Critical linkages: Transnational living and prospects for private senders of money from Britain to Ghana and Nigeria

The discourse on remittance flows has been predominantly financialised, focusing on their development impacts, securitisation in financial markets, and as risks to global financial systems through money laundering, terrorist financing and tax evasion. This has resulted in neglect of senders' perspectives and voices, even though senders bear the financial and human costs of remittances. This is a complex social phenomenon. Adopting bricolage using a mixed methods approach, based on the experiences of Ghanaian and Nigerian senders living in Britain, this study draws on conceptual frameworks of transnationalism, financialisation and wellbeing, and critical theory, to examine the financialisation of remittances, senders' transnational living and livelihoods, and well-being. The research findings are based on reviews of academic and policy literature from transnationalism, social policy and behavioural finance, synthesised with empirical data gathered from a group interview, quantitative survey and in-depth interviews of Ghanaian and Nigerian senders based in Britain. There are five main research findings: participating senders are not only migrant workers, but include British citizens; remittances constitute transnational social protection finance; efforts made by senders through transnational living strategies, sacrifice, and efforts to make recipients feel cared about, are understood as emotional labour; the policy and regulatory environment represents financialisation from 'above'. By highlighting senders' perspectives on remittance sending as a practice that has socio-cultural meanings, where money plays a role in mediating and shaping the dynamic family relationships underpinning the 'surface' financial transaction, the study additionally illuminates ways in which transnational family relationships can become financialised. Through understanding remittances as transnational social protection, and its sending practices as emotional labour and emotion in finance, the study contributes new data, methods, and concepts, drawing together multiple subject disciplines including social policy, international development, and behavioural finance that have traditionally been studied separately, demonstrating areas where they intersect and enrich each other

Impact of solar energy subscription on the market performance of micro, small & medium enterprises in Nigeria

Access to clean, affordable and reliable energy is a major developmental challenge in Africa. The present study investigates the determinants and impact of adopting solar energy on Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) market performance in Lagos, Kano and Ondo states in Nigeria using survey data from 700 MSMEs. We estimated the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) and average treatment effect (ATE) of adopting solar energy on MSMEs' income. The findings indicate that adoption of solar energy is associated with an increment in MSMEs' monthly earnings by 27% (nearest neighbor matching), 24% (Kernel matching) and 23% (radius matching). The study points out that powering MSMEs through solar energy decreases their energy expenditure. By adopting solar energy, MSMEs using the national grid and standby generators can cut down their average monthly energy expenditure by 36.64%. MSMEs' decision to adopt solar energy is influenced by trade-offs between the possible production, economic and environmental effects as well as business owners, business, and product characteristics. To the extent that governments, non -governmental organizations and policymakers are committed to providing reliable, cheaper and cleaner energy systems, they must raise broader awareness of the potential benefits of adopting solar energy

Scavenging for wealth or death? Exploring the health risk associated with waste scavenging in Kumasi, Ghana

By sheer dint of necessity, the urban poor in Ghana have invented an endless series of survival strategies to endure the high rate of  unemployment and widespread poverty by engaging in occupations such as waste scavenging. Whilst literature is replete with evidence of the economic significance of this livelihood activity, there is scanty empirical work on its health implications. This study examines the health implications associated with the occupation, using scavengers in Kumasi as a case study. The research is based on data collected through 10 key informant interviews with stakeholders in waste management and 30 personal interviews with waste scavengers drawn equally from the three largest solid waste dumpsites in the metropolis. The study reveals how scavengers are exposed daily to a myriad life threatening health problems as they sift for recyclable products. The paper concedes that given the economic implication of the enterprise, it is important that they benefit from  intervention programs that can reduce the adverse health outcomes associated with their job.Key words: scavenging; waste; livelihood activity; wealth; healt

Micronutrients use efficiency and dry matter yield of annual crops as affected by inorganic and organic amendments

Sustainable crop production is increasing, owing to environmental concerns over the intensive use of chemical fertilizers. This study investigated the effects of equal N substitution by pig slurry compost on micronutrients use efficiency and dry matter yield of Vicia faba L., Lupinus albus L. and Triticum aestivum L. Plants were grown in pots with sandy-loam soil and quartz (silica) sand under controlled greenhouse conditions. The treatments were (a) no fertilization (control), (b) NPK fertilizer, (c) pig slurry compost with 50% NPK (PSC), (d) quartz sand with pig slurry compost and 50% NPK (Quartz-PSC) applied at the same rate of 200mg N kg1 soil. Inorganic N (NPK) and PSC applications increased seed yield about 10-32%, shoot and root dry matter, on average, by 36% and 21% respectively in mature plants. Micronutrients uptake and use efficiencies were generally lower in PSC- plants than in NPK-plants. Results also showed increased seed Fe (3-28%), Zn (10-26%) and Cu (6-31%) concentrations in NPK and PSC-treated plants. Also, NPK (enriched with Se) significantly elevated seed Se concentration and use efficiency (SeUE) in all plants. Interestingly, PSC addition increased, although not significant, seed Se concentration and SeUE in faba bean and wheat. But no such effect was observed in white lupin. Overall, the results suggest that substitution of half-dose of NPK fertilizer with pig slurry compost is a promising alternative of chemical fertilizer for improved biomass yield and seed micronutrients (Zn, Fe and Cu) concentration in sustainable intensifications.Peer reviewe

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: Perceived risks, management strategies and emerging opportunities for small and medium agri-food enterprises in a developing country

The Covid-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to small- and medium-sized agri- food enterprises (SMAEs) in developing countries. However, research investigating what risks Covid-19 posed to these firms, how they responded, and what business opportunities emerged to SMAEs from the pandemic remains scanty. Drawing on a sample of 166 specialist SMAEs in Egypt, this study addressed these entwined questions by using multiple indicators and multiple causes (MIMIC) and mediation analysis. Our results point out that the Covid-19 pandemic ex- posed Egyptian SMAEs to complex and multidimensional risks, and caused profound effects on both upstream and downstream stages of their supply chains. In general, Egyptian SMAEs adopted a 'wait -and -see' approach to cope with such Covid-19 risks and impacts, which was at- tributed to their lack of sufficient financial resources to develop risk management strategies and formalize structures to deal with unexpected events. Interestingly, the results showed that several business opportunities emerged from pandemic; but SMAEs' resource disadvantages constrained their capacity to seize and exploit these opportunities. Moreover, we found that mitigation strate- gies adopted by SMAEs present a mediating factor between perceived Covid-19 risks and per- ceived business opportunities. Overall, our findings call for a paradigm shift in relation to enter- prise risk management in developing countries' SMAEs toward more holistic frameworks to en- hance their preparedness to future shocks, make mature operational and strategic management decisions, and exploit strategic opportunities

The Development and Promotion of Sweet Potato Yoghurt in Ghana: Implications for Sustainable Production and Consumption Policies

This paper analyzes how a newly developed food product (potagurt) with nutritional and health benefits can be promoted in Ghana. We employ the hedonic modeling and contingent valuation methods to estimate monetary values attached to the product's attributes using 400 consumers in the Ashanti, Eastern, and Greater Accra regions of Ghana. The findings reveal that consumers have positive perceptions on the health and nutritional benefits of the product. Buyers place a higher value on potagurt relative to normal yogurt. The high value attached to potagurt is mainly linked to the health, nutritional, food safety, and quality attributes of the product, as well as perception. Consumers' socioeconomic factors such as income, educational, and awareness levels also play a significant role in explaining their choice of the product. The practical implication is that the development and promotion of potagurt could stimulate sustainable economic development through better consumer health and improvement in the livelihoods of many players in the sweet potato value chain, especially the producers of potagurt and sweet potato farmers. We conclude that the promotion of the innovative food product could contribute to sustainable production and consumption of sweet potatoes

Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Growth and Yield of Okro (Abelmoscus Esculentus)

The study was conducted to determine the effect of deficit irrigation on the growth and yield of the Dwarf Green Long Pod variety of okro (Abelmoschus esculentus). The location of the study was the School of Agriculture Research and Teaching farm of the University of Cape Coast,Cape Coast. Experimental design adopted for the study was the Randomised Complete Block Design and there were four (4) treatments which were replicated three times. Treatments one, two, three and four were the application of 100%, 80%, 70% and 60% of the amount of waterlost through evapotranspiration respectively. A daily irrigation water application was used. The study was conducted throughout the four growth stages of okro. The leaf area, number of pods per plant, pod weight, pod length and pod circumference were all measured at the various growth stages. Soil samples from the various treatment plots were analysed before and after 60 days of planting to determine the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N, P, and K). Similarly, moisture contents were determined before planting, at the developmental and mid stage of growth. It was observed that treatment two which was the 80% application of ETc performed better than the others. It was also observed that the 60% application of ETC gave the poorest results. It can be concluded that irrigating with 80% of estimated water requirement, is the best application for okro.Keywords: Deficit irrigation, okro, water, yield, evapotranspiratio

Conceptualising safety culture for safeguarding children in sport

This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonResearch over the past 30 years suggests that sport can provide a context in which children are subjected to several forms of maltreatment. Various countries, regions, sports and individual organisations have responded to this evidence, causing a proliferation of methods used to safeguard children from harm. However, one approach that is yet to be considered is the safety culture approach. This is despite its potential to address all of the potential risk factors of child maltreatment in sport, and its evidenced ability to tackle a wide range of safety concerns in fields as far-reaching as healthcare, aviation and energy production. Based on this, the aim of this thesis was to conceptualise safety culture in sport from a child safeguarding perspective. A total of 45 interviews and 7 focus groups were conducted with participants from five organisations which differed on the grounds of size, mission and geographical location. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings suggested that safety culture in sport is influenced by the presence and nature of; safety management systems, committed leadership and stakeholder engagement. Findings also suggested that these factors have an interconnected relationship, which influences the nature and strength of the safety culture. These factors and their subsequent safety culture were also found to be influenced by a multitude of internal and external contextual factors. Therefore, the findings of this thesis are used to present the Safety Culture Model for Safeguarding Children. This is the first of its kind as both a model of safety culture in sport, and a safety culture model that specifically relates to safeguarding children. Practical implications and avenues for future research are also presented

Remittances and the Dutch disease in Sub-Saharan Africa. A Dynamic Panel Approach

This paper investigates the effect of remittance inflows on the real exchange rate in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) using annual data from 1980 to 2008 for 34 SSA countries, generalised method of moments by Arellano and Bover (1995) andfeasible generalised least squares by Parks (1967) and Kmenta (1971, 1986). We find that when cross-sectional dependence and individual effects are controlled for, remittances to SSA as a whole appreciate the underlying real exchange rate ofrecipient countries. However the Dutch-disease effect is not experienced via the loss of export competitiveness, because the exchange rate appreciation is mitigated by monetary policy positioning and overdependence on imports due to low levels of domestic production in these countries. We also find reverse causality between remittances and the real exchange rate.Dutch disease, remittances, real exchange rate, Sub-Saharan Africa