Single women's land ownership arrangements and land utilisation: Hopewell Farm in Zimbabwe

This study investigates the land ownership patterns of Hopewell Farm in Chegutu, Zimbabwe. The ownership patterns demonstrate an unequal distribution of land that places women, particularly single women, at a disadvantage when compared to land ownership by their male counterparts. Land distribution patterns, ownership and control of resources, do not accurately reflect the investment that is made into the land through farming activities carried out by women. It is, therefore, questionable, as to whether women are being granted the opportunity to own land or being provided with adequate information needed to successfully facilitate land acquisition. For the purposes of answering this question, rich, qualitative data was collected by means of focus groups and in-depth interviews with community members in Hopewell Farm. The study found that most single women do not own land in Hopewell Farm; out of a total of 114 farms, only eighteen are owned by women and fourteen of these women inherited the land from their late spouses. This ownership pattern is a consequence of low levels of knowledge amongst women about land acquisition, patriarchal structures that inhibit their development, as well as weak policy formulation and implementation by the state. Based on these findings, the study recommends special attention be paid to single women through the establishment of a lands office that specifically caters for the facilitation of land allocation to women. This would ensure that single women start to utilise a greater portion of the forty percent land allocation lobbied for women by the Women Land and Lobby Group (WLLG). It is also important to implement awareness programs that allow women to share their views around issues of land ownership and control. Thus, the research concludes, that the unequal land distribution that remains in favour of men in Hopewell Farm, must be addressed and treated as a matter of urgency

Effet des feuilles de Moringa oleifera et de Commelina benghalensis sur les performances de croissance et les caractéristiques de carcasse des cochons d’Inde (Cavia porcellus) au Sud-Bénin

Objectifs: pour évaluer l’effet de la complémentation aux feuilles de Moringa oléifera (ben ailé) et Commelina benghalensis (herbe du porc) sur la croissance, les rendements de carcasses des cobayes.Méthodologie et Résultats: Ainsi, un essai de 7 semaines a été conduit. Soixante-dix (70) cobayes (50% de femelles et 50% de mâles) âgés de 10 à 12 semaines ont été utilisés. Chaque groupe de cobayes de même sexe a été réparti en 5 lots de 7 cobayes correspondant aux rations expérimentales : ration T à base uniquement de son de blé, ration M20 composée de son de blé et la poudre des feuilles séchées du ben ailé au taux d’incorporation de 20%, rations C10, C20 et C30 composées de son de blé contenant la poudre des parties aériennes séchées de l’herbe du porc respectivement aux taux d’incorporation de 10%, 20% et 30%. Les gains moyens quotidiens (GMQ) les plus élevés ont été obtenus pour les lots T (3,2g chez les mâles et 2,63g chez les femelles). Les femelles des lots M20, C10 et C20 ont eu les rendements de carcasse sans tête les plus élevés variant de 60,1% à 74,2%.Conclusion et applications des résultats: Les différentes rations expérimentales ont induit un gain de poids chez les cobayes au cours de l’essai. La ration T uniquement à base de son blé a induit les gains moyens quotidiens les plus élevés, cependant à l’abattage les animaux ayant reçu cette ration ont montré un dépôt de tissu adipeux. L’emploi exclusif du son de blé dans la complémentation des cobayes est donc à éviter. La ration M20 a induit des troubles de croissance chez certains cobayes, il serait donc préférable de réduire le taux d’incorporation de 20% utilisé dans cet essai pour de meilleurs résultats. Commelina benghalensis a induit un meilleur rendement carcasse au taux d’incorporation de 10%, son utilisation en alimentation caviacole est recommandée. Cependant son utilisation sous forme de fourrage frais doit être envisagée pour une amélioration des performances de croissance.Mots clés: Cavia porcellus, complémentation, croissance, Commelina benghalensis, Moringa oléiferaEnglish Title:  Effect of Moringa oleifera and Commelina benghalensis leaves on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) in South of BeninEnglish AbstractObjectives: to evaluate, the influence of the supplementation of their diet by Moringa oleifera (horse-radish tree) and Commelina benghalensis (Bengal day flower) leaves on the growth rate and carcass characteristics of guinea pig.Methodology and Results: Thus a seven-week trial was conducted. Seventy (70) guinea pigs (50% of females and 50% of males) aged between 10 to 12 weeks were randomly allotted to five groups of 7 males and 7 females corresponding to five experimental feeds such as diet T with wheat bran only, diet M20 with wheat bran and 20% of horse-radish tree leaves powder as supplement, diets C10, C20 and C30 containing wheat bran and graded levels (10%, 20% and 30%) of Bengal day flower over ground parts dried and mixed as supplement. The highest mean weekly weight gains (GMQ) were obtained for groups T (3.2g for males and 2.63g for females). Females for groups M20, C10 and C20 had the highest values of carcass without head yields varying from 60.1 % to 74.2 %.Conclusion and application of results: The different experimental feeds induced a gain of body weight of the guinea pigs during the test. The diet T with wheat bran only induced the highest weekly weight gains, although after slaughter, guinea pigs which receive this diet showed a deposit of adipose tissue. The exclusive use of wheat bran as supplement of guinea pig must be avoided. The diet M20 induced a trouble on growth of some guinea pigs, it is also preferable to reduce the supplement level for best results. Commelina benghalensis induces better carcass at the rate of incorporation of 10%, its use in feeding guinea pigs is recommended. However its use in the form of fresh forage should be considered for an improvement in growth performance.Keywords: Cavia porcellus, supplementation, growth, Commelina benghalensis, Moringa oléifer

Green Attitudes and Behaviours of Western Guests at Green Hotels in Phuket, Thailand

This study aims to examine the relationship of green attitudes and behaviours of Western Guests at green hotels in Phuket, Thailand which were influenced by the hotel guests’ personal demographics including their gender, education, and income. Global environmental awareness trends have an influence on tourists' travelling behaviours. Many hotels have achieved green practice certification to reduce their negative impact on the environment and to enhance their competitive value for tourists with eco-friendly behaviour. Evidence was found in the literature that supported the fact that tourists who stay at green hotels, generally have environmentally friendly attitudes and practise eco-friendly activities. However, it was unclear if their green attitudes affected the hotel guests’ decisions or intentions to stay at green hotels specifically with the group of Western visitors in Thailand. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the connection between green attitudes and behaviours leading to the guests’ intentions to stay at green hotels. The results have been drawn based on a questionnaire of 400 Western tourists from 36 Green Leaf certified hotels in Phuket, Thailand. It found that age and gender had not affected the guests’ green attitudes and behaviours, but had been affected by their education. It also found that the global environment, green hotel attitude, green participation behaviour, and intention to stay were individually related. This indicated that, in designing marketing strategies to attract Western tourists intent on staying at green hotels, the hotels should pay attention to the guests’ green attitudes and behaviours which were impacted by education.การวิจัยในครั้งนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อตรวจสอบความสัมพันธ์เกี่ยวกับทัศนคติสีเขียวและพฤติกรรมสีเขียวของนักท่องเที่ยวชาวตะวันตกที่มีต่อโรงแรมสีเขียวในจังหวัดภูเก็ต ซึ่งได้รับอิทธิพลจากคุณสมบัติส่วนบุคคลของนักท่องเที่ยวของโรงแรมซึ่งได้แก่ เพศ การศึกษา และรายได้ แนวโน้มการรับรู้สภาพแวดล้อมทั่วโลกมีอิทธิพลต่อพฤติกรรมการเดินทางของนักท่องเที่ยว โรงแรมหลายแห่งได้ใช้การรับรองการปฏิบัติที่เป็นมิตรกับสิ่งแวดล้อมเพื่อลดผลกระทบด้านลบต่อสิ่งแวดล้อมและเพื่อเพิ่มมูลค่าการแข่งขันสำหรับนักท่องเที่ยวที่มีพฤติกรรมที่เป็นมิตรกับสิ่งแวดล้อม พบหลักฐานในวรรณกรรมที่สนับสนุนความจริงที่ว่านักท่องเที่ยวที่เข้าพักที่โรงแรมสีเขียวโดยทั่วไปมีทัศนคติที่เป็นมิตรกับสิ่งแวดล้อมและปฏิบัติกิจกรรมที่เป็นมิตรกับสิ่งแวดล้อม อย่างไรก็ตามยังไม่ชัดเจนว่าทัศนคติที่เป็นมิตรต่อสิ่งแวดล้อมของพวกเขาส่งผลต่อการตัดสินใจของลูกค้าโรงแรมหรือความตั้งใจที่จะเข้าพักที่โรงแรมสีเขียวโดยเฉพาะกับกลุ่มลูกค้าตะวันตกในประเทศไทย ดังนั้นการศึกษานี้ผลลัพธ์ได้มาจากแบบสอบถามลูกค้าโรงแรมสีเขียวชาวตะวันตกจำนวน 400 ราย จากโรงแรม 36 โรงแรมในจังหวัดภูเก็ตที่ได้รับการรับรองจากมูลนิธิใบไม้เขียว การสำรวจพบว่าอายุและเพศไม่ส่งผลต่อทัศนคติและพฤติกรรมสีเขียวของลูกค้า แต่ได้รับผลกระทบจากการศึกษา นอกจากนี้ยังพบว่าสภาพแวดล้อมทั่วโลกทัศนคติของโรงแรมสีเขียวพฤติกรรมการมีส่วนร่วมสีเขียวและความตั้งใจที่จะเข้าพักมีความสัมพันธ์กัน สิ่งนี้ชี้ให้เห็นว่าในการออกแบบกลยุทธ์ทางการตลาดเพื่อดึงดูดลูกค้าชาวตะวันตกที่ตั้งใจจะเข้าพักที่โรงแรมสีเขียวโรงแรมควรคำนึงถึงทัศนคติและพฤติกรรมที่เป็นมิตรต่อสิ่งแวดล้อมของลูกค้าซึ่งได้รับผลกระทบจากการศึกษาของแต่ละบุคค

Plant indicators for agricultural seasons amongst <i style="">Pnar</i> tribe of Meghalaya

57-59The work relates to Pnar tribe of Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya, whose main occupation is agriculture. Even today they depend on plant species as indicators, such as Butea buteiformis (Voigt) Grier. & Long, Castanopsis indica A. DC., Castanopsis tribuloides (Sm.) DC., Phoenix humilis Royle ex Becc. & Hook. f., Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gord., Quercus serrata Thunb., Schima wallichii (DC.) Korth. for systematizing steps they followed season wise for achieving the best productivity of rice and other agricultural crops. Each plant indicator is provided with vernacular name, relevant plant parts indicative of agricultural seasons and their significant role in agricultural productivity

Kiad-A popular local liquor of Pnar tribe of Jaintia hills district, Meghalaya

133-135Kiad, popular local liquor plays an important role associated with various socio-cultural life of the Pnar tribe of Jaintia hills district. The paper highlights the indigenous method of preparation of the popular local liquor

Curcuma Yunnanensis N. Liu & S.j. Chen (Zingiberaceae) - a new Record for India

Volume: 105Start Page: 113End Page: 11

Strategies for improving the economic status of female-headed households in eastern Zimbabwe: The case for adopting the IAR4D framework’s innovation platforms

The study was conducted in seven districts in Manicaland and Mashonaland East Provinces of Zimbabwe. It sought to analyse the situation of female smallholder farmers with a view to determining innovative strategies that could be employed to improve their socioeconomic status. A sample of 600 smallholder communal farmers, made up of female and male heads of households, was selected for the study. The results of the study indicated that gender differences led to inequalities which affected the farmers’ participation in agricultural activities; female heads of households (FHH) were more disadvantaged than their male counterparts in issues pertaining to control of agricultural resources, and FHH status proved to be a factor in the nature of support which the women received from their (former) husbands’ families. The average age and farming experience of female heads of households was significantly higher than that of male heads, while the size of land undercultivation per household was also found to be significantly lower for females than for males and so was household assets-ownership and the social capital index. The paper calls for the adoption of the IAR4D strategy, an innovation which could help in addressing the plight of female-headed households in rural Zimbabwe.Keywords: Gender, agriculture, female-headed households, social capital, smallholder farmers, economic statu