Evaluation of neem (Azadirachta indica) derivatives for management of sorghum stem borers (busseola fusca (fuller) and Chilo partellus (swinhoe))

Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) is the most potential plant for solving the multidimensional problems of the rural people. Neem, Azadirachta indica and Persian lilac, Melia azedarach, with different   formulations were tested against stalk borers on sorghum at Sirinka and Chefa in 2002/03 and 2003/04  cropping seasons. This field evaluation experiment was arranged in complete randomized block design  with three replications. Sorghum varieties 'Gambella 1107' and local land race 'Jigurty' were used at  Chefa and Sirinka, respectively. Two lepidopterous stem borer species, Busseola fusca and Chilo partellus were important at Sirinka and Chefa, respectively. Three treatments were tested: a water extract from neem seeds, a powder form from neem seeds and Persian lilac leaves. Synthetic chemicals, Cypermethrin I% granules and Karate 5% emelsifaible concentrates and an untreated control were included for comparison purpose. Infestation and damage levels of stalk borers were reduced using each botanical at different formulations in both locations and years as compared to untreated control. Among treatments, powder forms of' 1 neem seeds and Persian lilac leaves were effective in reducing percent head chaffiness and infested plats. Moreover, the percentage of grain yield increase of 7 to 18 and 8 to 15 were obtained over untreated check using neem seeds and Persian lilac leaves, respectively. High yield ad.vantages over untreated plots were also recorded using Karate 5% emelsiafiable concentrates arid Cypermethrin I% granules with the range of 6 to 27 % and 13 to 40 %, respectively in each location and year.Key words: Azadirachta indica, Melia azedarach, Stem borers, Busseolafusca, Chilo partellus

Inspiration from Yewol for all of us

Five years ago, communities in the dry highlands of the Yewol mountains found it difficult to grow even their staple crops. In the rainy season, rainwater gushed down the slopes eroding the soil. Free grazing of cattle and unreliable rain affected the productivity so much that crops began to dwindle along with their livestock. Migration was the only way out for some. Food shortage stalked the residents and it still is a reality for some

Facilitating livelihoods diversification through flood-based land restoration in pastoral systems of Afar, Ethiopia

The pastoral systems of Eastern Africa have been affected by the alternated incidence of recurrent drought and flood for the last decades, aggravating poverty and local conflicts. We have introduced an innovation to convert floods to productive use using water spreading weirs (WSW) as an entry point to capture and spread the torrential flood emerging in the neighbouring highlands into rangelands and crop fields of low-lying pastoral systems in Afar, Ethiopia. The productivity and landscape feature have changed from an abandoned field to a productive landscape within 3 years of intervention. The flood patterns and sediment loads created at least four different crop management zones and productivity levels. Based on moisture and nutrient regimes, we developed land suitability maps for integrating crops and forages fitting to specific niches. The outcome was a fast recovery of landscapes, with 150% biomass yield increment, increased access to dry season feed and food. These positive outcomes could be attributed to the proper design of weirs, joint planning and execution between pastoralists, researchers and development agents, identification and availing best-fitting varieties for each management zone and developing simple GIS-based parcel level maps to guide development agents and pastoralists. The major ‘agents’ were community leaders (‘Kedoh Abbobati’) who keenly debated potential benefits and drawbacks of innovations, enforced customary rules and byelaw and suggested changes in approaches and choices of interventions. In general, an innovation system approach helped to create local confidence, attract attention of government institutions and helped local actors to identify investment areas, develop implementation strategies to increase productivity, define changes as it occurs and minimize conflicts between competing communities. However, the risk of de facto use of a plot of communal land translating into long-term occupation and ownership may be impacting a communal territory and social cohesion that was subject to other collective choice customary rules

Flooding events turned into farming opportunities: Innovation transforms livelihoods of pastoralists in Ethiopia, Policy Brief 13

• Water Spreading Weirs: To capture and spread the torrential flood emerging in the neighboring highlands to low-lying rangelands and crop fields, five weirs were built based on land suitability studies. • Working together: Joint planning and execution between community leaders, landscape and crop researchers and development agents using a combination of good agronomy, remote sensing and GIS-based maps yielded positive results. • Success draws attention: Seeing the results, pastoralists were willing to take up farming. It created local confidence, drew government attention and benefited pastoralists

The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa:A scoping review of preparedness, impact and response

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in both developed and developing nations alike. Africa has one of the weakest health systems globally, but there is limited evidence on how the region is prepared for, impacted by and responded to the pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL to search peer-reviewed articles and Google, Google Scholar and preprint sites for grey literature. The scoping review captured studies on either preparedness or impacts or responses associated with COVID-19 or covering one or more of the three topics and guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework. The extracted information was documented following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension checklist for scoping reviews. Finally, the resulting data were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-two eligible studies, of which 6 reported on health system preparedness, 19 described the impacts of COVID-19 on access to general and essential health services and 7 focused on responses taken by the healthcare systems were included. The main setbacks in health system preparation included lack of available health services needed for the pandemic, inadequate resources and equipment, and limited testing ability and surge capacity for COVID-19. Reduced flow of patients and missing scheduled appointments were among the most common impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health system responses identified in this review included the availability of telephone consultations, re-purposing of available services and establishment of isolation centres, and provisions of COVID-19 guidelines in some settings. CONCLUSIONS: The health systems in Africa were inadequately prepared for the pandemic, and its impact was substantial. Responses were slow and did not match the magnitude of the problem. Interventions that will improve and strengthen health system resilience and financing through local, national and global engagement should be prioritised

The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa : a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response

Funding Information: Funding GAT was supported with funding from the Australia National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grant #1195716.Peer reviewedPublisher PD