Hospital Management Practices and Availability of Surgery in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Pilot Study of Three Hospitals

Opportunities exist for adoption of precision agriculture technologies in all parts of the world. The form of precision agriculture may vary from region to region depending on technologies available, knowledge levels and mindsets. The current review examined research articles in the English language on precision agriculture practices for increased productivity among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 7715 articles were retrieved and after screening 128 were reviewed. The results indicate that a number of precision agriculture technologies have been tested under SSA conditions and show promising results. The most promising precision agriculture technologies identified were the use of soil and plant sensors for nutrient and water management, as well as use of satellite imagery, GIS and crop-soil simulation models for site-specific management. These technologies have been shown to be crucial in attainment of appropriate management strategies in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of resource use in SSA. These technologies are important in supporting sustainable agricultural development. Most of these technologies are, however, at the experimental stage, with only South Africa having applied them mainly in large-scale commercial farms. It is concluded that increased precision in input and management practices among SSA smallholder farmers can significantly improve productivity even without extra use of inputs.

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Adoption and Dis-Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture: A Case of Farmers’ Innovations and Integrated Fruit Fly Management in Kenya

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11040338 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 338

Author(s):

Charity M. Wangithi ◽

Beatrice W. Muriithi ◽

Raphael Belmin

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Household Head ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Production Costs ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Bactrocera Dorsalis ◽

Major Threat ◽

Gender And Education ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Indigenous Methods

The invasive fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis poses a major threat to the production and trade of mango in sub-Saharan Africa. Farmers devise different innovations to manage the pest in an attempt to minimize yield loss and production costs while maximizing revenues. Using survey data obtained from Embu County, Kenya, we analyzed farmers’ knowledge and perception as regards the invasive fruit fly, their innovations for the management of the pest, and the determinants of their adoption and dis-adoption decisions of recently developed and promoted integrated pest management (IPM) technologies for suppression of the pest. The results show that farmers consider fruit flies as a major threat to mango production (99%) and primarily depend on pesticides (90%) for the management of the pest. Some farmers (35%) however use indigenous methods to manage the pest. Though farmers possess good knowledge of different IPM strategies, uptake is relatively low. The regression estimates show that continued use of IPM is positively associated with the gender and education of the household head, size of a mango orchard, knowledge on mango pests, training, contact with an extension officer, and use of at least one non-pesticide practice for fruit fly management, while IPM dis-adoption was negatively correlated with the size of the mango orchard, practice score and use of indigenous innovations for fruit fly management. We recommend enhancing farmer′s knowledge through increased access to training programs and extension services for enhanced adoption of sustainable management practices for B. dorsalis.

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Implications of Climate Change on Soil Functions: A Case for Achieving Local Coconut Sufficiency from Sustainable Agricultural Practices

10.20944/preprints202110.0272.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Chinedu Egbunike ◽

Nonso Okoye ◽

Okoroji-Nma Okechukwu

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Management Practices ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Soil Functions ◽

Soil Biodiversity ◽

Environmental Consequences ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Climate change is a major threat to agricultural food production globally and locally. It poses both direct and indirect effects on soil functions. Thus, agricultural management practices has evolved to adaptation strategies in order to mitigate the risks and threats from climate change. The study concludes with a recommendation the coconut farmers should explore the idea of soil biodiversity in a bid to mitigate the potential negative impact of climate related risk on the farming. The study proffers the need for adopting sustainable agricultural practices to boost local coconut production. This can contribute to the simultaneous realisation of two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations: SDG 2 on food security and sustainable agriculture and SDG 13 on action to combat climate change and its impacts. The study findings has implications for tackling climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa and in particular Nigeria in order to boost local agricultural production and coconut in particular without negative environmental consequences and an ability to cope with climate change related risks.

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A Land Management Based Approach to Integrated Striga hermonthica Control in sub-Saharan Africa

Outlook on Agriculture ◽

10.1177/003072709602500304 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 157-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Dana Berner ◽

Robert Carsky ◽

Kenton Dashiell ◽

Jennifer Kling ◽

Victor Manyong

Keyword(s):

Land Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Cultural Control ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Striga Hermonthica ◽

Bush Fallow ◽

Sub Saharan

Striga hermonthica, an obligate root parasite of grasses, Is one of the most severe constraints to cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa. In the recent past, prior to increased production pressure on land, S. hermonthica was controlled in African farming systems by prolonged crop rotations with bush fallow. Because of increasing need for food and concomitant changes in land management practices, however, these fallow rotations are no longer extensively used. Shorter crop rotations and fallow periods have also led to declines in soil fertility which present a very serious threat to African food production. A sustainable solution will be an integrated approach that simultaneously addresses both of these major problems. An integrated programme that replaces traditional bush fallow rotation with non-host nitrogen-fixing legume rotations, using cultivars selected for efficacy in germinating S. hermonthica seeds, is outlined. The programme includes use of S. hermonthlca-free planting material, biological control, cultural control to enhance biological suppressiveness, host-plant resistance, and host-seed treatments.

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Feasibility and acceptability of financial incentives and peer-led life skills training for improving adherence to antiretroviral therapy among adolescents living with HIV in Rwanda: A pilot study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-23345/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Majdi Osman ◽

Simon Pierre Niyonsenga ◽

Manasi Sharma ◽

Rebecca Hope ◽

Shannon Milroy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Financial Incentives ◽

Life Skills ◽

Skills Training ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Art Adherence ◽

Life Skills Training ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Background The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the leading cause of death among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the long-term benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART), adherence remains low among adolescents due to challenges related to cost, acquisition, and treatment regimen. Sub-optimal adherence to ART is associated with the development of viral resistance, treatment failure, and increased morbidity and mortality. Financial incentives and life skills training interventions have shown early promise in motivating protective behaviors, however, gaps still remain around effective and innovative ways to motivate adolescents to stay in HIV care. In partnership with youth, we developed an intervention to address their social and financial pressures in order to promote adherence. Methods A human-centered design approach was utilized to engage adolescents in the initial design of the intervention. Through random sampling, 72 adolescents ages 12–19 were then recruited from two clinics in Rwanda for the pilot study. Adolescents participated in three monthly peer-led life skills trainings at clinics and received financial incentives via mobile money upon clinic attendance and demonstration of suppressed viral load. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with adolescents, healthcare workers, and caregivers to understand their experiences with the intervention. Results Participants responded favorably to the intervention because of the psychosocial, financial, and health benefits it provided. Caregivers felt that adolescents’ moods, attitudes, and overall well-being improved over time. Adolescents used funds to purchase school supplies and save for investments, thus mitigating their financial burdens. Additionally, we learned that logistical challenges such as SIM card registration and mobile phone access must be considered for scale-up of the intervention. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first intervention designed in partnership with youth in sub-Saharan Africa aimed at removing financial barriers to ART adherence. The findings suggest that involving youth in the design of programs, providing them with financial incentives, and training them to use and invest their money wisely has a positive effect on them and their families. Thus, to improve adherence to ART and retention in care among HIV-positive youth, it is critical to address their socioeconomic and psychosocial needs.

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Water reclamation for industrial use in sub-Saharan Africa – a critical review

Drinking Water Engineering and Science ◽

10.5194/dwes-12-45-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 45-58

Author(s):

Noor Jehan Gulamussen ◽

André Marques Arsénio ◽

Nelson Pedro Matsinhe ◽

Louis Cornelis Rietveld

Keyword(s):

Water Scarcity ◽

Industrial Development ◽

Management Practices ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

World Population ◽

Water Reclamation ◽

Sanitation Services ◽

Industrial Use ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract. The increasing world population and growth of industrial development lead to growing water scarcity that, combined with deficient sanitation services, represents serious challenges, particularly in regions like sub-Saharan Africa. Water reclamation is a promising approach to reduce water scarcity, serving as a driving force for better sanitation services and protecting the environment by treating sewage and redistributing for the benefit of other water-dependent applications (e.g., industries). This paper aims to give an overview of the global trends on water reclamation, with a focus on industrial use, and to derive lessons for implementation of water reclamation projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Findings show that extensive experience exists in technology and management practices that can allow successful implementation of water reclamation projects in the region. Under the conditions of deficient sanitation services and low levels of technical expertise, the main challenge is to develop a framework that can facilitate the integration of social and technological methodologies and help in introducing water reclamation in water allocation planning, including the development of specific legislation for industrial water use and disposal.

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Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Smallholders’ Cropping Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Advances in Agriculture ◽

10.1155/2021/4800527 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Shaankua E. Lemarpe ◽

Collins M. Musafiri ◽

Joseph M. Macharia ◽

Milka N. Kiboi ◽

Onesmus K. Ng’etich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

N2o Emissions ◽

Ozone Layer Depletion ◽

Site Specific ◽

Emissions Mitigation ◽

Sub Saharan

Increased concentration of atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas (GHG), is of great concern due to its impact on ozone layer depletion leading to climate change. Ozone layer depletion allows penetration of ultraviolet radiations, which are hazardous to human health. Climate change culminates in reduced food productivity. Limited empirical studies have been conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to quantify and understand the dynamics of soil N2O fluxes from smallholder cropping systems. The available literature on soil N2O fluxes in SSA is limited; hence, there is a pressing need to consolidate it to ease mitigation targeting and policy formulation initiatives. We reviewed the state of N2O emissions from selected cropping systems, drivers that significantly influence N2O emissions, and probable soil N2O emissions mitigation options from 30 studies in SSA cropping systems have been elucidated here. The review outcome indicates that coffee, tea, maize, and vegetables emit N2O ranging from 1 to 1.9, 0.4 to 3.9, 0.1 to 4.26, and 48 to 113.4 kg N2O-N ha-1 yr−1, respectively. The yield-scaled and N2O emissions factors ranged between 0.08 and 67 g N2O-N kg−1 and 0.01 and 4.1%, respectively, across cropping systems. Soil characteristics, farm management practices, and climatic and environmental conditions were significant drivers influencing N2O emissions across SSA cropping systems. We found that site-specific soil N2O emissions mitigation measures are required due to high variations in N2O drivers across SSA. We conclude that appropriate fertilizer and organic input management combined with improved soil management practices are potential approaches in N2O emissions mitigation in SSA. We recommend that (i) while formulating soil N2O emissions mitigation approaches, in SSA, policymakers should consider site-specific targeting approaches, and (ii) more empirical studies need to be conducted in diverse agroecological zones of SSA to qualify various mitigation options on N2O emissions, yield-scaled N2O emissions, and N2O emission factors which are essential in improving national and regional GHG inventories.

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How big is the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yield gap in Sub-Saharan Africa and why? A participatory approach

Open Agriculture ◽

10.1515/opag-2018-0019 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 180-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Dieudonné Harahagazwe ◽

Bruno Condori ◽

Carolina Barreda ◽

Astère Bararyenya ◽

Arinaitwe Abel Byarugaba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Management Practices ◽

Solanum Tuberosum L ◽

Experimental Information ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Yield Gap ◽

Potential Yield ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract According to potato experts from ten Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries working together in a community of practice (CoP) over a 3-years period, potato farmers across SSA can increase their current annual production of 10.8 million metric tons by 140% if they had access to high quality seed along with improved management practices. This paper describes this innovative new methodology tested on potato for the first time, combining modelling and a comprehensive online survey through a CoP. The intent was to overcome the paucity of experimental information required for crop modelling. Researchers, whose data contributed to estimating model parameters, participated in the study using Solanum, a crop model developed by the International Potato Center (CIP). The first finding was that model parameters estimated through participatory modelling using experts’ knowledge were good approximations of those obtained experimentally. The estimated yield gap was 58 Mg ha-1, of which 35 corresponded to a research gap (potential yield minus research yield) and 24 to farmers’ gap (research yield minus farmer’s yield). Over a 6-month period, SurveyMonkey, a Web-based platform was used to assess yield gap drivers. The survey revealed that poor quality seed and bacterial wilt were the main yield gap drivers as perceived by survey respondents.

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Cultural Values and Motivation in Nigeria Work Settings

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development - Globalization and Governance in the International Political Economy ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-4639-1.ch018 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 231-249 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Osarumwense Iguisi

Keyword(s):

Cultural Values ◽

Management Practices ◽

Research Question ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Employee Motivation ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Traditional Values ◽

Work Settings ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Motivational Values

There has been general upsurge in cultures and management research in the last decades. Despite this fact, empirical studies on culture dimensions to management practices in Sub-Saharan Africa have been limited in numbers and scope. In Africa, there is very limited knowledge about cultural values and the consequences they pose for employee motivation. A major research question this study tries to address is whether the results could help to explain the disappointing economic development of Nigeria. The findings do confirm profound employee motivational values with the family collective interests playing a very important role in Nigeria. The study challenges the validity of the dominant Western universal perspectives in employee motivation in traditional African organizations. The study suggests that elements of traditional values pose serious challenges to African managers’ abilities to adopt local cultural and traditional values practices that can improve the effectiveness of employee motivation in their organizations.

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