Effect of transaction costs on market participation among smallholder cassava farmers in Central Madagascar

High transaction costs deter entry of small farmers into the market. With the data from 240 smallholder cassava farmers in Central Madagascar, this study identified strategies to promote successful smallholder commercialization. The coefficients for membership of cooperatives, native of community and farming experience, have a direct relationship with decision to participate in the market and which is significant at 1% level and road condition to the nearest town is good at 10% level. The coefficients for age, distance to the nearest town and distance from the farm to the market have an indirect relationship with decision to participate in the market and significant at 5, 10 and 1% levels, respectively. The results also show that the coefficients for personal means of transportation and marketing experience have a direct relationship with decision to sell cassava off-farm and at 10 and 1% level of significance, respectively, while distance to the nearest town and distance from the farm to the market had an indirect relationship with decision to sell off-farm at 5% level of significance each and cost of transportation at 1% level. The study raises policy issues which might reduce these transaction costs by providing more market outlets, better rural infrastructure and also bulking centres

Analyses of labour productivity among small-holder cassava farmers for food security and empowerment in central Madagascar

Open Access JournalLabour productivity affects food security, but quantifying this relationship has been scarce with respect to empirical literature. The Central Madagascar dataset explores the influence of labour productivity and related variables on the food security status of cassava farmers. Drawing on both theory and empirical evidence, this paper argues that fundamental effects of links between labour productivity and food security are most times often overlooked currently in policy analyses. The study used a probit regression analytical procedure to explain the effect of labour productivity on food security of 180 Malagasy smallholder cassava farmers selected through a multi-stage random sampling technique. Results showed that 25% of the cassava farmers were food in-secure. Labour productivity had a direct relationship with food security status of farmers at 1% level of probability as well as membership of cooperatives and farm size. Aged farmers were more food insecure at 10% level of probability than their younger counterparts. Households with high dependency ratio and family labour tend to be food insecure at 1% and 10% level of probability respectively among the farmers sampled. The results therefore call for land re-distribution and re-form policies aimed at encouraging younger farmers who seem to be more labour productive by allocating more land to these group (as cooperatives) to increase cassava cultivation thereby giving a boost to food security

Differentials in technical efficiency among smallholder cassava farmers in Central Madagascar: a Cobb Douglas stochastic frontier production approach

Open Access JournalThis study employed the Cobb–Douglas stochastic frontier production function to measure the level of technical efficiency among smallholder cassava farmers in Central Madagascar. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 180 cassava farmers in the region and from this sample, input–output data were obtained using the cost route approach. The parameters of the stochastic frontier production function were estimated using the maximum likelihood method. The results of the analysis showed that individual farm-level technical efficiency was about 79%. The study found education, gender and age to be indirectly and significantly related to technical efficiency at a 1% level of probability, and to household size at a 5% level. The coefficient for occupational status was positive and highly significant at a 1% level. The results show that the study’s cassava farmers are not fully technically efficient, showing a mean score of .79%, and suggesting that opportunities still exist for increasing efficiency among the farmers. There is a need, therefore, to ensure that these farmers have access to the appropriate inputs, especially land and capital. The results also call for land reform policies to be introduced, aimed at making more land available, especially to the younger and full-time female farmers

Structural Characterization of the Extracellular Domain of CASPR2 and Insights into Its Association with the Novel Ligand Contactin1

Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) encodes for CASPR2, a multidomain single transmembrane protein belonging to the neurexin superfamily that has been implicated in a broad range of human phenotypes including autism and language impairment. Using a combination of biophysical techniques, including small angle x-ray scattering, single particle electron microscopy, analytical ultracentrifugation, and bio-layer interferometry, we present novel structural and functional data that relate the architecture of the extracellular domain of CASPR2 to a previously unknown ligand, Contactin1 (CNTN1). Structurally, CASPR2 is highly glycosylated and has an overall compact architecture. Functionally, we show that CASPR2 associates with micromolar affinity with CNTN1 but, under the same conditions, it does not interact with any of the other members of the contactin family. Moreover, by using dissociated hippocampal neurons we show that microbeads loaded with CASPR2, but not with a deletion mutant, co-localize with transfected CNTN1, suggesting that CNTN1 is an endogenous ligand for CASPR2. These data provide novel insights into the structure and function of CASPR2, suggesting a complex role of CASPR2 in the nervous system

Igneous sapphirine in Ambatomena, southern Madagascar

第4回極域科学シンポジウム個別セッション：[OG] 地圏11月15日（金） 統計数理研究所 ３階セミナー室２（D304

Traditions, Tabous et Conservation de la Biodiversité dans le Complexe Bobaomby, Extrême Nord de Madagascar

Le respect des normes et des pratiques traditionnelles de la communauté locale est la clef de voûte dans la création d’une aire protégée. La présente étude a été menée dans le Complexe Bobaomby, extrême Nord de Madagascar, pour réconcilier, dès la création de la Nouvelle Aire Protégée, la conservation du site avec les valeurs socio-culturelles locales. Les objectifs spécifiques sont de (i) déployer les maximums d’informations concernant les sites sacrés, (ii) décrire les rites traditionnels ou « jôro » entretenus dans ces sites et (iii) caractériser les tabous ou ‘fady’ locaux afin de faire sortir l’implication de ces traditions et tabous pour la conservation, la cohésion sociale et le développement économique. Pour y arriver, des interviews semi-structurés ont été conduits auprès des ménages, des discussions ont été menées en groupe ou de manière informelle avec des personnes clés comme les anciens sages ou « Raiamandreny » originaires de la région Bobaomby, et des autorités locales entre le 1er février et le 20 avril 2018. Comme résultats, huit sites sacrés constituant des centres de pratiques traditionnelles ont été identifiés : Ambatomitongoa, Madiromasina, Madirokitamby (Antsahampano), Madirokitamby (Baie de Courrier), Doany-Be, Ambatosariaomby, Ambatonjanahary et Ampasimantoraka. Deux « jôro », l’un à Ambatomitongoa et l’autre à Madiromasina sont décrits et discutés dans cette étude. Quatorze tabous localement appelés « fady » et leurs significations traditionnelles ont été recensés à Bobaomby. À Bobaomby, les traditions locales et les règles coutumières sont les garants de la sauvegarde environnementale et de la cohésion sociale ; elles sont aussi la base du système économique local.   Respect for local traditions, norms, and practices is critical in the creation and success of a protected area. This study was conducted in the Bobaomby Complex, in north Madagascar, to reconcile, from the outset of the New Protected Area, the conservation of the site with local socio-cultural values. The specific objectives are to (i) collect and share as much information as possible concerning the sacred sites, (ii) describe the traditional rites or “jôro” maintained at these sites and (iii) characterize the local taboos or 'fady' in order to bring out the implication of these traditions and taboos for conservation, social cohesion and economic development. To achieve this, semi-structured interviews were conducted with households, and group and informal discussions were held with key persons such as the elders or “Raiamandreny” from the Bobaomby region, and local authorities between 1 February and 20 April 2018. As a result, eight sacred sites constituting centers of traditional practices were identified: Ambatomitongoa, Madiromasina, Madirokitamby (Antsahampano), Madirokitamby (Baie de Courrier), Doany-Be, Ambatosariaomby, Ambatonjanahary, and Ampasimantoraka. Two "jôro", one at Ambatomitongoa and the other at Madiromasina are described and discussed in this study. Fourteen taboos are locally called “fady” and their traditional meanings were identified in Bobaomby. In Bobaomby, local traditions and customary rules are the guarantors of environmental protection and social cohesion; they are also the basis of the local economic system