scholarly journals Participatory Assessment of Factors Influencing Nutrition and Livelihoods in Rural Ethiopia: Implications for Measuring Impacts of Multisector Nutrition Programs

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 468-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. Busse ◽  
W. Jogo ◽  
M. Fofanah ◽  
H. Tesfay ◽  
M. Hadush ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Nutrition Intervention ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Rural Ethiopia ◽  
Systems Model ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Participatory Assessment ◽  
Good Nutrition ◽  
Nutrition Sensitive

Agricultural interventions more effectively improve nutrition when they are adapted to local contexts and engage multiple sectors. However, evidence is limited for how to design and measure the impacts of such interventions. We piloted a participatory methodology to collect community feedback to inform the design and selection of measures for a multisector nutrition intervention in Ethiopia. Study participants were purposively recruited from 6 rural districts in Tigray and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ regions. Qualitative data were collected from 12 focus group discussions with smallholder farmers (men and women) participating in a nutrition-sensitive agriculture intervention. The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) combined with an ecological systems model informed the survey tool and analyses. Analyses revealed 3 key findings. First, there were regional differences in how communities defined assets important for nutrition. Second, when asked to prioritize which assets were most important, communities selected every SLA capital category; however, the types of assets within each category differed by region. Third, the most commonly reported barriers to good nutrition were traditional feeding behaviors (eg, men eating before women) and lack of nutrition knowledge. How households use assets to enhance nutrition is influenced by diverse and dynamic cultural, social, economic, and ecological factors. The participatory methods piloted in this study present a novel approach to identify contextually relevant household, community, and institutional assets used to support food and nutrition security.

scholarly journals Assessing the influence of social capital on water point sustainability in rural Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 611-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret T. Person ◽  
Maryann G. Delea ◽  
Joshua V. Garn ◽  
Kelly Alexander ◽  
Bekele Abaire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Collaborative Governance ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Rural Ethiopia ◽  
Resource Governance ◽  
Water Point ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Despite considerable investment, sustainability of rural water resources remains a critical challenge in Ethiopia. Evidence suggests social capital – the networks, norms, and trust that facilitate cooperative behaviors – influences a community's ability to manage communal water resources. In turn, strong community governance of water resources may lead to sustainable resource management. Existing evidence provides a framework for exploring the relationship between social capital and governance of common-pool resources. However, there is a dearth of quantifiable evidence demonstrating the relationship between social capital, collaborative governance, and, in turn, sustainability of communal water resources. In 32 communities in rural Ethiopia, we employed a validated survey tool, developed by the World Bank, to quantify social capital and explore these relationships. We found associations between governance and several social capital domains: groups and networks, trust and solidarity, and information and communication. All governance indicators were associated with functionality. Identifying domains of social capital that influence governance can inform institutional efforts to target community-based water resource programming, foster social capital to improve water point sustainability, and diagnose issues related to resource management. Additional research examining the influence and directionality of social capital and other social constructs on water resource governance and functionality is warranted.

scholarly journals SWOT analysis of plant health clinics as perceived by plant doctors in Nepal

2018 ◽  
pp. 137-146
Author(s):  
R. K. Adhikari ◽  
P. P. Regmi ◽  
R. B Thapa ◽  
Y. D. G.C. ◽  
E. Boa
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Plant Health ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Extension System ◽  
Health Clinics ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Plant Clinics ◽  
External Forces

 This paper identified and examined the internal and external forces that enable or inhibit the performance of plant clinics in Nepal. The study used web-based online survey tool to collect primary information. Likert scaling and indexing techniques were used on data analysis. Pretested set of questionnaires were mailed to 209 plant doctors and the response rate was 54.54%. Being ninth country to initiate plant health clinics, Nepal is successful to adapt this novel approach into the existing extension system. It has increased access to plant health services by providing wide range of services at a place. However,limited understanding and only profit motive of local private agro-vet and input dealers has created some biased-understanding and un-trust with clinic organizers. This SWOT analysis clearly spells the scope of plant clinics to fulfill the gap between farmers need and existing services provided by public extension system.Journal of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science.Vol. 33-34, 2015, page: 137-146

scholarly journals Kajian metode Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) dan Nutrition Services Screening Assesment (NSSA) sebagai status gizi awal pasien dewasa sebagai prediktor lama rawat inap dan status pulang

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Agustinus I Wayan Harimawan ◽  
Hamam Hadi ◽  
Susetyowati Susetyowati
Keyword(s):  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Nutrition Intervention ◽  
Nutrition Status ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Good Nutrition ◽  
Better Than

Background: Assessment of nutrition status of newly hospitalized patients is an initial stage of nutrition intervention which will bring effects to the duration of stay and the history of patients' diseases during hospitalization. Appropriate nutrition intervention as part of  patients' care can be used as an indicator of the quality of hospital service.Objective: The study aimed to identify preliminary nutrition status of newly hospitalized adult patients using SGA method, its effects to length of stay and status of discharge and compare the capacity of SGA and NSSA indicators in predicting length of stay and status of discharge of adult patients.Method: This observational study used prospective cohort study design. It was carried out at Anuntaloko Hospital of Parigi, District of Parigi Moutong, Sulawesi Tengah from July to September 2008. Subject consisted of 162 people comprising 82 undernourished people and 80 people with good nutrition status based on assessment using SGA method. Data analysis used bivariable and multivariable, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve and diagnostic methods using computer program.Result: The majority of newly hospitalized patients were undernourished (50.6%); preliminary status of patients assessed using SGA method could affect length of stay, relative risk (RR)=3.67 but not status of discharge (RR=0.97). The capacity of SGA indicator, area under the curve (AUC)=0.81 and maximum sum of sensitivity and specifcity (MSS) =1.57 was better than NSSA indicator (AUC=0.76 and MSS 1.43) in predicting length of stay. The capacity of SGA indicator (AUC=0.50 and MSS=1.01) was better than NSSA indicator (AUC=0.49 and MSS=0.98) in predicting discharge status of the patient.Conclusion: SGA and NSSA indicators could be implemented in assessing preliminary nutrition status of newly hospitalized adult patients; SGA indicator had better capacity than NSSA indicator.

scholarly journals Smallholder Farmer Engagement in Citizen Science for Varietal Diversification Enhances Adaptive Capacity and Productivity in Bihar, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Gotor ◽  
Tiziana Pagnani ◽  
Ambica Paliwal ◽  
Flavia Scafetti ◽  
Jacob van Etten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Varietal Diversity ◽  
Participatory Varietal Selection ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Agricultural Shocks

There is evidence that in many situations the use of a diverse set of two or more crop varieties in the field has benefits for production. The benefits of varietal diversification include lower crop disease incidence, higher productivity, and lower yield variability. Targeted interventions could increase varietal diversity where smallholder farmers lack the knowledge and access to seeds needed to diversify their varieties. Innovations based on crowdsourced citizen science make it possible to involve a large number of households in farmer participatory varietal selection. This study analyses varietal diversification in Bihar, India, focusing on the effects of the largest citizen science-based intervention to date, involving 25,000 farmers and 47,000 plots * seasons. The study examines if an increase in the varietal diversity of major staple crops, namely wheat and rice, under real farming conditions contributed to: (1) crop productivity and (2) the ability of households to recover from agricultural production shocks. We used the Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey (RHoMIS) as a survey tool for rapid characterization of households and the sustainable rural livelihoods framework to understand the potential multiple interactions that are activated within the system by the intervention. We found that an increase in varietal diversification produced livelihood benefits in terms of crop productivity and the ability of households to recover from the occurrence agricultural shocks. Finally, outcomes highlight the effectiveness of development programmes aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods through participatory approaches and use of local crop varietal diversity.

‘Slow to change’: Farmers’ perceptions of place-based barriers to sustainable agriculture

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 511-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Grover ◽  
Joshua Gruver
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Regional Factors ◽  
The Impact

AbstractSmallholder farmers are an important and growing segment of the farm population in Indiana and in the USA. Past research regarding farmer decision-making has been inconsistent and has largely focused on the larger-scale, conventional farmer, leaving smallholders poorly understood. There is a need to better understand the management decisions of smallholder farmers within their regional context to promote efforts toward environmental, social and economic sustainability. Through in-depth qualitative inquiry, this study investigated the impact of regional factors that influence farmers’ decisions and the barriers and opportunities most relevant to farm viability and sustainability in the context of East Central Indiana (ECI). Semi-structured interviews with 15 key informants and 33 farmers informed our understanding of the factors most relevant to small-scale farming in the region. Several important themes emerged related to perceived barriers to sustainable farm management, including markets; structures and regulations; time and labor; environmental/ecological factors; and networking and access to educational support. The results of this study complement the findings of previous work that describe the complex framework farmers navigate when making decisions on the farm. Further, subtle regional factors emerged that significantly impact farmers’ decisions, emphasizing the importance of local context in crafting agricultural policies and outreach efforts. Implications and recommendations for ECI are discussed.

scholarly journals Predictors of Program Participation in a Nutrition-Sensitive Agroecological Intervention in Singida, Tanzania

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 903-903
Author(s):  
Marianne Santoso ◽  
Rachel Bezner-Kerr ◽  
Neema Kassim ◽  
Elias Mtinda ◽  
Haikael Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Gender Equity ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Program Participation ◽  
Household Tasks ◽  
High Participation ◽  
Nutrition Sensitive ◽  
Men’S Involvement

Abstract Objectives Nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions are theorized to improve child's diet through asset provision and program participation. Although some programs measure participation, predictors of participation are understudied. We therefore investigated predictors of men's and women's program participation in Singida Nutrition and Agroecology Project (SNAP-Tz; NCT02761876). Methods In SNAP-Tz, ‘mentor farmers’ led their peers (smallholder farmers with children < 1 year at baseline) in learning about agroecology, nutrition, and gender equity through meetings and household visits. At baseline, we collected data on demographics, Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (0–27), men's involvement in 7 household tasks (0–7), and Abbreviated Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (AWEAI). Participating men (n = 262) and women (n = 283) were asked to recall their program participation biannually. Predictors of high participation, defined as attendance in ≥60% participant meetings and household visits, were identified using multiple logistic regressions, controlling for clustering at the village level. Results Only 59% and 37% of women and men, respectively, had high participation. Women's high participation was associated with their spouse's participation (OR = 4.23, P < 0.01), greater food insecurity (OR = 1.03, P = 0.03), years of education (OR = 1.13, P = 0.02), and being empowered (OR = 5.88, P < 0.01). Men's high participation was associated with their spouse's participation (OR = 4.22, P < 0.01), greater food insecurity (OR = 2.23, P = 0.01), involvement in household tasks (OR = 1.25, P = 0.04), and age (OR = 1.03, P < 0.01). Conclusions Associations between an individual's and their spouse's participation indicate the importance of spousal dynamics. The association between participation and baseline gender equity (i.e., women's empowerment, men's involvement in household tasks) highlights the challenges of gender programming in nutrition-sensitive interventions. Analysis of program participation was simple and revealed valuable lessons for program implementation and design; more programs should therefore analyze participation. Funding Sources This study was funded by the McKnight Foundation, the Borlaug Fellowship in Global Food Security Research, and NIH K01 Award.

scholarly journals Effects of a participatory agriculture and nutrition education project on child growth in northern Malawi

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1466-1472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Bezner Kerr ◽  
Peter R Berti ◽  
Lizzie Shumba
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Child Growth ◽  
Nutrition Intervention ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Growth Scores

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate whether children in households involved in a participatory agriculture and nutrition intervention had improved growth compared to children in matched comparable households and whether the level of involvement and length of time in the project had an effect on child growth.DesignA prospective quasi-experimental study comparing baseline and follow-up data in ‘intervention’ villages with matched subjects in ‘comparison’ villages. Mixed model analyses were conducted on standardized child growth scores (weight- and height-for-age Z-scores), controlling for child age and testing for effects of length of time and intensity of village involvement in the intervention.SettingA participatory agriculture and nutrition project (the Soils, Food and Healthy Communities (SFHC) project) was initiated by Ekwendeni Hospital aimed at improving child nutritional status with smallholder farmers in a rural area in northern Malawi. Agricultural interventions involved intercropping legumes and visits from farmer researchers, while nutrition education involved home visits and group meetings.SubjectsParticipants in intervention villages were self-selected, and control participants were matched by age and household food security status of the child. Over a 6-year period, nine surveys were conducted, taking 3838 height and weight measures of children under the age of 3 years.ResultsThere was an improvement over initial conditions of up to 0·6 in weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ; from −0·4 (sd 0·5) to 0·3 (sd 0·4)) for children in the longest involved villages, and an improvement over initial conditions of 0·8 in WAZ for children in the most intensely involved villages (from −0·6 (sd 0·4) to 0·2 (sd 0·4)).ConclusionsLong-term efforts to improve child nutrition through participatory agricultural interventions had a significant effect on child growth.

scholarly journals Exploring farmer perceptions of agroforestry via multi-objective optimisation: a test application in Eastern Panama

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 2003-2020
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Gosling ◽  
Esther Reith ◽  
Thomas Knoke ◽  
Andrés Gerique ◽  
Carola Paul
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Small Sample Sizes

Abstract Understanding farmers’ perceptions of and preferences towards agroforestry is essential to identify systems with the greatest likelihood of adoption to inform successful rural development projects. In this study we offer a novel approach for evaluating agroforestry systems from the farmer perspective. The approach couples rapid rural appraisal and normative optimisation techniques to determine favourable land-use compositions for meeting various socio-economic and ecological goals, based on farmers’ empirical knowledge and preferences. We test our approach among smallholder farmers in Eastern Panama, obtaining data from household interviews and using hierarchical cluster analysis to identify farm groups with similar land-use and income characteristics. We found that moderate differences in farmers’ perceptions between these groups altered the type and share of agroforestry included in the optimised land-use portfolios that balance the achievement of 10 pre-selected socio-economic and ecological objectives. Such differences provide valuable information about potential acceptability of agroforestry within each group. For example, we found that farmers who derive most of their farm income from crops may be more willing to adopt silvopasture, whereas farmers who are more economically dependent on cattle may benefit from diversifying their land-use with alley cropping. We discuss the potential of this modelling approach for participatory land-use planning, especially when dealing with small sample sizes and uncertainty in datasets.

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