100 research outputs found
Effet de differentes sources de phosphate sur le rendement du riz sur sols acides
Le rendement du riz paddy reste faible ( 2 t ha-1) et l'efficience agronomique relative (> 40 %), par rapport à PT durant les deux premières années. L'usage d'une source de P contenant S, Al et Fe comme le SS à 60 kg P ha-1 combinée à des résidus de matière organique a été recommandée pour une riziculture plus productive et durable.Mots clés : Sols acides, hyperdystric ferralsol, engrais phosphatés, riziculture, Man
Farmers' Soil Fertility Management in Niger and Opportunities for Improvements Through Mechanization, Microdosing, and Seed Coating
The objective of this study was to characterize pearl millet production in Niger and to assess the potential impact of a low-cost production package on land- and labor productivity. The survey showed that 62% of the farmers used manure, while 22% used mineral fertilizer. Of those who used mineral fertilizer only 18% practiced microdosing. High labor demand was given as the reason why 89% of the farmers did not practice microdosing. In field experiments, we tested at three sites and over 2 years a control (no fertilizer and manual sowing) against two improved production packages consisting of mechanized sowing, seed priming, seed treatment with fungicide and NPK fertilizer in treatment 1 (T1), or phosphate coating in treatment 2 (T2). In the production package T1, seed and NPK fertilizer were mixed in a 1:1 ratio and this mixture was thereafter applied by a planter giving a fertilizer rate of 0.3 g NPK hill−1. In treatment T2, the seeds were coated with rock phosphate, and were thereafter sown by a planter giving a rate of 0.35 g rock phosphate hill−1. Compared to the control, the T1 and T2 treatments increased yield by 70.9 and 42.7%, respectively. The two improved production packages reduced time to maturity by 10 days. The net benefit increased for the T1 and T2 treatments compared to the control by 111.8 and 72.8%, respectively. This increase was particularly due to the higher grain and stover yield as well as lower weeding costs. These technologies will also render pearl millet production more resistant to climate change due to timelier sowing and weeding, a better crop establishment, and a shortened growing season.publishedVersio
Development and Use of a Planter for Simultaneous Application of Seed, Fertilizer and Compost in Pearl Millet Production in Niger—Effects on Labor Use, Yield and Economic Return
Sowing and application of mineral and organic fertilizer is generally done manually in the Sahel, resulting in low precision and delayed application. The objective of this paper is to present a new mechanical planter (Gangaria) for the combined application of seeds and soil amendments (mineral fertilizer, compost, etc.), and to assess the effects of using this planter in pearl millet on labor use, yield and economic return. The labor study showed that the mechanized application of seeds and compost reduced time use by a factor of more than six. The on-station experiments were completely randomized experiments with six replications and six treatments: T0 (control), T1 (0.3 g NPK hill−1), T2 (25 g compost hill−1), T3 (25 g compost + 0.3 g NPK hill−1), T4 (50 g compost hill−1) and T5 (50 g compost + 0.3 g NPK hill−1). Treatments T1 to T5 were sown by the planter with seeds that were primed in combination with coating of seeds with a fungicide/insecticide. The treatment T5 increased grain yield and economic return compared to the control by 113% and 106%, respectively. The advantages for farmers using this approach of agricultural intensification are timelier sowing of dryland cereal crops, easy application of organic fertilizer and more precise delivery of input, thereby making this cropping system more productive and less vulnerable to drought.publishedVersio
Economic burden of diabetes mellitus in the WHO African region
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 2000, the prevalence of diabetes among the 46 countries of the WHO African Region was estimated at 7.02 million people. Evidence from North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean indicates that diabetes exerts a heavy health and economic burden on society. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of such evidence in the WHO African Region. The objective of this study was to estimate the economic burden associated with diabetes mellitus in the countries in the African Region.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Drawing information from various secondary sources, this study used standard cost-of-illness methods to estimate: (a) the direct costs, i.e. those borne by the health systems and the families in directly addressing the problem; and (b) the indirect costs, i.e. the losses in productivity attributable to premature mortality, permanent disability and temporary disability caused by the disease. Prevalence estimates of diabetes for the year 2000 were used to calculate direct and indirect costs of diabetes mellitus. A discount rate of 3% was used to convert future earnings lost into their present values. The economic burden analysis was done for three groups of countries, i.e. 6 countries whose gross national income (GNI) per capita was greater than 8000 international dollars (i.e. in purchasing power parity), 6 countries with Int2000. GNI for Zimbabwe was missing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The 7.02 million cases of diabetes recorded by countries of the African Region in 2000 resulted in a total economic loss of Int11,431.6, Int 2,144.3 per diabetes case per year in the three groups respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In spite of data limitations, the estimates reported here show that diabetes imposes a substantial economic burden on countries of the WHO African Region. That heavy burden underscores the urgent need for increased investments in the prevention and management of diabetes.</p
Diversité agro-morphologique des accessions de fonio [Digitaria exilis (Kippist.) Stapf.] au Niger
La variablité morphologique de 67 accessions de fonio [Digitaria exilis (Kippist.) Stapf.] collectées au Niger a été évaluée au cours de deux années (2011 et 2012). Seize (16) caractères agro morphologiques (dont 14 caractères quantitatifs et 2 caractères qualitatifs) ont été évalués en station dans deux zones agroécologiques différentes (Tarna en zone sahélo-saharienne et Tara en zone soudanienne). La classification acsendante hierarchique (CAH) et l’analyse factorielle discriminante (AFD) ont mis en évidence quatre groupes (GI, GII, GIII et GIV). Les accessions du groupe GIV ont en moyenne un cycle de maturité compris entre 85 et 90 jours tandis que les autres groupes présentent un cycle de maturité superieur à 90 jours dans nos conditions expérimentales. Les résultats montrent que les variables les plus discriminantes qui permettent de décrire la variabilité entre les groupes identifiés sont la biomasse sèche (tige et feuille) par hectare, la longueur des entrenoeuds, le rendement en graine par hectare et dans une certaine mesure le cycle de la plante. L’observation des caractères qualitatifs a montré que cinq accessions (représentant 7% du total) ont des graines non decortiquées de couleur rouge et quatre accessions (6% du total), une tige de couleur rouge. Les caractères analysés peuvent ainsi constituer des critères de base pour différencier les accessions des autres régions de l’Afrique de l’Ouest et servir pour une étude de variabilité entre les restes des accessions de fonio collectées au Niger. Des possiblités d’amélioration peuvent également être envisagées une fois que le regime de réproduction de l’espèce est bien identifié.Mots clés: Digitaria exilis, variabilité morphologique, accessions, diversité, fonio, Niger
Development of Compost from Agro-food Residues: Analysis of the Crop Nutrients and Trace Elements
A composting study of agro-food residues was conducted to evaluate the nutrient content of plants. Three types of composts were made: compost C1 based on organic matter; compost C2 based on organic matter and Tahoua rock phosphate and compost C3 based on organic matter, cow manure and Tahoua rock phosphate. During composting, the pH reached 9.60; 8.93 and 8.88 respectively for composts C1, C2 and C3 before falling respectively to 9.15; 7.90 and 7.83 at the end of composting. The temperature reached 57 ° C for all composts during composting before stabilizing at 31 ° C after composting. The analysis of the physicochemical parameters of the composts obtained reveals that they contain carbon contents (23.01%, 14.625% and 16.575% for C1, C2 and C3 respectively) and nitrogen (2.63%; 34% and 1.62% for C1, C2 and C3 respectively) and C / N ratios (8.74, 10.91 and 10.83 for C1, C2 and C3 respectively) and nutrients: available phosphorus (186.2, 399.70, 695.8 mg / kg for C1, C2 and C3 respectively), potassium (3389.97, 1127; 1313.30 for C1, C2 and C3 respectively), calcium (12000, 42800, 64000 mg / kg for C1, C2 and C3 respectively) and magnesium (18936.77, 15946.62, 16346.47 mg / kg for C1, C2 and C3 respectively)
Soil-based screening for iron toxicity tolerance in rice using pots
The objective of this study was to assess the reliability of pot-based screening method for iron (Fe) toxicity tolerance in rice using soils from hot spots. Five lowland rice varieties with known reaction to Fe toxicity were grown in pots in a screen house for three seasons. Fe-toxic soils from two hot spot fields – Edozighi, Nigeria and Niaouli, Benin were used and soil from Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) experimental farm, Cotonou, Benin was included as control. Leaf bronzing score (LBS) was determined at different stages, and grain yield was determined at maturity. Heritability was estimated using data across the three seasons. High heritability was recorded for LBS and grain yield. Grain yield reduction in stress treatment relative to control varied from 15 to 56% depending on the variety and soil. Bao Thai, Suakoko 8, and WITA 4 had better performance under Fe toxicity in terms of LBS, yield and relative yield reduction, whereas Bouake 189 and IR64 had poorer performance. Grain yield and LBS were significantly correlated but negatively at 60 days after sowing (DAS). Overall, the results found in this experiment were consistent with previous field studies. Therefore, pot screening using soils from hot spots can be used by rice breeding programs to reliably assess Fe toxicity tolerance ex situ
Prise En Charge Des Anévrismes Artériels Dans Un Centre Africain Non Spécialisée
Introduction: Arterial aneurysms affect 7 to 8% of people over 65 in the West and are the 2nd leading cause of death in these countries. In Africa this frequency is poorly evaluated. The objective of this work is to report the management of arterial aneurysms at the National Hospital of Niamey (HNN). Patients and methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive study over a period of eight (8) years from January 2009 to December 2016, performed in the surgical departments of the National Hospital of Niamey. Included in the study were patients of both sexes, hospitalized and / or operated for arterial aneurysm. Not included were patients treated for arterial aneurysm with incomplete records or those concerning the neurosurgical sphere. Results: During the study period, 17,748 patients were hospitalized in the general surgery departments, including 16 patients for arterial aneurysm, or 0.09% of surgical pathologies. There were 13 men (81.25%) and 3 women (18.75%), or a sex ratio of 4.33. The average age was 55.75 years with extremes ranging from 25 years old to 90 years old. The circumstances of discovery of the aneurysms were swelling of the antero-internal aspect of the thigh in 7 cases (43.75%), abdominal mass 6 cases (37.50%), then 2 cases (12.50%) of chest pain and incidental discovery in 1cas (6.25%). The most common risk factor was high blood pressure with 43.75% (7 cases). The aneurysm sat on the femoral artery in 43.75% (n = 7), of which 6 on the deep femoral and 1 on the superficial femoral, on the infrarenal aorta in 31.25% (n = 5), on thoracic aorta 12.50% (n = 2), on the iliac artery 12.50% (n = 2). For the diagnosis the angioscanner is realized in all the patients and in addition Doppler ultrasound in 43, 75% of cases. Twelve (12) patients benefited from curative surgical intervention by prosthetic graft by PTFE in 58.33% of cases and by Dacron in 41.66%. The average stay was 29.75 days and the immediate operative followup was complicated by thrombosis in 12.5% and parietal suppurations in 6.25%. We recorded two (2) deaths, ie 12.5% among non-operated patients. Conclusion: Arterial aneurysms are rare diseases at the HNN. Conventional surgery is the treatment performed in our patients. The postoperative course was simple in most cases
Characterisation and modeling of cattle movements in Cameroon
Introduction
In sub-Saharan Africa, rapid urbanisation and per capita consumption of animal
source foods are expected to accelerate in the short-medium term and to increase
the movements of live animals and animal products in the region. In Cameroon,
where the livelihood of most of the rural population depends on the agricultural
and livestock sector, a wide range of endemic transboundary infectious diseases
(TADs) affect livestock production and trade, and have direct detrimental effects
on animal, human and environmental health. Livestock mobility represents a
central economic activity in the livestock value chain of the country as well as a
central strategy of seasonal adaptation to the ecosystem. Livestock movements,
however, are also a central driver of infectious diseases dynamics and contacts
between livestock populations are major risk factors for disease introduction and
circulation. In countries where financial and technical resources are constrained,
such as Cameroon, strategic interventions aiming at the surveillance and control
of multiple infectious diseases simultaneously are essential for optimising their
cost-effectiveness. The overall aim of this study was to apply a methodological
framework to contribute to the understanding of cattle movements in Cameroon
and of their implications for disease circulation.
Methods
This project used a variety of epidemiological and statistical methods to characterise
cattle movements in the country across different scales. The collection
of primary data and information targeted both the formal cattle trade system,
across the country, and the informal seasonal transhumance, across the main livestock
production areas. Between September 2014 and May 2015 diverse strategies
were applied for collecting empirical data and various data sources from multiple
Regions of the country were combined. Cattle trade in Cameroon mainly occurs
via multiple trading points owned and managed either by the veterinary authorities or the municipalities. A total of 62 livestock markets, and the relevant offices
of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Products (MINEPIA), were
targeted for collecting official data on cattle trade referring to a 12-month period
ranging between September 2013 and August 2014. Additionally, a questionnaire-based
survey with the various livestock markets stakeholders (herders, traders,
butchers and veterinary officials) was carried out to collect a variety of information
on the cattle market system. During this 9-month period of field work, data
on cattle seasonal transhumance were simultaneously collected using a combination
of GPS-tracking technology and questionnaire-based survey.
Results
Volumes of cattle trade, the type of traded animals and their commercial values
varied over the year and across the Regions of the country included in this study.
Nevertheless, the market supply of live cattle showed similar temporal trends over
the year and across the Regions. Although for almost the entire study area the
peak of traded animals in the market system was in December 2013, the trade
volume was consistently higher during the rainy season (May to September).
On the contrary, the reduction in the trade volume during the dry season was
accompanied by an opposite trend in the cattle price, with their commercial value
being higher during the dry season. Furthermore, a cattle price differential was
highlighted between production Regions and high consumption Regions of the
country.
The highest volume of cattle trade was recorded in the Adamawa Region, which
was the main source of cattle for the country while also receiving animals from
neighbouring countries, such as Chad and Central African Republic. In contrast,
major urban markets in the Littoral and Central Regions were the main receivers
of cattle originating from almost all the other areas of the country. Interestingly,
the North-West Region appeared to be more independent and isolated within
the cattle trade network of Cameroon, particularly receiving few animals from
other Regions. Importantly, there was little variation in the structural characteristics
of the cattle trade network as well as in its properties across seasons,
showing that, despite the seasonality in traded numbers, the network of cattle
moving between markets in Cameroon is very stable. This consistent structure
of the network over the year increases the robustness of strategic targeted interventions.
We found that targeting the top 20% of the most connected markets
would significantly reduce the network cohesiveness providing opportunities for
strategic disease surveillance, communication and risk mitigation interventions.
The centrality of the market within the trading network was also found to be
positively associated with the price of live cattle, which tended to be heavily
affected by phenotypic characteristics of the traded cattle. The seasonal cattle
transhumance has been found as a common and widespread practice for herders
attending the market system across whole the study area, highlighting the close
relation between formal trading movements and informal pastoral movements
across the country. Transhumant herds were observed to undertake migrations
across multiple Regions for period exceeding 6 months and showing the potential
for multiple types of interactions with domestic and wild animals.
Discussion
Multiple livestock infectious diseases were identified as being related to the cattle
trade system. As neighbouring and non-neighbouring countries were found to
be epidemiologically connected it is clear that national strategies for surveillance
and control are likely to have limited effectiveness. Regional coordination for designing
and implementing prevention and mitigation strategies against infectious
diseases is essential to improve animal health also at national level. This study
highlights the opportunity for strategic surveillance, control and communication
interventions targeting key livestock markets and Regions of Cameroon. Live
cattle price and centrality of markets, represented by their connectedness within
the trading network, highlights the need to further investigate the links between
economic factors and drivers of disease dynamics, such as livestock movements.
The complexity of cattle movements in this context was further evidenced by
the seasonal transhumance representing an established common mechanism for
managing livestock, and closely interacting with the formal trading system as
well as with other domestic and wild animal populations. Better data collection
and analysis of livestock movements is required for improving the effectiveness of
surveillance and control of infectious diseases. Although animal identification and
registration systems would represent an ideal step for increasing traceability of
cattle movements, enhancing animal health management and the overall competitiveness
of the livestock industry, in the short-term a cost-effective intervention
should aim at further developing the current data recording and management
systems. Pastoralism, for long seen as an economic and environmental activity
with little future, also needs to be acknowledged as a key component of the livestock
production system in the country and to be considered accordingly in the
management of infectious diseases
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