SPATIAL integration of the rice market: emprirical evidence from mid-west and far-west Nepal and the Nepalese-Indian border

This paper studies the integration of rice markets in the mid-west and far-west districts of Nepal. The data were drawn mainly from the World Food Programme (WFP) database on Nepal. Results indicate that the rice markets of the hinterland are poorly integrated with the regional market of Nepalgunj. In contrast, price fluctuations are transmitted, both in the short and medium run, across the Indian-Nepali border between Nepalgunj and the Indian border districts of Rupedia and Jogbani. Large price differentials relative to transport costs indicate market inefficiencies in the mid-west and far-west districts of Nepal. Moreover, the poor road infrastructure determines the price differentials. Poor infrastructure impedes price correlation and convergence between these districts. Given its opendoor policy with India and the ongoing efforts to further align trade policies with the World Trade Organization, the findings suggest that Nepal would maintain its partnership with India and build an effective market surveillance system that covers the Indian border markets as well, to ensure food security in the short run. However, substantial investment in transport infrastructure is required to improve market integration and accessibility in the long run, especially in the hilly and mountainous areas.Rice; market integration; Nepal; India

Infrastructure, Productivity and Urban Dynamics in Cote d'Ivoire, Africa Region Working Paper Series No. 86 (July 2005), The World Bank, Washington D.C.

Recent contributions in economic geography reflect renewed interest in issues of location and spatial concentration of economic activities, yet there are still few empirical studies of developing countries, particularly in Africa. This paper aims to contribute to this body of knowledge by (i) documenting wide regional disparities in economic activity and infrastructure (especially between the north and the south), which were partly determined by regional development policy, and (ii) examining empirically to what extent spatial factors such as agglomeration economies contribute to labor productivity––and therefore to urban dynamics––using recent panel data from Côte d’Ivoire for the period from 1980 to 1996.infrastructure productivity urban Cote d'Ivoire Ivory Coast Africa

Private investment in guinea, does macro-instability matter? A comparative analysis

This paper examines empirically the link between macro-instability and private investment rate in Guinea, in comparison with WAEMU countries . Notwithstanding the caution imposed by data and methodological limitations in interpreting the results, the paper shows that macroeconomic instability is, in general, higher in Guinea than WAEMU countries. Consequently, macroeconomic uncertainties are cause of concern. Using a panel data approach, the findings suggest that the negative effects of relative price volatility (mainly inflation, real effective exchange rates) expected in theory, do not occur when small deviations are combined with competitiveness, resulting from a declining real effective exchange rate. In addition, the positive effect of foreign exchange reserves on the private investment rate supports the view that the availability of foreign exchange reserves is critical in a fixed exchange rate regime as that of WAEMU, as well as in an imperfect floating exchange rate regime as that of Guinea. While the panel data approach shows no evidence of negative impact of macroeconomic uncertainties, it suggests further analysis to explore the robustness of this result. A time series approach is carried out for Guinea, with regard to this purpose. As mentioned above, Guinea registers higher level of macroeconomic instability, compared to WAEMU countries. Using a single error correction model, the counter-intuitive impact of macroeconomic instability variables (measured by the real effective exchange rate, inflation rate and the terms of trade) persists. Given the dominant share of the mining sector in the private investment figures, the findings may be misleading as this sector may be protected from the wrong market signals resulting from the increasing macro-instability. However, capturing such an ‘enclave-effect’ is unfortunately limited by the lack of disaggregated investment data by sector. Finally, the results indicate a negative (indirect) impact of macroeconomic instability (measured by the real lending rate and the flow of credit to the economy) on the private sector investment. They suggest additional efforts to improve the overall macroeconomic context and especially, an in-depth openness of the financial sector, to diversify credit instruments to the private sector in Guinea.Guinea, Macro-instability, Inflation, Private investment

Structural Differences in Rural Food Poverty between Female and Male-Headed Households

This article explores differences among female-headed households (FHHs) and male-headed households (MHHs) in terms of food poverty in Cameroon, Laos, Madagascar, Mauritania, and Tanzania. Stochastic dominance analysis shows that FHHs are more likely to be food poor related to MHHs, though this trend is less clear when looking only at food poor households. This ambiguity was clarified using discriminant function analysis. The results show that both female and male food poor households face the same obstacles to rural employment across the countries; barriers to access to land, productive assets, education, remittances and over-dependence on subsistence agriculture. Although further research is required to account for gender differences in social, cultural, political and economic status, these results suggest that greater attention should be paid to long-term policies in ensuring access to quality education, land and other assets to all food insecure households, not only to FHHs to the possible detriment of food poor MHHs. In the short-term cash or food-for-assets and school feeding programmes can also provide important springboards for larger scale changes in national policies that are central to escaping the food poverty trap

Structural Differences in Rural Food Poverty between Female and Male-Headed Households

This article explores differences among female-headed households (FHHs) and male-headed households (MHHs) in terms of food poverty in Cameroon, Laos, Madagascar, Mauritania, and Tanzania. Stochastic dominance analysis shows that FHHs are more likely to be food poor related to MHHs, though this trend is less clear when looking only at food poor households. This ambiguity was clarified using discriminant function analysis. The results show that both female and male food poor households face the same obstacles to rural employment across the countries; barriers to access to land, productive assets, education, remittances and over-dependence on subsistence agriculture. Although further research is required to account for gender differences in social, cultural, political and economic status, these results suggest that greater attention should be paid to long-term policies in ensuring access to quality education, land and other assets to all food insecure households, not only to FHHs to the possible detriment of food poor MHHs. In the short-term cash or food-for-assets and school feeding programmes can also provide important springboards for larger scale changes in national policies that are central to escaping the food poverty trap

SPATIAL integration of the rice market: emprirical evidence from mid-west and far-west Nepal and the Nepalese-Indian border

This paper studies the integration of rice markets in the mid-west and far-west districts of Nepal. The data were drawn mainly from the World Food Programme (WFP) database on Nepal. Results indicate that the rice markets of the hinterland are poorly integrated with the regional market of Nepalgunj. In contrast, price fluctuations are transmitted, both in the short and medium run, across the Indian-Nepali border between Nepalgunj and the Indian border districts of Rupedia and Jogbani. Large price differentials relative to transport costs indicate market inefficiencies in the mid-west and far-west districts of Nepal. Moreover, the poor road infrastructure determines the price differentials. Poor infrastructure impedes price correlation and convergence between these districts. Given its opendoor policy with India and the ongoing efforts to further align trade policies with the World Trade Organization, the findings suggest that Nepal would maintain its partnership with India and build an effective market surveillance system that covers the Indian border markets as well, to ensure food security in the short run. However, substantial investment in transport infrastructure is required to improve market integration and accessibility in the long run, especially in the hilly and mountainous areas

SPATIAL integration of the rice market: emprirical evidence from mid-west and far-west Nepal and the Nepalese-Indian border

This paper studies the integration of rice markets in the mid-west and far-west districts of Nepal. The data were drawn mainly from the World Food Programme (WFP) database on Nepal. Results indicate that the rice markets of the hinterland are poorly integrated with the regional market of Nepalgunj. In contrast, price fluctuations are transmitted, both in the short and medium run, across the Indian-Nepali border between Nepalgunj and the Indian border districts of Rupedia and Jogbani. Large price differentials relative to transport costs indicate market inefficiencies in the mid-west and far-west districts of Nepal. Moreover, the poor road infrastructure determines the price differentials. Poor infrastructure impedes price correlation and convergence between these districts. Given its opendoor policy with India and the ongoing efforts to further align trade policies with the World Trade Organization, the findings suggest that Nepal would maintain its partnership with India and build an effective market surveillance system that covers the Indian border markets as well, to ensure food security in the short run. However, substantial investment in transport infrastructure is required to improve market integration and accessibility in the long run, especially in the hilly and mountainous areas

Private investment in guinea, does macro-instability matter? A comparative analysis

This paper examines empirically the link between macro-instability and private investment rate in Guinea, in comparison with WAEMU countries . Notwithstanding the caution imposed by data and methodological limitations in interpreting the results, the paper shows that macroeconomic instability is, in general, higher in Guinea than WAEMU countries. Consequently, macroeconomic uncertainties are cause of concern. Using a panel data approach, the findings suggest that the negative effects of relative price volatility (mainly inflation, real effective exchange rates) expected in theory, do not occur when small deviations are combined with competitiveness, resulting from a declining real effective exchange rate. In addition, the positive effect of foreign exchange reserves on the private investment rate supports the view that the availability of foreign exchange reserves is critical in a fixed exchange rate regime as that of WAEMU, as well as in an imperfect floating exchange rate regime as that of Guinea. While the panel data approach shows no evidence of negative impact of macroeconomic uncertainties, it suggests further analysis to explore the robustness of this result. A time series approach is carried out for Guinea, with regard to this purpose. As mentioned above, Guinea registers higher level of macroeconomic instability, compared to WAEMU countries. Using a single error correction model, the counter-intuitive impact of macroeconomic instability variables (measured by the real effective exchange rate, inflation rate and the terms of trade) persists. Given the dominant share of the mining sector in the private investment figures, the findings may be misleading as this sector may be protected from the wrong market signals resulting from the increasing macro-instability. However, capturing such an ‘enclave-effect’ is unfortunately limited by the lack of disaggregated investment data by sector. Finally, the results indicate a negative (indirect) impact of macroeconomic instability (measured by the real lending rate and the flow of credit to the economy) on the private sector investment. They suggest additional efforts to improve the overall macroeconomic context and especially, an in-depth openness of the financial sector, to diversify credit instruments to the private sector in Guinea

Mise en œuvre de l’approche Village intelligent face au climat (VIC) pour améliorer la résilience des communautés rurales

Le projet USAID/CINSERE (Services d’information climatiques pour améliorer la résilience et la productivité au Sénégal) est un projet de résilience qui vise à (i) renforcer les capacités nationales pour la production, l’accès et la diffusion efficiente d’informations météorologiques et climatiques (IMC) et à (ii) développer des stratégies pour une mise à l’échelle durable de l’utilisation des services d’information météorologiques et climatiques (SIMC) sur toute l’étendue du territoire national. Le projet est financé par l’Agence des EtatsUnis pour le Développement International et mis en œuvre par le CCAFS/ICRISAT en collaboration avec l’ANACIM depuis 2016. Le VIC est une approche participative qui aide à guider les actions nécessaires pour transformer et réorienter les systèmes agricoles afin de soutenir efficacement le développement et assurer la sécurité alimentaire dans un climat changeant. L’approche aide les producteurs à mieux comprendre les enjeux du changement climatique et à intégrer de manière efficace les bonnes pratiques de résilience en fonction de leurs contextes agro-climatiques et socioéconomiques. L’introduction de l’approche dans la localité, se justifie par la nécessité pour les producteurs, de gérer les risques climatiques et d’améliorer leur résilience au vu de la grande variabilité climatique dans la localité. La commune de Méouane a été ciblée pour devenir le second village intelligent face au climat, dans le cadre du projet USAID/CINSERE. La commune couvre une superficie de 334.3 km2 et est située dans le département de Tivaouane, région de Thiès. La population est estimée en moyenne à 6.388 habitants, soit une densité de 109 hbts par km2 répartie dans 92 villages. Le climat est de type soudano sahélien caractérisé par une longue saison sèche (09 mois, de octobre à juin) et une courte saison pluvieuse (03 mois, de Juillet à septembre). Les activités du VIC ont été réalisées en collaboration avec le GIE Jambar qui s’en a approprier. C’est une organisation de producteurs composée de plus 454 membres qui existe depuis 18 ans et qui s’active dans la reconstitution du capital semencier

Substantial Contribution of Submicroscopical Plasmodium falciparum Gametocyte Carriage to the Infectious Reservoir in an Area of Seasonal Transmission

BACKGROUND: Man to mosquito transmission of malaria depends on the presence of the sexual stage parasites, gametocytes, that often circulate at low densities. Gametocyte densities below the microscopical threshold of detection may be sufficient to infect mosquitoes but the importance of submicroscopical gametocyte carriage in different transmission settings is unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Membrane feeding experiments were carried out on 80 children below 14 years of age at the end of the wet season in an area of seasonal malaria transmission in Burkina Faso. Gametocytes were quantified by microscopy and by Pfs25-based quantitative nucleic acid sequence-based amplification assay (QT-NASBA). The children's infectiousness was determined by membrane feeding experiments in which a venous blood sample was offered to locally reared Anopheles mosquitoes. Gametocytes were detected in 30.0% (24/80) of the children by microscopy compared to 91.6% (65/71) by QT-NASBA (p<0.001). We observed a strong association between QT-NASBA gametocyte density and infection rates (p = 0.007). Children with microscopically detectable gametocytes were more likely to be infectious (68.2% compared to 31.7% of carriers of submicroscopical gametocytes, p = 0.001), and on average infected more mosquitoes (13.2% compared to 2.3%, p<0.001). However, because of the high prevalence of submicroscopical gametocyte carriage in the study population, carriers of sub-microscopical gametocytes were responsible for 24.2% of the malaria transmission in this population. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Submicroscopical gametocyte carriage is common in an area of seasonal transmission in Burkina Faso and contributes substantially to the human infectious reservoir. Submicroscopical gametocyte carriage should therefore be considered when implementing interventions that aim to reduce malaria transmission