Grain yield response of Fonio (Digitaria exilis) varieties to fertilizer and cost- effectiveness under two different production systems in the Gambia

Fonio is an easy crop to grow because it grows well even on poor sandy soils, as well as in areas with low rainfall. The crop can withstand long dry  spells during the production season which are becoming a common occurrence in the West African subregion. In The Gambia, the common name  for the crop is “Findi”. It is commonly grown in fields that were previously cultivated with groundnut. Fonio is one of the oldest cereal crops grown in  the country; however, its cultivation has drastically declined to the extent that it is currently considered a minor crop in the country. Fonio is a very  fast-growing crop and matures earlier than most cereals. Its ability to withstand dry spells and its high nutritive value makes it an ideal climate-  smart crop. For this reason, there is renewed momentum in promoting the crop in the country. Despite these renewed efforts in its promotion,  there still exists a huge gap in terms of information on improved production practices that could help uplift the existing low yields. Appropriate  agronomic practices that can boost fonio productivity are not well documented at national level. To gather information on the input requirements  and utilizations, adaptability and productivity of fonio in The Gambia, experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 with the aim of generating  important production information that could guide efficient production and enhance productivity. Results obtained showed that fonio responded  positively to application of fertilizer. Application of 100 kg ha -1 comprising half NPK (15-15-15) and half urea was sufficient to produce financially  beneficial yields. Results also indicated that “Findiba”, which is a landrace may not be suitable for cultivation anymore due to its long growth period  amidst the short and erratic nature of the rainfall. The Momo and the Momosato varieties which are of shorter durations and high-yielding are more  suitable in the existing climatic conditions of the country

Diffusion and adoption of new rice varieties for Africa (Nerica) in the Gambia

Rice ( Oryza sativa ) is one of the most important cereal crops cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It is ranked as the fourth most important crop in terms of production after sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ), maize ( Zea mays ) and millet ( Eleusine coracana ). The objective of this study was to establish adoption rates, and their determinants, of the New Rice Varieties for Africa (NERICA) in the Gambia. We used data from a stratified sample of 600 rice farmers and applied the Average Treatment Estimation (ATE) framework to establish rate of adoption and associated factors. The results revealed that NERICA adoption rate was barely 40% falling far below the expected 83%. The shortfall was due to the incomplete stakeholder exposure to NERICA in the period before 2006. The introduction of NERICA to villages was found to be a significant determinant of both exposure and adoption of NERICA varieties.Le riz ( Oryza sativa ) est l\u2019une des c\ue9r\ue9als les plus cultiv\ue9es en Afrique Sub-Saharienne. Il est la quatri\ue8me culture la plus importante en terme de production apr\ue8s le sorgho ( Sorghum bicolor ), le ma\uefs ( Zea mays ) et le millet ( Eleusine coracana ). L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de \ue9tablir les taux d\u2019adoption et d\ue9terminants de nouvelles vari\ue9t\ue9s pour l\u2019Afrique (NERICA) en Gambie. Nous avons utilis\ue9 des donn\ue9es issues d\u2019un \ue9chantillon stratifi\ue9 de 600 riziculteurs, et le mod\ue8le d\u2019Estimation de la Moyenne de Traitements (ATE) \ue9tait appliqu\ue9 pour \ue9tablir le taux d\u2019adoption et les facteurs associ\ue9s. Les r\ue9sultats ont r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que le taux d\u2019adotpion du NERICA \ue9tait d\u2019environ 40% ce qui est en contraste avec le taux esp\ue9r\ue9 de 83%. Cette baisse \ue9tait due \ue0 une imparfaite pr\ue9sentation du NERICA aux partenaires avant l\u2019ann\ue9e 2006. L\u2019introduction du NERICA aux villages \ue9tait un d\ue9terminant significatif de la pr\ue9sentation et l\u2019adoption des vari\ue9t\ue9s NERICA

Facility and community results-based financing to improve maternal and child nutrition and health in The Gambia

In 2013, the Government of The Gambia implemented a novel results-based financing (RBF) intervention designed to improve maternal and child nutrition and health through a combination of community, facility and individual incentives. In a mixed-methods study, we used a randomized 2 x 2 study design to measure these interventions' impact on the uptake of priority maternal health services, hygiene and sanitation. Conditional cash transfers to individuals were bundled with facility results-based payments. Community groups received incentive payments conditional on completion of locally-designed health projects. Randomization occurred separately at health facility and community levels. Our model pools baseline, midline and endline exposure data to identify evidence of the interventions' impact in isolation or combination. Multivariable linear regression models were estimated. A qualitative study was embedded, with data thematically analyzed. We analyzed 5,927 household surveys: 1,939 baseline, 1,951 midline, and 2,037 endline. On average, community group interventions increased skilled deliveries by 11 percentage points, while the facility interventions package increased them by seven percentage points. No impact was found, either in the community group or facility intervention package arms on early ANC. The community group intervention led to 49, 43 and 48 percentage point increases in handwashing stations, soaps at station and water at station, respectively. No impact was found on improved sanitation facilities. The qualitative data help understand factors underlying these changes. No interaction was found between the community and facility interventions. Where demand-side barriers predominate and community governance structures exist, community group RBF interventions may be more effective than facility designs

Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Health Consequences in Africa

Africa is heterogeneous in latitude, geography, climate, food availability, religious and cultural practices, and skin pigmentation. It is expected, therefore, that prevalence of vitamin D deficiency varies widely, in line with influences on skin exposure to UVB sunshine. Furthermore, low calcium intakes and heavy burden of infectious disease common in many countries may increase vitamin D utilization and turnover. Studies of plasma 25OHD concentration indicate a spectrum from clinical deficiency to values at the high end of the physiological range; however, data are limited. Representative studies of status in different countries, using comparable analytical techniques, and of relationships between vitamin D status and risk of infectious and chronic diseases relevant to the African context are needed. Public health measures to secure vitamin D adequacy cannot encompass the whole continent and need to be developed locally

Diffusion and Adoption of new rice varieties for Africa (Nerica) in the Gambia.

Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most important cereal crops cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It is rankedas the fourth most important crop in terms of production after sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), maize (Zea mays)and millet (Eleusine coracana). The objective of this study was to establish adoption rates, and their determinants,of the New Rice Varieties for Africa (NERICA) in the Gambia. We used data from a stratified sample of 600 ricefarmers and applied the Average Treatment Estimation (ATE) framework to establish rate of adoption andassociated factors. The results revealed that NERICA adoption rate was barely 40% falling far below theexpected 83%. The shortfall was due to the incomplete stakeholder exposure to NERICA in the period before2006. The introduction of NERICA to villages was found to be a significant determinant of both exposure andadoption of NERICA varieties

Diffusion and adoption of new rice varieties for Africa (Nerica) in the Gambia

Rice ( Oryza sativa ) is one of the most important cereal crops cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It is ranked as the fourth most important crop in terms of production after sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ), maize ( Zea mays ) and millet ( Eleusine coracana ). The objective of this study was to establish adoption rates, and their determinants, of the New Rice Varieties for Africa (NERICA) in the Gambia. We used data from a stratified sample of 600 rice farmers and applied the Average Treatment Estimation (ATE) framework to establish rate of adoption and associated factors. The results revealed that NERICA adoption rate was barely 40% falling far below the expected 83%. The shortfall was due to the incomplete stakeholder exposure to NERICA in the period before 2006. The introduction of NERICA to villages was found to be a significant determinant of both exposure and adoption of NERICA varieties.Le riz ( Oryza sativa ) est l’une des céréals les plus cultivées en Afrique Sub-Saharienne. Il est la quatrième culture la plus importante en terme de production après le sorgho ( Sorghum bicolor ), le maïs ( Zea mays ) et le millet ( Eleusine coracana ). L’objectif de cette étude était de établir les taux d’adoption et déterminants de nouvelles variétés pour l’Afrique (NERICA) en Gambie. Nous avons utilisé des données issues d’un échantillon stratifié de 600 riziculteurs, et le modèle d’Estimation de la Moyenne de Traitements (ATE) était appliqué pour établir le taux d’adoption et les facteurs associés. Les résultats ont révélé que le taux d’adotpion du NERICA était d’environ 40% ce qui est en contraste avec le taux espéré de 83%. Cette baisse était due à une imparfaite présentation du NERICA aux partenaires avant l’année 2006. L’introduction du NERICA aux villages était un déterminant significatif de la présentation et l’adoption des variétés NERICA

Road counts reveal The Gambia’s West Coast region still has the densest population of Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus in Africa: Des dénombrements routiers révèlent que la région de la côte ouest de la Gambie (West Coast) arbore toujours la plus grande population de vautour charognards Necrosyrtes monachus d’Afriqu

Road surveys are a useful tool for comparing vulture population trends. Here we present data from road surveys to count Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus in The Gambia in 2017 and 2021. In the firstnationwide road survey in November 2017 (during this species’ breeding period), we counted 7.3 Hooded Vultures per km. In The Gambia’s West Coast, we counted 33.3 Hooded Vultures per km in November 2017(during this species’ breeding period) and 27.4 Hooded Vultures per km in May 2021 (during the non-breeding period). In the rest of the country (i.e. in The Gambia’s North Bank, Central, Upper and Lower River regions), we counted 3.3 Hooded Vultures per km in November 2017 and 2.1 Hooded Vultures per km in November 2021, which may represent cause for concern. These figures for The Gambia’s West Coast region far exceed the results of road surveys conducted in the same area in 2005, 2013, and 2015. The number of Hooded Vultures recorded per km in the West Coast region increased from 2005 to 2017, but dipped slightly into May 2021, when we would have expected to see an increase, as the 2021 survey was carried out in the non-breeding period. In the non-breeding period vultures would not be confined to nests and populations should be at their highest, due to recently fledged juveniles entering the population. Overall, the densities of Hooded Vultures counted in The Gambia from 2005 to 2021 indicate that population densities are higher in The Gambia than in any other country where road surveys have taken place. The densities were orders of magnitude higher than those in eastern and southern Africa. However, given the decline in numbers between 2017 and 2021, we should not be complacent about the stability of this population. Les dénombrements routiers constituent un outil utile afin d’évaluer les tendances de populations de vautours. Nous présentons ici les résultats de dénombrements routiers visant les vautours charognards Necrosyrtes monachus effectués en Gambie en 2017 et 2021. Dans le premier dénombrement routier national tenu en novembre 2017 (pendant la période de reproduction pour cette espèce), nous avons compté 7.3 vautours charognards par km. Dans la région de la côte ouest (West Coast) de la Gambie, nous avons compté 33.3 vautours charognards par km en novembre 2017 (pendant la période de reproduction), et 27.4 vautours charognards par km en mai 2021 (en dehors de la période de reproduction). Dans le reste du pays (i.e. les régions North Bank, Central, Upper et Lower River), nous avons compté 3.3 vautours charognards par km en novembre 2017, et seulement 2.1 vautours charognards par km, dans la même zone, en novembre 2021, ce qui pourrait représenter une source de préoccupation. Les résultats obtenus dans la région de la côte ouest dépassent largement les valeurs obtenues lors des dénombrements routiers dans la même région en 2005, 2013, et 2015. Le nombre de vautours charognards observés par km dans la région de la côte ouest ont augmenté successivement de 2005 à 2017, pour ensuite diminuer légèrement jusqu’au mois de mai 2021 alors que nous aurions attendu une augmentation, car les dénombrements de 2021 ont été effectués en dehors de la période de reproduction, lorsque les vautours ne sont pas confinés au nid, et que les populations devraient être à leur plus haute abondance à cause de l’influx des jeunes de l’année dans la population. En général, les abondances de vautours charognards mesurées en Gambie de 2005 à 2021 indiquent que la densité de population est plus haute en Gambie que dans tout autre pays où des dénombrements routiers ont eu lieu, et même des ordres de grandeurs supérieurs à tout autre pays d’Afrique de l’Est et du Sud. Néanmoins, étant donné le déclin d’abondance entre 2017 et 2021, nous ne pouvons pas être complaisants en ce qui a trait de lastabilité de cette population