (native or introduced), their life form, the use of these species by the local population and their behaviour (invasive or not). The correlation between different natural and anthropogenic environmental factors and the composition of plant communities has been demonstrated through the analysis of vegetation plots. Three types of green areas were studied: spontaneous vegetation on terra firma, wetlands and domestic gardens.The main ecological factor correlated to the composition of the spontaneous vegetation of terra firma is the degree of urbanization. From the suburb to the city centre, savannah species typical for the region are replaced by alien invasive species, mostly ruderals. The latter generally have a large distribution, often on several continents. The physiognomy of the vegetation also changes, with hemicryptophytes and phanerophytes in the outskirts and the dominance of therophytes and chamaephytes in the city centre.In most of wetlands, a large proportion of the plant species are natives, but some wetlands are almost totally invaded by alien species. Soil type is the main environmental factor correlated with the variability of the vegetation.The flora of domestic gardens is mainly composed of introduced species used as ornamental, food or medicinal plants. The socio-economical status of the neighbourhood is the main factor correlated with the variability of the garden flora. In high standing neighbourhoods, most species are onamental, with many trees and shrubs. In popular neighbourhoods, the flora is mainly utilitarian (vegetables and fruits), with a significant proportion of native species, and composed mainly of annual species. A small proportion of the alien species cultivated in gardens has become invasive in the semi-natural vegetation of the city and its surroundings. Many other species cultivated in the gardens could become invasive, based on their ecology and their invasive behaviour in other regions with a climate similar to that of Bujumbura.Overall, the city of Bujumbura has a diverse flora, with many useful species (vegetables and fruits, traditional medicine, construction of fences and roofs, material for mats and art objects.). The vegetation also hosts wildlife: birds, fishes, hippos, crocodiles etc… In conclusion, the vegetation of Bujumbura contributes to biodiversity conservation and provides services to the urban population, but the expansion of alien invasive species and the consequent homogenization of the vegetation is a challenge for the future.Doctorat en Sciencesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Mitigating Antestia Bug Damage and the Potato Taste Defect in Rwandan Coffee

Key Findings • The potato taste defect (PTD) reduces the value of coffee in Africa’s Great Lakes Region, and in doing so decreases farmer incomes. • The antestia bug is an East African coffee pest that can cause up to 40% of coffee cherry loss. • While scholars have suggested that the antestia bug may cause PTD, a new study presents experimental evidence that controlling antestia reduces PTD. • This study also shows that Fastac (10% alpha-cypermethrin) and organic pyrethrum-based pesticides, when combined with pruning, are effective at controlling antestia and reducing PTD. • While the percentage of farmers using pesticide has increased since 2015, 24.41% of farmers still do not use pesticide. • Further, most farmers do not receive training on antestia control. • Policy recommendations to improve antestia and PTD control can be found on pages 4-5

Mitigating Antestia Bug Damage and the Potato Taste Defect in Rwandan Coffee

KEY FINDINGS -The potato taste defect (PTD) reduces the value of coffee in Africa’s Great Lakes Region, and in doing so decreases farmer incomes. -The antestia bug is an East African coffee pest that can cause up to 40% of coffee cherry loss. -While scholars have suggested that the antestia bug may cause PTD, a new study presents experimental evidence that controlling antestia reduces PTD. -This study also shows that Fastac (10% alpha-cypermethrin) and organic pyrethrum-based pesticides, when combined with pruning, are effective at controlling antestia and reducing PTD. -While the percentage of farmers using pesticide has increased since 2015, 24.41% of farmers still do not use pesticide. -Further, most farmers do not receive training on antestia control. -Policy recommendations to improve antestia and PTD control are included