Superiority of winter sowing over traditional spring sowing of chickpea in the Mediterranean region

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum), when traditionally grown as a spring-sown crop in the Mediterranean region, often suffers from heat and moisture stress, resulting in low and unstable yields. In contrast, sowing the crop in winter with cultivars tolerant to cold and to ascochyta blight (caused by Ascochyta rabiei) minimizes the effects of terminal heat and drought stress and increases and stabilizes productivity. Therefore, a study was conducted with the objective of assessing the comparative seed yield advantage of winter over spring sowing in Mediterranean environments. Nineteen to 23 ascochyta blight-resistant and cold-tolerant breeding lines were compared in winter and spring sowing for 10 years (1983-93) at three locations in Syria and Lebanon. The set of lines used in this study differed each year. Averaged over 10 years, winter-sown chickpea produced 70% (692 kg ha-1) more seed yield than the spring-sown crop. The longer growing period of winter-sown chickpea resulted in higher biomass production, which contributed mainly toward increased seed yield. The yield potential of lines sown during winter was approximately 4000 kg ha-1, and yields were more stable than in the spring-sown crop. The correlation between seasonal rainfall and seed yield was positive and significant in both seasons. In 1988-89, when the Tel Hadya site experienced severe drought, the spring-sown crop resulted in virtually no seed yield, whereas the winter-sown crop produced an average yield of 542 kg ha-1 by a partial escape of the severe drought. Winter-sown plants were taller than those in the spring sowing, permitting harvesting by combines. Because of these advantages, winter sowing of chickpea is gaining popularity in the Mediterranean regio

Chefe (ICCV 92318) - a new kabuli chickpea variety for Ethiopia

Chefe (ICCV 92318) is a new kabuli chickpea cultivar developed from a 3-way cross, i.e. (ICCV 2 × Surutato) × ICC 7344, at ICRISAT, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India, and released in 2004 primarily for its attractive and large (35 g/100 seeds) seeds (compared to 26 g/100 seeds in Arerti), and high level of resistance to Fusarium wil

Prevalence of Trachoma After Three Rounds of Antibiotic Mass Drug Administration in 13 Woredas of Gambella Region, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Following baseline surveys in 2013 and 2014, trachoma elimination interventions, including three rounds of azithromycin mass drug administration (MDA), were implemented in 13 woredas (administrative districts) of Gambella Regional State, Ethiopia. We conducted impact surveys to determine if elimination thresholds have been met or if additional interventions are required. METHODS: Cross-sectional population-based surveys were conducted in 13 woredas of Gambella Regional State, combined into five evaluation units (EUs), 6─12 months after their last MDA round. A two-stage systematic (first stage) and random (second stage) sampling technique was used. WHO-recommended protocols were implemented with the support of Tropical Data. Household water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) access was assessed. RESULTS: The age-adjusted prevalence of trachomatous inflammation - follicular (TF) in 1-9-year-olds in the five EUs ranged from 0.3-19.2%, representing a general decline in TF prevalence compared to baseline estimates. The age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) unknown to the health system in those aged ≥ 15 years ranged from 0.47-3.08%. Of households surveyed, 44% had access to an improved drinking water source within a 30-minute return journey of the house, but only 3% had access to an improved latrine. CONCLUSION: In two EUs, no further MDA should be delivered, and a surveillance survey should be conducted after two years without MDA. In one EU, one further round of MDA should be conducted followed by another impact survey. In two EUs, three further MDA rounds are required. Surgery, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement interventions are needed throughout the region

Tropical Data: Approach and Methodology as Applied to Trachoma Prevalence Surveys

PURPOSE: Population-based prevalence surveys are essential for decision-making on interventions to achieve trachoma elimination as a public health problem. This paper outlines the methodologies of Tropical Data, which supports work to undertake those surveys. METHODS: Tropical Data is a consortium of partners that supports health ministries worldwide to conduct globally standardised prevalence surveys that conform to World Health Organization recommendations. Founding principles are health ministry ownership, partnership and collaboration, and quality assurance and quality control at every step of the survey process. Support covers survey planning, survey design, training, electronic data collection and fieldwork, and data management, analysis and dissemination. Methods are adapted to meet local context and needs. Customisations, operational research and integration of other diseases into routine trachoma surveys have also been supported. RESULTS: Between 29th February 2016 and 24th April 2023, 3373 trachoma surveys across 50 countries have been supported, resulting in 10,818,502 people being examined for trachoma. CONCLUSION: This health ministry-led, standardised approach, with support from the start to the end of the survey process, has helped all trachoma elimination stakeholders to know where interventions are needed, where interventions can be stopped, and when elimination as a public health problem has been achieved. Flexibility to meet specific country contexts, adaptation to changes in global guidance and adjustments in response to user feedback have facilitated innovation in evidence-based methodologies, and supported health ministries to strive for global disease control targets

Prevalence of pterygium in rural community of Meskan District, Southern Ethiopia

No Abstract.Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Vol. 22 (2) 2008 pp. 191-19

Risk factors for active trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in treatment-naïve trachoma-hyperendemic communities of the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea Bissau.

BACKGROUND: Trachoma, caused by ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, is hyperendemic on the Bijagós Archipelago of Guinea Bissau. An understanding of the risk factors associated with active trachoma and infection on these remote and isolated islands, which are atypical of trachoma-endemic environments described elsewhere, is crucial to the implementation of trachoma elimination strategies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A cross-sectional population-based trachoma prevalence survey was conducted on four islands. We conducted a questionnaire-based risk factor survey, examined participants for trachoma using the World Health Organization (WHO) simplified grading system and collected conjunctival swab samples for 1507 participants from 293 randomly selected households. DNA extracted from conjunctival swabs was tested using the Roche Amplicor CT/NG PCR assay. The prevalence of active (follicular and/or inflammatory) trachoma was 11% (167/1508) overall and 22% (136/618) in 1-9 year olds. The prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was 18% overall and 25% in 1-9 year olds. There were strong independent associations of active trachoma with ocular and nasal discharge, C. trachomatis infection, young age, male gender and type of household water source. C. trachomatis infection was independently associated with young age, ocular discharge, type of household water source and the presence of flies around a latrine. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In this remote island environment, household-level risk factors relating to fly populations, hygiene behaviours and water usage are likely to be important in the transmission of ocular C. trachomatis infection and the prevalence of active trachoma. This may be important in the implementation of environmental measures in trachoma control