Resource box for resilient seed systems: handbook

The resource box for resilient seed systems, developed by a multidisciplinary team of Bioversity International researchers, is a tool that supports research and capacity building on resilient seed systems in the context of adaptation to climate change. The eight modules of the box represent eight steps of a participatory research cycle from situational analysis to knowledge sharing and communication. The handbook complements the online version which can be found at: http://www.seedsresourcebox.org The Resilient Seed Systems Handbook Second Edition, published in 2019, includes a new module on seed production and distribution and incorporates several of more recent useful ideas, examples of good practices and the latest references. See https://hdl.handle.net/10568/73256 Vernooy, R.; Bessette, G.; Otieno, G. (eds.) (2019) Resilient seed systems: handbook. Second edition. Rome (Italy): Bioversity International, 158 p. ISBN: 978-92-9255-138-

Aboveground Net Primary Productivity in Grazed and Ungrazed pastures: Grazing Optimisation Hypothesis or Local Extinction of Vegetation Species

The controversy that has surrounded herbivory studies in the last few decades prompted our investigation to establish the extent to which herbivore optimisation hypothesis or compensatory growth evidence is real. We used the traditional movable cage method to collect primary productivity data on herbage, functional groups and key individual grass species in various controlled large herbivore treatments in an east African savanna. The herbivore treatments in triplicate blocks included cattle, wild herbivores with and without mega herbivores and combinations of cattle and wild herbivores also with and without mega herbivores. The findings revealed that at herbage level, most grazed treatments (four out of five) had higher productivity than the ungrazed control and three showed grazing optimisation curve at sixth polynomial degree between monthly productivity and grazing intensity (1-g/ng). At functional group level forbs productivity was higher in the ungrazed control than in any of the grazed treatments while at individual grass species level _Themeda triandra_ productivity was higher in all grazed treatments than in ungrazed control. We conclude against presence of herbivore optimisation hypothesis at herbage, functional group and species level because of lack of attributable grazing effect in grazed treatments that matches complex ecological effects in the ungrazed treatment

Provider experiences and opinions on counseling adolescents undergoing voluntary medical male circumcision in western Kenya

Objectives: Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) remains an important component of comprehensive HIV prevention package. Kenya and other key countries are focusing increased attention on achieving large proportions of adolescent circumcisions. Because little is known about the impact of adolescent VMMC counseling, we sought to capture the experiences and opinions of VMMC providers regarding effective adolescent VMMC counseling.Design and Setting: We purposively selected six VMMC sites: three each in Siaya and Kisumu Counties. From each site, we administered key informant interviews to two VMMC providers at a place of their choice for privacy and confidentiality. Outcomes of the study were participant responses to questions regarding their adolescent counseling practices, prior training, and opinions for improvement of counseling practices.Results: Three providers (25%) reported having been trained on adolescent-specific VMMC counseling. Compared to adults, adolescents receive less information during VMMC counseling. There was lack of consistency in counseling procedures, with counselors making subjective judgments as to what content to include, depending on their perception of the sexual experience of the client. Providers recommended greater engagement of parents in the VMMC process, limiting numbers of clients per day to ensure quality of counseling, and allocation of space to facilitate confidentiality.Conclusions: All providers counseling adolescent VMMC clients should receive adolescent-specific counseling training, and adhere to national VMMC guidelines. Measures to assure confidentiality should be taken, and numbers of clients per day limited to ensure quality of counseling services

Risk Management in Smallholder Cattle Farming: A Hypothetical Insurance Approach in Western Kenya

Smallholder cattle farming is an important livelihood strategy in most developing countries like Kenya. However, tropical diseases in Africa often wipe out these valuable assets. This paper focuses on mitigation of cattle disease risks through a hypothetical insurance scheme. The study is based on data from a survey conducted on a purposive sample of 300 smallholder cattle farmers in Kakamega and Siaya districts of Western Kenya. Descriptive measures and a regression model were used in the analysis. Results of the study showed that most farmers (91.3%) were willing to participate in the cattle insurance scheme. Also, the farmers observed that the scheme would enable them to increase their herd sizes and change their breed composition. The farmer's mean Willingness To Pay (WTP) for the scheme would be determined by their gender, income, cultural norms, cattle breed and economic value/price of the animal kept. This paper recommends establishment of a formal cattle insurance scheme; and economic empowerment of both male and female farmers to encourage adoption of the scheme, as well as educating the farmers on how to integrate the scheme within their cultural norms to ensure it's sustainability.Cattle, smallholder livelihoods, disease risks, insurance, Livestock Production/Industries, Risk and Uncertainty,

Smallholder access to quality and diverse seed in Uganda: implications for food security

This policy briefs presents smallholder farmers' preferences and major challenges when accessing seed in Uganda. It reflects on the weaknesses of the formal and informal seed production and distribution systems and presents some practical recommendations for putting in place alternative and integrative seed quality control systems that can help fill in the gaps that the formal and informal systems cannot address separately

Resilient seed systems for climate change adaptation and sustainable livelihoods in the East Africa subregion. Report of the consultative workshop, 5-8 March 2019, Entebbe, Uganda

This report presents the main results of the consultative start-up workshop for the ‘Resilient seed systems in East Africa’ initiative which aims to combine and scale from the local to the global level, successful strategies, methods and tools that increase the timely availability, affordability and improved access by women and men farmers and their communities, to good-quality seed of a portfolio of crops and crop varieties, including novel crops and varieties that are better adapted to current and predicted future climate conditions

Psycho-Social Attributes of Male Volleyball Players in Kenya

Socialization into sport revolves around initial entry, continued participation and seeking excellence.  Kenyan women volleyball players have returned significant successes at regional and continental competitions.However  their success is not comparable to men teams which are yet to set any accolades at regional and continental level.  The purpose of this study was to investigate pyscho-social attributes of Kenya male volleyball players who took part Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) league in 2015.The attributes investigated involved family background factors, reasons for specialization and motivesforcontinued participation.Data was collected through self-reported questionnaires from (n=71) participants and was analyzed for frequencies and percentages.  Results indicated majority of 38.5% had experiences of one to three years, majority of them (over 50%) came from lower and middle class backgrounds, reasons for specialization were; talent, enjoyment  and social interactionswhilethe motives for continued participation were talent , desire to win and success in volleyball .  It is concluded that male volleyball players entry into volleyball and their continued participation is buttressed in intrinsic motives. Consequently, coaches and team managers need to take stock of these drivers of seeking excellence in volleyball.  Future studies need to be conducted to unearth the relationship between socio-psychological factors and technical and tactical shortfalls of the men volleyball players in Kenya. Keywords: Volleyball, Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF), Social Economic Status (SES) DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/50-06 Publication date:September 30th 202

Responding to Major Burn Disasters in Resource-Limited Settings: Lessons Learned From an Oil Tanker Explosion in Nakuru, Kenya.

BACKGROUN

Standards and Development

This thesis examines perspectives on standards and development in Kenya’s horticulture sector. The debate on standards and development is at the forefront of global policy discussions. The proliferation of trade standards is often seen as a threat to poor countries that will diminish their export opportunities and lead to an unequal distribution of the gains from trade and result in marginalization of poor farmers. However, empirical studies have produced diverse conclusions about the effects of standards on development. The ability to comply with international standards has emerged as a key factor of success in developing countries’ participation in international trade. Kenya’s horticulture sector continues t

The roles of community seed banks in climate change adaption

Although community level seed-saving initiatives have been around for about 30 years, until recently they have received little attention in the scientific literature on climate change adaptation and plant genetic resources. Based on research experiences from various countries, this article argues that community seed banks can enhance the resilience of farmers, in particular of communities and households most affected by climate change. Community seed banks can secure improved access to, and availability of, diverse, locally adapted crops and varieties, and enhance related indigenous knowledge and skills in plant management, including seed selection, treatment, storage, multiplication, and distribution