Responding To An Income Shock Through Increasing Forest Extraction: Survey Evidence From Ethiopian Coffee Farmers

The worldwide turndown in coffee revenue to the majority of resource poor primary producers has become a serious threat to sustainable development. There is however inadequate knowledge with respect to mechanisms used by resource poor coffee farmers to stave off situations of economic hardship. Using cross-sectional household survey data from southwest Ethiopia, the present study investigates whether or not farmers use forests to even out variability associated with risky coffee income. A zero-inflated negative binomial model was used to explain farmer frequency of firewood collection trips as a response to income shock and risk in coffee farming. The empirical results indicate that a rise in household forest extraction effort for firewood is strongly associated with shortfalls in current coffee income and with income uncertainties prevailing in the coffee sector. The study draws policy implication from the perspectives of development and environment.Keywords: Income shock; coffee farming; forest extraction; Ethiopia, Afric

Mycotoxin hazards in the Kenyan food and feed market - A retrospective study

Mycotoxins are toxic fungal metabolites naturally found in food and feed as contaminants. Animal feed and human food samples (n=1818) from three major Kenyan laboratories were categorized as compliant and non-compliant according to Kenya, America (USA) and Europe (EU) mycotoxin regulatory limits. Quantitative risk assessment of dietary aflatoxin intake in maize, wheat, peanut and dairy products in relation to human hepatocellular carcinoma was carried out employing deterministic approach. Non-compliant samples’ proportions were calculated, and logistic regression and chi-square test used to compare different commodities. Animal feed were least compliant, with 64% and 39% having total aflatoxin (AFT) levels above Kenya and USA standards, respectively. Peanuts were the most non-compliant food, with 61% and 47% samples failing Kenya and USA AFT standards respectively, while wheat was least compliant (84%) according to EU threshold for AFT. Half of baby food sampled had AFT level above Kenya and EU standards. High non-compliance rate with Kenya, USA and EU regulatory thresholds with respect to seven different mycotoxins (summarized as “mycotoxins”), and also AFT and aflatoxin M1 alone in edible materials is reported. Significant non-compliance is reported for compound animal feed, peanuts, wheat, baby food, feed ingredients, herbal healthy drink, maize and fodder feed in that order. High levels of aflatoxin residues in animal feed and human food was also observed. Lifetime human consumption of wheat and maize leads to high additional risk for primary liver cancer, human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with dietary aflatoxin, wheat and its products causing the highest disease burden. Subsequent implications and limitations of current food safety standards are discussed. Humans and animals in Kenya appear to be chronically exposed to mycotoxin hazards: this calls for surveillance and risk management. There is urgent need for enhanced and consistent surveillance of the dietary mycotoxin hazards observed in this study employing representative sampling plans. Regulation and future research need to focus on reliable analysis techniques, collection of data on toxicological effects of mycotoxins and food consumption pattern, and regulatory limits accordingly set and compliance enforced to protect vulnerable groups such as paediatric, geriatric and sick members of the society to reduce cancer burden in Kenya

Mycotoxin hazards in the Kenyan food and feed market-a retrospective study

Mycotoxins are toxic fungal metabolites naturally found in food and feed as contaminants. Animal feed and human food samples (n=1818) from three major Kenyan laboratories were categorized as compliant and non-compliant according to Kenya, America (USA) and Europe (EU) mycotoxin regulatory limits. Quantitative risk assessment of dietary aflatoxin intake in maize, wheat, peanut and dairy products in relation to human hepatocellular carcinoma was carried out employing deterministic approach. Non-compliant samples’ proportions were calculated, and logistic regression and chi-square test used to compare different commodities. Animal feed were least compliant, with 64% and 39% having total aflatoxin (AFT) levels above Kenya and USA standards, respectively. Peanuts were the most non-compliant food, with 61% and 47% samples failing Kenya and USA AFT standards respectively, while wheat was least compliant (84%) according to EU threshold for AFT. Half of baby food sampled had AFT level above Kenya and EU standards. High non-compliance rate with Kenya, USA and EU regulatory thresholds with respect to seven different mycotoxins (summarized as “mycotoxins”), and also AFT and aflatoxin M1 alone in edible materials is reported. Significant non-compliance is reported for compound animal feed, peanuts, wheat, baby food, feed ingredients, herbal healthy drink, maize and fodder feed in that order. High levels of aflatoxin residues in animal feed and human food was also observed. Lifetime human consumption of wheat and maize leads to high additional risk for primary liver cancer, human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with dietary aflatoxin, wheat and its products causing the highest disease burden. Subsequent implications and limitations of current food safety standards are discussed. Humans and animals in Kenya appear to be chronically exposed to mycotoxin hazards: this calls for surveillance and risk management. There is urgent need for enhanced and consistent surveillance of the dietary mycotoxin hazards observed in this study employing representative sampling plans. Regulation and future research need to focus on reliable analysis techniques, collection of data on toxicological effects of mycotoxins and food consumption pattern, and regulatory limits accordingly set and compliance enforced to protect vulnerable groups such as paediatric, geriatric and sick members of the society to reduce cancer burden in Keny

Gender Roles and Constraints in Beekeeping: A Case from Kitui County, Kenya

Beekeeping is a form of agriculture that involves management of wild or domesticated bee colonies for production of honey and wax. Generally, in Kenya, women perform most of the agricultural activities (GOK, 2005; Oduol et al., 2013). Even though they play a major role in these activities, they end up receiving a fraction of the income generated. In most of the African countries, beekeeping has often been a male-dominated enterprise (Nel & Illgner, 2004; Ogaba & Akongo, 2001; Shackleton, Paumgarten, Kassa, Husselman, & Zida, 2011). However, with intervention from rural development agencies, a change in this practice could occur..

Introduction: Going Public

The period in which the public history movement has developed has been one of considerable change. This has been a result of the passing of post-war generations, the effects wrought by continuing internal and external conflicts, the globalisation of economies, the emergence of new media forms and the major impact of the digital revolution. This has seen significant shifts in the transmission, reception and practice of history

Potato cyst nematodes: a new threat to potato production in east Africa

Open Access Journal; Published online: 25 May 2020Potato cyst nematodes (PCN), such as Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida, are quarantine restricted pests of potato causing major yield and financial losses to farmers. G. rostochiensis was first reported from Kenya’s key potato growing area in 2015. We sought to determine the diversity, prevalence and distribution of PCN species across the country by conducting a country-wide survey between 2016 and 2018, which included a more focused, follow-up assessment in three key potato growing counties. A total of 1,348 soil samples were collected from 20 potato growing counties. Information regarding local potato farming practices, potato cultivar use, their diversity and availability was also recorded. PCN cysts were obtained from 968 samples (71.8%) in all the counties surveyed, with Nyandarua County recording the highest PCN field-incidence at 47.6%. The majority of PCN populations, 99.9%, were identified as G. rostochiensis, while G. pallida was recovered from just one field, in a mixed population with G. rostochiensis. Inconsistencies in PCR amplification efficiency was observed for G. rostochiensis using the recommended EPPO primers, compared with ITS primers AB28/TW81, indicating that this protocol cannot be entirely relied upon to effectively detect PCN. Egg density in Nyandarua County varied between 30.6 and 158.5 viable eggs/g soil, with an average egg viability of 78.9 ± 2.8% (min = 11.6%, max = 99.9%). The PCN-susceptible potato cultivar named Shangi was the most preferred and used by 65% of farmers due to its shorter dormancy and cooking time, while imported cultivars (Destiny, Jelly, Manitou, and Markies) with resistance to G. rostochiensis were used by 7.5% of farmers due to unavailability and/or limited access to seeds. Thus, most farmers preferred using their own farm-saved seeds as opposed to purchasing certified seeds. Establishing the distribution and prevalence of PCN and elucidating the local farming practices that could promote the spread of PCN is a necessary precursor to the implementation of any containment or management strategy in the country and ultimately across the region

Characterization of Sorghum Production and Marketing Systems in Eastern Province, Kenya: Sorghum for Multi-Use (SMU) Baseline Survey Report. Working Paper Series no. 53

A baseline survey was conducted to characterize the sorghum production and marketing system in Eastern Province of Kenya and, in combination with other follow up rapid assessment fora with relevant stakeholders, to aid the setting of project performance targets and implementation of interventions including establishment of a commercial pilot sorghum value chain for testing and upgrading. Eight SMU mandate districts/ sub-counties were grouped into 4 technology-adoption clusters out of which 480 farm households were randomly selected from the most important sorghum producing sub-locations. Women were managers in about 50% of the household farms and about 80% of all farmers reported farming as their main occupation. The mean farm size was 7.8 acres out of which 50% and 30% was under crop and sorghum production, respectively. Farms managed by women were smaller than those managed by men. The farm households exhibited a variable dependency ratio with the women managed farms showing significantly higher dependency ratio (1.3) than male managed farms (0.9) – meaning that labor availability was a more critical constraint in women managed farms. Therefore, labor-saving (mechanization, etc) and land-saving technologies (higher yielding varieties, fertilizer, tied ridges, etc) would enhance sorghum production. The other constraints were poor production and market infrastructure and information asymmetry in which women farmers, with less access to production information than their male counterparts, reporting more dependence on “other farmers” for agricultural information. Majority of farmers depended on agro-dealers, radio and other farmers for agricultural information. Hence innovative information channels such as use of agro-dealers, radio, training of trainers (TOTs) and farmer innovation platforms should be strengthened. Although double the number of male than female farmers reported purchase of seed from markets, use of recycled sorghum seed was the norm by the majority of farmers while use of inorganic fertilizer on sorghum was nil. Sorghum grain production per household was 360 kg out of which 65% was sold, 30% consumed while 5% was kept for seed. Sorghum yield was highest in Mwingi (501 kg per acre) and lowest in Kibwezi (216 kg per acre). Farmers who reported use of farmyard manure reported 35% more sorghum grain yield than those who had not used farmyard manure. Furthermore higher household production and productivity was positively correlated with the practice of row planting and use of soil and water conservation technologies, including dry or early planting. The primary use of sorghum grain at the household level was for making porridge and “ugali” (stiff porridge) while value addition activities were limited to milling of grain or mixtures of sorghum and other grains, wet milling and dehulling. The most important sorghum product marketed was grain, which was bought by brokers, rural assemblers, urban traders and consumers, with the consumers offering the farmers highest prices. Low grain price was the most important marketing constraint and hence, as well as improving market linkage for grain, diversifying value added products of sorghum for household level use and for commercialization would help create demand for sorghum grain and improve prices. Although awareness of collective grain marketing was high, farmers’ participation was minimal and their participation was constrained by low grain production (36%), low grain quality (30%), delayed payment for delivered grain (29%) and restriction on free grain marketing (25%)

Gelsolin Plays a Role in the Actin Polymerization Complex of Hair Cell Stereocilia

A complex of proteins scaffolded by the PDZ protein, whirlin, reside at the stereocilia tip and are critical for stereocilia development and elongation. We have shown that in outer hair cells (OHCs) whirlin is part of a larger complex involving the MAGUK protein, p55, and protein 4.1R. Whirlin interacts with p55 which is expressed exclusively in outer hair cells (OHC) in both the long stereocilia that make up the stereocilia bundle proper as well as surrounding shorter microvilli that will eventually regress. In erythrocytes, p55 forms a tripartite complex with protein 4.1R and glycophorin C promoting the assembly of actin filaments and the interaction of whirlin with p55 indicates that it plays a similar role in OHC stereocilia. However, the components directly involved in actin filament regulation in stereocilia are unknown. We have investigated additional components of the whirlin interactome by identifying interacting partners to p55. We show that the actin capping and severing protein, gelsolin, is a part of the whirlin complex. Gelsolin is detected in OHC where it localizes to the tips of the shorter rows but not to the longest row of stereocilia and the pattern of localisation at the apical hair cell surface is strikingly similar to p55. Like p55, gelsolin is ablated in the whirler and shaker2 mutants. Moreover, in a gelsolin mutant, stereocilia in the apex of the cochlea become long and straggly indicating defects in the regulation of stereocilia elongation. The identification of gelsolin provides for the first time a link between the whirlin scaffolding protein complex involved in stereocilia elongation and a known actin regulatory molecule

Impact of agribusiness empowerment interventions on youth livelihoods: insight from Africa

Open Access JournalThis study generates evidence to understand the impact of agribusiness empowerment programmes on youth livelihoods in developing countries based on the ENABLE-TAAT programme implemented in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. A multistage sampling technique was used in obtaining primary agribusiness-level data from a sample of 1435 young agripreneurs from the study countries. An Endogenous Treatment Effect Regression (ETER) model was used to assess the impact of programme participation on youth livelihoods (income and food security). Results show that participation significantly increased youth's agripreneurship income by 7% and improved food security by 75% for the pooled analysis. The country disaggregation results show that participation led to a 54% and 37% increase in the income of participants in Nigeria and Uganda, respectively. Also, positive and significant impacts were obtained for food security in the two East African countries. These findings suggest policy interventions or programmes focusing on youth agribusiness empowerment, particularly those that target young actors along different agricultural value chains. The study also suggests interventions geared towards mitigating constraints to credit access and productive resources by young agripreneurs to ease barriers to working capital and business innovation

Can young agripreneurs improve their skills through agripreneurship empowerment programmes? Evidence from Africa

Open Access JournalThis article examined the driving forces behind young agripreneurs’ participation in agripreneurship empowerment programmes and estimates the causal impact of programme participation on agripreneurship skills using data from a random cross-section sample of 1435 young agripreneurs in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. Specifically, the study took evidence from the youth component of the African Development Bank Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme, Empowering Novel Agribusiness-Led Employment (ENABLE). An endogenous switching model was used to identify factors that significantly informed participation decisions and assess the programme’s impact on youth agripreneurship skills. Age, education, agripreneurship experience, business level, current residence, and training perception significantly influenced participation. Even though both programme participants and non-participants had high agripreneurship skills scores, participants had higher scores across the three countries than non-participants. The causal impact estimation from the switching regression model also indicates that participation has a positive and significant impact on agripreneurship skills, which implies that the higher score achieved by participants could be attributed to their involvement in the ENABLE-TAAT programme. These results suggest raising awareness of youth agribusiness empowerment programmes and encouraging youth to participate more actively. Additionally, the result suggests the need to implement strategies that could change young people’s negative perception of agricultural interventions for increased participation