Effects of Englerina drummondii Balle ex Polhill and Wiens leaves extract on selected female rat organs’ weights

Background: Herbal medicine are patronized by several people across the globe This herbal medicine is routinely use and are more accessible and available. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Englerina drummondii Balle ex Polhill and Wiens leaves on rat organs (thyroid gland, kidneys, ovary and fallopian tubes) weights in female rats. Methods: 20 female rats were selected randomly into 4 groups with 5 rats per group. Group 1 received 5 ml/kg of water, group 2 received extract 100 mg/kg, group 3 received extract 200 mg/kg, and group 4 received extract 400 mg/kg. Administration of extract was done for 28 days. Results: The study revealed significance decreased in the weight of the left ovary organ when extract of medium dose (200 mg/kg) and high dose (400 mg/kg) was administered, as compared to control. The result also shows decrease in the organs weight of the thyroid gland, left kidney, right and left fallopian tubes extract of low, medium and high dose were administered. The right kidney shows increase when low dose extract was given but decrease when both low and medium dose of extract was given. However, this decrease is not significance and could be due to dose or time dependent. Statistical analysis was done using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 23 and p<0.05 was significant. Conclusions: There was significance decreased in the weight of the left ovary organ when extract of medium dose (200 mg/kg) and high dose (400 mg/kg) was administered. Also, there is decrease in other organs weight when low, medium and high dose was given but not significance

Crop–Livestock Intensification in the Face of Climate Change: Exploring Opportunities to Reduce Risk and Increase Resilience in Southern Africa by Using an Integrated Multi-modeling Approach

The climate of Southern Africa is highly variable at most time-scales and follows a pronounced gradient with arid conditions in the west and humid conditions in the east. There is also a marked latitudinal rainfall distribution pattern, with the southern part having a low rainfall index and high variability and the northern part having higher annual rainfall and lower interannual variability (Kandji et al., 2006). Over the last 100 years, temperatures have increased by about 0.5◦C in the region and downward trends in rainfall have also occurred (Kandji et al., 2006; Morton, 2007). There has also been an increase in drought eventswith over 15 drought events reported in the region between 1988 and 1992. The frequency and intensity of El Nin˜o episodes have increased. Prior to the 1980s, strong El Nin˜o events occurred every 10–20 years; between 1980 and 2000, the region experienced five episodes with the 1982–1983 and 1997–1998 episodes being the most intense of the century (Reason and Jagadheesha, 2005; Rouault and Richard, 2005). These episodes have contributed to stagnant or decreasing agricultural production and worsening food insecurity in the region (Kandji et al., 2006). Unfavorable climatic conditions and projected climate change are among the major obstacles to achieving food security in the region and also have dire consequences for macro-economic performance

Innovative soil fertility management by stakeholder engagement in the Chókwè irrigation scheme (Mozambique)

International audienceAppropriate soil fertility management plays an important role in irrigated systems and can contribute to reducing the yield gap. To that end, abiotic, biotic, management and socio-economic factors need to be considered and participatory approaches need to be implemented to ensure the sustainability of the interventions. Our objective is to analyse a participatory process conducted in the Chókwè Irrigation Scheme (Mozambique) to trigger agronomic innovation in soil fertility management. Through a method combining interviews with 31 farmers, soil sampling and the organization of communities of practice we studied actual agrarian practices and farmers' knowledge about soil fertility management as well as the social and physical context. This information was the basis for selecting an association in order to promote the innovation process. A participatory planning of the innovation test was conducted. The whole process was evaluated by farmers. Adoption of the majority of the practices is limited mainly by factors related to the socio-economic status of farmers and not to the lack of knowledge. Farmers did not highly value the participatory process itself, but valued the learning-by-doing process and the collaboration with researchers. We consider that the approach increased collective learning and this process triggered the innovation dynamics

Innovative soil fertility management by stakeholder engagement in the Chókwè irrigation scheme (Mozambique)

International audienceAppropriate soil fertility management plays an important role in irrigated systems and can contribute to reducing the yield gap. To that end, abiotic, biotic, management and socio-economic factors need to be considered and participatory approaches need to be implemented to ensure the sustainability of the interventions. Our objective is to analyse a participatory process conducted in the Chókwè Irrigation Scheme (Mozambique) to trigger agronomic innovation in soil fertility management. Through a method combining interviews with 31 farmers, soil sampling and the organization of communities of practice we studied actual agrarian practices and farmers' knowledge about soil fertility management as well as the social and physical context. This information was the basis for selecting an association in order to promote the innovation process. A participatory planning of the innovation test was conducted. The whole process was evaluated by farmers. Adoption of the majority of the practices is limited mainly by factors related to the socio-economic status of farmers and not to the lack of knowledge. Farmers did not highly value the participatory process itself, but valued the learning-by-doing process and the collaboration with researchers. We consider that the approach increased collective learning and this process triggered the innovation dynamics

Crop-livestock intensification in the face of climate change: exploring opportunities to reduce risk and increase resilience in southern africa using an integrated multi-modeling approach

Teams of crop, economic, and climate scientists in Southeastern Africa are exploring opportunities to reduce risk and increase resilience in Southern Africa using an integrated multi-modeling approach. The project characterizes selected mixed farming systems in Southern Africa in terms of biophysical and socio-economic characteristics, develops and evaluates crop-livestock management and climate change adaptation strategies that increase food production, agro-diversity and economic returns, and explores the interactions and synergies of increased diversity and integration and their contribution to reduce risk and increase system resilience. The project will increase understanding of challenges and opportunities in the current mixed farming systems of Southern Africa for better targeting of interventions to increase systems resilience and reduce climate-induced risk. It will also improve understanding of the interactions and synergies of production system components, such as which combinations bring about profitable production systems and how to use these to facilitate development along sustainable pathways

Transdisciplinary innovation in irrigated smallholder agriculture in Africa

Boosting the productivity of smallholder farming systems continues to be a major need in Africa. Challenges relating to how to improve irrigation are multi-factor and multisectora l, and they involve a broad range of actors who must interact to reach decisions collectively. We provide a systematic reflection on findings from the research project EAU4Food, which adopted a transdisciplinary approach to irrigation for food security research in five case studies in Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, South Africa and Tunisia. The EAU4Food experiences emphasize that actual innovation at irrigated smallholder farm level remains limited without sufficient improvement of the enabling environment and taking note of the wider political economy environment. Most project partners felt at the end of the project that the transdisciplinary approach has indeed enriched the research process by providing different and multiple insights from actors outside the academic field. Local capacity to facilitate transdisciplinary research and engag ement with practitio ners was developed and could support the continuation and scaling up of the approach. Future projects may benefit from a longer time frame to allow for deeper exchange of lessons learned among different stakeholders and a dedicated effort to analyse possible improvements of the enabling environment from the beginning of the research process