scholarly journals Household Task Delegation among High-Fertility Forager-Horticulturalists of Lowland Bolivia

2013 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Stieglitz ◽  
Michael Gurven ◽  
Hillard Kaplan ◽  
Paul L. Hooper
Author(s):  
J.S. Clark

Agroforests and woodlots offer Northland hill country farmers investment and diversification opportunities. Agroforests have less effect on the "whole farm" financial position than woodlots, especially where a progressive planting regime is adopted and where no further borrowing is required. Establishment and tending costs for agro-forests are lower, and returns come much sooner. The proven opportunity for continued grazing under trees established in this manner, apart from a short post-planting period, further enhances the agroforesty option. Even where there is reluctance on a farmer's part to plant trees on high fertility land, the expected financial returns from agroforests on low and medium fertility land will increase the overall long-term profitability and flexibility of the whole farming operation. Woodlots may be more appropriate on low fertility areas where weed reversion is likely. Joint ventures may be worth considering where farm finances are a limited factor. Keywords: On-farm forestry development, Northland hill country, agroforestry, woodlots, diversification, joint ventures, progressive planting regimes, grazing availability.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 460-468
Author(s):  
Yap Chin Ann

The last nutrient management review of black pepper was done in 1968. There is, therefore, a need to develop new technology to improve pepper production and transfer that technology to production site. This experiment was carried out to study the effect of newly developed biochemical fertilizer on some physiological characteristics, yield and soil fertility of pepper. The treatment consisted of T1 (BS): chemical fertilizer (N:12%, P:12%, K:17%); T2 (BK1): biochemical fertilizer F1 N:15%, P:5%, K:14) and T3 (BK2): biochemical fertilizer F2 (N:13%, P:4%, K:12). The biochemical fertilizer F1 out-yielded chemical and biochemical fertilizer F2 by 75.38% and 16.45% respectively with the higher yield being associated with various phonotypical alterations, which are reported here. Significant measureable changes were observed in physiological processes and plant characteristics, such as large leaf area index, more chlorophyll content and high photosynthesis rate coupled with lower transpiration rate in biochemical fertilizer F1(BK1) treatment compared with other treatment. The high fertility level in biochemical fertilizer F1 and biochemical fertilizer F2 (BK2) reflected the important of organic material in improving soil quality. In conclusion, the achieve high growth performance and yield in pepper, chemical fertilizer alone is insufficient whilst combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer with balance nutrient content gave a significant increase in yield and growth of pepper. 


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-29
Author(s):  
Stella Babalola ◽  
Joshua O. Akinyemi ◽  
Clifford O. Odimegwu

Abstract Nigeria has one of the highest fertility rates in Africa. Data from 2013 Demographic and Health Surveys indicate a virtual stagnation of fertility rate since 2003. Low contraceptive use and pronatalist attitudes are among the factors contributing to the high fertility rate in Nigeria. In this manuscript, we pooled data from three most recent waves of Demographic and Health Surveys to examine trends in demand for children over time and identify the factors associated with change in demand for children. The data show that demand for children has declined since 2003 although not monotonically so. Variables that were positively associated with increased likelihood of desiring no additional children were residence in the South-West (as opposed to residence in the North-Central), exposure to family planning (FP) messages on the mass media, number of children ever born, educational level, and urban residence. In contrast, uncertainty about fertility desire was more widespread in 2008 compared to 2013 although less widespread in 2003 than in 2013. The likelihood of being undecided about fertility desire was positively associated with discrepancies in family size desires between husband and wife, parity and Islamic religious affiliation. Programs should aim to increase access to effective contraceptive methods and promote demand for contraceptives as a way of fostering a sustainable reduction in demand for children. Furthermore, strategies that address uncertainty by fostering women’s understanding of the social and health implications of large family sizes are relevant.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-15
Author(s):  
Clifford O. Odimegwu ◽  
Emmanuel O. Olamijuwon

Abstract The demographic changes occurring in Mali, evident in high fertility but declining mortality rates have raised optimism about the prospects of reaping demographic dividend. However, it remains unclear how soon and what policy scenario would yield the largest demographic dividend in the country. We used a demographic-economic model “DemDiv” to assess the prospects of reaping a demographic dividend in Mali by 2050. We illuminate this further by examining the cost and implications of different combination of education, family planning and economic policies. The results show that by increasing access to education, family planning services coupled with strong economic reforms, Mali’s GDP per capita will be $27,044 by 2050. This high per capita GDP is almost thrice the benefit of prioritising only economic reforms. Mali would also have a GDP of $977 billion. These findings highlight the need for sound demographic and market-oriented economic policies for Mali to reap a large demographic dividend by 2050.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael N. Nkwenti ◽  
Ishan Sudeera Abeywardena

Over the last 10 years, the state of sexual and reproductive health in Cameroon has been challenging with rising levels of sexually transmitted diseases, the high fertility rate, and high infant and maternal mortality rates. Some researchers attributed these challenges to the limited number and quality of sexual and reproductive health personnel working in health facilities across the country. The North West Region of Cameroon was taken as a unit of study to probe into the skills gap among sexual and reproductive health practitioners. A total of n = 302 participants at a confidence interval of 95 per cent were selected using a stratified random sampling technique to take part in the study. The results indicated that a good number of them have no prior experience in the field of sexual and reproductive health. On the other hand, most of the practitioners’ skills level is situated between intermediate and competent with very few of them being at the expert skills level. It was therefore recommended that most of the participants needs improvement in (i) computer or information technology skills; (ii) research skills; and (iii) leadership development of the specialty. These areas need to be dealt with, as a matter of priority, through training and professional development to enable these professionals to deliver better service in the sexual and reproductive healthcare sector. It was also recommended that, in line with the critical role that sexual and reproductive health practitioners play in Cameroon’s health system, the Ministry of Public Health and other role players in the health sector make sufficient investments in the improvement of the health workforce’s accessibility to information and communication technology.


2000 ◽  
Vol 39 (4II) ◽  
pp. 1057-1073
Author(s):  
Abdul Hakem

Pakistan with an estimated population of around 142.5 million in mid 2001 is the seventh most populous country in the world and fourth in Asia and Pacific countries. The historical trends indicate a continuously increasing growth in population (Table 1). The population of the area now constituting Pakistan was 16.6 million in 1901. Since then the population has increased over eight-fold. Annual growth rates have risen from 1 percent in the first three decades of the century to around 2 percent in the next three decades and after peaking at little over 3 percent in the 1960s, has started showing a declining trend. Currently it is estimated that Pakistan’s population is growing at around 2.1 percent, still a very high rate of annual growth in population. Major contributing factor to the fast growth in population of Pakistan has been high fertility which has remained high for a very long period. It is evident that nearly 100 million population has been added to the population of Pakistan since 1961, that is, during the last four decades. Such rapid growth in population has several adverse implications for the socio-economic development of the country which has been offsetting the gains in social and economic development.


1986 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-570
Author(s):  
Ghulam Yasin Soomro

Experiencing high fertility and declining mortality levels, the developing countries are today faced with the problem of relatively high rates of natural increase in their populations. This pace of growth in population, influenced by high fertility levels, impedes the overall development planning. As pointed out in a document prepared by the Planning Commission of Pakistan, 'A vicious circle is set in motion in which high fertility and socio-economic stagnation breed upon each other' [5]. In the developing countries, development programmes including birth control programmes are in operation. The sustained high fertility levels, therefore, call for more insights into the mechanisms operating in the society and influencing fertility. Studies of fertility behaviour are conducted at both micro and macro levels. The difference between micro and macro is a matter of emphasis rather than one of kind, and both approaches are concerned with each level of social aggregation. Macrolevel studies describe the level and pattern of change resulting from the ongoing socio-econornic development in the society as a whole and do not explain variations in fertility at the household level [12]. However, development programmes, which are implemented at aggregate levels defined by geographical boundaries, influence the population in terms of socio-economic status and fertility behaviour. There are many factors which affect human fertility individually or collectively. Attempts have been made to identify these factors, and conceptual frameworks have been developed to explain the causal hypotheses. In this context mention may be made of the demographic transition theory, which is often applied to study fertility behaviour.


Providing the population with quality and safe food, in particular meat, is one of the main tasks facing agricultural producers. An important role is assigned to pig breeding, since pigs are characterized by high fertility and precocity [1, p. 25]. The aim of the work was to assess the productive qualities ofpure-bred and hybrid sows when crossing with purebred boars. The studies were conducted in the pig farm "Slavyanka". Productive qualities of sows were assessed by multiple pregnancy, large young, milk production, weight of the nest at birth and on the 30th day at weaning, as well as by the level ofpigs’ safety. These studies showed that hybrid sows outperformed purebred sows (13.70±0.40) in multiple pregnancy (14.6±0.04 piglets). The milk content of purebred sows was lower by 4.73 kg or 10.50 % than that of two-breed hybrids. The mass ofpiglets’ nest at birth in crossbred sows when crossing with Pietrain boar outperformed the mass ofpurebred sows’ nests by 3.4 kg, or 17,60%. The output of business piglets was almost the same and amounted to 13.01 heads have hybrid sows and 12.05 heads purebred. Safety of piglets was, respectively, 90% and 87%. Two-breed hybrids significantly outperformed purebred sows by nest weight at weaning by 14.3%, the average weight of one pig by 9.42%. Thus, studies have shown that crossbred sows crossed by terminal boar of Pietren breed, outperformed purebred ones on many para-metres.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas C. R. Silva ◽  
Rodrigo Studart Corrêa ◽  
Jamie L. Wright ◽  
Barbara Bomfim ◽  
Lauren Hendricks ◽  
...  

AbstractAmazonian Dark Earths (ADEs) are unusually fertile soils characterised by elevated concentrations of microscopic charcoal particles, which confer their distinctive colouration. Frequent occurrences of pre-Columbian artefacts at ADE sites led to their ubiquitous classification as Anthrosols (soils of anthropic origin). However, it remains unclear how indigenous peoples created areas of high fertility in one of the most nutrient-impoverished environments on Earth. Here, we report new data from a well-studied ADE site in the Brazilian Amazon, which compel us to reconsider its anthropic origin. The amounts of phosphorus and calcium—two of the least abundant macronutrients in the region—are orders of magnitude higher in ADE profiles than in the surrounding soil. The elevated levels of phosphorus and calcium, which are often interpreted as evidence of human activity at other sites, correlate spatially with trace elements that indicate exogenous mineral sources rather than in situ deposition. Stable isotope ratios of neodymium, strontium, and radiocarbon activity of microcharcoal particles also indicate exogenous inputs from alluvial deposition of carbon and mineral elements to ADE profiles,  beginning several thousands of years before the earliest evidence of soil management for plant cultivation in the region. Our data suggest that indigenous peoples harnessed natural processes of landscape formation, which led to the unique properties of ADEs, but were not responsible for their genesis. If corroborated elsewhere, this hypothesis would transform our understanding of human influence in Amazonia, opening new frontiers for the sustainable use of tropical landscapes going forward.


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