Gendered Impact Assessment on Food Securing Upgrading Strategies: Results from Three Methodological Approaches

In developing countries, rural women and men play different roles in guaranteeing food security for their households and communities. The gendered aspects of food security are visible along the four pillars of food security: availability, access, utilization and stability but one cause reported to hamper ineffectiveness is overlooking gender dynamics. Therefore this study aims to explore the gendered arguments towards food security by using different methodological tools while focusing on the food security criteria and the three sustainable development criteria (economic, social and environmental aspects). The specific objectives were to analyse differences between scientist and farmer perspectives in relation to the three upgrading strategies namely rainwater harvesting (RWH), improved processing, and household nutrition education and kitchen gardening) and to find out the difference in results when triangulating the tools on target group in order to set preferences in local contexts which helps to anticipate what measures would be needed to improve food security. The study used diverse assessment approaches namely a) a participatory stakeholder approach using the FoPIA tool (Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment) b) a scientific expert based approach using ScalA-FS (scaling up assessment-Food security tool), and c). Gender Analysis Matrix (GAM). Focus group discussions, key informant interviews and household survey were the main methods of data collection. The study found that female and male participants scored the criteria differently. Men considered social relations in the community and in the household more important for food security than women did. Women scored several production-related aspects as more important than men. Gender-based inequalities along the food value chain ‘from farm to plate’ that impede the attainment of food and nutritional security must therefore be addressed through effective gender responsive policies and programs. Keywords: impact assessment; gender; upgrading strategies; food value chain; Tanzania; participatory researc

Combining biochar with low rate of chemical fertiliser boosts maize biomass yield, regardless of tillage system, under humid conditions

Biochar application to soils increases biomass and crop yields, especially with rates higher than 100 t ha−1. Yet, there is limited knowledge on the combined effect of biochar and chemical fertiliser under different tillage systems. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of maize-cob biochar (BC) (rates of 5 and 10 t ha−1) combined with chemical fertiliser micro-dosing (MD) at a rate of 25% of the recommended quantity on total shoot dry matter (DM) and plant height of maize cultivated under flat (F) and tied-ridge (R) practices during a humid season in Tanzania. The results indicate that combining 5 t ha−1 BC with 25% MD increases DM at harvest by 83% (4.16 t ha−1) compared to the control (2.27 t ha−1) and was in the same range as the DM obtained from the treatment with the recommended fertiliser rate (100% FD). The treatments with single applications of 25% MD, 5 t ha−1 BC, and 10 t ha−1 BC only tended to exceed the control of DM yield. Therefore, we recommend that small-scale farmers aiming at DM for livestock or grain yield with limited access to chemical fertilisers to combine biochar with 25% MD, rather than applying biochar or low chemical fertiliser rates alone

Analysis of Intra and Interseasonal Rainfall Variability and Its Effects on Pearl Millet Yield in a Semiarid Agroclimate: Significance of Scattered Fields and Tied Ridges

Establishing food security in sub-Saharan African countries requires a comprehensive and high resolution understanding of the driving factors of crop production. Poor soil and adverse climate conditions are among the major drivers of poor regional crop production. Drought and rainfall variability challenges are not fully being addressed by rainfed producers in semiarid areas. In this study, we analysed the spatiotemporal rainfall variability (STRV) and its effects on pearl millet yield using two seasons of data collected from 38 rain gauge stations scattered randomly in farm plots within a 1500 ha area of semiarid central Tanzania. The STRV effects on pearl millet yield under flat and tied ridge management were analysed. Our results show that seasonal rainfall can vary significantly for neighboring fields at distances of less than 200 m, which impacts yield. The STRV for daily rainfall was found to be more critical than for total seasonal rainfall amounts. Scattering fields can help farmers avoid total harvest loss by obtaining at least some yield from the areas that received adequate rain. The use of tied ridges is recommended to conserve soil moisture and improve yields more than flat cultivation in semiarid areas.Peer Reviewe

Is dry soil planting an adaptation strategy for maize cultivation in semi-arid Tanzania?

Agriculture has the greatest potential to lift the African continent out of poverty and alleviate hunger. Among the countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Tanzania has an abundance of natural resources and major agricultural potential. However, one of the most important constraints facing Tanzania’s agricultural sector is the dependence on unreliable and irregular weather, including rainfall. A strategy to cope with climate uncertainty in semi-arid regions is to proceed with the sowing of the crop before the onset of the rainy season. The advantage is that when the rains start, seeds are already in the soil and can begin immediately the process of germination. The objective of this paper was to assess the effectiveness of dry-soil planting for maize as an adaptation strategy in the context of a changing climate in Dodoma, a semi-arid region in Tanzania. For this assessment, the DSSAT crop model was used in combination with climate scenarios based on representative concentration pathways. A probability of crop failure of more than 80% can be expected when sowing occurs during the planting window (of 21 days) starting on 1st November. The next planting window we assessed, starting on 23rd November (which was still before the onset of rain), presented significantly lower probabilities of crop failure, indicating that sowing before the onset of the rainy season is a suitable adaptation strategy. Results also indicated that, despite not reaching the highest maize grain yields, fields prepared for dry-soil planting still produced adequate yields. The cultivation of several fields using the dry planting method is a strategy farmers can use to cope with low rainfall conditions, since it increases the chances of harvesting at least some of the cultivated fields. We conclude that dry-soil planting is a feasible and valid technique, even in scenarios of climate change, in order to provide acceptable maize yields in semi-arid Tanzania

A framework for a European network for a systematic environmental impact assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMO)

The assessment of the impacts of growing genetically modified (GM) crops remains a major political and scientific challenge in Europe. Concerns have been raised by the evidence of adverse and unexpected environmental effects and differing opinions on the outcomes of environmental risk assessments (ERA). The current regulatory system is hampered by insufficiently developed methods for GM crop safety testing and introduction studies. Improvement to the regulatory system needs to address the lack of well designed GM crop monitoring frameworks, professional and financial conflicts of interest within the ERA research and testing community, weaknesses in consideration of stakeholder interests and specific regional conditions, and the lack of comprehensive assessments that address the environmental and socio economic risk assessment interface. To address these challenges, we propose a European Network for systematic GMO impact assessment (ENSyGMO) with the aim directly to enhance ERA and post-market environmental monitoring (PMEM) of GM crops, to harmonize and ultimately secure the long-term socio-political impact of the ERA process and the PMEM in the EU. These goals would be achieved with a multi-dimensional and multi-sector approach to GM crop impact assessment, targeting the variability and complexity of the EU agro-environment and the relationship with relevant socio-economic factors. Specifically, we propose to develop and apply methodologies for both indicator and field site selection for GM crop ERA and PMEM, embedded in an EU-wide typology of agro-environments. These methodologies should be applied in a pan-European field testing network using GM crops. The design of the field experiments and the sampling methodology at these field sites should follow specific hypotheses on GM crop effects and use state-of-the art sampling, statistics and modelling approaches. To address public concerns and create confidence in the ENSyGMO results, actors with relevant specialist knowledge from various sectors should be involved

Optimisation of a parametric land evaluation method for cowpea and pearl millet production in semiarid regions

Crop-specific land evaluation as proposed by FAO and refined by the International Training Centre (ITC-Ghent) requires the detailed definition of crop requirements with respect to climate and soil conditions and an optimisation of the evaluation approach. To evaluate the suitability of semiarid regions in NE-Brazil for cowpea production and of SW-Niger for millet production, the parametric ITC-Ghent method was applied after carrying out some modifications. When the modified evaluation method was used, the calculated land index for cowpea correlated reasonably well with observed yield data (R$^2$ = 0.53). Modifications of the general ecological requirements of cowpea with respect to soil pH and organic carbon content in the topsoil slightly increased the coefficient of determination (R$^2$ = 0.71). In the case of pearl millet in SW-Niger, the correlation between observed yield and land index proved to be unsatisfactory (R$^2$ = 0.39), even when the modified ITC-Ghent method was used. The coefficient of determination improved when the crop requirements were adapted to the characteristics of local millet varieties tolerant to low soil acidity (R$^2$ = 0.77). In connection with adjusted crop requirements, the parametric ITC-Ghent land evaluation method proved to be sufficiently accurate for the assessment of land suitability and yield for cowpea and millet at the regional level.Optimisation d'une méthode d'évaluation paramétrique du terroir pour la production de niébé et de mil dans les régions semi-arides. L'évaluation spécifique du terroir pour une culture telle qu'elle a été proposée par la FAO et affinée par l'International Training Centre (ITC - Gand, Belgique) requiert la définition précise des besoins de la culture par rapport aux conditions climatiques et pédologiques et une optimisation de l'approche. Pour évaluer si les régions semi-arides du nord-est du Brésil conviennent à la production de niébé (Vigna unguiculata) et celles du sud-ouest du Niger à la production de mil à chandelle (Pennisetum glaucum), la méthode paramétrique de l'ITC de Gand a été appliquée après quelques modifications. Lorsque la méthode d'évaluation modifiée a été utilisée, l'indice de terroir calculé pour le niébé était assez bien corrélé avec les données de rendement (R$^2$ = 0,53). Les modifications des besoins écologiques généraux du niébé, en tenant compte du pH du sol et de la teneur en carbone organique dans la couche superficielle, ont légèrement augmenté le coefficient de détermination (R$^2$ = 0,71). Dans le cas du mil à chandelle dans le sud-ouest du Niger, la corrélation entre le rendement observé et l'indice de terroir n'était pas satisfaisante (R$^2$ = 0,39), même lorsque la méthode modifiée de l'ITC de Gand a été appliquée. Le coefficient de détermination s'est amélioré lorsque les besoins de la culture ont été adaptés aux caractéristiques des variétés locales de mil tolérantes à la faible acidité du sol (R$^2$ = 0,77). Relativement à l'ajustement des besoins de la culture, la méthode d'évaluation de l'ITC de Gand s'est montrée suffisamment précise pour l'estimation de l'adaptation d'un terroir et du rendement du niébé et du mil au niveau régional

Glyphosate applications on arable fields considerably coincide with migrating amphibians

Glyphosate usage is increasing worldwide and the application schemes of this herbicide are currently changing. Amphibians migrating through arable fields may be harmed by Glyphosate applied to field crops. We investigated the population-based temporal coincidence of four amphibian species with Glyphosate from 2006 to 2008. Depending on a) age- and species-specific main migration periods, b) crop species, c) Glyphosate application mode for crops, and d) the presumed DT50 value (12 days or 47 days) of Glyphosate, we calculated up to 100% coincidence with Glyphosate. The amphibians regularly co-occur with pre-sowing/pre-emerging Glyphosate applications to maize in spring and with stubble management prior to crop sowing in late summer and autumn. Siccation treatment in summer coincides only with early pond-leaving juveniles. We suggest in-depth investigations of both acute and long-term effects of Glyphosate applications on amphibian populations not only focussed on exposure during aquatic periods but also terrestrial life stages

Assessment of selected analytical steps undertaken across participatory research actions (Steps (1) Mapping stakeholders across FVC; (2) Inventorying FVC constraints & strategies; (3) Identifying food security criteria; (4) Identifying 3–5 UPS per FVC component; (5) Prioritising UPS in CSS for testing; (6) UPS groups formation; (7) UPS implementation, testing, adaptation; (8) Creation of potential future scenarios; (9) UPS monitoring & impact assessment; (10) UPS out and up-scaling.

<p>Assessment of selected analytical steps undertaken across participatory research actions (Steps (1) Mapping stakeholders across FVC; (2) Inventorying FVC constraints & strategies; (3) Identifying food security criteria; (4) Identifying 3–5 UPS per FVC component; (5) Prioritising UPS in CSS for testing; (6) UPS groups formation; (7) UPS implementation, testing, adaptation; (8) Creation of potential future scenarios; (9) UPS monitoring & impact assessment; (10) UPS out and up-scaling.</p

Significance of differences in gender and status across participative steps and different assessment parameters (S1 Table).

<p>Significance of differences in gender and status across participative steps and different assessment parameters (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0196790#pone.0196790.s001" target="_blank">S1 Table</a>).</p

Pearson correlations of nationality, gender and institutional status across participative steps and different assessment parameters (S1 Table).

<p>Pearson correlations of nationality, gender and institutional status across participative steps and different assessment parameters (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0196790#pone.0196790.s001" target="_blank">S1 Table</a>).</p