Farmers’ Perceptions and Willingness to Pay for Metarhizium-based Biopesticide to Control Cotton Bollworms in Benin (West Africa)

The study assesses farmers’ perceptions and willingness to pay for a biopesticide developed from Metarhizium anisopliae a fungi. A sample of 400 conventional and organic cotton producers was randomly selected in cotton producing zones in Benin and interviewed for their perceptions on the efficacy of the biopesticide and the likely prices they are willing to pay for the product to control a major pest like Helicoverpa armigera or cotton bollworm causing substantial crop losses. An econometric model (Logit) is used to identify factors highly likely to affect farmer’s willingness to purchase the product. The results show that Helicoverpa armigera or cotton bollworm is perceived by farmers as the most severe pest with losses reaching up to 100%. Farmers attribute the current pest intensity to a number of factors including ineffectiveness of chemical pesticides, delay in access to input mainly fertilizers and the development of refuge host plants for cotton pests. The results also show that most cotton producers and their households members are exposed to chemical insecticides without adequate protection devices during the pest control sprays. Both organic and conventional cotton producers have expressed a significant interest in the use of Metarhizium to control Helicoverpa on cotton. Both types of farmers willing to pay more for any pest control product that would improve cotton product quality for higher cotton price. Three variables influencing farmers’ willing to pay for biopesticides from Metarhizium were efficacy, agro-ecological zone and broad spectrum.Biopesticides, Cotton bollworms, farmers survey, Benin, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Demand and Price Analysis, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, International Relations/Trade, Marketing, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Agromorphological characterization of three (3) hybrid carrot varieties (Daucus carota), cultivated in the commune of Korhogo, in northern Côte d'Ivoire

The carrot (Daucus carota) is a biennial plant whose pivoting root plays a major role in feeding populations worldwide. Few studies have been carried out on the characterization of the agromorphological diversity of this species. Varieties were collected, in order to assess their agromorphological performances under the ecological conditions of Korhogo. The Amazonia, Pamela+, Bahia and Madona varieties were evaluated. The Amazonia variety, which is the most cultivated in the Korhogo region, was used as a control. The study was carried out using a completely randomized Fisher block system, comprising 4 treatments and 4 repetitions. The blocks were separated by a distance of 80 cm. In the same block, the elementary plots were spaced 50 cm apart. Each elementary plot consists of 6 seeding lines, spaced 25 cm, and comprising 72 plants. The measurements concerned some vegetative and agronomic characteristics. The results obtained showed that the Pamela+ variety, with a yield of 25 t/ha, was the most productive. It is also distinguished from other varieties by the length of the roots and the high number of leaves produced. The Bahia and Madona varieties showed similar characteristics and less efficient than those of the control (Amazonia). On the basis of the characteristics evaluated, the Pamela+ variety was the most efficient and adapted to the agroecological conditions of the Korhogo region. However, the evaluation of certain characteristics will confirm the results of this study

FEEDER CATTLE PRICE SLIDES

A theoretical model is developed to explain the economics of determining price slides for feeder cattle. The contract is viewed as a dynamic game with continuous strategies where the buyer and seller are the players. The model provides a solution for the price slide that guarantees an unbiased estimate of cattle weight. An empirical model using Superior Livestock Auction (SLA) data shows price slides used are smaller than those needed to cause the producer to give unbiased estimates of weight. Consistent with the model's predictions, producers slightly underestimate cattle weights.Demand and Price Analysis,

Immigration, unemployment and GDP in the host country: Bootstrap panel Granger causality analysis on OECD countries

This paper examines the causality relationship between immigration, unemployment and economic growth of the host country. We employ the panel Granger causality testing approach of Konya (2006) that is based on SUR systems and Wald tests with country specific bootstrap critical values. This approach allows to test for Granger-causality on each individual panel member separately by taking into account the contemporaneous correlation across countries. Using annual data over the 1980-2005 period for 22 OECD countries, we find that, only in Portugal, unemployment negatively causes immigration, while in any country, immigration does not cause unemployment. On the other hand, our results show that, in four countries (France, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom), growth positively causes immigration, whereas in any country, immigration does not cause growth

Physicochemical and Nutritional Properties of Varieties of Carrot (Daucus carota) grown in Region of Korhogo, North of Côte d’Ivoire

Very popular for its therapeutic and nutritional virtues, culture of carrot (Daucus carota) has developed in temperate zones of Asia and Europe but also in some tropical regions of Africa including Côte d'Ivoire. Agronomic factors, commercial and food requirements require selection of varieties with good nutritional values. In this study, physicochemical properties and nutritional values of four carrot varieties namely Amazonia, Bahia, Madona and Pamela+ were compared after cultivation and harvest in region of Korhogo. Results showed that, Amazonia, the control carrot variety stands out for its acidity and minerals levels. Bahia is the richest variety with high levels of carbohydrate and protein. Madona is the most basic, wettest and fatest carrot. For a long storage, Pamela is most interesting variety. To our knowledge, it is the first time that physicochemical and nutritional parameters of carrot varieties in region of Korhogo have been studied. Future research on these carrot varieties will be studied of their post-harvest conservation, their sensory analysis and their transformation

Racial and Gender Implications in African Female Literature: an Afrocentric Feminist Reading of Emecheta’s Second Class Citizen

The paper analyzes and explains the racial and gender meanings in African female literature, particularly in Buchi Emecheta\u27s Second Class Citizen. The analysis is made from an Afrocentric -feminist perspective. Thus the research findings have shown how the social and ideological constructions of race and gender could engender networks of racism and sexism for both sexes. Through the experience of Adah, the paper describes the manner in which the colored woman could be double oppressed due to her gender and race. In spite of the obstacles placed before her due to racism and sexism, the findings have indicated that the heroine, Adah, thanks to her determination, and her strong desire to be independent, was able to integrate the English society by obtaining a first class job as librarian at North Finchley Library. She succeeded where many black men failed like her husband, Francis. Although the paper concludes that education and financial independence are efficient means for the empowerment of the African woman, it also reveals the Eurocentric attitude of the novelist. It is therefore found out that Emecheta reproduces some of the same Eurocentrists\u27 stereotypes about Africa by considering the African man and his culture as responsible for the marginalization of the African woman

Contamination aux metaux lourds de la matrice eau-sediment et muscle du tilapia Oreochromis niloticus de trois fermes piscicoles en Cote d’Ivoire

La présente étude a pour objectif de déterminer le niveau de contamination du mercure, du cadmium, de l’arsenic et du plomb dans l’eau, les sédiments et le muscle du tilapia Oreochromis niloticus dans trois fermes piscicoles en Côte d’Ivoire. L’eau, les sédiments et les spécimens de poisson ont été prélevés par mois de février à juillet 2017 en cage dans la lagune Aghien (ST1), en étang continental (ST2) à Agboville et en cage dans le barrage de Taabo (ST3). Les paramètres physico-chimiques mesurés ont montré qu’à l’exception de la conductivité, des matières en suspension et des solides totaux dissous, aucune variation saisonnière n’a été observée. En revanche, les valeurs moyennes des paramètres physico-chimiques calculées sont significativement différentes entre les fermes. Les valeurs de chaque métal mesurées dans la matrice eau-sédiment-muscle varient significativement entre les deux saisons dans toutes les fermes. Cependant, aucune différence entre les fermes échantillonnées n’a été observée. Les concentrations des métaux lourds mesurées dans le muscle sont inférieures aux valeurs seuils établies par l’OMS à l’exception de l’As. Cette contamination élevée en arsenic pourrait porter atteinte à l’intégrité biologique et à la santé humaine.Mots clés : Métaux lourds, Accumulation, Oreochromis niloticus, Ferme piscicole ivoirienn

Landscape analysis – Assessing countries' readiness to scale up nutrition actions in the WHO African region

The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of the Landscape Analysis to assess strengths and weaknesses in combating malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Landscape Analysis is an inter-agency initiative to assess gaps and constraints and to identify opportunities for effective nutrition actions in order to accelerate intersectoral action for improving nutrition. In-depth Country Assessments to evaluate countries' "readiness" to scale up nutrition action have been conducted since 2008 in Sub-Saharan Africa. "Readiness" was assessed in terms of the  commitment and capacity of each country and the focus was high stunting burden countries. The main focus was countries with heavy burden of undernutrition. From 2008 to September 2011, a total of 14 countries had undertaken the Landscape Analysis Country Assessment. Nine of them were in Africa: Burkina Faso, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, and South Africa. Three additionalcountries (Guinea, Namibia and Tanzania) were also planning to complete the Landscape Analysis Country Assessment in early 2012.From the findings in the nine countries, the following recommendations have beenmade:• Existing nutrition architectures and coordination mechanisms should bestrengthened and better utilized;• Nutrition needs to be mainstreamed and integrated in relevant sector policies;• Advocacy at high levels is needed to highlight the importance of the lifecourseperspective, focusing particularly on nutrition interventions frompreconception until the first two years of life;• National nutrition policies need to be translated into programmatic actions;• Human resource capacity for public health nutrition needs to be built with highquality in-service trainings in the short-term and long-term strategies toprovide pre-service trainings;• Community-based outreach should be strengthened by using existingchannels;• National nutrition surveillance systems need to be strengthened to ensure adequate use of data for monitoring, evaluation, and planning purposes.As part of the implementation of the 2010 World Health Assembly resolution on Infant and Young Child Nutrition (WHA 63.23) WHO has proposed a process to help countries in developing scale-up plans, which incorporates the Landscape Analysis Country Assessment as a tool to help countries in undertaking the initial context mapping. The countries that have already undertaken an in-depth Country Assessment, such as the Landscape Analysis Country Assessment, are ready to move forward in implementing the next steps in developing scaling-up plans to accelerateaction in nutrition. At the same time, WHO will support additional countries that have expressed interest in conducting the Country Assessment