Recovering from conflict: an analysis of food production in Burundi

This paper deals with the devastating food insecurity in two densely populated provinces in the north of Burundi as a result of overpopulation and low production capacity in the aftermath of conflict. We compare data that was collected in the Ngozi and Muyinga Province in 2007 with data of households interviewed on the same hills in 1996. Households live from subsistence farming, erratic surplus sales, sales of coffee and banana and occasional off- and non-farm work. We find that not only did production levels decrease but also total factor productivity (Malmquist indices calculated with DEA approach) dropped in 83% of the hills between 1996 and 2007.food security, post-conflict, Central Africa, Burundi, subsistence farming, poverty trap, International Development,

Operator ordering in Two-dimensional N=1 supersymmetry with curved manifold

We investigate an operator ordering problem in two-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric model which consists of n real superfields. There arises an operator ordering problem when the target space is curved. We have to fix the ordering in quantum operator properly to obtain the correct supersymmetry algebra. We demonstrate that the super-Poincar\'{e} algebra fixes the correct operator ordering. We obtain a supercurrent with correct operator ordering and a central extension of supersymmetry algebra.Comment: 7 page

Analysing the Links Between Index-Based Crop Insurance Adoption and Agricultural Investments in Burundi

This paper analyses the links between index-based crop insurance (IBI) adoption and agricultural investments based on a cross-sectional sample of 40 crop insurance adopters and 40 non-adopters from two communes located in Gitega province in Burundi. Analysed agricultural investments variables included use of fertilizers, applying crop diversification, and use of land and crop management practices in the most recent year and in the year before IBI implementation started. The results from multivariate analysis indicate that adopters use 36% more chemical fertilizers and invest 18% more in chemical fertilizers than non-adopters (pp0.01). Adopters apply more land management practices also, in which they invest 15% more than non-adopters (pp0.01). Furthermore, adopters change crop management practices over time by 38% and their knowledge in crop management practices increased by 23% (pp0.01). Differences between adopters and non-adopters are however not statistically significant for crop diversification strategies and for the use of organic fertilizers. Hence, in order to be more effective and beneficial to farmers, other actions are also needed to encourage farmers to invest in their farm. Particularly promising in Burundi in this respect is to empower and train farmers by means of the Integrated Farm Planning approach, as well as to enhance farm inputs availability and to promote smart agri-entrepreneurial programs. In order to enhance agricultural development, the Burundi government should have a more prominent role in fostering farmers’ agricultural investments and in supporting IBI adoption

Effect of Village Savings and Loan Associations on adoption of index-based crop insurance under limited liabilities

A household survey and focus group discussions were conducted to quantify the general determinants of an index-based crop insurance adoption under limited liabilities in Burundi, and specifically the effect of existing Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs). The survey sample comprised of 40 crop insurance adopters, 40 non-adopters and 40 drop-outs in Bukirasazi and Makebuko communes of Gitega province.The results indicated that saving money (by VSLAs) for upcoming premium payments and regularly VSLA meetings attendance increase insurance adoption with relative risk ratio (RRR)=0.21, p≤0.001) and (RRR=0.01, p≤0.01), respectively. In addition, VSLAs’ members with more knowledge in land management (RRR=0.07, p≤0.05), crop management (RRR=0.05, p≤0.001) and integrated farm planning (RRR=0.03, p0.05) were more likely to adopt the crop insurance. Furthermore, smallholders being aware and less appreciative limited liability were more likely inclined to adopt crop insurance with RRR=0.12 (p≤0.01) and RRR=0.01 (p≤0.001), respectively.Given the importance of VSLA in fostering crop insurance adoption, we recommend strengthening VSLAs in their operation, save for upcoming premium payments as jointly agreed and set in their constitution, and encourage smallholders to run their farms with integrated farm planning. Due to limited knowledge of smallholders about the mode of crop insurance operation, a more extensive capacity building coupled to a coaching by experts in this domain is more than a necessity

Analysing the Links Between Index-Based Crop Insurance Adoption and Agricultural Investments in Burundi

This paper analyses the links between index-based crop insurance (IBI) adoption and agricultural investments based on a cross-sectional sample of 40 crop insurance adopters and 40 non-adopters from two communes located in Gitega province in Burundi. Analysed agricultural investments variables included use of fertilizers, applying crop diversification, and use of land and crop management practices in the most recent year and in the year before IBI implementation started. The results from multivariate analysis indicate that adopters use 36% more chemical fertilizers and invest 18% more in chemical fertilizers than non-adopters (p≤0.01). Adopters apply more land management practices also, in which they invest 15% more than non-adopters (p≤0.01). Furthermore, adopters change crop management practices over time by 38% and their knowledge in crop management practices increased by 23% (p≤0.01). Differences between adopters and non-adopters are however not statistically significant for crop diversification strategies and for the use of organic fertilizers. Hence, in order to be more effective and beneficial to farmers, other actions are also needed to encourage farmers to invest in their farm. Particularly promising in Burundi in this respect is to empower and train farmers by means of the Integrated Farm Planning approach, as well as to enhance farm inputs availability and to promote smart agri-entrepreneurial programs. In order to enhance agricultural development, the Burundi government should have a more prominent role in fostering farmers’ agricultural investments and in supporting IBI adoption.</p

Réduction du bruit de deux avions commerciaux en approche par une technique de commande optimale

National audienceLa progression de l'aviation commerciale contribue à la croissance èconomique; elle est créatrice d'emplois et facilite les échanges internationaux. Dans ce contexte, la qualité de l'environnement sonore autour des aéroports est devenue une priorité. Cette contribution a pour objectif le développement d'un modèle d'optimisation acoustique de trajectoires de vol minimisant les bruits perçus au sol (pour deux avions). Sa généralisation au traffic aérien ne sera pas abordée.\\ Soient deux avions en approche séparés sans conflit qui atterrissent. On souhaite minimiser le bruit tenant compte de toutes les contraintes de vol. La dynamique de vol associée au critère à minimiser génère un problème de commande optimale régis par des équations différentielles ordinaires non-linéaires. Pour résoudre le problème, nous avons utilisé une méthode "newtonienne" considérant les conditions d'optimalité de Karush-Kuhn-Tucker et une méthode SQP. Une méthode indirecte de type homotopique a été appliquée pour être comparée à la premiére en termes de consistance.\\ Les résultats permettent de montrer des réductions des niveaux de bruit. En fonction de la séparation des deux avions, la trajectoire optimale d'approche minimisant le bruit est obtenue et peut varier. Considérant les conflits possibles, il est donc essentiel d'introduire, pour le cas général du trafic, le concept d'évolution dans le temps de la séparation entre avions pour générer une ou des trajectoires acoustiquement performantes