Travelling Technocratic Rationality: Historical Narratives of China’s Agricultural Development and their Implications for China- Africa Agricultural Cooperation

Contemporary China-Africa agricultural cooperation (CAAC) has been internally dominated by three streams of narrative: promotion of food security for state building in the post-war landscape; productivity enhancement through technocratic modernisation; and promotion of aid sustainability through business engagement in the new era of globalisation. This paper explores the domestic drivers and strategies underpinning these narratives, as well as their respective implications for CAAC, using a historical review approach. The paper summarises three elements entrenched in the narratives of CAAC – state leadership, productivity-centrism and the governmentbusiness nexus – which are examples of travelling technocratic rationality. These differentiate China’s aid, focusing on developmental state building, from the established aid consensus, with its marriage of orthodox neoliberalism and a new institutionalism

A Comparative Study of Child Trafficking Causes between China and Uganda

Child trafficking has been associated with various negative protection outcomes for children as well as causing huge social and economic burdens for countries. With thousands of children being exploited and abused at varying levels in all countries of the world, child protection lacks extensive information coverage. Government's are often challenged to gather vast information on the exploitation and abuse of children and yet globally, they are urged to implement more sounding intervention child protection programs. Although a number of intervention strategies are in place to combat child trafficking and to improve on the protection of children, these interventions have not been widely adopted by countries, making child trafficking a growing concern. The causes of the phenomenon in China and Uganda are discussed in this review paper, along with an exploration of possible common causes of the phenomenon out of a complex background, for a successful global campaign against the problem. The study on child trafficking is an important issue because it cuts across a range of development dimensions and therefore, it has relevance for practitioners throughout the development community. It was  meaningful for the researchers to explore this phenomenon because given that children are the future of tomorrow’s society, the problem of trafficking them cannot be taken lightly because it is the quality of life that is at risk. Key words: Children, Child Trafficking, China, Uganda

Reforestation in Limestone Forest in Central Thailand: A Case of Baan Lam Nam Kaew Community Forestry in Lopburi Province

The conflict over the necessary use of limestone mountains for supporting economic growth activities has been protested from environmentalists owing to the rich biodiversity and habitats to endemic flora and fauna of the limestone mountains. The Baan Lam Nam Keaw village in Lopburi Province is an example of the newly setup but quite a while practically managed community forestry, and shares the common characteristics of the limestone forests in the Central Thailand areas. The success story proclaims the over two decades of individual-led reforestation and afforestation prior to the setup of community forestry on the Khao Sap Kaeng Kai limestone forest that resulted to the improving ecosystem services especially ground water wells, and rehabilitating local and endemic flora and fauna in the village areas. Local plants Kratin Yak tree Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) and Chan Pha (Dracaena loureiri Gagnep) have been used for forest fire prevention and the forest cover increasing respectively. The key success was the efficient local spiritual leader, Phra Prinya Suprinyo, with his strong professional background, and good connection with the forestry office and local administrative office. Furthermore, the participation in the Royal Forest Department community forestry project in 2010 had brought the villagers into the new learning process of community involvement in the forest management, and consequently created the sense of village ownership. The Khao Sap Kaeng Kai forest management is symbolic for the villager’s cooperation, and now being used as a platform for further sustainable development in forestry community in the future. Keywords: Reforestation; Limestone ecosystem; Community forestry; Limestone fores

Female Teenager's Knowledge and Awareness on Reproductive Health in Uganda: Case of Namasuba Village, Wakiso District

The central aim of the study is to assess female teenagers knowledge and awareness  on reproductive health in all its contents and functions. Along with three focus group discussions, 60 respondents were purposively selected who included 50 female teenagers and 10 key informants. About 96% of the respondents were familiar with the reproductive health information that was explored by the study.  Female teenagers were well versed with information on Sex education, access and utilization of contraceptives. Informal education by parents through sex education, formal education in schools and modern technology information channels were important avenues of reproductive health awareness by female teenagers. The paper recommends infusion of reproductive health elements with the educational policy of the country for extensive reproductive health information, education and communication and thus improved reproductive health status of the country. To have greater impact on young people's lives, reproductive health should become a priority on the country's development agendas because health is wealth. Mass media can play a vital role to channelize the importance of reproductive health. Keywords: Female Teenagers, Reproductive Health, Sex Education, Contraceptives, Ugand

Secondary Education Attainment and Social Economic Transformation in Rural Tanzania:Observations from Livelihood Strategies of Primary and Secondary Education Graduates in Mvomero District.

This paper examines the influence of secondary education in promoting; health awareness, gender awareness and civic awareness. The study sought to assess whether the education policy which considers secondary education as the key instrument in bringing social and economic transformation has been reflected in graduates’ livelihood strategies once they graduate and go back to the societies. The study was conducted in Mvomero district in Tanzania. Quantitative methods were used to assess the relationship between education attainment and one’s social economic awareness. Stratified sampling was employed to get the two strata namely secondary education graduates and primary education both working in informal sectors. Systematic sampling   was then used to select the participants from each stratum. The sample comprised of 170 secondary education graduates and 170 primary education graduates making a total of 340 respondents. The data were analyzed by SPSS and Man Whitney U test in particular. The result for the study shows education to have negligible impact in influencing livelihood strategies to graduates as there is no notable difference between Primary and secondary education graduates. The study suggests the ministry of education, policy makers and policy implementers to work together so as to bring about positive results which could reflect the policy statements and manifestations. Keywords: Secondary education; social economic transformation, livelihood strategies, Mvomero district

Secondary Education Attainment and its Role in Poverty Reduction: Views of Graduates Working in Informal Sector in Rural Tanzania

Education is the process of imparting or acquiring knowledge and skills useful in the development of powers for reasoning and judgment. It contributes to development directly because of its relevance to the wellbeing and freedom of people and indirectly through influencing social change and economic production. This study sought to examine the contribution of secondary education knowledge and skills in enhancing self-employment in informal sectors among graduates residing in Mvomero District of Tanzania. Quantitative methods were used to collect data in which stratified sampling was done to obtain 400 participants, including both primary and secondary education graduates working in informal sectors as entrepreneurs and peasants.  This was followed by systematic sampling to select participants from each stratum. The self administered structured questionnaire was used to elicit opinions on the impact of skills and knowledge acquired at school in poverty reduction. The data were analyzed using Mann Whitney U test and the results showed that secondary education has a potential in poverty reduction as the knowledge and skills acquired by graduates during schooling were helpful in managing and opting for a payable economic activity. Key words: Secondary education, Poverty reduction, Informal sectors, Mvomero district, Tanzania

A Synopsis of Constraints to Crop Productivity among Smallholder Farmers in Choma District, Zambia

Despite having adequate land for crop cultivation and increased government spending on agriculture inputs support program crop productivity remains constant and at times in decline. This study aimed to explore the constraints to crop productivity in Nakeempa Village of Choma district in the Southern province of Zambia. Nakeempa village was chosen as a study area because it is in the southern part of the country where most of Zambia’s maize is produced more so most government agriculture support programs are piloted in this district. A qualitative method approach was used to gather data from the study site; purposive sampling was used to select smallholder farmers and key informants. This research noted that the average yields per hectare for maize, groundnuts, cowpeas and beans in the village in the year 2013 were very low; only 0.91 tons/ha, 0.40 tons/ha, 0.22 tons/ha, 0.34 tons/ha respectively. The main constraints to crop productivity are low use of chemical fertiliser, late delivery of subsidized inputs by the government, lack of modern implements for cultivation, lack of access to finance, a dysfunctional extension system, emergence of institutional silos among government departments, distorted product and input market, uncooperative cooperatives, proliferation of fake seeds and lack of rural infrastructure among others. Lastly, the study recommends a rebuilding of the extension service system, pragmatic shift from maize centric policies and deeper community participation in rural development program design and implementation. Keywords: agriculture; crop productivity; constraints; smallholder; Zambi

TOWARDS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHINESE AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION CENTRE(S) IN AFRICA

This review article focuses on the Chinese built Agriculture Technology Demonstration Centers (ATDCs) in Africa as a model for delivering agriculture aid. The article attempts to answer several questions key among them are; How has the model fared in different contexts? What questions or themes did existing studies miss or partially cover and how can such questions be framed for us to; have a better understanding of the ATDC; or instead develop a framework for studying the ATDC model. The study makes use of a systematic scoping review as the guiding research methodology. The ATDC managed to diffuse agriculture technology to farmers in Africa, increased their incomes, diversified their livelihoods and more importantly provided an alternative model for the delivery of agriculture aid in a context where traditional aid delivery faces sustainability challenges. Conversely, the model faced hurdles such as ensuring the balancing act between aid and commerce which are in essence two polemical activities, limited cooperation from some related bodies in host countries and lack of exposure to the African terrain also resulted in the implementation of inappropriate technologies. In terms of existing studies, the gender question is rarely addressed; similarly, in terms of technology adoption, there has been a binary description of adoption-non-adoption, this bifurcation does not correctly capture ground level realities. Furthermore, existing studies are institutionalistic mainly in nature with much emphasis on how the ATDC is run and not how it impacts on communities that are the supposed beneficiaries. Overall, there is an urgent call to work towards a framework for understanding ATDCs.  Article visualizations

Business Borderlands: China's Overseas State Agribusiness

In the context of widespread interests in China's agro?state?owned enterprises (SOEs), this article starts demystifying four narratives prevailing internationally. In this intellectual landscape, the article coins an innovative approach, ‘farm as business borderland’ to investigate an agro?SOE in Tanzania. Based on the ethnographic case study, the article presents the tensions arising between the case farm and its Beijing headquarters on the one hand, and between Chinese managers and local stakeholders on the other. The authors examine the reasons why the travelling business bureaucracy rationalities from Beijing to Tanzania works and how this is adapted locally in the farm's daily practices. The authors also explore why and how Chinese managers' footloose expatriate lifestyle is not as relevant as normally expected in constructing convergence with locals. Finally the article discusses the implications of the new approach on international development inquiry and global governance practices

Towards an Understanding of the Implementation of the Farmer Input Support Programme Electronic Voucher in Choma District, Zambia

The realization that agriculture input subsidies at times do not reach targeted communities has pushed many governments to consider ways of cutting subsidy costs, improve targeting of poorer households and eventual withdrawal from subsidizing agriculture. Against this background in the year 2015 Zambia adopted an e-voucher system as way to bolster FISP. This study focused on the implementation of the pilot e-voucher in Choma District in the Southern Province of Zambia. A qualitative approach was used to gather data from farmers, banks, farmer representative organizations and other key stakeholders. This study focused on key aspects of e-voucher implementation, such as beneficiary targeting, stakeholders’ roles, input distribution and redeeming processes. The study noted that e-voucher system ushered in some benefits such as increased transparency, reduction of ghost farmers, rural employment creation, increased input accessibility for farmers and lowered the government’s administrative costs on inputs delivery. On the other hand, the implementation of the e-voucher faced some challenges such as bank system breakdown, abuse of the facility as farmers purchased food items and other non-agricultural inputs such as iron sheets that are not covered by the subsidy and delays in e-voucher activation by the contracted banks. Going forward this study recommends more policing of agro dealers and early disbursement of funds by the government. Keywords: e-voucher; implementation; input subsidy; smallholder farmers; FISP; Zambi