Grounding agricultural research in resource-poor farmers' needs: a comparative analysis of diagnostic studies in Ghana and Benin

Eight researchers from Ghana and Benin, with different backgrounds but all co-operating within the Convergence of Sciences project, conducted diagnostic studies as a first step of their research aimed at developing technologies together with resource-poor farmers. The purpose of including diagnostic studies was to increase the likelihood that the resulting technologies would be grounded in the needs and opportunities of these farmers. To better understand the potential of diagnostic studies for improving the contribution of agricultural research to farmers’ livelihoods, a comparative study was conducted of the diagnostic studies carried out by the eight researchers. This research on agricultural research was participatory in that its results were arrived at in consultation with the eight researchers. The comparison revealed that diagnostic studies identified and established forums of stakeholders, especially of farmers, who were to play key roles in the co-construction of knowledge during the field experimental phase that followed the diagnostic studies. The diagnostic studies gave farmers a say in the design and conduct of the experimental phase which allowed them to influence the research process in the direction of developing and testing technologies that work in their circumstances and that satisfy their needs and priorities. In addition, the diagnostic studies have led to transparent choices with respect to the selection of sites, farmers and experiments. Furthermore, the conditions for negotiation were created. Finally, the diagnostic studies played a crucial role in making the partners within the Convergence of Sciences project aware of the importance of contextual framework conditions in determining the relevance of the project

Linking science and farmers' innovative capacity: diagnostic studies from Ghana and Benin

The article is an introduction to a series of articles about diagnostic studies carried out by eight PhD students in Ghana and Benin. These studies form a prelude to their experimental action research with groups of farmers to develop technologies that work in local conditions and are acceptable to farmers. A last article reports on a comparison of these eight studies by the ninth PhD student in the Convergence of Sciences (CoS) project. In this introductory article, it is argued that the need to ground agricultural research in the needs and circumstances of farmers is as strong as the need to ground research in the international scientific discourse. It explores the reasons why the West African context requires careful diagnostic studies to be able to design agricultural research that is of any use. It introduces preanalytical choice as an overriding concept to explain why choices that reduce the degrees of freedom have to be made explicitly on the basis of criteria. Such criteria are suggested for the quality of preanalytical choices, and the paper ends by examining the way the CoS project made some of its choice

Adaptations of cowpea varieties (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) to the environmental variability in Benin

The study was realized in the context of farmer management of genotype by environment interaction. The objective was to determine the agronomic and morphological characteristics commonly used by farmers to assess farmer named cowpea varieties through a joint farmer researcher characterization. The trial design was a completely randomized block with 70 varieties as treatments, replicated four times. Data were analyzed using Shannon-Weaver diversity Index and the Analysis of Variance. These varieties varied in growth habit, in colours of leaves, stems, flowers, pods and seeds, and in seed shape and texture. The Shannon- Weaver diversity index revealed a high global mean of morphological diversity among the varieties (H’=1.23), ranging from 1.02 for pod pigmentation to 1.61 for seed coat colour. Within regions, this index varied from 0.33 to 1.57, depending on considered characteristic. Farmers used the photoperiodic response of the late varieties to distinguish early-maturing from late-maturing varieties. In a 3-year experiment, the variety by environment interactions, as expressed by variety-specific effects of planting date, season, and year on yield and yield components, were highly significant. The late-maturing varieties have shown longer reproductive period and more pods and seeds per plant, and higher yield than the early ones.Keywords: Diversity, Vigna unguiculata, photoperiodism, varieties, genotype by environment interaction, yield, Benin Adaptations des varietes de niebe (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) a la variabilite environnementale au BeninDans un contexte de gestion d’interaction génotype x environnement, l’objectif était de déterminer les caractéristiques agronomiques et morphologiques couramment utilisées par les paysans pour évaluer les variétés de niébé. Le dispositif a été un bloc aléatoire complet avec 70 variétés comme traitements, répétés quatre fois. Les données ont été analysées avec l’indice de diversité de Shannon-Weaver et l’analyse de variance. Ces variétés diffèrent par la croissance, les couleurs des feuilles, des tiges, des fleurs, des gousses et des graines, la forme et la texture de la graine. L’indice de diversité a révélé une grande diversité morphologique globale moyenne entre les variétés (H’= 1,23), allant de 1,02 pour la pigmentation des gousses à 1,61 pour la couleur du tégument de la graine. Pour une région donnée, cet indice a varié de 0,33 à 1,57, en fonction de la caractéristique considérée. A partir du photopériodisme, les paysans ont pu séparer les variétés stardives des variétés précoces. Sur 3 ans, les interactions génotype x milieu exprimées par des effets spécifiques de date de semis, de saison, et d’année sur le rendement et ses composantes étaient significatives. Les variétés tardives ont une période de fructification plus longue et ont significativement plus de gousses et graines par plante et de plus hauts rendements que les variétés précoces. Mots clés: Diversité, Vigna unguiculata, variétés, photopériodisme, interaction génotype x environnement, rendement, Bénin

Caractérisation Du Contenu Pollinique De L’atmosphère De La Commune d’Abomey-Calavi De 2015 À 2017

The Characterization of pollen content of Abomey-Calavi was studied from April 2015 to April 2017, whether two years. A floristic inventory of the species in 7 of the 12 districts of the municipality as well as a collection of pollen grains using the sensor of Hirst were carried out. In total, 104 species in bloom were inventoried each year. Pollen analysis yielded an average of 180 and 182 grains of pollen per cubic meter of air per day from April 2015 to April 2016 and April 2016 to April 2017. They belong to 29 families, 41 genera and 38 species. Among the species inventoried, 47.11% was found in the samples analyzed. The dominant taxa for the two years of study are: Acacia auriculiformis, Poaceae, Combretum indicum and Elaeis guineensis. The daily pollen index of these taxa shows that they are in bloom throughout the year and their main pollination period differs according to the seasons of the year. The correlation is positive between pollen grains and meteorological parameters such as maximum temperature and wind speed but negative between pollen grains, minimum temperature and rainfal

Susceptibility profiles of helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to deltamethrin reveal a contrast between the northern and the southern Benin

Open Access Journal; Published online: 28 May 2019Helicoverpa armigera is an indigenous species in Africa and has been reported in the destruction of several crops in Benin. Management of H. armigera pest is mainly focused on the use of synthetic pyrethroids, which may contribute to resistance selection. This study aimed to screen the susceptibility pattern of field populations of H. armigera to deltamethrin in Benin. Relevant information on the type of pesticides used by farmers were gathered through surveys. Collected samples of Helicoverpa (F0) were reared to F1. F0 were subjected to morphological speciation followed by a confirmation using restriction fragment length polymorphism coupled with a polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR). F1 (larvae) were used for insecticide susceptibility with deltamethrin alone and in the presence of the P450 inhibitor Piperonyl Butoxide (PBO). Deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin were the most used pyrethroids in tomato and cotton farms respectively. All field-sampled Helicoverpa were found to be H. armigera. Susceptibility assays of H. armigera to deltamethrin revealed a high resistance pattern in cowpea (resistance factor (RF) = 2340), cotton (RF varying from 12 to 516) and tomato (RF=85) farms which is a concern for the control of this major polyphagous agricultural pest. There was a significant increase of mortality when deltamethrin insecticide was combined with piperonyl butoxide (PBO), suggesting the possible involvement of detoxification enzymes such as oxidase. This study highlights the presence of P450 induced metabolic resistance in H. armigera populations from diverse cropping systems in Benin. The recorded high levels of deltamethrin resistance in H. armigera is a concern for the control of this major agricultural pest in Benin as the country is currently embarking into economical expansion of cotton, vegetables and grain-legumes cropping systems

Designing User-Friendly Grids for the Gender-Specification of Rural, Semi-Urban, and Urban School Toilets in West Africa: Lessons from the Republic of Benin

Gender equity, quality education, and sanitation in rural and urban areas are widely considered as development imperatives. However, while many countries of the world are already far with the gendering of their schools’ toilets, most others still tend to systematically construct the same number of toilet cabins for female and male students, often ignoring specific needs associated with biophysical differences and disabilities among the students. This poor gendering of school toilets prevailed in the Republic of Benin until 2013, when, within the framework of the Pluriannual Water and Sanitation Programme (PPEA phase 2) funded by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Cooperation through its Embassy in the Republic of Benin, the Directorate of Hygiene and Sanitation of the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with Water and Sanitation for Africa Agency, decided to launch a study for gender and disability specific toilets in primary and secondary schools. This original paper discusses the process towards the design of norms and grids for the calculation of toilet cabins and urinals needs of primary and secondary school students of rural, semi-urban, urban, Sahelian, Sudanian, lake, and coastal areas of the Republic of Benin. The study took place in four steps. The first step consisted of identifying key factors that affect the use of school toilets by students, especially female and disabled students. The second step consisted of observing and recording the use of school toilets by students, and building on those observations and records to estimate the number of toilet cabins and urinals required per agroecological and sociocultural area. The third step built on the results from the first and second steps to design simplified grids that allow sanitation and schools’ decision-makers to easily and quickly calculate the number of toilet cabins and urinals required for the target schools, per gender and disability. The fourth step consisted of building the capacities of potential users of the grids, for their relevant use. The findings indicate a variation of needs among primary and secondary schools, and the study zones, due to sociocultural and development differences. The grids have been in use in Benin since 2016 and it has easily helped to calculate gender-specific toilet needs in the study areas. After five years of use, their performance requires to be assessed for further adaptations. A further paper will report on the performance of these grids

Designing User-Friendly Grids for the Gender-Specification of Rural, Semi-Urban, and Urban School Toilets in West Africa: Lessons from the Republic of Benin

Gender equity, quality education, and sanitation in rural and urban areas are widely considered as development imperatives. However, while many countries of the world are already far with the gendering of their schools’ toilets, most others still tend to systematically construct the same number of toilet cabins for female and male students, often ignoring specific needs associated with biophysical differences and disabilities among the students. This poor gendering of school toilets prevailed in the Republic of Benin until 2013, when, within the framework of the Pluriannual Water and Sanitation Programme (PPEA phase 2) funded by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Cooperation through its Embassy in the Republic of Benin, the Directorate of Hygiene and Sanitation of the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with Water and Sanitation for Africa Agency, decided to launch a study for gender and disability specific toilets in primary and secondary schools. This original paper discusses the process towards the design of norms and grids for the calculation of toilet cabins and urinals needs of primary and secondary school students of rural, semi-urban, urban, Sahelian, Sudanian, lake, and coastal areas of the Republic of Benin. The study took place in four steps. The first step consisted of identifying key factors that affect the use of school toilets by students, especially female and disabled students. The second step consisted of observing and recording the use of school toilets by students, and building on those observations and records to estimate the number of toilet cabins and urinals required per agroecological and sociocultural area. The third step built on the results from the first and second steps to design simplified grids that allow sanitation and schools’ decision-makers to easily and quickly calculate the number of toilet cabins and urinals required for the target schools, per gender and disability. The fourth step consisted of building the capacities of potential users of the grids, for their relevant use. The findings indicate a variation of needs among primary and secondary schools, and the study zones, due to sociocultural and development differences. The grids have been in use in Benin since 2016 and it has easily helped to calculate gender-specific toilet needs in the study areas. After five years of use, their performance requires to be assessed for further adaptations. A further paper will report on the performance of these grids

Steps towards the hyperfine splitting measurement of the muonic hydrogen ground state: pulsed muon beam and detection system characterization

The high precision measurement of the hyperfine splitting of the muonic-hydrogen atom ground state with pulsed and intense muon beam requires careful technological choices both in the construction of a gas target and of the detectors. In June 2014, the pressurized gas target of the FAMU experiment was exposed to the low energy pulsed muon beam at the RIKEN RAL muon facility. The objectives of the test were the characterization of the target, the hodoscope and the X-ray detectors. The apparatus consisted of a beam hodoscope and X-rays detectors made with high purity Germanium and Lanthanum Bromide crystals. In this paper the experimental setup is described and the results of the detector characterization are presented.Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures, published and open access on JINS

Domestic animals infected with Mycobacterium ulcerans - implications for transmission to humans

Open Access Journal; Published online: 2 July 2018Background The environmental pathogen, Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU) can infect both humans and animals and cause Buruli ulcer (BU) disease. However, its mode(s) of transmission from the colonized environment to human/animal hosts remain unclear. In Australia, MU can infect both wildlife and domestic mammals. Till date, BU-like lesions have only been reported in wildlife in Africa. This warrants a thorough assessment of possible MU in domestic animals in Africa. Here, we screened roaming domesticated animals that share the human microhabitat in two different BU endemic sites, Sedje-Denou in Benin and Akonolinga in Cameroon, for MU lesions. Methodology/Principal findings We screened roaming mammals and birds across 3 endemic villages of Sedje-Denou in Southern Benin and 6 endemic villages of Akonolinga in Cameroon. After approval from relevant authorities, specimens (wound swabs and tissue fragments) were collected from animals with open or active lesion and systematically screened to detect the presence of MU though the diagnostic DNA targets IS2404, IS2606 and KR-B. Out of 397 animals surveyed in Akonolinga, 44 (11.08%) carried skin lesions and all were negative for MU DNA. For Sedje-Denou, only 25 (6.93%) out of 361 animals surveyed carried external skin lesions of which 2 (8%) were positive for MU DNA targets. These MU infected lesions were found in two different villages on a goat (abdominal part) and on a dog (nape area of the neck). Source-tracking of MU isolates within infected animal lesions was performed using VNTR genotyping and further confirmed with sequencing. One MU VNTR genotype (Z) was successfully typed from the goat lesion. The evolutionary history inferred from sequenced data revealed a clustering of animal MU isolates within isolates from human lesions. Conclusion/Significance This study describes the first report of two MU infected lesions in domestic animals in Africa. Their DNA sequence analyses show close relationship to isolates from human cases. It suggests that MU infection should be suspected in domestic hosts and these could play a role in transmission. The findings further support the hypothesis that MU is a ubiquitous environmental pathogen found in endemic areas, and probably involved in a multiple transmission pathway