The importance of measuring financial viability: the example of orange sweet potato processing in Uganda

Processing agricultural produce can be a way for farmers to avoid fluctuating crop prices and improve the nutritional status of their households. For such processing to add value and increase farmers’ incomes, there are a number of factors that need to be ascertained. This paper puts forward a methodology for calculating the cost of capital equipment, raw materials, and processing costs on an annualized per kilogram basis. This enables producers to compare their production costs with the price offered for the final product, including the dried chips produced for sale by small-scale producers . The key message is not that orange sweet potato processing should be abandoned but to highlight the areas that need to be addressed by implementing organizations, particularly given the extent that past root crop processing initiatives have relied on uncosted time and free financial inputs by the promoting organization. The true costs of processing should be identified, using a similar methodology to that suggested here, and discussed with groups who express an interest in processing. Markets, and all the quality requirements, must be established with a buyer before production is started. This research is based on work undertaken as part of the HarvestPlus Reaching End Users project in Uganda to promote the uptake of vitamin A-rich orange sweet potato by small-scale farmers – a project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation between 2006 and 2009 to reduce vitamin A deficiency

Scoping study on the prospects for sustainable tree crop development in Sub-Saharan Africa. A paper prepared for the World Bank

The objectives of this short scoping study are to identify key issues for development of the tree crop sector particularly smallholder production, and to draw attention to opportunities for World Bank funding of tree crop initiatives as a focus for possible productive investment in Sub-Saharan Africa, and for in-depth examination in a wider study. The study looks particularly at issues relevant to new crop development/replanting and those arising from liberalisation

International trade in agricultural commodities: liberalization and its implications for development and poverty reduction in the ACP states (NRI Policy Series 5)

This publication concerns developing countries and agricultural trade. It aims to provide guidance on ways to make trade policy more pro-poor. It addresses four key questions: Does international trade liberalization in agriculture benefit poor countries? Does liberalized trade stimulate growth in the agricultural sector, and what are the developmental impacts – on poverty, livelihoods, gender, and the environment? Is there coherence between European Union (EU) trade and development policies? How can developing countries be more effectively integrated into the world economy, participate more fully in trade, and how could the results benefit the poor

Better Regulation for Sustainable Development

© Sustainable Development Commission 2009This discussion paper considers the case for using regulation as a lever to promote sustainable development in public services.Sustainable Development Commissio

Field study of the repellent activity of ‘Lem-ocimum’-treated double bags against the insect pests of stored sorghum, Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica, in northern Nigeria

A field study of the efficacy of a novel use of repellent plant material to protect stored sorghum from pest damage was conducted in Kebbi State, Nigeria. A combination of Ocimum basilicum (Sweet basil) and Cymbopogon nardus (Lemongrass) powdered dried leaves (‘Lem-ocimum’) was found to be significantly more repellent to the most common grain pest, Tribolium castaneum, when applied as a water-based paste between the layers of double storage-bags at a dose of 1% w/w (plant powder/grain) than untreated double bags (n = 30, P < 0.001). The efficacy of protecting a given percentage of grain in Lem-ocimum treated double-bags was tested in 120 store-rooms, each of which contained 15–35 × 60 kg single bags of sorghum that initially had moderate levels of beetle infestation (26–50 T. castaneum/bag). After 5 months in storage, the percent change in grain weight and levels of infestation by the two most prevalent pests, T. castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica, inside treated double-bags were significantly lowest in the store-rooms with the highest percentage of all grain (4%) kept in treated double-bags (P < 0.01, n = 120 store-rooms). This result may have been due to the mass fumigation effect of adding 400–900 g Lem-ocimum to each of the store-rooms with 4% treated grain. Only the participant farmers that had stored 4% of their grain in treated double-bags felt the treatment provided significant protection. The findings suggest Lem-ocimum treated double-bags could improve the chances that a proportion of a farmer's grain would be of good enough quality to sell in the market mid-way through the storage season, when the price of grain would earn a good profit

Soil fertility in Malawi. A review of policies, productivity and perceptions

This report synthesises information from the literature and key informants on agricultural production and soil fertility in Malawi and proposes options for investment in this area. The main points, highlighted below, were presented to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation's Soil Fertility Round Table in Lilongwe in June 1998. Malawi's situation is far from secure with its high population density and growth rate, land shortages, malnutrition, decreasing life expectancy and deteriorating infrastructure. The country has recently experienced some extreme shocks and changes - repeated droughts, democratisation, devaluation and liberalisation. These have impacted on the agricultural sector both positively and negatively. On the positive side, there is increasing crop diversification and production at national level. Negatively, increases in the price of fertiliser and declining access to credit have adversely affected many smallholders, particularly in the south. The population is increasing at a steady rate and maize production, while varying with rainfall, appears not to be increasing at the same rate. The situation at household level in many areas is worsening. The soils, on which the country is so dependent, are no longer able to provide sufficient nitrogen to achieve acceptable yields of maize

Serial prophylactic exchange blood transfusion in pregnant women with sickle cell disease (TAPS-2): study protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancies in women with sickle cell disease (SCD) are associated with a higher risk of sickle and pregnancy complications. Limited options exist for treating SCD during pregnancy. Serial prophylactic exchange blood transfusion (SPEBT) has been shown to be effective in treating SCD outside pregnancy, but evidence is lacking regarding its use during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of conducting a future phase 3 randomised controlled trial (RCT) to establish the clinical and cost effectiveness of SPEBT in pregnant women with SCD. METHODS: The study is an individually randomised, two-arm, feasibility trial with embedded qualitative and health economic studies. Fifty women, 18 years of age and older, with SCD and a singleton pregnancy at ≤ 18 weeks' gestation will be recruited from six hospitals in England. Randomisation will be conducted using a secure online database and minimised by centre, SCD genotype and maternal age. Women allocated to the intervention arm will receive SPEBT commencing at ≤ 18 weeks' gestation, performed using automated erythrocytapheresis every 6-10 weeks until the end of pregnancy, aiming to maintain HbS% or combined HbS/HbC% below 30%. Women in the standard care arm will only receive transfusion when clinically indicated. The primary outcome will be the recruitment rate. Additional endpoints include reasons for refusal to participate, attrition rate, protocol adherence, and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Women will be monitored throughout pregnancy to assess maternal, sickle, and foetal complications. Detailed information about adverse events (including hospital admission) and birth outcomes will be extracted from medical records and via interview at 6 weeks postpartum. An embedded qualitative study will consist of interviews with (a) 15-25 trial participants to assess experiences and acceptability, (b) 5-15 women who decline to participate to identify barriers to recruitment and (c) 15-20 clinical staff to explore fidelity and acceptability. A health economic study will inform a future cost effectiveness and cost-utility analysis. DISCUSSION: This feasibility study aims to rigorously evaluate SPEBT as a treatment for SCD in pregnancy and its impact on maternal and infant outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NIH registry (www.clinicaltrials.gov), registration number NCT03975894 (registered 05/06/19); ISRCTN (www.isrctn.com), registration number ISRCTN52684446 (retrospectively registered 02/08/19)

Conduire l'évaluation des besoins en capacités fonctionnelles - Un guide pour les formateurs

Ce manuel sur l’évaluation des besoins en capacités fonctionnelles est destiné aux formateurs et a été produit dans le cadre du projet de Renforcement des capacités des systèmes d’innovation agricole (RC des SIA). Ce projet fait intervenir un partenariat mondial (Agrinatura, Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture [FAO] et des partenaires nationaux de huit pays pilotes) qui aspire à renforcer la capacité des pays et des acteurs clefs pour innover dans des systèmes agricoles complexes, améliorant ainsi les moyens de subsistance ruraux. Le RC des SIA reconnaît que l’innovation agricole est un processus qui est plus fructueux si ses acteurs sont dotés des capacités fonctionnelles qui leur permettront de faire face à la complexité, de collaborer, de réfléchir et d’apprendre et de s’engager dans des processus stratégiques et politiques (Cadre commun sur le Renforcement des capacités pour les systèmes d’innovation agricole, 2016)

Realizando evaluaciones de necesidades de capacidades funcionales. Manual para instructores

Este manual fue producido como un recurso para la capacitación de Facilitadores Nacionales de Innovación (FNI) en los ocho países piloto. La capacitación está destinada a ser impartida por la Persona Focal de Agrinatura (PFA) y los Gerentes Nacionales del Proyecto (GNP) en cada país. Estos instructores han pasado por un proceso de capacitación para instructores para familiarizarse con este manual, el enfoque interactivo y participativo requerido y el uso de las diversas herramientas de facilitación que se encuentran en él. El objetivo de este manual es fortalecer las habilidades de facilitación de los FNI y su capacidad para apoyar a los agricultores y otras partes involucradas en analizar los problemas clave que enfrentan, crear una visión de donde ellos quieren estar, y construir la apropiación de este largo proceso. Este manual es adecuado para ser usado por ONGs, departamentos gubernamentales y universidades para desarrollar las capacidades del personal para planear y ejecutar intervenciones de acuerdo con las necesidades de los participantes esperados