Monitoring and dietary risk assessment of 81 pesticide residues in 11 local agricultural products from the 3 largest cities of Cameroon

This study monitored 81 pesticides residues in 160 samples of 11 dry agricultural products collected in the 3 largest cities of Cameroon, extracted using QuEChERS method and analysed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Residues of 58 (71.6%) compounds were found in the samples, the most distributed pesticides were Imazalil, Triadimenol and Pyrimethanil, and those with the highest average concentrations were Cymoxanil, Thiamethoxam and Thifensulfuron. Half of the positive pesticides were above their European Union maximum residue limits (MRLs) among which Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Malathion, Metalaxyl and Propoxur are pesticides banned in the country. All the 11 food items contained pesticides, the highest contamination rates (12.8%–5.0%) were found in white pepper, maize, Egusi seeds and groundnuts, while groundnuts, Egusi seeds, maize and soybeans showed the highest residue concentrations (1.46–1.37 mg/kg). Pesticide contamination rates were similar in the 3 sampling cities, but Bafoussam and Yaounde had more samples above the MRLs than Douala. Using the food consumption data for Cameroon from the recent Sub-Saharan Africa Total Diet Study, dietary exposure was calculated and potential health risk of Cameroonian consumers was evaluated. Hazard quotient of Carbofuran in groundnuts was 22% above the safe value, the remaining food items could be considered safe for individual pesticide residues, although Triazophos and Metribuzin in maize were of concern. Groundnuts (0.531) and maize (0.443) showed high hazard index, with 17 highly contributing compounds, but there is no reason to be concerned about cumulative exposure to residues from the food items. While the food items are in general safe to eat, to minimize the increasing human health risk of consumers and ensure approval of Cameroon export produces on international market, this study suggests that authorities must regulate the usage of agrochemicals, strengthen the controls for effective implementation of the pesticide bans and implement strong control of obsolete pesticide stocks in the country

Collaborative Networks for Sustainable Human Capital Management in Women’s Tourism Entrepreneurship: The role of tourism policy

Government policies to support women’s empowerment in tourism through sustainable human capital management (HCM) is an emerging research theme. Tourism policies can contribute significantly to African women’s empowerment by breaking existing stereotypical barriers that impede women’s HCM. Based on a narrative analysis of published academic and policy literature, we uncover how policy support for collaborative networks can enhance women entrepreneur’s HCM and thereby increase their resiliency and that of their tourism businesses. Collaborative networks are regional and country-specific forums, programs and/or initiatives for networking, skills development and access to resources and agency for women tourism entrepreneurs. Drawing on findings from analyzing collaborative networks involving women entrepreneurs in Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon, the paper develops a conceptual framework that depicts four determinants of collaborative networks that influence the HCM of women entrepreneurs in tourism, namely type of network, resources, social capital dimensions and human capital management. Finally, the paper explicates how these determinants can inform national tourism policy to support women entrepreneurs