scholarly journals Cotton in West and Central Africa: from the agricultural revolution to the agro-ecological transition

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Mamy Soumaré ◽  
Michel Havard ◽  
Bruno Bachelier
Keyword(s):  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Price Volatility ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Agricultural Revolution ◽  
West And Central Africa ◽  
Economic Price ◽  
Ecological Transition

Since the 1970s, cotton has been a driving force in the transformation of agricultural production systems and a key element in local economies in the savannah areas of West and Central Africa (WCA). However, the sustainability of cotton-based production systems is often debated because of their effects on soils and the negative impacts of chemical pest control on the environment and human health. Through drastic reforms, the WCA cotton sector overcame the crises, showing its resilience. Today, research should be mobilized to help the sector tackle the major challenges: i) economic (price volatility, producers’ incomes), ii) social (inclusion of vulnerable groups, role of women and young people, etc.) and iii) environmental (impact of pesticides, soil degradation, etc.) and linked to climate change. The articles published in this issue present some results and perspectives of research work, which can help improving the sustainability of cotton systems in WCA, open paths towards an agro-ecological transition and address the new challenges.

GUDALI CATTLE OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

1996 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 147-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Tawah ◽  
J. E. O. Rege
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Genetic Change ◽  
East African ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Husbandry Practices ◽  
West And Central Africa ◽  
Conventional Literature ◽  
Available Information

SUMMARYThe objective of this paper was to compile the available information in the conventional and non-conventional literature on the origin, distribution, ecological settings, utility, husbandry practices and production systems of the Gudali, a West and Central African shorthorned zebu which is similar in conformation, size and origin to the East African shorthorned zebu. These animals are reputed not only for their beef and dairy qualities. but also for their hardiness to the harsh northerly environments. Under the prevailing circumstances in the pastoral systems, natural selection is the primary force affecting any genetic change and, as a result, animals tend to perform relatively poorly. Most of the documented studies have been limited in scope and applicability. Therefore, further studies are needed to adequately characterize these animals under their different production systems.

CATTLE BREED EVALUATION STUDIES BY THE INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK CENTRE FOR AFRICA (ILCA)

1983 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 17-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C.M. Trail
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Cattle Breed ◽  
Cattle Breeds ◽  
West And Central Africa

SUMMARYThis note describes work being carried out by ILCA on evaluation of the productivity of N'Dama, Sahiwal and Boran cattle breeds. Indications of the potential of the N'Dama to increase output from areas of trypanosomiasis risk has led to studies throughout West and Central Africa concerned with aspects of trypanotolerant livestock. Studies on the Sahiwal and many different crosses between Sahiwal and Ayrshires under a range of production systems have allowed suggestions to be made on achieving and maintaining optimal contributions from the Sahiwal breed. Similar ongoing studies on the Boran breed are described.

scholarly journals Within-Season Changes in Land-Use Impact Pest Abundance in Smallholder African Cassava Production Systems

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Kalyebi ◽  
Sarina Macfadyen ◽  
Andrew Hulthen ◽  
Patrick Ocitti ◽  
Frances Jacomb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Bemisia Tabaci ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Manihot Esculenta Crantz

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), an important commercial and food security crop in East and Central Africa, continues to be adversely affected by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. In Uganda, changes in smallholder farming landscapes due to crop rotations can impact pest populations but how these changes affect pest outbreak risk is unknown. We investigated how seasonal changes in land-use have affected B. tabaci population dynamics and its parasitoids. We used a large-scale field experiment to standardize the focal field in terms of cassava age and cultivar, then measured how Bemisia populations responded to surrounding land-use change. Bemisia tabaci Sub-Saharan Africa 1 (SSA1) was identified using molecular diagnostics as the most prevalent species and the same species was also found on surrounding soybean, groundnut, and sesame crops. We found that an increase in the area of cassava in the 3–7-month age range in the landscape resulted in an increase in the abundance of the B. tabaci SSA1 on cassava. There was a negative relationship between the extent of non-crop vegetation in the landscape and parasitism of nymphs suggesting that these parasitoids do not rely on resources in the non-crop patches. The highest abundance of B. tabaci SSA1 nymphs in cassava fields occurred at times when landscapes had large areas of weeds, low to moderate areas of maize, and low areas of banana. Our results can guide the development of land-use strategies that smallholder farmers can employ to manage these pests.

Giant Tree Frog diversification in West and Central Africa: isolation by physical barriers, climate, and reproductive traits

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle E. Jaynes ◽  
Edward A. Myers ◽  
Václav Gvoždík ◽  
David C. Blackburn ◽  
Daniel M. Portik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Africa ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Tree Frog ◽  
Physical Barriers ◽  
West And Central Africa
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