Import Demand for Dairy Products in Cote d'Ivoire

We estimate an LA/AIDS model of demand for imported dairy products for Cote d'Ivoire. We employ a unique set of Ivorian customs data, spanning seven dairy products observed monthly from January 1996 to December 2005. Demand for milk powder is found to be inelastic, as substitutes for milk powder in the domestic processing industry are scarce. Demand for fluid milk, yogurt, and cream are found to be elastic, as these domestic products produced from imported powder may substitute for the imports. With the exception of condensed milk, dairy products are found to be necessities.International Relations/Trade,

Dairy Market Participation with Endogenous Livestock Ownership: Evidence from Cote d'Ivoire

This study evaluates determinants of dairy market participation by agricultural households in Cote dIvoire by using the Heckman selection model to correct for endogenous cattle ownership. A key result is that ignoring the population of non-owners biases estimates of market participation parameters. These findings are important in light of the widespread application of livestock market participation analyses that assume cattle ownership is exogeneous.Cote dIvoire, dairy, endogenous adoption, Heckman selection model, market participation, Livestock Production/Industries,

Cotton Price Policy and New Cereal Technology in the Malian Cotton Zone

During the last decade, cotton production and area have been declining as a result of depleting soil nutrients and low cotton prices in the cotton zone of Mali. This paper shows that the Malian government’s 2011 policy to increase the farm gate cotton price as a response to world cotton price increase enhances farm income but has less impact on cotton than on maize production. A complementary policy of introducing new sorghum technologies would have an equal impact on farmers’ incomes in the cotton zone of Mali.Cotton prices, improved sorghum technology, discrete stochastic programming, Mali, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, International Development, Production Economics, Risk and Uncertainty,

Efficacy and safety of praziquantel in preschool-aged children in an area co-endemic for Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium

BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa the recommended strategy to control schistosomiasis is preventive chemotherapy. Emphasis is placed on school-aged children, but in high endemicity areas, preschool-aged children are also at risk, and hence might need treatment with praziquantel. Since a pediatric formulation (e.g., syrup) is not available outside of Egypt, crushed praziquantel tablets are used, but the efficacy and safety of this treatment regimen is insufficiently studied.METHODOLOGY: We assessed the efficacy and safety of crushed praziquantel tablets among preschool-aged children (>6 years) in the Azaguié district, south Côte d'Ivoire, where Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium coexist. Using a cross-sectional design, children provided two stool and two urine samples before and 3 weeks after treatment. Crushed praziquantel tablets, mixed with water, were administered at a dose of 40 mg/kg. Adverse events were assessed and graded 4 and 24 hours posttreatment by interviewing mothers/guardians.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Overall, 160 preschool-aged children had at least one stool and one urine sample examined with duplicate Kato-Katz thick smears and a point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) cassette for S. mansoni, and urine filtration for S. haematobium diagnosis before and 3 weeks after praziquantel administration. According to the Kato-Katz and urine filtration results, we found high efficacy against S. mansoni (cure rate (CR), 88.6%; egg reduction rate (ERR), 96.7%) and S. haematobium (CR, 88.9%; ERR, 98.0%). POC-CCA revealed considerably lower efficacy against S. mansoni (CR, 53.8%). Treatment was generally well tolerated, but moderately severe adverse events (i.e., body and face inflammation), were observed in four Schistosoma egg-negative children. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Crushed praziquantel administered to preschool-aged children at a dose of 40 mg/kg is efficacious against S. mansoni and S. haematobium in a co-endemic setting of Côte d'Ivoire. Further research is required with highly sensitive diagnostic tools and safety must be investigated in more depth.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN53172722

Promoting participation of agricultural households in the milk market: evidence from northern Cote d’Ivoire

Increased participation in agricultural markets may alleviate poverty among rural households in Africa. Thus, understanding the determinants of market participation is important for the design and evaluation of development policies. The study described in this brief makes an institutional analysis of dairy markets and evaluates determinants of dairy market participation by agricultural households in Côte d’Ivoire. Results can be used to draw policy recommendations that take into account a larger population of agricultural households. For example, the implications of higher market prices or lower transactions costs can be evaluated for not only the volume of marketed surplus from existing cattle owners, but also for the propensity of rural households more broadly to adopt livestock. The analysis of rural dairy markets in Côte d’Ivoire also represents a rare look at market participation in West Africa. Market participation has been the focus of several economic studies in East Africa, but very few analyses address the issue of participation in dairy markets in West Africa. Thus, this study provides an empirical analysis of the performance of the rural dairy market in Côte d’Ivoire and derives some implications for public policy in the design and evaluation of dairy market development

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

Health facility-based prevalence and potential risk factors of autism spectrum disorders in Mali

Background: The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is 1-2% worldwide, 1 in 68 in the U.S, and unknown in Africa. ASD is under-diagnosed in Mali due to stigma and the lack of appropriate human resources and infrastructure.Objective: To determine the ASD frequency and potential risk factors in Mali.Methods: We identified all the health facilities and community-based organizations involved in the ASD diagnosis and management in Bamako. We established an ASD research and awareness platform in Mali, which encompasses community-based organizations and a multidisciplinary team including psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, geneticists, and public health and social science specialists. Through this platform, we performed a survey in health facilities and organizations where patients with ASD are likely to seek care in Bamako. We reviewed the psychiatric patient registry to obtain basic epidemiological profiles of children with ASD, epilepsy and other psychiatric disorders.Results: We found a health facility-based prevalence of ASD of 4.5% (105/2,343) in Bamako. The mean age at the first outpatient visit was 7.64 ± 3.85 years old. First degree consanguinity of 29.5% (31/105) was more frequent in parents of ASD children versus age and sex matched controls OR= 4.37 [1.96-9.76] p=0.0001.Conclusion: Our data suggest that ASD is more common than expected in Mali. The established ASD awareness and research platform may improve the diagnosis and management of ASD by raising ASD awareness, training of Malian clinicians and researchers in early ASD screening and diagnosis, and strengthening research capacity in genomics of ASD and other mental disorders.Keywords: ASD, prevalence, consanguinity, health facilit

Serological Evaluation of Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination in the Bakoye and Falémé foci, Mali

In Mali, ivermectin-based onchocerciasis elimination from the Bakoye and Falémé foci, reported in 2009–2012, was a beacon leading to policy shifting from morbidity control to elimination of transmission (EOT). These foci are also endemic for lymphatic filariasis (LF). In 2007–2016 mass ivermectin plus albendazole administration was implemented. We report Ov16 (onchocerciasis) and Wb123 (LF) seroprevalence after 24–25 years of treatment to evaluate if onchocerciasis EOT and LF elimination as a public health problem (EPHP) have been achieved

What climate services do farmers and pastoralists need in Tanzania?

This report presents final findings from the baseline data collection exercise conducted for Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) Adaptation Programme in Africa. The GFCS programme, having a focus on agriculture, food security, heath and disaster risk reduction, is implemented in Tanzania and Malawi. Under the auspices of this GFCS project, the CGIAR research program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) is responsible to support baseline data collection and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to evaluate climate services for farmers and pastoralists in Tanzania. The purpose of this report is to inform national partners on farmers’ current access and needs for climate information services. Communities of agro-pastoralists and pastoralists interviewed have little access to climate information, which is generally not associated with agricultural advice. To increase the relevance and communication of climate information in their communities, respondents have recommended training of local extension agents and traditional leaders on the concepts of climate information, having site specific information and using local languages and brochures. The forecasts of greatest interest include start of the rain and expected amount of rainfall over the season. Preferred formats cited by men are radio messages, visits from extension agents while women selected voice message on cell phones and villages communicators. Messengers suggested for radio presenters, local extension agents and village leaders highly recommended by women