Using Advance Organizers to Enhance Pupils’ Achievement in Learning Poetry in English Language

The study was a quasi-experimental that investigated the effects of Advance Organizers (AO) on achievement in poetry. Target population was class seven pupils of Nakuru North Sub-county primary schools in Kenya. 160 pupils were involved in the study. Four sampled schools were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups in Solomon Four Non- Equivalent Control Design was used to collect data  using Pupils Poetry Achievement Test (PPAT) whose Reliability coefficient was 0.76.  Prior to the treatment, one control and one experimental group were pretested.  The experimental groups were taught using AO. All groups were Post tested. ANOVA was used to analyze data. The results revealed that pupils who were taught using AO demonstrated significant improvement in poetry. The researchers recommend the use AOs in the learning of poetry in English Language. Keywords: Advance Organizers; Pupils’ Achievement; Poetry in English Languag

How Cyber Activity Influences Depression and Anxiety in Teenagers

Both depression and anxiety have been a focus of scholars since their rates have recently skyrocketed from 5.4 % in 2003 to 20 % currently among teenagers in the United States. Although numerous studies have assessed the association between playing video games and depression, few studies have examined how cyberbullying and screen time contribute to depressive symptoms in teenagers. The purpose of this study was to analyze cyberbullying and screen time on depression in teens. . The exploration of associations between the dependent variable, depression, and the independent variables, screen time, video gaming, and cyberbullying, were guided by Bandura’s social cognitive theory to learn the psychological effects of the participants and Social economic model (SEM) to answer the research questions. Participants were teenagers aged 13 to 17. Retrospective secondary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS; N= 10,909) were analyzed using binomial logistic regression for multivariate analysis and chi-square for bivariate analysis Results revealed a significant positive association between video gaming, long screen time, and cyberbullying in relation to teenage depression. The social change implication of this study is a better understanding of the relationship between depression in teenagers as it relates to screen time, video gaming, and cyberbullying for caregivers, parents, teachers, public health professionals and teenagers themselves such that these stakeholders can better address and remove factors that increase anxiety and depression in teenagers. These findings could also reduce violence and suicidal cases that are linked to depression

Gender equality and social inclusion in agribusiness ecosystems for multidimensional mapping of opportunities and challenges: Workshop report

Agribusiness in Kenya has been growing tremendously as more people continue to realize its benefits. It is mainly driven by the abundant natural resources readily available in Kenya. Agribusiness has created employment opportunities for women and youth who are locked outside formal employment. Which leads to the question: are agribusiness opportunities equitably distributed in terms of gender and social inclusion? Kenya’s agribusiness ecosystem is replete with challenges and opportunities regarding gender equality and social inclusion (GESI). Thus, a workshop on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Agribusiness Ecosystems for Multidimensional Mapping of Opportunities and Challenges was convened on 26 July 2022, at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The goal was to better understand GESI opportunities and challenges, and how to tap and address them. The workshop was convened under the auspices of the One CGIAR partnership strategy of integrated research that aims to achieve a food-secure future. For East and Southern Africa (ESA), this is through the Ukama Ustawi Initiative. The workshop objectives were: (i) to identify the challenges or barriers that inhibit the inclusion of women, youth and people living with disabilities (PLWDs) from participating in agribusiness ecosystem and benefitting from available opportunities; (ii) to understand how social networks and digital platforms can catalyze GESI; and (iii) to inform the development of a pan-ESA digital network. From workshop deliberations, there was consensus that indeed there are barriers that prevent women and youth from fully participating in agribusiness ecosystems. These barriers are sociocultural or economic, reinforced by causal relationships between them. Therefore, interventions to counter these barriers must of necessity also be sociocultural and economic. Notably however, sociocultural factors cause both positive and negative economic outcomes. During gender-disaggregated focus group discussions (FGDs) held during the workshop, similar enablers and challenges were reported by both the men-only and women-only FGDs. One striking difference was that women’s discussions were more focused on operational matters revolving around gender roles and responsibilities, while men FGDs paid more attention to policy matters. Even so, whether operational or policy-related, the factors highlighted fell within the dichotomy of sociocultural and economic causes and effects. Both groups of men and women addressed women and youth GESI issues, with an occasional and unsystematic mention of PLWDs— perhaps because PLWDs were not represented at the workshop. Much still needs to be done to ensure GESI in agribusiness in Kenya becomes successful, and to close the gap that still exists between women and men agri-entrepreneurs. There is an urgent call to action for further research to effectively, sustainably and contextually address GESI in Kenya’s agribusiness ecosystems. Research is also needed to explore innovative ways to tackle the challenges, particularly on using digital platforms. Four main takeaways from the workshop were: (i) the importance of PLWD representation, as well as women, vulnerable and marginalized groups (WVMGs) in future workshops; (ii) agribusiness networks and digital platforms as enablers for accessibility and affordability; (iii) it appears there is fear of the unknown around GESI; (iii) the positive effects of networks do not alone necessarily close the gender gaps, nor overcome barriers: these effects must be bolstered by supplementary efforts such as combinations of interventions, e.g. enhancing access combined with affirmative action to accelerate access for the more vulnerable groups to particular benefits

The diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large plant clades: Apocynaceae as a case study

Background and Aims Large clades of angiosperms are often characterized by diverse interactions with pollinators, but how these pollination systems are structured phylogenetically and biogeographically is still uncertain for most families. Apocynaceae is a clade of >5300 species with a worldwide distribution. A database representing >10 % of species in the family was used to explore the diversity of pollinators and evolutionary shifts in pollination systems across major clades and regions. Methods The database was compiled from published and unpublished reports. Plants were categorized into broad pollination systems and then subdivided to include bimodal systems. These were mapped against the five major divisions of the family, and against the smaller clades. Finally, pollination systems were mapped onto a phylogenetic reconstruction that included those species for which sequence data are available, and transition rates between pollination systems were calculated. Key Results Most Apocynaceae are insect pollinated with few records of bird pollination. Almost three-quarters of species are pollinated by a single higher taxon (e.g. flies or moths); 7 % have bimodal pollination systems, whilst the remaining approx. 20 % are insect generalists. The less phenotypically specialized flowers of the Rauvolfioids are pollinated by a more restricted set of pollinators than are more complex flowers within the Apocynoids + Periplocoideae + Secamonoideae + Asclepiadoideae (APSA) clade. Certain combinations of bimodal pollination systems are more common than others. Some pollination systems are missing from particular regions, whilst others are over-represented. Conclusions Within Apocynaceae, interactions with pollinators are highly structured both phylogenetically and biogeographically. Variation in transition rates between pollination systems suggest constraints on their evolution, whereas regional differences point to environmental effects such as filtering of certain pollinators from habitats. This is the most extensive analysis of its type so far attempted and gives important insights into the diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large clades

Farmers Inaccessibility to Agricultural Credit in Nyandarua District, Kenya

Smallholder farmers face various challenges in production one of them being inaccessibility to credit. This study specifically sought to identify household socio-economic characteristics and institutional requirements influencing access to credit among smallholder farmers in Nyandarua District. The study used a Logit model. Both quantitative and qualitative data were acquired from primary and secondary sources. Primary data was collected using questionnaires through a survey design. A sample of 264 smallholder farmers was selected using stratified, multi-stage random sampling techniques. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study established that socio-economic constraints such as age, gender, household size, farm income, collateral and awareness are critical determinants of access to credit. The study concludes that household socio-economic characteristics do influence access to credit. Key recommendations made include the need by government to deal with bureaucracies involved in land registration to benefit majority of smallholder farmers who remain insecure in the land they use without proof of ownership and also to make easier the registration of lease certificates for those who do not own land and use land on leasehold tenure system. Financial institutions should also put in place less stringent credit requirements and reduce credit costs especially interest rates to make credit more affordable

Farmers Inaccessibility to Agricultural Credit in Nyandarua District, Kenya

Smallholder farmers face various challenges in production one of them being inaccessibility to credit. This study specifically sought to identify household socio-economic characteristics and institutional requirements influencing access to credit among smallholder farmers in Nyandarua District. The study used a Logit model. Both quantitative and qualitative data were acquired from primary and secondary sources. Primary data was collected using questionnaires through a survey design. A sample of 264 smallholder farmers was selected using stratified, multi-stage random sampling techniques. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study established that socio-economic constraints such as age, gender, household size, farm income,collateral and awareness are critical determinants of access to credit. The study concludes that household socio-economic characteristics do influence access to credit. Key recommendations made include the need by government to deal with bureaucracies involved in land registration to benefit majority of smallholder farmers who remain insecure in the land they use without proof of ownership and also to make easier the registration of lease certificates for those who do not own land and use land on leasehold tenure system. Financial institutions should also put in place less stringent credit requirements and reduce credit costs especially interest rates to make credit more affordable.Credit Access, Smallholder farmers, Socio-Economic Constraints, Kenya

Analysis of Farmers’ Perceptions of the Effects of Climate Change in Kenya: The Case of Kyuso District

A cross-sectional analysis was carried out to evaluate how farmers in Kyuso District have perceived climate change. Data was collected from 246 farmers from six locations sampled out through a multistage and simple random sampling procedure. The logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess factors influencing farmers’ perceptions of climate change. The analysis revealed that 94% of farmers in Kyuso District had a perception that climate was changing. In this regard, age of the household head, gender, education, farming experience, household size, distance to the nearest input/output market, access to irrigation water, local agro-ecology, access to information on climate change, access to extension services, off farm income and change in temperature and precipitation were found to have significant influence on the probability of farmers to perceive climate change. Since the level of perception to climate change revealed by the study was found to be high (94%), the study suggests that more policy efforts should thus be geared towards helping farmers to adapt to climate change

Seroepidemiological Study of Interepidemic Rift Valley Fever Virus Infection Among Persons with Intense Ruminant Exposure in Madagascar and Kenya

International audienceIn this cross-sectional seroepidemiological study we sought to examine the evidence for circulation of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) among herders in Madagascar and Kenya. From July 2010 to June 2012, we enrolled 459 herders and 98 controls (without ruminant exposures) and studied their sera (immunoglobulin G [IgG] and IgM through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and plaque reduction neutralization test [PRNT] assays) for evidence of previous RVFV infection. Overall, 59 (12.9%) of 459 herders and 7 (7.1%) of the 98 controls were positive by the IgG ELISA assay. Of the 59 ELISA-positive herders, 23 (38.9%) were confirmed by the PRNT assay (21 from eastern Kenya). Two of the 21 PRNT-positive study subjects also had elevated IgM antibodies against RVFV suggesting recent infection. Multivariate modeling in this study revealed that being seminomadic (odds ratio [OR] = 6.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1–15.4) was most strongly associated with antibodies against RVFV. Although we cannot know when these infections occurred, it seems likely that some interepidemic RVFV infections are occurring among herders. As there are disincentives regarding reporting RVFV outbreaks in livestock or wildlife, it may be prudent to conduct periodic , limited, active seroepidemiological surveillance for RVFV infections in herders, especially in eastern Kenya