Competing Discourses of Sustainability in African Agriculture: A Case Study of the Sustainable Agriculture Discourse of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.

Despite wide acceptance of the importance and desirability of “agricultural sustainability,” the concept remains slippery and contested. While research has focused on links between sustainable practices and productivity, and the reasons why farmers do or do not adopt recommended measures, less is known about how the notions and expectations of sustainable agriculture are shaped and evolve over time. This study addresses this gap by investigating how a well-resourced organisation, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), frames sustainable agriculture and promotes it to stakeholders in African agriculture. The research seeks answers to three interrelated questions: 1) How does AGRA conceptualise sustainable agriculture? 2) How has AGRA’s framing of sustainable agriculture evolved? 3) How does AGRA communicate and promote its notion of sustainable agriculture to farmers and other stakeholders? The study draws on political ecology theory and employs sociological discourse analysis to investigate these questions using evidence from the annual reports of AGRA from 2008–2018. The findings reveal that AGRA’s definition of sustainable agriculture generally prioritises the use of industrial inputs to increase production on a targeted land base. This framing has its beginning as the promotion of “improved” seeds and synthetic fertilisers, enhanced market access and credit and financing for farmers, to advocacy for national policies that are favorable to these forms of intensification and market integration. AGRA promotes this framing to farmers through universities and other research institutions, government agencies, extension professionals, and farmer organisations. While this study’s primary focus is deconstructing the evolving discourse of agricultural sustainability in key public documents of AGRA, it also considers how the organisation has elaborated campaigns that appear to connect with broader concerns of agricultural sustainability but ignore the implications and complications of their own roles in promoting a particular agenda. The study contributes to the larger discussion of how discourses of ‘sustainability,’ climate change, hunger, and poverty, are deployed in the production and the reproduction of farming systems compatible with the development agendas of key commercial interests

Nethnography and Social Network Analysis for Studying Online Social Space

Author's accepted manuscriptThis chapter contributes to the current methodological debate on digital, internet-based studies in social research. Based upon an introductive analysis of the research's perspectives, trajectories, and stages that have brought the online social spaces into social research, the chapter focuses on the advantages of combining quanti-quali approaches for approaching online complexity. In particular, the authors offer a deep discussion concerning the value, the methodological, and ethical challenges of netnography and social network analysis (SNA) methods for inquiring online social research by proposing a possible emerging methodological framework guiding further empirical studies.acceptedVersio

Rural-urban migrants and urban employment in Ghana : A case study of rural migrants from Northern Region to Kumasi

Master's thesis Global development and planning UT505 - University of Agder 2017Studies have shown that rural-urban migrants migrate to search for employment opportunities in urban areas. Despite the prominence of this factor, little is known of how rural-urban migrants jostle for employment in the cities. Using a case study research design and a qualitative research strategy, this study investigates how rural migrants in Ghana jostle for employment in the urban areas. Specifically, the study investigates the factors that influence migrants’ decision to migrate to urban areas, their job search strategies, the challenges they face and their coping strategies. Also, the use of the outcomes of their employment activities on their livelihoods are examined. Data were collected from 89 migrants and 16 opinion leaders in Aboabo, a suburb in Kumasi, Ghana, using interviews, focus group discussions and observations. The study draws from the Social Networks Theory and The Sustainable Livelihood Approach to conduct the study. The results show that the reasons for migration are mostly economic and are linked to unemployment, low incomes, lack of rural job opportunities, climate change and worsening living conditions in the rural areas. Migrants mostly engage in informal activities in the city because of their low levels of formal education. The findings reveal that despite being accused as the cause of increasing unemployment in urban Ghana, migrants jostle for employment by engaging in multiple income generating activities, creating their own jobs in the informal sector, employing each other and depending on friends and relatives and using their mobile phones for job-related information. In the process of engaging in their employment activities, they are vulnerable of being victimised, stigmatised, and criminalised and are challenged with physical injuries, indebtedness, and cheating from their customers. These challenges emanate from their relationship with the native residents, city authorities and law enforcement agencies and the migrant’s low level of educational attainment, youthful age structure and the nature of their jobs. The migrants cope with these challenges by seeking the help of friends and relatives and ethnic associations in addition to depending on their spiritual and religious belief systems. The migrants use the outcomes of their employment activities to improve their livelihoods through investing in agriculture, building houses, establishing businesses and educating their children

Mechanisms and Strategies for Mobilisation of Property Rates in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of Ghana

Property rates are important revenue items to local government units all over the world. This is due to the fix nature of its components, which makes it predictable. However, local governments find it difficult to effectively mobilise revenues from this important source. This study thus examined mechanisms and strategies adopted towards mobilisation of property rate, in the specific context of Kassena-Nankana Municipality of Ghana. Adopting a case study, data was collected through interviews with key officials of the Municipality and randomly selected revenue collectors and property owners.  The study revealed that, property valuation was carried out in 2009, which was used to rate items for taxation. Revaluation, which is due every five years by statutory provision, was however not carried out in 2014 due to limited resources and lack of expertise. The study further revealed that, the Municipality employs many mechanisms in order to maximise revenues from the already flawed property rate system. Some of these included instituting a property rate task force; sensitisation of the public through radio discussions and announcements; sanctioning of tax defaulters; regular training of revenue collectors; intensification of street naming and property addressing system; designing of revenue database; and outsourcing collection of certain property taxes to private entities. Despite these mechanisms and strategies, property rate mobilisation was still hampered by the absence of professional valuation officers; low commitment and lack of political will to enforce regulations; lack of will to pay among property owners; and incomplete administrative set-up for property rate mobilisation. To improve property rate mobilisation at the local level, monitoring and supervision of processes must be made more regular and effective by relevant institutions; institutions responsible for mobilization must be equip with adequate logistics; local property rate database must be setup and updated regularly; political interference in tax mobilization should be minimized, and government should make efforts to train more valuation officers in the country by revamping the National Valuation School. Keywords: Property Rate, Mechanisms, IGF, Revenue Mobilisation, Local Governmen

Application of Investment Appraisal Techniques by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Operators in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

The small and medium enterprise (SME) sector deficiency in adherence to best operational practices has been discovered to be one of the major causes of investment failures and the dwindling growth in productivity of the sector. Among these best operational practices that the SME sector is asserted to be deficient in practice is investment appraisal to predict investment profitability and success. Nevertheless, there are divergent findings of existing research works on whether SME operators practice investment appraisals or not. This research therefore examined the application of the basic Investment Appraisal Techniques (IATs) by SME operators in the Tamale Metropolis. The descriptive and referential research design technique was used. The simple random sampling technique was also used to collect data from 400 SME operators with the use of structured questionnaires. The data gathered was analysed with the use of SPSS tool to perform multinomial regression and Chi-square Test (X2) analysis. The research found that SME operators in the Tamale Metropolis had significant knowledge in the various basic IATs. There was also a significant application level of the IATs by the SME operators. Although the SME operators demonstrated significant knowledge and application level in the various IATs, it was discovered that they did not use the theoretical mathematical formulae of the IATs in appraising their investments. It was also discovered that operator’s knowledge in an IAT had insignificant influence on its’ application by the operator. The choice of the IATs by the SME operators was found to be significantly influenced by the SME Operator’s gender, educational level and risk behaviour and the investment size and the business or industry type. However, regulation or legal requirement was found to have insignificant influence on the choice of IATs by the SME operators. Keywords: Investment Appraisal Techniques, discounted cash flow techniques, non-discounted cash flow techniques, Accounting Rate of Return, Capital Asset Pricing Model, Cost Benefit Analysis, Discounted Cash Flow, Expected Rate of Return, Internal Rate of Return, Net Present Value, Payback Period, Profitability Index, Return on Capital Employed, Value-at-Risk. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-14-02 Publication date:July 31st 201

Knowledge, Awareness And Perceptions Of Females On Clandestine Abortion In Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana

Clandestine Abortion will continue to be an integral part of human society as long as people continue to accept and engage in sexual activities without being prepared to give birth. Despite the risks (death and other health complication) involved in clandestine abortion, people continue to engage in the act. The central inquiry is; why do people continue to do clandestine abortions despite its associated risk? Do people have knowledge on abortion concerning its legalities and associated risks? This paper thus seeks to clarify the above questions by examining the knowledge, awareness and perceptions of females on abortion, with focus on clandestine abortion in the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana. The paper reveals that, though most females have little knowledge on the 1985 abortion law, they are aware of the risks associated with criminal abortion. Despite being aware of the risks, circumstances such as unwanted pregnancies, poverty, desire to pursue education and career goals, and job related issues compel most to abort pregnancies through dangerous means. The paper therefore calls for public education on abortion laws in Ghana to be intensified and possibly, consider shifting the existing paradigms of the abortion law in order to curb clandestine abortions and its associated fatalities

An Assessment of the Banking Regulatory and Market Framework in Ghana in the Wake of DKM Diamond Micro-finance Limited Financial Saga

The DKM Diamond Micro-Finance Limited (DKM) financial saga caused rapid loss of unprecedented amounts of money. One effect of this development is the fact that farmers in most of the places of its operations have stopped farming whiles many customers are under pressure to find a secure way through life. This portends a rather disastrous consequence on the country's already-battered agricultural sector. Many blame it on the banking and financial regulatory framework of Ghana. They argued that a sound financial system is indispensable for a healthy and developing economy. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats inherent in the Banking and financial regulatory framework of the Ghana Banking Act. Primary data was sourced from fifty (50) bankers using a multi-stage and convenience sampling techniques. Data was analyzed with the use of tables and percentages. Even though the banking sector is currently doing well economically, but based on the data gathered, we found that supervision of the activities of the various Micro Finance Companies is not timely enough to avert some of these challenges as witnessed in the recent DKM crisis. Our literature also found that formulation of regulation and supervision of the sector is lagging behind most countries.  It is recommended that supervision of the activities of the various Micro Finance Companies should be strengthened whiles banks and other financial institutions in Ghana must formulate their domestic regulations in line with International regulations to encourage trading among other countries in the global community. Key words: Financial Institutions, DKM Diamond Micro Finance Limited, Financial Crisis, Regulation

Repositioning the Disabled Entrepreneur Towards Socio-Economic Development: The Case of Sagnarigu District in the Northern Region of Ghana

This research is an exploratory one which intends to delve into how disabled entrepreneurs can be better placed to contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the Ghanaian economy using the newly created Sagnarigu District as a case research. Snowball sampling strategy was used to select 45 disabled entrepreneurs using questionnaires and interviews as research instruments to collect data. Data analysis were done manually and results presented in tables.We found that majority of the disabled entrepreneurs are in their youthful ages. Majority of them do not have the requisite educational qualification even though they contribute meaningfully to employment generation. The research further showed that stigmatization has been a major setback in translating the skills and experiences of the disabled entrepreneur into viable businesses. Also Sole proprietorships is the main form of business ownership operated by disabled entrepreneurs in the District resulting in low asset and their inability to provide collateral to obtain loans for business expansion and improvement.The researchers recommended that government, non-governmental organizations and civil society groups should advocate for the welfare, rights of the disabled, build their capacities to ignite and bring out their untapped skills, experiences and provide avenues for the easy access to information and funding opportunities.International Development organizations and donor agencies like the USAID, UKAID, DFID, World Vision, KOICA, JICA, SNV etc should model or develop projects or programmes specially targeting the disabled to make them socially inclusive and bring out their untapped skills, experiences and innovative ideas for economic development Keywords: Disabled, Entrepreneurship, repositioning, socio-economic development, challenges, Sagnarigu Distric

Effects of curcumin analogue, 2, 6-bis (2, 5-dimethoxybenzylidene) cyclohexanone (BDMC33) on the activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes in cultured Caco-2 cell model

Poor systemic delivery of curcumin outside the gut due to its rapid metabolism has severely limited its application to many chronic diseases. Previously, our research group synthesized curcumin analogues 2, 6-bis (2, 5-dimethoxybenzylidene) cyclohexanone (BDMC33) that has potent anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of curcumin analog (BDMC33) on the activities of drug metabolizing enzymes in Caco-2 cells, which was compared with that of curcumin and 3-(2-Fluoro-benzylidene)-5-(2-fluorocyclohexylmethylene)-piperidin-4-one (EF-24). BDMC-33 was synthesized through the appropriate reaction of the aromatic aldehyde with cyclohexanone, under base catalyzed aldol condensation, at the ratio of ketone: aldehyde (1:2). Activity of drug metabolizing enzymes such as NADPH-cytochrome p450 reductase (CPR), UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and Sulfotransferase (SULT) in Caco-2 cells were evaluated upon exposure to 50µM of BDMC33, curcumin, and EF-24, separately, for 4 hours. The BDMC33, EF-24, and curcumin treatments did not affect the activities of UGT, GST, SULT, and CPR in respect to their controls (29.45, 27.18, 23.64 and 2.08µmol/mg), respectively, at all periods of incubation. Hence, BDMC33 was able to maintain the activities of both phases I and II drug metabolizing enzymes, and therefore it could be a potential lead, anti-inflammatory agents

Effect of neem fertilizer rates and weed control methods on the growth and yield of soybeans (Glycine max (L.) merrill) in north Central Nigeria

Two field experiments were conducted at the Research Farm of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State during the 2018 and 2019 rainy seasons to determine the effect of neem fertilizer rates and weed control methods on the growth and yields of soybeans. The experimental treatments were made up of four neem fertilizer rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1) and six weed control methods (pendimethalin at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1 followed by one hoe weeding, pendimethalin at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 followed by diuron at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1, weeding once at 3 WAS, weeding twice at 3 and 6 WAS, weed free and weedy check. The experiment was a 3 × 3 factorial experiment laid out in a Randomize complete block design replicated three times. TGX 1448 – 2E variety of soybean was used for the study. Result showed that weed control efficiency was better with the use of 150 kg ha-1 of neem fertilizer, while decrease in weed dry matter was obtained at 50 kg ha-1. Increase in number of leaves and leaf area were encouraged with 150 kg ha-1 of neem fertilizer. Weed free treatments recorded the highest grain yield and 100 seed weight of soybean. Pendimethalin at 1.5 or 2.0 kg a.i ha-1 supplemented with one hoe weeding or diuron at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1 respectively can be an alternative for better control of weeds to obtain greater yield of soybean in the study area