Impact of crop cycle on movement patterns of pest rodent species between fields and houses in Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ara Monadjem ◽  
Themb'a A. Mahlaba ◽  
Nomfundo Dlamini ◽  
Seth J. Eiseb ◽  
Steven R. Belmain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rhodamine B ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Rodent Species ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Field Rodents

Context Rodent pests can have severe impacts on crop production in sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, the multimammate mouse Mastomys natalensis severely damages agricultural crops in southern and eastern Africa, leading to significant losses. Both its population ecology and breeding biology have been studied in agricultural and natural habitats. Population numbers erupt depending on the timing and amount of rainfall and may reach plague proportions, especially in agricultural settings, where it may become a serious pest. However, the ecology of this species, in particular its interactions with other species within the context of human settlement, is poorly understood. It may occasionally enter houses, but the degree to which it does so and the factors influencing this movement are not known. Aims We investigated the relationship between Rattus spp. and M. natalensis entering buildings in an agro-ecological setting. We predicted that M. natalensis would enter houses more readily when food availability was lowest in the surrounding fields, and when the larger Rattus spp. were absent. Methods We followed 40 individuals of M. natalensis in Swaziland and Namibia by radio-telemetry. Mice were captured in maize fields within 50 m of a homestead and fitted with radio-transmitters at three different times corresponding to different stages of crop development: pre-harvest, post-harvest and pre-planting. To corroborate the findings of the telemetry study, a non-toxic marker, rhodamine B, was mixed with standard bait and left at bait stations inside houses in 10 homesteads in Swaziland and Tanzania. Key results Mice remained in the fields during the entire period of study in Swaziland, but entered buildings in Namibia during the post-harvest stage, which may represent a period of food shortage for these mice in the field. Rodents captured after baiting with rhodamine B demonstrated that Rattus spp. predominated within the houses. A small number of rhodamine B-marked M. natalensis were captured outside the houses, the proportion declining with distance away from the houses. Conclusions These results suggest that in a typical rural African setting dominated by subsistence agriculture, Rattus spp. (when present) competitively exclude the smaller M. natalensis from entering houses. Implications Interactions between rodent pest species may be important in determining which rodent species enter houses in rural African landscapes. Consideration of such interactions may play an important role when developing pest management strategies.

scholarly journals Genetic diversity of whitefly (Bemisia spp.) on crop and uncultivated plants in Uganda: implications for the control of this devastating pest species complex in Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Habibu Mugerwa ◽  
John Colvin ◽  
Titus Alicai ◽  
Christopher A. Omongo ◽  
Richard Kabaalu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Bemisia Tabaci ◽  
Species Complex ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Sida Acuta ◽  
Putative Species ◽  
Plant Hosts

AbstractOver the past three decades, highly increased whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) populations have been observed on the staple food crop cassava in eastern Africa and associated with ensuing viral disease pandemics and food insecurity. Increased whitefly numbers have also been observed in other key agricultural crops and weeds. Factors behind the population surges on different crops and their interrelationships are unclear, although in cassava they have been associated with specific populations within the Bemisia tabaci species complex known to infest cassava crops in Africa. This study carried out an in-depth survey to understand the distribution of B. tabaci populations infesting crops and uncultivated plant hosts in Uganda, a centre of origin for this pest complex. Whitefly samples were collected from 59 identified plant species and 25 unidentified weeds in a countrywide survey. Identities of 870 individual adult whiteflies were determined through mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 sequences (651 bp) in the 3′ barcode region used for B. tabaci systematics. Sixteen B. tabaci and five related whitefly putative species were identified based on > 4.0% nucleotide divergence, of which three are proposed as novel B. tabaci putative species and four as novel closely related whitefly species. The most prevalent whiteflies were classified as B. tabaci MED-ASL (30.5% of samples), sub-Saharan Africa 1 (SSA1, 22.7%) and Bemisia Uganda1 (12.1%). These species were also indicated to be the most polyphagous occurring on 33, 40 and 25 identified plant species, respectively. Multiple (≥ 3) whitefly species occurred on specific crops (bean, eggplant, pumpkin and tomato) and weeds (Sida acuta and Ocimum gratissimum). These plants may have increased potential to act as reservoirs for mixed infections of whitefly-vectored viruses. Management of whitefly pest populations in eastern Africa will require an integration of approaches that consider their degree of polyphagy and a climate that enables the continuous presence of crop and uncultivated plant hosts.

Flood Based Farming Systems in South-Eastern Africa: Smallholder Farmers’ Choice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab Msume ◽  
Giulio Castelli ◽  
Faidess Mwale
Keyword(s):  
Capital Investment ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Human Welfare ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Sub Saharan

<p>Agriculture is critical for human welfare and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, especially rainfed agriculture remains vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in the region. This has generated increasing interest in practices such as Flood Based Farming Systems (FBFS) which enable turning flood water into an opportunity for crop production for smallholder farmers living in flood plains. Despite this interest, there is limited knowledge about farmers’ preference in terms of choices about a specific FBFS and therefore about which specific FBFS needs improvements for realizing its full benefits. The present study characterizes FBFS in Balaka District, Eastern Malawi, in order to develop a pilot approach for gaining knowledge and insights about farmers’ preferences. Data were collected from a sample of 398 questionnaires, direct observations, focus group discussions and key informant interviews, and they were analyzed through SPSS. Results show that Flood Recession Agriculture (FRA) was predominantly practiced (54%), together with other FBFS such as Depression Agriculture (DA), Spate Irrigation (SI) and Dug Outs (DO). Low capital investment and low level of awareness of farmers were referred to be critical for FRA adoption with (p<0.00003) and (p<0.004) respectively. Therefore, investing on FRA, which has already proven to be used in the area, could be a key to improve food security in the area. </p>

scholarly journals Elevated alpha diversity in disturbed sites obscures regional decline and homogenization of amphibian diversity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Matthias Dehling ◽  
J Maximilian Dehling
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Gamma Diversity ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Farmland Conversion ◽  
Frog Species ◽  
Amphibian Communities

Loss of natural habitat is one of the major threats for biodiversity worldwide. Habitat conversion not only changes diversity and species composition locally (alpha diversity) but might also lead to large-scale homogenization of species communities and decrease in regional species richness (gamma diversity). We investigated the effect of farmland conversion on amphibian communities in Rwanda and compared local and regional (country-wide) taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity between natural and farmland sites (agricultural marais). Alpha diversity was higher in the disturbed farmland than in natural sites. However, species turnover among farmland sites was much lower than among natural sites, resulting in highly homogenized amphibian communities and much lower country-wide taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic gamma diversity in farmland compared to natural sites. The few frog species found in farmland were mostly disturbance-tolerant species that are widespread in Eastern Africa and beyond. In contrast, most of the regionally endemic frog species that make this region a continent-scale hotspot of amphibian diversity were found only in the natural habitats. Ongoing farmland conversion might lead to a loss of regional endemism and a widespread homogenization of species communities across sub-Saharan Africa.

Contextualizing private sector-based seed system development: The case of sorghum in Eastern Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 003072702110563
Author(s):  
Caroline Hambloch ◽  
Jane Kahwai ◽  
John Mugonya
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
System Development ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Improved Varieties ◽  
Seed System ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Farming Households

Private sector-based seed system development remains a key development intervention in Sub-Saharan Africa. Seed system interventions promoting the adoption of improved varieties through the private sector generally follow a linear, market-oriented technological adoption logic. A qualitative case study of the sorghum seed system in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania demonstrates that this model may not be able to drive the broad-scale adoption of improved sorghum varieties and to generate significant benefits for small sorghum-farming households. The findings suggest that the agro-ecological, social, and political-economic contexts critically determine the role improved varieties and the private sector can play in rural development. Improved sorghum varieties promoted by both the public and private sectors may not suit the needs, preferences and contexts of farming households. Seed companies hold sorghum as an add-on in their portfolio, investing less resources and research into sorghum compared to more profitable crops such as vegetable and maize seeds. Significant political-economic obstacles exist that favor the support of cash crops such as maize and rice, limiting the growth and development of the private sector in the sorghum seed system. We conclude that future interventions should build on approaches that aim to develop more diverse channels of seed delivery in both the formal and informal seed systems, adopt a livelihoods perspective to evaluate the costs, benefits, and risks associated with the adoption of new technologies, and acknowledge that seed system interventions are only one out of a portfolio of interventions to generate rural development.

scholarly journals Climate Smart Agriculture as Final Goal: Use of Improved Cereals Varieties in Cinzana, Mali.

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Kalifa TRAORE ◽  
Daouda SIDIBE ◽  
Harouna COULIBALY
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Heavy Rain ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Improved Varieties ◽  
Farmer Organizations ◽  
Conservation Technology ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Smart Agriculture

Climate variability and change are recognized as the greatest challenge to crop production and food security in sub-Saharan Africa. This work assesses farmers’ perception on the contribution of improved varieties of sorghum and millet in the search for food security in Cinzana rural commune of Mali in the current context of climate change.The methodology was based on focus group surveys with both, the decentralized technical services, administrative and municipal authorities, NGOs, farmer organizations and producers but also farmer exchanges visits on improved varieties tested in farmer’s field.The result shows that climate change is described by the majority of farmers (87%) as decrease in rainfall amount and length of rainy seasons, high increases in temperature and high deforestation and water scarcity. Unpredictability of climate, (80%), drought (70%) and heavy rain (65%) occurrence were identified as major perception of farmers on risks in climate for crop production and soil degradation. After farmers’ study tour, 80% of the participants mentioned a better growth of plants and increase of soil moisture with the use of contour ridges tillage as a water conservation technology. Adapted cycle (55%) and higher yield (37%) of improved varieties were farmer’s main drivers for adoption of improved millet and sorghum varieties.The study revealed that local farmers have substantial knowledge on climate variabilities and risks and also are aware of some adaptation strategies. However, for wide scale adoption of effective strategies, capacity strengthening appeared a prerequisite.

scholarly journals Africa and the wider world: creole communities in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans

Tempo ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-481
Author(s):  
Malyn Newitt
Keyword(s):  
Technology Transfer ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
World Economy ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Cultural Appropriation ◽  
The World ◽  
African Slaves ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract: Portuguese creoles were instrumental in bringing sub-Saharan Africa into the intercontinental systems of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. In the Atlantic Islands a distinctive creole culture emerged, made up of Christian emigrants from Portugal, Jewish exiles and African slaves. These creole polities offered a base for coastal traders and became politically influential in Africa - in Angola creating their own mainland state. Connecting the African interior with the world economy was largely on African terms and the lack of technology transfer meant that the economic gap between Africa and the rest of the world inexorably widened. African slaves in Latin America adapted to a society already creolised, often through adroit forms of cultural appropriation and synthesis. In eastern Africa Portuguese worked within existing creolised Islamic networks but the passage of their Indiamen through the Atlantic created close links between the Indian Ocean and Atlantic commercial systems.

scholarly journals Response of Assorted Maize Germplasm to the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease in Kenya

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Sitta J. ◽  
Nzuve F. M. ◽  
Olubayo F. M. ◽  
Mutinda C. ◽  
Muiru W. M. ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inbred Lines ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Maize Productivity ◽  
Maize Genotypes ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Chlorotic Mottle Virus ◽  
Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus ◽  
Chlorotic Mottle

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most widely grown staple food crop in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and occupies more than 33 million hectares each year. The recent outbreak and rapid spread of the Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) disease has emerged as a great challenge to maize production, threatening food security for the majority of households in the Eastern Africa region with yield loss estimated to be 50-90%. The disease is a result of synergistic interaction between two viruses, Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) and Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV). The objective of this study was to identify maize genotypes with resistance to MLN. In season one, 73 maize genotypes comprising 25 inbred lines from research institutes, 30 lines from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and 18 farmer varieties were screened for resistance to MLN. In season 2, only 48 genotypes were screened after some of the inbred lines showed complete susceptibility to MLN. These genotypes were grown in three replications in a completely randomized design in polythene bags in the greenhouse at the University of Nairobi. The plants were artificially inoculated using a mixture of SCMV and MCMV. .Weekly MLN disease severity scores using a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = highly resistant and 5 = highly susceptible) and % MLN incidence were recorded and eventually converted into Area under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) to give an indication of the disease intensity over time. The plants were allowed to grow to flowering stage to observe the effect of the MLN on the maize productivity. Analysis of Variance revealed wide genetic variation among the genotypes ranging from resistant to highly susceptible. In season 1, three farmer varieties namely MLR2, MLR11 and MLR13 showed resistance to MLN with a mean severity score of 2. In season 2, MLN12, MLN17, MLN18, MLN19, and MLR4 showed low MLN severity ranging from 2-3. The genotypes MLR6, MLR9, MLR16 and MLR18 showed MLN severity of 3 and early maturity traits. This study also validated the presence of MLN resistance among some CIMMYT lines depicted to show resistance in previous studies. These resistant genotypes could serve as donors in the introgression of the resistance into the adapted Kenyan maize backgrounds. This will go a long way in ensuring sustainable maize productivity while improving the livelihoods of the small-scale farmers who form the bulk of the major maize producers in Kenya.

scholarly journals Knowledge, utilization and barriers of cervical cancer screening among women attending selected district hospitals in Kigali - Rwanda

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-274
Author(s):  
Gaudence Niyonsenga ◽  
Darius Gishoma ◽  
Ruth Sego ◽  
Marie Goretti Uwayezu ◽  
Bellancille Nikuze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Cervical Cancer Screening ◽  
Knowledge Utilization ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Screening Rate ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
District Hospitals ◽  
Screening Services

Background: Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer attacking women globally, and the second in Eastern Africa where Rwanda is located. Regular screening is an effective prevention approach for cervical cancer. Despite that, the screening rate for cervical cancer in Africa is estimated between 10% and 70%, with a number of barriers. This is especially the case in sub-Saharan Africa. In Rwanda, there is limited literature on the rate of use of screening services or the barriers to cervical screening. Objective: To assess knowledge, utilization, and barriers of cervical cancer screening among women attending selected district hospitals in Kigali, Rwanda. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study with a structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Nominal ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions were used to gather data on knowledge and utilisation of cervical cancer and its screening. Likert-type scale questions were used to identify different barriers to screening services. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Respondents were selected by systematic random sampling from the database of women attending gynaecology services at three district hospitals in Kigali, Rwanda. Results: Three hundred and twenty-nine women responded to the survey. Half of the respondents (n = 165) had high knowledge level scores on cervical cancer screening. The cervical cancer screening rate was 28.3%. Utilization of screening was associated with knowledge (P = 0.000, r = -0.392) and selected demographic factors (P = 0.000). Individual barriers included poor knowledge on availability of screening services, community barriers included living in a rural area, and health provider and systems barriers included lack of awareness campaigns, negative attitudes of healthcare providers toward clients, and long waiting times; all barriers limit the access to screening services. Conclusion: A low rate of cervical cancer screening was identified for women attending selected district hospitals in Kigali-Rwanda due to various barriers. On-going education on cervical cancer and its screening is highly recommended. It is important that trained health providers encourage their clients to have cervical cancer screening and work to reduce related barriers.

scholarly journals Resource frontiers and agglomeration economies: The varied logics of transnational land-based investing in Southern and Eastern Africa

AMBIO ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilini Abeygunawardane ◽  
Angela Kronenburg García ◽  
Zhanli Sun ◽  
Daniel Müller ◽  
Almeida Sitoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Data ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Agglomeration Economies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Track Record ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Forestry Investments ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Investment Location

AbstractActor-level data on large-scale commercial agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. The peculiar choice of transnational investing in African land has, therefore, been subject to conjecture. Addressing this gap, we reconstructed the underlying logics of investment location choices in a Bayesian network, using firm- and actor-level interview and spatial data from 37 transnational agriculture and forestry investments across 121 sites in Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. We distinguish four investment locations across gradients of resource frontiers and agglomeration economies to derive the preferred locations of different investors with varied skillsets and market reach (i.e., track record). In contrast to newcomers, investors with extensive track records are more likely to expand the land use frontier, but they are also likely to survive the high transaction costs of the pre-commercial frontier. We highlight key comparative advantages of Southern and Eastern African frontiers and map the most probable categories of investment locations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document