Food Demand Analysis of Indonesian Households with Particular Attention to the Poorest

The purpose of this study is to analyze the demand responses of Indonesian households to food prices, income changes and other socioeconomic factors. The underlying assumption here is that inadequate information on household food expenditure patterns which vary across income groups and regions may have its contribution to the persistence of food insecurity. We use the Indonesian Family Life Survey data and methodologically we employ an extended form of the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System model which includes demographic and regional factors. Results reveal the well known pattern that food demand behavior varies significantly between urban and rural households as well as income groups. The poorest households consume relatively more staple food as well as alcohol and tobacco goods while the richest households consume relatively more meat, snack and dried food. It is shown that the poorest households’ expenditure elasticity on alcohol and tobacco is high implying that the poorest households transfer their extra resources on alcohol and tobacco goods instead of more nutritious food items. Results also show that price and expenditure elasticities have changed across time (1997-2007). Own price elasticities have increased for most food items implying that people have become more responsive to changes in prices. In contrast, the expenditure elasticity has declined for most food items (except for ‘alcohol and tobacco goods’) which would imply welfare improvement since the 1997 crisis.food demand, QUAIDS, Indonesia, Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, D11, D12,

District-level Spatial Analysis of Migration Flows in Ghana: Determinants and Implications for Policy

The present study investigates the determinants of inter-district migration flows over the 1995-2000 period in Ghana. A combination of socio-economic, natural and spatial ‘district-level’ attributes are considered as potential variables explaining the direction of migration flows. In addition to the ‘net’ migration model, ‘in’ and ‘out’ migration models are also employed within the context of the gravity model. Results in the three models consistently show that people move out of districts with less employment and choose districts with high employment rate as destinations. While shorter distance to roads encourages out-migration, districts with better water access seem to attract migrants. Generally, people move out of predominantly agrarian districts to relatively more urbanized districts.Gross migration, Net migration, Inter-district migration flows, spatial analysis, Ghana, Africa, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Labor and Human Capital,

Traditional natural resource conflict resolution vis-à-vis formal legal systems in East Africa: The cases of Ethiopia and Kenya

The article analyses how the formal legal systems in Ethiopia and Kenya marginalised and prevented traditional forms of resolving conf licts over natural resources. Both countries best illustrate two rapidly growing economies in transition. However, in Ethiopia and Kenya, conflicts over natural resource have to be understood in relation to their respective histories, politics and legal frameworks. Ethiopia maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of a short-lived Italian occupation from 1936 to 1941. Nonetheless, like all other African nations, it has a colonial heritage self-imposed onto its legal systems through the process of codification. In contrast, Kenya was a British colony until its independence in 1963 and its colonial administrative structures had different impacts on its traditional institutions and systems dealing with resolving conflicts of natural resources. The political dimension of natural resource conflicts in these two countries is manifested in the low recognition given to the traditional institutions. The political motives and justifications for marginalising traditional dispute-resolving mechanisms in both countries are primarily based on the belief that providing a uniform and modern legal regime would promote socio-economic development and also serve as a precondition for effective nation building. The main argument in this article is that the formal mechanisms for resolving conflicts over natural resources in both countries – which adopted the Western-style systems – need to be complemented by traditional institutional practices. It highlights the need for synergy between the formal and traditional institutions. This synergy is characterised as a form of hybrid natural resource conflict resolution. The article attempts to explore the regime of traditional natural resource dispute resolution in Ethiopia and Kenya, and recommends a way forward. Keywords: Ethiopia, Kenya, codification, customary law, formal legal system, natural resources, formal conflict resolution and traditional conflict resolutio

Improving water use efficiency under worsening scarcity: Evidence from the Middle Olifants sub-basin in South Africa

With the political changes in South Africa in the early 1990s, the South African government introduced a reform process in the entire water sector with the goal of a more enhanced and equitable water management system. This paper analyzes existing water allocation situations and applies a nonlinear optimization model to investigate the optimal intra- and inter-regional allocations in the Middle Olifants sub-basin of South Africa. Results show higher benefit from inter-regional water allocation. Reducing water supply levels to conform to the sustainable water supply policy, it can be shown that although water supply is reduced by approximately 50%, total benefits from water are only reduced by 5% and 11% for inter- and intra-regional allocation regimes respectively. These results indicate that alternative water allocation mechanisms can serve as instruments to offset for the effects of water scarcity.Water allocation, IWRM, Olifants basin, South Africa, Africa, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Effect of Electron Beam Radiation on Microbial Inactivation, Radio-resistance and Nutritional Quality of Food

A non-thermal food processing method, Electron beam radiation efficiently inactivates foodborne pathogens. However, foodborne pathogens may develop resistance in response to sublethal stresses. Thus it is important to study the response of food microorganisms to e-beam and understand the mechanism underlying their survival abilities. The overall objective of this study was to examine the inactivation of foodborne microorganisms by electron beam radiation at sublethal levels, understand the radio-resistance development to this processing method and also to determine the effects of e-beam on chemical changes of nutrients in infant formula.;Four independent studies are included in this dissertation, in the first study, development of radio-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium in egg as a microbial response to e-beam at sublethal levels was investigated and the D10-value for S. Typhimurium was determined after repetitive processing with e-beam at sub-lethal doses. Survivors were enumerated on non-selective (TSA) and selective (XLD) media. Survivors from the highest dose were isolated and used in subsequent e-beam cycle. This process was repeated four times for a total of five e-beam cycles. D10-values for S. Typhimurium ATCC strain 14028 were 0.59+/-0.031 and 0.46+/-0.022 kGy on TSA and XLD, respectively. However, following the fifth e-beam cycle, the respective D10-values increased (P0.05) to develop radio-resistance faster on selective media, likely due to facilitated selection of radio-resistant cells within microbial population following each e-beam cycle. For all five e-beam cycles, S. Typhimurium had higher (P\u3c0.05) D10-values on non-selective media, indicating that sub-lethal injury followed by cellular repair and recovery are important for radio-resistance and inactivation of this microorganism.;To further investigate the radio resistance development of microorganisms to repetitive e-beam sublethal doses, in the second study DNA repair deficient E.coli DH5alpha that have mutations of recA and gyrA genes was used. The objective was to determine if repetitive processing with e-beam at sub-lethal doses increases D10-value of E. coli DH5alpha in ground beef. Five cycles of e-beam were conducted. D10-values increased (P\u3c0.05) significantly with each cycle. Following the third cycle D10-values were 0.32+/-0.006 and 0.32+/-0.002 kGy for survivors enumerated on non-selective and selective media, respectively; the fourth cycle 0.39+/-0.007 and 0.40+/-0.019 kGy; and the fifth cycle 0.46+/-0.006 and 0.46+/-0.020 kGy. The result of the study indicates E. coli DH5alpha increases radio-resistance to e-beam as a result of repetitive exposure to sub-lethal doses despite its DNA repair deficiency.;The third study investigated the role of recA and gyrA genes in E.coli DH5alpha that had become resistant to repetitive e-beam radiation in the previous study and its ability to repair the damage caused by e-beam. Genomic DNA from E.coli DH5alpha, radio-resistant A2 and A4 were extracted, and DNA fragments of the gyrA and recA genes containing the mutations were amplified, cloned and sequenced. E.coli DH5alpha and radio-resistant A2 and A4 were compared to a reference genome for identification of nucleotide polymorphisms, insertions, and deletions that may have contributed to its radio-resistance. Results of the study demonstrated that E.coli DH5alpha was able to reverse its mutation after sub lethal e-beam radiations. The study revealed that DNA repair deficient E. coli DH5alpha increased radio-resistance to e-beam as a result of repetitive exposure to sub-lethal doses despite its DNA repair deficiency due to its ability to reverse its mutation. Understanding the resistance development of microorganisms is important in designing a food process control and efficacy of the processing method.;The last study examined the effect of e-beam on chemical changes of nutrients in infant formula. Dehydrated infant milk formula was processed with e-beam at 0 (control) to 25 kGy. Amino acid, fatty acid, and mineral profiles (AAP, FAP, and MP, respectively), as well as protein degradation and lipid oxidation, were determined. Our results demonstrate proteins, lipids, and minerals in infant milk formula were stable when processed with e-beam up to 25 kGy

Determinants of participation in child’s education and alternative activities in Pakistan

Using data from Pakistan, this study analyzed the effect of various individual, household, and community level characteristics on the probability that children engage in different activities. According to the existing trend of their prevalence, we considered five child’s activities, namely: secular schooling; religious education; child labor; a combination of child labor and secular schooling; and inactivity (including leisure). Data was collected through field surveys conducted in over 40 villages in four Pakistani provinces: Balochistan, Khyber Paktunkhwa, Punjab, and Sind. A total of 963 households were interviewed on the activities of 2,496 children. Multinomial Probit model was used for the analyses. Results indicated that parental perception had significant relationship to the probability of engagement in secular school attendance, religious education, and child labor. In addition, we investigated the relationships between participation in the different child activities with location (rural/urban) and children’s gender. We detected a lower probability of attending secular school and a higher probability of engaging in child labor among female children in rural areas. We also found that even parents who openly expressed appreciation of the importance of secular schooling were more likely to send male children to school than female children.Child productivity, Child’s activities, Parental perception, Gender, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Labor and Human Capital, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Traditional African Conflict Resolution: The Case of South Africa and Ethiopia

In Africa, traditional conflict resolution is based on values, norms, cultures and beliefs as practiced by the members of the community. Thus, traditional conflict resolution decisions are readily accepted by the community. However, colonialism had very serious impact on African values, norms, cultures and beliefs. It disregarded, undermined and weakened them. Cultural hegemony (as a result of colonialism) and legal transplantation (without adequate attention to traditional systems) have adversely affected traditional conflict resolution in Africa. Nonetheless, the continuous use of traditional dispute resolution mechanisms across African communities clearly demonstrates that they still have a role to play. The article aims to assess the institution of traditional conflict resolution in Africa with particular emphasis on South Africa and Ethiopia. Both countries are multiethnic societies with a variety of cultures, languages and religions. Ethiopia maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of a short-lived Italian occupation and from 1936 to 1941. South Africa was a Dutch colony from 1662 to 1815, a British colony from1910 to 1948 and under the Apartheid era from 1948 to1994. Using case studies of South Africa and Ethiopia, the article examines some of the successes and challenges faced by traditional conflict resolution institutions.  The opportunities offered to them by the two legal systems are also examined. The two systems are not selected for the purpose of comparative analysis compared, but are examined as self representative examples in their own historical, political and legal contexts.  Key termsTradition · Conflict · Traditional conflict resolution · South Africa · Ethiopia

Options for improving water use efficiency under worsening scarcity: Evidence from the Middle Olifants Sub-Basin in South Africa

Following the political changes in the early 1990s, the South African government introduced a comprehensive reform process for the water sector with the goal of achieving an enhanced and more equitable water management system. This paper analyses the existing water allocation situations and applies a non-linear optimisation model to investigate the optimal intraand inter-regional allocation regimes in the Middle Olifants sub-basin of South Africa. Economic issues such as efficiency gains related to water transfers are discussed and calculated water price elasticities and estimated water demand functions provide necessary fundamentals for further modelling work. Social and environmental aspects are accounted for by including constant water demands in the model. Results show higher benefits from inter-regional water allocation. Reducing water supply levels to conform to the sustainable water supply policy, it can be shown that although water supply is reduced by approximately 50%, total benefits from water use are only reduced by 5% and 11% for inter- and intra-regional allocation regimes, respectively. These results indicate that alternative water allocation mechanisms can serve as policy instruments to offset the effects of water scarcity

Preliminary Analysis of the National Drought Plans

Drought affects all parts of our society, from food production to public health. This has informed the growing need to help Parties, communities, agriculture, businesses, and individuals threatened by drought to plan accordingly. More than 70 countries are participating in the Drought Initiative, adopted at the 13th Conference of Parties (COP 13) which took place in Ordos, China. These countries are currently going through the process of enhancing national drought preparedness and planning. This paper is the first attempt to analyse and learn from the first batch of about 35 National Drought Plans which have been completed and endorsed by the countries. Preliminary analysis of the drought plans indicates that drought impacts are more pronounced on water resources and agriculture. Generally, drought risk reduction at the country level is mostly reactive. Countries also recognize the gendered differentiation of drought impacts on women, men, and children. Much more importantly, the need for drought impact mitigation and policy to focus more on protecting women and young people as the most vulnerable sections of society is highlighted. Effective monitoring, forecasting, and impact mitigation for enhanced drought resilience are also widely emphasized across the NDPs. Gender mainstreaming and meaningful participation in planning and implementation for drought mitigation strategies, the need for adequate technology, policy framework, and expertise for effective drought monitoring and early warning, as well as cross-sectoral coordination, were also enumerated by countries