Cost-Benefit Analysis of Fruit Tree Based Agro-Forestry Systems: The Case of The Htee Pu Climate-Smart Village, Nyaung-U Township, Central Dry Zone, Myanmar

Htee Pu is a farming village located in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar, where drought, high atmospheric temperature, and infertile and degraded soils are constraints to sustaining and increasing agricultural productivity and farm income. Dryland fruit-tree-based agroforestry and the raising of goats were the prominent CSA options introduced to supplement the risk-prone prevalent annual cropping systems. This study was conducted to measure the financial benefits of introducing dryland-appropriate fruit trees (with one group having an additional complementary goat component) to Htee Pu households. The Cost and Return Analysis, Payback Period for Investment Analysis, and Household Liquidity Analysis were the analytical methods that were used in the study. Estimating the Net Value generated from potential fruit harvests showed that planting fruit trees on farms or homesteads can be highly profitable. Adding the financial benefits from fruit trees to the households’ farm and off-farm income resulted in improvements in the liquidity condition of a number of households. While the Cost-Benefit Analysis results were less impressive than the fruit tree project, the longer-term outcomes would improve once all the female goat breeders had reached their reproductive age. Goats would be significant additional sources of income and food for home consumption, thus a relevant CSA option as well

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Establishing a Climate Smart Village in Southern Shan, Myanmar: The Case of Taungkhamauk Village, Nyaung Shwe Township

This study analyzed the financial sustainability of a Climate-Smart Village (CSV) established in Taungkhamauk, Nyaung Shwe Township, in the southern Shan State of Myanmar. The Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) options adopted by participating households and evaluated by this study included yield enhancement for upland rice and corn, planting fruit trees in farms and homesteads, and vegetable gardening as well as livestock and poultry raising in homesteads. The Cost and Return Analysis method was used in determining financial sustainability. Results showed that the majority of the households benefited from implementing the CSA options. Furthermore, the study also noted that the CSV promoted social values about economic empowerment, household food security, and gender inclusiveness. Upscaling of the CSV approach in other villages in the Shan State was recommended

Sostdc1 deficiency accelerates fracture healing by promoting the expansion of periosteal mesenchymal stem cells

Loss of Sostdc1, a growth factor paralogous to Sost, causes the formation of ectopic incisors, fused molars, abnormal hair follicles, and resistance to kidney disease. Sostdc1 is expressed in the periosteum, a source of osteoblasts, fibroblasts and mesenchymal progenitor cells, which are critically important for fracture repair. Here, we investigated the role of Sostdc1 in bone metabolism and fracture repair. Mice lacking Sostdc1 (Sostdc1−/−) had a low bone mass phenotype associated with loss of trabecular bone in both lumbar vertebrae and in the appendicular skeleton. In contrast, Sostdc1−/− cortical bone measurements revealed larger bones with higher BMD, suggesting that Sostdc1 exerts differential effects on cortical and trabecular bone. Mid-diaphyseal femoral fractures induced in Sostdc1−/− mice showed that the periosteal population normally positive for Sostdc1 rapidly expands during periosteal thickening and these cells migrate into the fracture callus at 3 days post fracture. Quantitative analysis of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and osteoblast populations determined that MSCs express Sostdc1, and that Sostdc1−/− 5 day calluses harbor > 2-fold more MSCs than fractured wildtype controls. Histologically a fraction of Sostdc1-positive cells also expressed nestin and α-smooth muscle actin, suggesting that Sostdc1 marks a population of osteochondral progenitor cells that actively participate in callus formation and bone repair. Elevated numbers of MSCs in D5 calluses resulted in a larger, more vascularized cartilage callus at day 7, and a more rapid turnover of cartilage with significantly more remodeled bone and a thicker cortical shell at 21 days post fracture. These data support accelerated or enhanced bone formation/remodeling of the callus in Sostdc1−/− mice, suggesting that Sostdc1 may promote and maintain mesenchymal stem cell quiescence in the periosteum

Vhl deficiency in osteocytes produces high bone mass and hematopoietic defects

Tissue oxygen (O2) levels vary during development and disease; adaptations to decreased O2 (hypoxia) are mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factors. HIFs are active in the skeleton, and stabilizing HIF-α isoforms cause high bone mass (HBM) phenotypes. A fundamental limitation of previous studies examining the obligate role for HIF-α isoforms in the skeleton involves the persistence of gene deletion as osteolineage cells differentiate into osteocytes. Because osteocytes orchestrate skeletal development and homeostasis, we evaluated the influence of Vhl or Hif1a disruption in osteocytes. Osteocytic Vhl deletion caused HBM phenotype, but Hif1a was dispensable in osteocytes. Vhl cKO mice revealed enhanced canonical Wnt signaling. B cell development was reduced while myelopoiesis increased in osteocytic Vhl cKO, revealing a novel influence of Vhl/HIF-α function in osteocytes on maintenance of bone microarchitecture via canonical Wnt signaling and effects on hematopoiesis

Conditional Deletion of Sost in MSC‐derived lineages Identifies Specific Cell Type Contributions to Bone Mass and B Cell Development

Sclerostin (Sost) is a negative regulator of bone formation and blocking its function via antibodies has shown great therapeutic promise by increasing both bone mass in humans and animal models. Sclerostin deletion in Sost knockout mice (Sost‐/‐) causes high bone mass (HBM) similar to Sclerosteosis patients. Sost‐/‐ mice have been shown to display an up to 300% increase in bone volume/total volume (BV/TV), relative to aged matched controls, and it has been postulated that the main source of skeletal Sclerostin is the osteocyte. To understand the cell‐type specific contributions to the HBM phenotype described in Sost‐/‐ mice, as well as to address the endocrine and paracrine mode of action of sclerostin, we examined the skeletal phenotypes of conditional Sost loss‐of‐function (SostiCOIN/iCOIN) mice with specific deletions in (1) the limb mesenchyme (Prx1‐Cre; targets osteoprogenitors and their progeny); (2) mid‐stage osteoblasts and their progenitors (Col1‐Cre); (3) mature osteocytes (Dmp1‐Cre) and (4) hypertrophic chondrocytes and their progenitors (ColX‐Cre). All conditional alleles resulted in significant increases in bone mass in trabecular bone in both the femur and lumbar vertebrae, but only Prx1‐Cre deletion fully recapitulated the amplitude of the HBM phenotype in the appendicular skeleton and the B cell defect described in the global knockout. Despite wildtype expression of Sost in the axial skeleton of Prx1‐Cre deleted mice, these mice also had a significant increase in bone mass in the vertebrae, but the Sclerostin released in circulation by the axial skeleton did not affect bone parameters in the appendicular skeleton. Also, both Col1 and Dmp1 deletion resulted in a similar 80% significant increase in trabecular bone mass, but only Col1 and Prx1 deletion resulted in a significant increase in cortical thickness. We conclude that several cell types within the Prx1‐osteoprogenitor derived lineages contribute significant amounts of Sclerostin protein to the paracrine pool of Sost, in bone

A Financial Analysis of Homestead Native Chicken Raising: A Climate-Smart Agriculture Option Adopted in the Province of Koh Kong, Cambodia

In 2018, the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) and the Cambodian Center for Study and Development for Agriculture (CEDAC) under the Asian Development Bank’s Cambodia Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project (BCC) implemented the Community Development Funds Project in the Koh Kong and Mondul Kiri provinces which included the capacity building activity on improving native chicken production for smallholder farmers specifically, broiler production, and hatchery. This study supported by the International Research and Development Center (IDRC) analyzed the financial benefits gained by households in the Koh Kong province from this climate smart agriculture approach to small scale poultry production. When native chickens were raised for meat purposes (broiler production), the total net income received by the households amounted to USD 6,286.00 in 2019, and USD 8,003.00 in 2020. As the volume of sales increased, the average net income showed an increasing trend while the production cost per kilogram of broiler sold decreased. The study also revealed that profitability was highest among households that sold more than 100 kg of broilers compared to other households with lesser sales volume (using the Operating Profit Margin Ratio as a gauge). Hatchery operators earned a total net income of USD 10,136.00 in 2019 which increased to USD 13,604.00 in 2020. Broiler production and hatchery operation can be useful climate resilient enterprises to supplement the household income while complementing the existing economic activities of the village households such as growing crops and raising small livestock. Local food systems are enriched in the process and agrobiodiversity of small livestock is conserved through their sustainable use. This native chicken project was also gender fair and of special relevance to women in the communes

Financial and environmental benefits from fruit trees in Myanmar’s central dry zone: Case Study from Htee Pu Climate Smart Village

The village of Htee Pu in the Township of Nyaung-U, Mandalay Region suffers from drought, water scarcity, infertile soil, and high ambient temperature being part of Myanmar’s central rry zone area. One of the Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices introduced by the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) Southeast Asia, International Development Research Center (IDRC) and the Community Development Association in the village was fruit tree-based agroforestry. This study estimated the potential financial and environmental benefits that can be derived from the CSA option. The study revealed that the potential market value of the fruits harvested would amount to USD 1.07 Million from 2021 to 2035 or an average of USD 71,072/year. The production of fruits represents the provisioning ecosystem service of the fruit trees. Per household, the average financial benefit could amount to USD 47,398 over the 15-year period or USD 3,160 per year. In addition, the fruit trees would be able to provide a regulating ecosystem service by being able to potentially sequester 5,682 tCO2 per year with an estimated value of USD 47,725. Fruit production and carbon sequestration have a combined economic value of USD 118,797 per year. There is an upsurge in global interest in ecosystem restoration and the rehabilitation of degraded landscapes. The findings of this study are relevant to environmental agencies working to stabilize the central Dry Zone of Myanmar as including dryland horticulture and small farm agroforestry will benefit not only the local environment but also the people living in the area by making fruits available for their nourishment and livelihood. Development and agricultural agencies, on the other hand, can include CSA as a pathway for addressing degradation on small farms and associated landscapes

Coconut-based Systems in the Philippines: Intensification and Diversification with Climate-Smart Agriculture

To generate evidence on increasing household resilience to climate change through increased farm income while also generating social benefits, a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) study was undertaken in 2021 by the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) with support from the International Research and Development Center (IDRC). For the Philippine component of the study, the study determined the financial and social benefits of raising native pigs and planting fruit trees and black pepper gained by the households from Guinayangan, Quezon and Ivisan, Capiz. The combination of planting fruit trees and black pepper as well as native pig production are viable when they are integrated with the main sources of livelihood of the villages of Himbubulo Weste and Magsaysay (Guinayangan). The study showed that the said villages will continue to financially benefit from the CSA interventions despite facing possible threats in the market. The funds invested by the community members in implementing the CSA interventions are expected to be recovered within three years after 2020. Diversifying farm production should be encouraged and practiced by more households as it serves as a cushion to minimize loss of livelihood for the family, and could help households maintain a steady and reliable income even if one of the crops failed or incurred losses

Microcredit and savings associations for building rural household resilience: A case study of selected village development fund and savings groups in Koh Kong and Mondul Kiri, Cambodia

This case study was conducted to generate insights on the financial sustainability of selected VDFSGs and to gather information on members’ perceptions of the usefulness of these institutions in coping with household and climate change-related shocks or stresses. Financial sustainability was analyzed by conducting a detailed financial analysis of six selected VDFSGs to determine the sufficiency of interest payments as revenue to cover total costs as well as to evaluate loan recovery and equity build- up. Members’ perception of the usefulness of VDFSGs in helping them to cope with and adjust to family and climate change-related shocks/stresses was determined by conducting Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) among selected representatives of VDFSG members. Useful feedback of the financial performance and areas for improvement were generated. The Pu Hong, Pu Chhob, and Prek Svay VDFSGs were considered financially sustainable based on the results of the study. The study also revealed that the VDFSGs are considered most useful when there are crop failures due to extreme weather events and when there are medical emergencies in the household. The FGD participants and key informants expressed confidence that they are in a better position to cope with their vulnerabilities due to the presence of a VDFSG in their village