Conservation agriculture/farmers mechanization: Africa RISING science, innovations and technologies with scaling potential from the Ethiopian Highlands

United States Agency for International Developmen

Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology functional impairment among people with severe and enduring mental disorder in rural Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Purpose: Evidence regarding functional impairment in people with severe mental disorders (SMD) is sparse in low and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with functional impairment in people with enduring SMD in a rural African setting. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the baseline of a health service intervention trial. A total of 324 participants were recruited from an existing communityascertained cohort of people with SMD (n= 218), and attendees at the Butajira General Hospital psychiatric clinic (n= 106). Inclusion criteria defined people with SMD who had ongoing need for care: those who were on psychotropic medication, currently symptomatic or had a relapse in the preceding two years. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment schedule (WHODAS-2.0) and the Butajira Functioning Scale (BFS), were used to assess functional impairment. Multivariable negative binomial regression models were fitted to investigate the association between demographic, socio-economic and clinical characteristics, and functional impairment. Results: Increasing age, being unmarried, rural residence, poorer socio-economic status, symptom severity, continuous course of illness, medication side effects and internalized stigma were associated with functional impairment across self reported and caregiver responses for both the WHODAS and the BFS. Diagnosis per se was not associated consistently with functional impairment. Conclusion: To optimize functioning in people with chronic SMD in this setting, services need to target residual symptoms, poverty, medication side effects and internalized stigma. Testing the impact of community interventions to promote recovery will be useful. Advocacy for more tolerable treatment options is warranted

Integrating modelling and phenotyping approaches to identify and screen complex traits : transpiration efficiency in cereals

Following advances in genetics, genomics, and phenotyping, trait selection in breeding is limited by our ability to understand interactions within the plants and with their environments, and to target traits of most relevance for the target population of environments. We propose an integrated approach that combines insights from crop modelling, physiology, genetics, and breeding to identify traits valuable for yield gain in the target population of environments, develop relevant high-throughput phenotyping platforms, and identify genetic controls and their values in production environments. This paper uses transpiration efficiency (biomass produced per unit of water used) as an example of a complex trait of interest to illustrate how the approach can guide modelling, phenotyping, and selection in a breeding program. We believe that this approach, by integrating insights from diverse disciplines, can increase the resource use efficiency of breeding programs for improving yield gains in target populations of environments

Wheat and teff grain mineral micronutrient concentration and field data from GeoNutrition on-farm field experiments in Western Amhara region, Ethiopia

The data set comprises primary data for the concentration of over 25 mineral micronutrients including zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) grown over two cropping seasons (2018 and 2019) in the Western Amhara region of Ethiopia. Wheat and teff were grown across a landscape gradient (hill slope, mid-slope, foot slope) and supplied with different rates of mineral nitrogen fertilizer and different Zn and Se fertilizer application methods (basal, basal + side dressing, basal + foliar fertilizer) across different farms. The data set also comprises of field data including specific study site, crop variety, fertilizer rates, and crop yields. Wheat experiments were performed in Debre Mewi and Markuma, and experiments with teff were performed in Debre Mewi and Aba Gerima. The concentrations of micronutrients in grain were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Laboratory standards, sample replicates and blank samples were included for quality assurance. The work provide insights on an effect of Zn, Se and N fertilizer, landscape position, and its interaction with micronutrient fertilizers on grain micronutrient concentrations. Agronomic biofortification of wheat and teff with micronutrient fertilizers was influenced by landscape position, the micronutrient fertilizer application method and N fertilizer management. The complexity of smallholder environmental settings and different farmer socio-economic opportunities calls for the optimization of nutritional agronomy landscape trials, with targeted application of micronutrient fertilizers across a landscape gradient required as an additional factor for consideration in ongoing agronomic biofortification interventions