Evaluating the Impact on Market Performance of Investments in Market Information Systems: Methodological Challenges

Evaluating the impact on market performance of investments in agricultural market information systems (MIS) face several methodological challenges. These fall into two broad categories: (a) defining the dimensions of market performance to measure (which is a function of whom the MIS is designed to serve) and identifying reliable indicators of those performance dimensions, and (b) identifying the causal effects of the MIS. The determination of causal effects in turn requires establishing a credible baseline, measuring “treatment effects” (i.e., the effects on economic behavior of receiving improved information from an MIS), dealing with problems of endogenous placement of treatment, and interpreting the validity of stakeholders’ statements and governments’ revealed preferences regarding the utility of MIS. Many of these challenges arise because improved market information can affect the welfare of market actors through improved market polices and increased competition even if those actors do not have direct access to that information. The paper discusses these challenges and identifies approaches that may be useful in developing a “convergence of evidence” concerning whether investment in a given MIS is socially worthwhile.market information services, impact assessment, market transparency, food policies, Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, International Development, Marketing, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, C81, D80, H43, N57, 013, Q13,

Effects of feed and health interventions on small ruminant production in mixed crop-livestock systems in Southern Mali

In Mali, small ruminants are a necessary part of mixed crop and livestock systems, and they fulfill various roles in the food security of households as sources of meat and milk, and means of additional income to meet food and cash needs. However, small ruminant production is challenged by the poor performance of animals, which is mainly caused by inadequate nutrition and diseases. A pilot study that combined feed and health interventions was conducted in two villages, Sirakele and Zanzoni in Koutiala District in the south of the country. The objective was to assess the effects of the combined interventions on small ruminant production in mixed crop-livestock systems. Zanzoni served as control, and Sirakele received both feed and health interventions. Twenty households were randomly selected in each village and the study lasted one year, from August 2016 to August 2017. Results showed that within a year the average goat and sheep flock size in the feed and health intervention group doubled, whereas it mostly remained the same in the control group. The mortality rate was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control one. In addition, the goats and sheep gained 42.98 ± 3.28 and 47.12 ± 2.73 g/day in the treatment group, whereas they only gained 22.59 ± 2.29 and 16.58 ± 2.74 g/day in the control group, respectively. The results confirmed that feed and health interventions significantly improved small ruminant production

Performance of Three Sorghum Cultivars under Excessive Rainfall and Waterlogged Conditions in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of West Africa: A Case Study at the Climate-Smart Village of Cinzana in Mali

Recent climate analyses show trends for increasing precipitation variability with increasing precipitation sums in Mali. The increasing occurrence of temporary intra-seasonal droughts and waterlogging longer than a week demands climate-smart solutions. Research has focused on water deficits since the 1980s. However, besides droughts, waterlogging can restrict productivity of sensitive cash and staple crops as cotton and corn. The year 2019 offered the historically unique opportunity to monitor waterlogging effects with 1088 mm precipitation in the rural commune Cinzanawith an isohyet of 681 mm. Impacts of two extreme downpours on three sorghum cultivars were monitored in a farmers-field experiment with three replications. All sorghum cultivars performed well in 2019 with significantly higher grain and above ground biomass yields than in the reference year 2007, with well distributed rainfall in Cinzana. “Jakumbè” (CSM63E) produced significantly higher grain yields than the hybrid cultivar “PR3009B” bred for high harvest index. The local cultivar “Gnofing” selected by local farmers produced significantly higher above ground biomass. All cultivars tolerated without severe stress symptoms 20 days waterlogging and 72 h inundation. Further waterlogging resilience research of other crops and other sorghum cultivars is needed to strengthen food security in Mali with expected increasing precipitation variation in the future

Mise en place d’un Village Intelligent face au Climat pour la réduction des risques climatiques et de l’insécurité alimentaire à Daga-Birame, Sénégal. Guide de visite de terrain pour la Réunion du Comité Scientifique Indépendant du CCAFS

À Daga Birame, au Sénégal, CCAFS et ses partenaires ont mis en place un village climato-intelligent (CSV) dans lequel plusieurs activités sont menées. Sur la base de la vision du village et de son avenir, un ensemble d'actions ont été identifiées par la communauté afin d'atteindre les changements souhaités dans la productivité agricole et la sécurité alimentaire tels que les activités génératrices de revenus, l'amélioration de la résilience et la gestion durable des ressources naturelles du village. Ces actions ont été structurées autour de quatre composantes: Les services d'information climatologique (SIC); le développement des technologies / pratiques agricoles adaptées au climat; le renforcement de capacités des villageois et celle des connaissances et des institutions locales

Towards gender-informed adaptation planning in the Sudanian zone of Mali

Understanding the linkages between gender and vulnerability is crucial for proposing sustainable gender-responsive climate-smart solutions. This study compared the vulnerabilities of male (MHHH) and female household heads (FHHH) in the Sudanian zone of Mali using Cinzana in the Segou region as a case study. We used semi-structured questionnaire interviews and focus group discussions for data collection. The questionnaires were randomly administered to 233 household heads (23% women). The Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) method was used to assess vulnerability to climate change. The results showed that livelihoods in the Sudanian zone of Mali are vulnerable to climate change. Female household heads (FHHH) were found to be more vulnerable. FHHH recorded higher values for six out of the eight LVI major components used in the vulnerability assessment: socio-demographic index, livelihood strategies index, social network index, food index, natural disasters and climate variability index and agricultural production system index. The study proposes a number of interventions for improving the adaptive capacity of FHHH to climate change and variability: improving access to financial resources, improving access to radio for receiving weather information, encouraging FHHHs involvement in farmer-based groups for peer-learning; and promoting the development of policy initiatives that ensure the mainstreaming of gender into agricultural development programs

Towards gender-informed adaptation planning in the Sudanian zone of Mali Analysis of climate change vulnerability

Understanding the linkages between gender and vulnerability is crucial for proposing sustainable gender-responsive climate-smart solutions. This study compared the vulnerabilities of male (MHHH) and female household heads (FHHH) in the Sudanian zone of Mali using Cinzana in the Segou region as a case study. We used semi-structured questionnaire interviews and focus group discussions for data collection. The questionnaires were randomly administered to 233 household heads (23% women). The Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) method was used to assess vulnerability to climate change. The results showed that livelihoods in the Sudanian zone of Mali are vulnerable to climate change. Female household heads (FHHH) were found to be more vulnerable. FHHH recorded higher values for six out of the eight LVI major components used in the vulnerability assessment: socio-demographic index, livelihood strategies index, social network index, food index, natural disasters and climate variability index and agricultural production system index. The study proposes a number of interventions for improving the adaptive capacity of FHHH to climate change and variability: improving access to financial resources, improving access to radio for receiving weather information, encouraging FHHHs involvement in farmer-based groups for peer-learning; and promoting the development of policy initiatives that ensure the mainstreaming of gender into agricultural development programs

A repurposing strategy for Hsp90 inhibitors demonstrates their potency against filarial nematodes

Novel drugs are required for the elimination of infections caused by filarial worms, as most commonly used drugs largely target the microfilariae or first stage larvae of these infections. Previous studies, conducted in vitro, have shown that inhibition of Hsp90 kills adult Brugia pahangi. As numerous small molecule inhibitors of Hsp90 have been developed for use in cancer chemotherapy, we tested the activity of several novel Hsp90 inhibitors in a fluorescence polarization assay and against microfilariae and adult worms of Brugia in vitro. The results from all three assays correlated reasonably well and one particular compound, NVP-AUY922, was shown to be particularly active, inhibiting Mf output from female worms at concentrations as low as 5.0 nanomolar after 6 days exposure to drug. NVP-AUY922 was also active on adult worms after a short 24 h exposure to drug. Based on these in vitro data, NVP-AUY922 was tested in vivo in a mouse model and was shown to significantly reduce the recovery of both adult worms and microfilariae. These studies provide proof of principle that the repurposing of currently available Hsp90 inhibitors may have potential for the development of novel agents with macrofilaricidal properties