Impact of Alternative Land Management Options on Soil Fertility and Erosion in Uganda

Using a data set collected in eight districts of Uganda, this study investigates how investment in soil fertility management (SFM) and conservation practices may affect natural resource outcomes, particularly the extent and level of soil erosion and soil nutrient loss. The study used ordered probit models and the results suggest that investment in SFM and conservation practices greatly improves soil fertility and reduces soil erosion. From a policy perspective, public investment to encourage use of SFM and conservation technologies would help the country achieve sustainable agricultural production.Land Management, Soil Fertility, Ordered Probit, Erosion, Land Economics/Use,

Poverty, property rights and land management in Uganda

This study investigates the impact of poverty, social capital and land tenure on the adoption of soil fertility management (SFM) and conservation technologies in Uganda. Considering four land management technologies (fallowing, terracing and inorganic and organic fertilizers), the study estimates a multinomial logit model to link farmers’ characteristics to the choice of technologies. The findings show that investments in land management are driven by factors such as land tenure security, level of poverty and participation in community organizations (social capital), and, most importantly, that household level poverty reduces the probability of adoption of most of the technologies, while social capital and land tenure security increase it. The findings suggest that more efficient government efforts to reduce poverty would enhance the adoption of SFM technologies. Other policies that would enhance the adoption of sustainable land management practices are infrastructure development, tenure security through a more efficient system of land registration, and investment in and use of social capital institutions.poverty, social capital, property rights, soil fertility management, Uganda, Food Security and Poverty, Land Economics/Use,

Sectoral and welfare effects of the global economic crisis on Uganda: a recursive dynamic CGE analysis

This paper analyses the impact of the global economic and financial crisis on Uganda notably on macro-economic aggregates, sectoral output and household welfare, and the potential role of fiscal policy and reform in mitigating the impacts. We find that second round effects from a reduction in financial inflows such as remittances, foreign direct investments and overseas development assistance, as well as reduction in international demand from cash crops such as cotton, tea and coffee, could lead to a reduction in economic growth by 0.6 percentage points on average annually over the period 2008- 2010 compared to a baseline reflecting pre-crisis conditions. A surge in regional exports and early counter-cyclical policies in particular are found to dampen the most adverse impacts of the crisis. The paper also shows that the impact of the government’s expansionary 2009/2010 budget could return growth to pre-crisis levels and illustrates how a re-prioritization of government expenditure away from expenditure on administration to more productive sectors of the economy, combined with reforms to improve the efficiency of public spending, could lift long-term growth and reduce poverty, especially in rural areas, even more.Sub-Saharan Africa, Uganda, global economic and financial crisis, computable general equilibrium (CGE), Consumer/Household Economics, Financial Economics, Industrial Organization, International Development, Production Economics, Public Economics, C68, D58, E62, F15, H62, I32,

The linkages between land degradation, poverty and social capital in Uganda

The goal of this study was two fold. First, to investigate the determinants of soil fertility management and conservation practices in Uganda, with particular interest in the role of poverty, social capital and land tenure. Secondly, to provide an understanding of the causal relationships between social capital and household poverty in Uganda. To achieve the above goals, econometric approaches were employed using a data set collected by IFPRI, the World Bank, and Uganda Bureau of Statistics from a survey that covered eight districts in Uganda. First to investigate the impact of poverty, land tenure and social capital on adoption of SFM and conservation technologies, a multinomial logit (MNL) model was used. Choice of the MNL model was motivated by the need to address the interdependent and joint nature of the adoption decision making. Secondly to understand the influence of social capital and other determinants on poverty in Uganda, a linear regression model was used while a probit model was used to capture the determinants of group participation our measure of social capital. The results show that participation in social institutions generally tends to increase the probability of adopting most SFM and conservation practices and reducing non-adoption. Social capital also reduces household poverty. The study further shows that poverty increases the probability of non-adoption. Also, land tenure security was found to be positively correlated with adoption of fallowing and organic fertilizer use and reducing the probability of non-adoption. Other key factors that affect adoption of SFM and conservation technologies, poverty and group participation include education, road infrastructure, agro-climatic differences, and household size among others. From a policy perspective, the significance of social capital in both technology adoption and the poverty models, suggests that public investment in social capital through: capacity building programs for local groups, infrastructure support, enabling environment for their functioning (legal framework) among others would lead to poverty reduction and improved investments in SFM and conservation technologies. This can be done by incorporating social capital in key government policies such as the poverty eradication action plan and program for modernisation of agriculture. The results also suggest that poverty reduction would increase adoption of SFM and conservation technologies. Copyright 2007, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Birungi, EM 2007, The linkages between land degradation, poverty and social capital in Uganda, PhD thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd Thesis (PhD(Environmental Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2008.Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Developmentunrestricte

Evaluation of persistent organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in Umgeni River bank soil, KwaZuluNatal, South Africa

is study investigated the presence and distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil collected along the banks of the Umgeni River, one of the largest rivers in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. e analysis was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). e results showed that the levels of OCPs ranged from 3.58±0.09 ng/g for hexachlorobenzene (HCB) to 82.65±2.82 ng/g for HCH, with an individual mean concentration of 24.33±2.00 ng/g dry weight (dw). e levels of PCBs ranged from 10.46 ng/g for PCB105 to 89.46 ng/g for PCB180, with an average PCB value of 25.47±1.26 ng/g, dw. e highest levels of OCPs and PCBs were found at Northern Wastewater Treatment Plant (mean OCP: 32.39±3.97 ng/g and PCB: 67.87±1.67 ng/g). e two most abundant contaminants in the river were endrin and PCB180.Keywords: Umgeni River, bank soil, OCPs, PCBs, gas chromatography mass spectrometr

Poverty, property rights and land management in Uganda

This study investigates the impact of poverty, social capital and land tenure on the adoption of soil fertility management (SFM) and conservation technologies in Uganda. Considering four land management technologies (fallowing, terracing and inorganic and organic fertilizers), the study estimates a multinomial logit model to link farmers’ characteristics to the choice of technologies. The findings show that investments in land management are driven by factors such as land tenure security, level of poverty and participation in community organizations (social capital), and, most importantly, that household level poverty reduces the probability of adoption of most of the technologies, while social capital and land tenure security increase it. The findings suggest that more efficient government efforts to reduce poverty would enhance the adoption of SFM technologies. Other policies that would enhance the adoption of sustainable land management practices are infrastructure development, tenure security through a more efficient system of land registration, and investment in and use of social capital institutions.Cette étude examine l’impact de la pauvreté, du capital social et du régime foncier dans l’adoption d’une gestion de la fertilité du sol (SFM, en anglais) et les technologies de conservation en Ouganda. Prenant en considération quatre technologies de la gestion foncière (jachère, étagement, engrais biologiques et inorganiques), l’étude évalue le modèle logit multinomial pour relier les caractéristiques des fermiers au choix des technologies. Les conclusions montrent que les investissements en gestion foncière sont guidés par des facteurs comme la sécurité du régime foncier, le degré de pauvreté, la participation au sein des organisations communautaires (capital social) et, d’abord et avant tout, que le degré de pauvreté des ménages réduit la probabilité de l’adoption de la plupart des technologies, alors que le capital social et la sécurité du régime foncier l’augmentent. Les conclusions suggèrent que de plus amples efforts de la part du gouvernement, efficaces et destinés à réduire la pauvreté, encourageraient l’adoption de technologies SFM. D’autres politiques sont capables d’inciter l’adoption de pratiques en matière de gestion foncière durable, à noter le développement de l’infrastructure, la sécurité foncière, grâce à un système plus efficace d’enregistrement des terres, et l’investissement dans et l’utilisation des institutions du capital social

“ANALISIS PENGARUH THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR, NILAI YANG DIRASAKAN, DAN KESEDIAAN UNTUK MEMBAYAR TERHADAP PERILAKU PEMBELIAN KONSUMEN MELALUI MINAT BELI KONSUMEN SEBAGAI VARIABEL INTERVENING” (STUDI PADA KONSUMEN THE BODY SHOP di CITRALAND SEMARANG)

Green consumption by the community can be an effective way to minimize negative impacts on the environment. Research related to consumer behavior in consuming environmentally friendly products in developing countries such as Indonesia is very little and rarely. Considering this, researchers in this study have tried to understand consumer behavior to buy environmentally friendly products in the context of developing countries such as Indonesia. Based on the gaps phenomenon above, this study aims to analyze what factors influence consumer purchasing behavior on environmentally friendly products. And in this study using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) variable and then expanding the Theory of Planned Behavior using additional variables, namely perceived value and willingness to pay and consumer buying intention as intervening variables. The population used in this study were female consumers of The Body Shop who are domiciled in Semarang aged 20-60 years and purchased The Body Shop products at the Citraland Semarang for more than 3 months. The number of samples used in this study were 150 respondents. The method of data collection is done through a questionnaire. This research uses Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis technique using AMOS 24.0 analysis tool. The test results using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis techniques indicate that the model is not in accordance with population data. While the hypothesis testing shows that four hypotheses from six hypotheses can be accepted and proven in this study, namely attitudes, subjective norms, and willingness to pay affect consumer buying intention and consumer buying intention influence consumer buying behavior. And the two hypotheses rejected in this study are subjective norms and values that are assessed do not have an influence on consumer buying interest

Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are grounded in the global ambition of “leaving no one behind”. Understanding today’s gains and gaps for the health-related SDGs is essential for decision makers as they aim to improve the health of populations. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016), we measured 37 of the 50 health-related SDG indicators over the period 1990–2016 for 188 countries, and then on the basis of these past trends, we projected indicators to 2030

Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

As mortality rates decline, life expectancy increases, and populations age, non-fatal outcomes of diseases and injuries are becoming a larger component of the global burden of disease. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016) provides a comprehensive assessment of prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) for 328 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2016

Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2016 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

Background Alcohol use is a leading risk factor for death and disability, but its overall association with health remains complex given the possible protective effects of moderate alcohol consumption on some conditions. With our comprehensive approach to health accounting within the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016, we generated improved estimates of alcohol use and alcohol-attributable deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 195 locations from 1990 to 2016, for both sexes and for 5-year age groups between the ages of 15 years and 95 years and older. Methods Using 694 data sources of individual and population-level alcohol consumption, along with 592 prospective and retrospective studies on the risk of alcohol use, we produced estimates of the prevalence of current drinking, abstention, the distribution of alcohol consumption among current drinkers in standard drinks daily (defined as 10 g of pure ethyl alcohol), and alcohol-attributable deaths and DALYs. We made several methodological improvements compared with previous estimates: first, we adjusted alcohol sales estimates to take into account tourist and unrecorded consumption; second, we did a new meta-analysis of relative risks for 23 health outcomes associated with alcohol use; and third, we developed a new method to quantify the level of alcohol consumption that minimises the overall risk to individual health. Findings Globally, alcohol use was the seventh leading risk factor for both deaths and DALYs in 2016, accounting for 2.2% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1.5-3.0) of age-standardised female deaths and 6.8% (5.8-8.0) of age-standardised male deaths. Among the population aged 15-49 years, alcohol use was the leading risk factor globally in 2016, with 3.8% (95% UI 3.2-4-3) of female deaths and 12.2% (10.8-13-6) of male deaths attributable to alcohol use. For the population aged 15-49 years, female attributable DALYs were 2.3% (95% UI 2.0-2.6) and male attributable DALYs were 8.9% (7.8-9.9). The three leading causes of attributable deaths in this age group were tuberculosis (1.4% [95% UI 1. 0-1. 7] of total deaths), road injuries (1.2% [0.7-1.9]), and self-harm (1.1% [0.6-1.5]). For populations aged 50 years and older, cancers accounted for a large proportion of total alcohol-attributable deaths in 2016, constituting 27.1% (95% UI 21.2-33.3) of total alcohol-attributable female deaths and 18.9% (15.3-22.6) of male deaths. The level of alcohol consumption that minimised harm across health outcomes was zero (95% UI 0.0-0.8) standard drinks per week. Interpretation Alcohol use is a leading risk factor for global disease burden and causes substantial health loss. We found that the risk of all-cause mortality, and of cancers specifically, rises with increasing levels of consumption, and the level of consumption that minimises health loss is zero. These results suggest that alcohol control policies might need to be revised worldwide, refocusing on efforts to lower overall population-level consumption.Peer reviewe