Water-use efficiency on commercial wheat farms in Zimbabwe

A conference paper on wheat production in Zimbabwe in the period before Zimbabwe's land reform programmeWheat is grown commercially in Zimbabwe as a fully-irrigated winter crop (May-September) in the highveld, middleveld and lowveld on medium-to-heavy textured soils. Approximately 75% of the commercial wheat farmers are located in the Hunyani and Mazowe Valleys of the highveld (mean elevation of 1442m) and the rest are scattered in the middleveld and lowveld, with a significant concentration in the lowveld (mean elevation of 443m) In Zimbabwe, winter wheat is irrigated by overhead sprinkler systems. Virtually all farmers hand move their irrigation equipment, although about four farmers are experimenting with low-pressure centre pivot systems.The research supporting the preparation the proceedings papers was financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau of Science and Technology; Bureau for Africa; and the Southern Africa Regional Programme

Increasing Returns to Marketing in Zambian Maize Markets

The article investigates the existence of market externalities due to increasing returns to marketing. Panel data on 198 pairs of maize markets in Zambia and correlated random effects linear and tobit estimators were used to model the relationship between market externalities and producer-to-wholesale marketing margins. This article is one of the first to explicitly account for unobserved local market heterogeneity in a developing country context. The results suggest that Zambian smallholder maize markets are substantially specialized with significant margin-reducing own externality effects and insignificant cross-externality effects. The results also indicate that the unobserved market effects exert a systematic influence on this relationship, a phenomenon that is impossible to measure with cross-sectional data

Increasing Returns to Marketing in Zambian Maize Markets

The article investigates the existence of market externalities due to increasing returns to marketing. Panel data on 198 pairs of maize markets in Zambia and correlated random effects linear and tobit estimators were used to model the relationship between market externalities and producer-to-wholesale marketing margins. This article is one of the first to explicitly account for unobserved local market heterogeneity in a developing country context. The results suggest that Zambian smallholder maize markets are substantially specialized with significant margin-reducing own externality effects and insignificant cross-externality effects. The results also indicate that the unobserved market effects exert a systematic influence on this relationship, a phenomenon that is impossible to measure with cross-sectional data

USING MIXED-INTEGER PROGRAMMING TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOUR-MILLING INDUSTRY EXPANSION

As in most predominantly agricultural states, agricultural producers in Oklahoma have expressed an interest in value-added processing opportunities. While Oklahoma produces mostly hard red winter wheat, most Oklahoma bakers require predominantly soft wheat flour for their products, almost all of which is purchased from out-of-state suppliers. An economic engineering-based, mixed-integer programming model was used to determine the optimal number, size, and location of additional flour mills in Oklahoma to capture this excess flour demand. The results suggest that additional mills are potentially justified and that the potential for additional milling will increase if Oklahoma soft wheat production increases.Agribusiness,

The Role of Mugaiwa in Promoting Household Food Security: Why It Matters Who Gets Access to Government Maize Imports

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of mugaiwa, and the small-scale trading and milling sector that provides it, in ensuring poor consumers’ access to food in the context of this marketing season’s maize deficit. The paper then identifies opportunities for Government and the private sector to increase access to affordable food among consumers.food security, food policy, Zambia, mugaiwa, Agribusiness, Q18,

Development of a species-specific coproantigen ELISA for human taenia solium taeniasis

Taenia solium causes human neurocysticercosis and is endemic in underdeveloped countries where backyard pig keeping is common. Microscopic fecal diagnostic methods for human T. solium taeniasis are not very sensitive, and Taenia saginata and Taenia solium eggs are indistinguishable under the light microscope. Coproantigen (CoAg) ELISA methods are very sensitive, but currently only genus (Taenia) specific. This paper describes the development of a highly species-specific coproantigen ELISA test to detect T. solium intestinal taeniasis. Sensitivity was maintained using a capture antibody of rabbit IgG against T. solium adult whole worm somatic extract, whereas species specificity was achieved by utilization of an enzyme-conjugated rabbit IgG against T. solium adult excretory-secretory (ES) antigen. A known panel of positive and negative human fecal samples was tested with this hybrid sandwich ELISA. The ELISA test gave 100% specificity and 96.4% sensitivity for T. solium tapeworm carriers (N = 28), with a J index of 0.96. This simple ELISA incorporating anti-adult somatic and anti-adult ES antibodies provides the first potentially species-specific coproantigen test for human T. solium taeniasis

Peasant farmer–raptor conflicts around Chembe Bird Sanctuary, Zambia, Central Africa: poultry predation, ethno–biology, land use practices and conservation

Los conflictos entre campesinos y rapaces alrededor del refugio de Chembe Bird, en Zambia, África central: depredación de aves de corral, etnobiología, prácticas de uso de la tierra y conservación Las rapaces prestan servicios ecosistémicos a las comunidades rurales de África: (1) depredando roedores, (2) regulando las poblaciones de serpientes dañinas, (3) configurando las creencias culturales y (4) formando parte de las atracciones turísticas. Sin embargo, los campesinos las relacionan con la disminución de las aves de corral, las profecías telepáticas y la brujería tradicional. En consecuencia, las rapaces son perseguidas por los humanos. Mediante una técnica de análisis cualitativo de contenido, analizamos la interacción entre los campesinos y las rapaces en zonas adyacentes al refugio de Chembe Bird. Nuestros resultados revelan las prácticas, actitudes y percepciones negativas que podrían poner en peligro de extinción a cinco rapaces en la zona de estudio. A fin de mejorar la coexistencia entre agricultores y rapaces, proponemos utilizar medidas transformadoras de carácter conceptual (por ejemplo, sensibilizar a las partes interesadas, garantizar el cumplimiento riguroso de la legislación relativa a las rapaces y proteger su hábitat, así como reforzar el capital social relacional) y medidas prácticas (como proporcionar cercados apropiados y aves de corral de fenotipos de alta resistencia).Los conflictos entre campesinos y rapaces alrededor del refugio de Chembe Bird, en Zambia, África central: depredación de aves de corral, etnobiología, prácticas de uso de la tierra y conservación Las rapaces prestan servicios ecosistémicos a las comunidades rurales de África: (1) depredando roedores, (2) regulando las poblaciones de serpientes dañinas, (3) configurando las creencias culturales y (4) formando parte de las atracciones turísticas. Sin embargo, los campesinos las relacionan con la disminución de las aves de corral, las profecías telepáticas y la brujería tradicional. En consecuencia, las rapaces son perseguidas por los humanos. Mediante una técnica de análisis cualitativo de contenido, analizamos la interacción entre los campesinos y las rapaces en zonas adyacentes al refugio de Chembe Bird. Nuestros resultados revelan las prácticas, actitudes y percepciones negativas que podrían poner en peligro de extinción a cinco rapaces en la zona de estudio. A fin de mejorar la coexistencia entre agricultores y rapaces, proponemos utilizar medidas transformadoras de carácter conceptual (por ejemplo, sensibilizar a las partes interesadas, garantizar el cumplimiento riguroso de la legislación relativa a las rapaces y proteger su hábitat, así como reforzar el capital social relacional) y medidas prácticas (como proporcionar cercados apropiados y aves de corral de fenotipos de alta resistencia).Raptors provide ecosystem services to African rural communities by: (1) preying on rodents, (2) regulating harmful snake populations, (3) shaping cultural beliefs, and (4) being part of tourist attractions. Peasant farmers, however, connect them with poultry depletion, telepathic omens, and traditional witchcraft. Consequently, raptors suffer human–induced persecution. Using a qualitative content analysis technique, we investigated the interaction between farmers and raptors in areas adjoining the Chembe Bird Sanctuary. Our results unravel negative perceptions, attitudes and practices that could threaten the extinction of five raptors in the study area. We propose the use of transformative cognitive measures (e.g., raising stakeholder awareness, ensuring stringent law enforcement for raptors and protecting their habitat, and strengthening relational social capital) and physical measures (e.g., providing appropriate fencing and poultry breeding of high resilient phenotypes) to improve the co–existence between farmers and raptors

How Will the Proposed Crop Marketing Authority Affect Food Market Performance in Zambia: An Ex Ante Assessment to Guide Government Deliberation

This paper aims to summarize the rationale and objectives of the Crop Marketing Authority and the possible consequences of adopting the proposed legislation. We also identify where the proposal, in its current form, requires additional specificity in order to evaluate its ability to meet Government’s objectives of enhancing food security and sustainable crop marketing.food security, food policy, crop marketing authority, Zambia, Marketing, Q18,