The impact of the government policies and incentives to promote the export of agricultural products in Tunisia: case of olive oil

The agricultural sector is very important for the Tunisian economy as it absorbs 10% of the total investment, generates 12% of the Gross Domestic Product (2002-2006) and employs 16% of the total labor force while the agro food exports represent 10% of the total export. The aim of this article is to review: a) the agreements related to the export of the olive oil between Tunisia and the European Union (EU) and b) the agricultural policies and incentives enforced by the government to increase the export of olive oil. For the above mentioned aims, we obtained and analyzed data from the Ministry of Agriculture in order to analyze them and find the policies and incentives that help to increase the export of olive oil.Tunisian agricultural policies, Export, International conventions and agreements, Olive oil, Export function, Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Options for Improving rural poultry and pig production

United States Agency for International Developmen

Service provision in a changing governance environment with special reference to West Africa

Meeting: IDRC Workshop on Good Governance, 7-9 Sept. 2000, Ottawa, ON, C

Inhibition of the apple scab pathogen Venturia inaequalis and the grapewine downy mildew pathogen Plasmopara viticola by extracts of green waste compost

Extracts of green waste compost have been shown to inhibit plant diseases. In this study, the factors influencing the mechanism of inhibition of apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) and grapevine downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) were studied. Extracts were prepared from samples of 30 composts from commercial composting plants. Composts were extracted with 1:2 or 1:5 water for 2 or 7 days. Extracts were applied to seedling of apple and grapevine. The seedlings were artificially inoculated with V. inaequalis or P. viticola, respectively and incubated under controlled conditions. After inoculation, severity of diseases and lesion diameter were measured. The incubation time and the compost/water ratio did not influence the capacity of the extracts to protect the apple plants. All treatments with compost extracts reduced disease severity in both host pathogen systems, and there was no difference in efficacy between autoclaved, sterile filtrated (0. 2 µm) and untreated extracts. From this, we conclude that the inhibition by compost extracts is not linked to their microbial activity. Rinsing apple seedling leaves 1 and 48 hours after application of the compost extracts did not diminish the protective effect against V. inaequalis. On the other hand, the severity of P. viticola increased, when the seedlings were rinsed after the application of compost extracts, and was similar to the untreated control. Compost extracts enhanced in vitro germination of conidia of V. inaequalis and showed no fungicidal effect. Thus, inhibition apparently acts indirectly in this host-pathogen system. On the other hand, the activity of zoospores of P. viticola was inhibited by 70 % compared to the control. The salt content of the extracts and their effect on the zoospores were positively correlated. For this host-pathogen system, there is thus evidence for a direct inhibition by compost extracts. We conclude that the active principle against V. inaequalis and P. viticola must be a water soluble, heat-stable metabolite produced in the compost before its extraction. The mechanism of inhibition in both plant-pathogen systems is different

Methods for the evaluation of forage legumes, grasses and fodder trees for use as livestock feed

Forage plant evaluation is carried out by many institutions throughout sub-Saharan Africa. However, the approach adopted at various locations varies. This manual outlines standard evaluation methodology, which will enable researchers throughout the region to obtain meaningful results from their forage plant evaluation. This document is based on experience from the forage evaluation programme at ILCA, Kaduna. The first section deals with methodology for initial evaluation, including suitable methodology for small-plot evaluation trials and larger multi-locational trials. The second section covers methodology suitable for further evaluation of accessions identified in the initial evaluation

Reliability of non-invasive tissue sampling methods for DNA extraction in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

[EN] Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) can be extracted from different tissue sources. The most common is blood, but in some situations it can be easier to take a biopsy. In some cases when it is difficult to capture animals, especially in wild populations, faeces and hairs can be considered as a source of DNA. This paper presents a pilot study conducted to compare the applicability of invasive and non-invasive sampling methods for extracting DNA for use in genetic studies of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). The study included 24 rabbits from the INRA 1001 strain. Blood, hair, ear biopsies and faeces were collected and used as DNA sources. Our aim was to verify the quantity of DNA obtained from different tissues using two or three types of extraction. DNA was obtained for all tissue types and all extraction methods. DNA extraction was shown to be optimal with the LGC (Laboratory of Cellular Genetics) blood extraction method. With regard to non-invasive methods, DNA extraction for hair using the LGC protocol and QIAamp¿ DNA mini kit gave very low quantities of DNA that could not be used for PCR reactions. The Chelex extraction protocol gave good results for PCR but could not be quantified. DNA extracted from faeces is a viable source of DNA for determining individual genotypes. The use of such non-invasive samples as a source of genetic material is a recent and very promising technique, especially for the study of endangered species, but these techniques are still too unreliable and costly to altogether replace invasive techniques when the latter are possible.Ben Larbi, M.; Tircazes, A.; Feve, K.; Tudela, F.; Bolet, G. (2012). Reliability of non-invasive tissue sampling methods for DNA extraction in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). World Rabbit Science. 20(2):117-124. doi:10.4995/wrs.2012.1077SWORD11712420

Role of persistent CMV infection in configuring T cell immunity in the elderly

Ageing is associated with declines in many physiological parameters, including multiple immune system functions. The rate of acceleration of the frequency of death due to cardiovascular disease or cancer seems to increase with age from middle age up to around 80 years, plateauing thereafter. Mortality due to infectious disease, however, does not plateau, but continues to accelerate indefinitely. The elderly commonly possess oligoclonal expansions of T cells, especially of CD8 cells, which, surprisingly, are often associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity. This in turn is associated with many of the same phenotypic and functional alterations to T cell immunity that have been suggested as biomarkers of immune system aging. Thus, the manner in which CMV and the host immune system interact is critical in determining the "age" of specific immunity. We may therefore consider immunosenescence in some respects as an infectious state. This implies that interventions aimed at the pathogen may improve the organ system affected. Hence, CMV-directed anti-virals or vaccination may have beneficial effects on immunity in later life

Anemia prevalence and associated factors among schoolage children in Accra and Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana

Anemia remains a serious public health concern, globally, affecting learning ability and physical development of children. Anemic children are at a higher risk of diminished economic productivity and low earning capacity in adulthood due to impaired school performance and reduced work capacity. Anemia contributes to about a quarter of Africa’s nutrition-related Disability Adjusted Life Years. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia and its associated risk factors among school-aged children (SAC) between ages 9 and 15 years in urban Ghana. The analysis included a randomly selected subsample of 1,634 children from a larger study on nutrition of SAC enrolled between 2009 and 2012 in private and public basic schools in the Accra and Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana. Socio-demographic and household characteristics were collected with questionnaires. Weight and height were taken to the nearest 0.1kg and 0.1cm, respectively. Dietary information was collected using a food frequency questionnaire. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistic version 23. The relationship between hemoglobin levels and socio-demographic variables, and predictors of hemoglobin levels were determined using Chi-square and binary logistic regression. The mean hemoglobin concentration of the study participants was 12.9±1.3 g/dL. In Kumasi, SAC had higher mean hemoglobin concentration (13.1±1.2 g/dL) compared to those from Accra (12.6±1.3 g/dL; p=0.001). Mean hemoglobin concentration was significantly higher among males than females (13.0±1.4 g/dL vs 12.8±1.2 g/dL; p=0.002). Prevalence of anemia was 20.4%; mild anemia was most common (13.6% of total sample). Anemia cases were higher in public schools (24.6%) compared to private (18.2%). Two-thirds of anemia cases (64.0%) were from schools in Accra. Males had significantly higher prevalence of anemia (26.5%) than females (15.9%; p <0.05). In the adjusted logistic regression model, only city of residence (OR+1.65, 95% CI: 1.44–1.83), thinness (OR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.11-5.75), stunting (OR=1.85, 95% CI: 1.99-3.10) and overweight (OR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.36-0.94) were significantly associated with anemia. In this study, anemia was significantly associated with location and nutritional status

Anemia prevalence and associated factors among school age children in Accra and Kumasi metropolis in Ghana

Anemia remains a serious public health concern, globally, affecting learning ability and physical development of children. Anemic children are at a  higher risk of diminished economic productivity and low earning capacity in adulthood due to impaired school performance and reduced work  capacity. Anemia contributes to about a quarter of Africa’s nutrition-related Disability Adjusted Life Years. The objective of this study was to  determine the prevalence of anemia and its associated risk factors among school-aged children (SAC) between ages 9 and 15 years in urban Ghana.  The analysis included a randomly selected subsample of 1,634 children from a larger study on nutrition of SAC enrolled between 2009 and 2012 in  private and public basic schools in the Accra and Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana. Socio-demographic and household characteristics were collected with  questionnaires. Weight and height were taken to the nearest 0.1kg and 0.1cm, respectively. Dietary information was collected using a food  frequency questionnaire. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistic version 23. The relationship between hemoglobin levels and socio-  demographic variables, and predictors of hemoglobin levels were determined using Chi-square and binary logistic regression. The mean  hemoglobin concentration of the study participants was 12.9±1.3 g/dL. In Kumasi, SAC had higher mean hemoglobin concentration (13.1±1.2 g/dL)  compared to those from Accra (12.6±1.3 g/dL; p=0.001). Mean hemoglobin concentration was significantly higher among males than females  (13.0±1.4 g/dL vs 12.8±1.2 g/dL; p=0.002). Prevalence of anemia was 20.4%; mild anemia was most common (13.6% of total sample). Anemia cases  were higher in public schools (24.6%) compared to private (18.2%). Two-thirds of anemia cases (64.0%) were from schools in Accra. Males had significantly higher prevalence of anemia (26.5%) than females (15.9%; p <0.05). In the adjusted logistic regression model, only city of residence (OR+1.65, 95% CI: 1.44–1.83), thinness (OR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.11-5.75), stunting (OR=1.85, 95% CI: 1.99-3.10) and overweight (OR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.36-0.94) were significantly associated with anemia. In this study, anemia was significantly associated with location and nutritional status

Crystal structure of chlorido-methanol-(N-(2-(oxy)-3-methoxybenzylidene)pyridine-4-carbohydrazonato-κ3O,N,O′)-(4-methylphenyl)methyl-tin(IV), C23H24ClN3O4Sn

C23H24ClN3O4Sn, triclinic, P¯1 (no. 2), a=9.7536(2) Å, b=10.0755(2) Å, c=12.4215(3) Å, α=84.928(2)°, β=72.544(2)°, γ=74.382(2)°, V =1121.44(4) Å3, Z =2, Rgt(F)=0.021, wRref(F2)=0.054, T =100(2) K