Effectiveness of Corporate Social Responsibility in Enhancing Company Image

In recent times there has been much debate about whether corporations should be socially responsible or not and to what extent they should be responsible. This paper investigates the effectiveness of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in enhancing company`s image, using Unki mine (UM) as a case study, with corporate philanthropy as center of focus. Research design was descriptive and exploratory. A sample size of 208 respondents was used. Stratified sampling technique was used and the population was divided into four stratums which are as follows: um management, UM employees, the local community and lastly Tongogara rural council employees. The research findings show that Philanthropic activities do enhance company image as well as relations between an organization and the community surrounding it. This paper recommends that um could put more investment on the other dimensions of CSR such as ethical responsibility, legal responsibility and economic responsibility. Keywords: Corporate Philanthropy, Societal Alignment, Company Image, Stakeholders, Social Licens

Smallholder farmer perceived effects of climate change on agricultural productivity and adaptation strategies

The agriculture sector is sensitive to climate change and the capacity of smallholder farmers in developing countries to adapt is limited. Similar to adoption of any development-oriented strategies, perception is pre-requisite to successful adaptation of agricultural strategies against climate change effects. This study was conducted in the semi-arid Lower Gweru Communal area of Central Zimbabwe to sensitize smallholder farmers on climate change and to establish their perceptions of the projected climate of Zimbabwe by 2050. Data were collected during 2011 from a total of 60 farmers drawn from six villages in Mdubiwa and Nyama Wards. Farmers were selected using systematic random sampling from a households list and grouped into three wealth groups: resource rich; resource poor and intermediate. Focus Group Discussions were conducted with each group to investigate their perceptions of the projected climate by 2050 and their proposed adaptive strategies. Farmers perceived the projected climate to have negative effects on their livelihoods and there were no outstanding differences in the nature of responses across the three categories of farmers. Farmers’ responses showed that they were concerned about crop and livestock productivity as well as availability of water resources, food and nutrition security and about their general well-being. The intermediate wealth group, which had more than half of its members above 70 years of age provided the least number of ideas for adaptations. Farmers also suggested how they could possibly counteract some of the predicted negative effects or maximize on positive effects. Strategies that were suggested by the farmers were largely concerned with cropping and tended to address water shortages. It was concluded that almost all strategies suggested by farmers were self-directed, rather than directed at authorities like government or donors to do something for them thus showing that farmers had the will power to deal with climate change themselves

CONSTRAINTS TO CROP PRODUCTION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN SEMI-ARID CENTRAL AND WESTERN ZIMBABWE

Smallholder farmer agricultural productivity in developing countries is limited by diverse biotic and abiotic constraints. They have, however, developed adaptive strategies to cope with some of these constraints, thereby strengthening their resilience to various stresses. The objective of this study was to establish crop production constraints faced by smallholder farmers in semi-arid Lower Gweru and Lupane areas of Zimbabwe, as well as coping and adaptation strategies used. Focus group discussions and structured interviews were used to collect data. High rainfall variability (CV = 0.30) had the highest ranking (most important), followed by shortage of inputs collectively, from focus group discussions. Farmers adapted to rainfall variability mostly through choice of crop and planting dates, adjusting the levels of inputs (fertiliser in particular) they used, as well as by resorting to cropping in areas with a high water table. Sixty percent of the farmers in both communal areas experienced shortage of planting seed, while shortage of fertiliser was reported by 75 and 30% of the farmers in Lower Gweru and Lupane, respectively. Labour was a major constraint to 65 and 20% of the farmers in both locations, respectively; while draft power shortage affected 50 and 25% of the farmers. About 50% of the farmers in Lupane reported the problem of crop damage by elephants. The HIV and AIDs pandemic and poor soils were also reported during focus group discussions. Farmers coped with input shortages by hiring and sharing resources. They reduced damage from elephants by harvesting their crops early. The effect of HIV/AIDs weakened the labour force and some communities in the study areas helped affected families by working in their fields.La productivit\ue9 agricole des petits paysans dans les pays en d\ue9veloppement est limit\ue9\ue9 par de diverses contraintes biotiques et abiotiques. Ils ont, cependant d\ue9velopp\ue9 des strategies adaptatives pour faire face \ue0 ces contraintes, consolidant ainsi leur resilience aux divers stress. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019\ue9tablir les contraintes de la production agricole auxquelles font face les petits paysans dans les basses regions semi-arides de Gweru et Lupane au Zimbaw\ue9, ainsi que les strategies d\u2019adaptation utilis\ue9es. Des discussions de groupes et des entretiens structur\ue9s ont \ue9t\ue9 utlis\ue9s pour la collecte des donn\ue9es. La grande variabilit\ue9 de pluies (CV = 0, 30) a re\ue7u le rang le plus \ue9lev\ue9 (le plus important); suivie de la p\ue9nurie g\ue9n\ue9rale d\u2019intrants, selon les discussions de groupes. Les paysans se sont adapt\ue9s aux variabilit\ue9es de pluies \ue0 travers le choix des cultures et des dates de semis, en ajustant les niveaux d\u2019intrants (engrais en particulier) qu\u2019ils utilisaient, ainsi qu\u2019en se recourant aux espaces de production avec une nappe phr\ue9atique affleurant la surface du sol. Soixante pourcent des paysans dans les deux zones communales rencontraient la p\ue9nurie des semences, alors que la penurie en engrais \ue9tait rapport\ue9e par 75 et 30% des paysans de la basse Gweru et Lupane, respectivement. La main d\u2019oeuvre a \ue9t\ue9 une contrainte majeure pour 65 et 20% des paysans dans les deux regions, respectivement; tandis que le manque de traction animale a affect\ue9 50 et 25% de producteurs. Environ 50% de producteurs au Lupane ont rapport\ue9 le probl\ue8me de destruction des plantes par les \ue9l\ue9phants. La pendemie du VIH/SIDA et la pauvret\ue9 des sols ont aussi \ue9t\ue9 rapport\ue9es pendant les discussions de groupes. Les producteurs se sont adapt\ue9s au manque d\u2019intrants en loyant et en partageant leurs ressources. Ils ont r\ue9duit les dommages caus\ue9s par les \ue9l\ue9phants en r\ue9coltant de fa\ue7on pr\ue9coce leur cultures. Les effets du VIH/SIDA ont affaibli la force de la main d\u2019oeuvre et certaines commaut\ue9s dans les milieux d\u2019\ue9tude ont aid\ue9 les familles affect\ue9es en travaillant dans leurs champs

Interfacial Profile and Propagation of Frontal Photopolymerization Waves

We investigate the frontal photopolymerization of a thiol–ene system with a combination of experiments and modeling, focusing on the interfacial conversion profile and its planar wave propagation. We spatially resolve the solid-to-liquid front by FT-IR and AFM mechanical measurements, supplemented by differential scanning calorimetry. A simple coarse-grained model is found to describe remarkably well the frontal kinetics and the sigmoidal interface, capturing the effects of UV light exposure time (or dose) and temperature, as well as the front position and resulting patterned dimensions after development. Analytical solutions for the conversion profile enable the description of all conditions with a single master curve in the moving frame of the front position. Building on this understanding, we demonstrate the design and fabrication of gradient polymer materials, with tunable properties <i>along</i> the direction of illumination, which can be coupled with lateral patterning by modulated illumination or grayscale lithography

Assessment of human impact on water quality along Manyame River

Abstract,Human activities such as urbanization, agriculture, sewage treatment and industrialization are affecting water resources both quantitatively and qualitatively. The impact of these activities were studied by measuring and determining the concentration and values of eight selected water quality parameters namely nitrates, phosphates, copper, iron, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and turbidity along Manyame River, in the Manyame Catchment. Thirty five sites were sampled from the source of the river which is at Seke Dam, along Manyame River and on the tributaries (Ruwa, Nyatsime, Mukuvisi and Marimba) just before they join the river. The 35 sites were categorized into 5 groups (A, B, C, D and E) with group A and E being the upstream and downstream of Manyame. The analysis of results was undertaken using a simple one-way ANOVA with group as the only source of variation. Turbidity values, nitrate and phosphate concentrations were found to be higher than the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) maximum permissible standards for surface waters. DO saturation in the downstream groups was less than 75% (ZINWA standard). Agricultural and urban runoff and sewage effluent were responsible of the high nutrient levels and turbidity, which in turn, reduced the dissolved oxygen (DO)

Assessment of human impact on water quality along Manyame River

Abstract,Human activities such as urbanization, agriculture, sewage treatment and industrialization are affecting water resources both quantitatively and qualitatively. The impact of these activities were studied by measuring and determining the concentration and values of eight selected water quality parameters namely nitrates, phosphates, copper, iron, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and turbidity along Manyame River, in the Manyame Catchment. Thirty five sites were sampled from the source of the river which is at Seke Dam, along Manyame River and on the tributaries (Ruwa, Nyatsime, Mukuvisi and Marimba) just before they join the river. The 35 sites were categorized into 5 groups (A, B, C, D and E) with group A and E being the upstream and downstream of Manyame. The analysis of results was undertaken using a simple one-way ANOVA with group as the only source of variation. Turbidity values, nitrate and phosphate concentrations were found to be higher than the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) maximum permissible standards for surface waters. DO saturation in the downstream groups was less than 75% (ZINWA standard). Agricultural and urban runoff and sewage effluent were responsible of the high nutrient levels and turbidity, which in turn, reduced the dissolved oxygen (DO)

Assessment of human impact on water quality along Manyame River

Human activities such as urbanization, agriculture, sewage treatment and industrialization are affecting water resources both quantitatively and qualitatively. The impact of these activities were studied by measuring and determining the concentration and values of eight selected water quality parameters namely nitrates, phosphates, copper, iron, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and turbidity along Manyame River, in the Manyame Catchment. Thirty five sites were sampled from the source of the river which is at Seke Dam, along Manyame River and on the tributaries (Ruwa, Nyatsime, Mukuvisi and Marimba) just before they join the river. The 35 sites were categorized into 5 groups (A, B, C, D and E) with group A and E being the upstream and downstream of Manyame. The analysis of results was undertaken using a simple one-way ANOVA with group as the only source of variation. Turbidity values, nitrate and phosphate concentrations were found to be higher than the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) maximum permissible standards for surface waters. DO saturation in the downstream groups was less than 75% (ZINWA standard). Agricultural and urban runoff and sewage effluent were responsible of the high nutrient levels and turbidity, which in turn, reduced the dissolved oxygen (DO)

Assessment of human impact on water quality along Manyame River

AbstractHuman activities such as urbanization, agriculture, sewage treatment and industrialization are affecting water resources both quantitatively and qualitatively. The impact of these activities were studied by measuring and determining the concentration and values of eight selected water quality parameters namely nitrates, phosphates, copper, iron, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and turbidity along Manyame River, in the Manyame Catchment. Thirty five sites were sampled from the source of the river which is at Seke Dam, along Manyame River and on the tributaries (Ruwa, Nyatsime, Mukuvisi and Marimba) just before they join the river. The 35 sites were categorized into 5 groups (A, B, C, D and E) with group A and E being the upstream and downstream of Manyame. The analysis of results was undertaken using a simple one-way ANOVA with group as the only source of variation. Turbidity values, nitrate and phosphate concentrations were found to be higher than the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) maximum permissible standards for surface waters. DO saturation in the downstream groups was less than 75% (ZINWA standard). Agricultural and urban runoff and sewage effluent were responsible of the high nutrient levels and turbidity, which in turn, reduced the dissolved oxygen (DO)

Engaging smallholder farmers with seasonal climate forecasts for sustainable crop production in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe

Small holder farmers in the semi-arid areas have not been able to utilize seasonal climate forecasts in making crop management decisions due to limited exposure as well as failure to interpret it. Three participatory meetings were held with farmers in Lower Gweru and Lupane Districts of Zimbabwe soon after the release of the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasonal climate forecast in September of each season. This was done to solicit for farmers’ prediction of the coming rainy season and come up with field test crop management practices. Farmers have their sets of indicators that they rely on to forecast seasonal rainfall which are based on generations of past experience that include environmental, biological, and traditional beliefs. There is however, need to investigate how their indicators compare with the scientific forecast in making farming decisions. Farmers claimed that the rains were starting later and finishing earlier whilst analysis of the rainfall record showed that starting rains have been later by 5 to 10 days in the last five years. There was an increase in the number of dry spells in the rainy season in the last five years compared to the period 1980 to 2008. Adding recommended amounts of fertilizers resulted in yield increases of 40% compared to adding half the recommended amounts. Growing long season varieties resulted in higher yields (22%) than growing short season varieties in the 2009/2010 wetter season while growing of shorter season variety had yield advantage (36%) over the long season variety in the 2009/2010 which was relatively dry. Frequent weeding resulted in about 8% increase in maize yields compared to weeding once in a season. The study demonstrates that knowledge of the coming season assists smallholder farmers in coming up with adaptive strategies for climate variability and change