Can Farmers of Burkina Faso Use Seasonal Rainfall Forecasts?

2000 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 24-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Roncoli ◽  
Keith Ingram ◽  
Paul Kirshen

In this article we bring anthropological reflections to bear on a recent event we participated in, whereby farmers and scientists came together to discuss the possibility of applying rainfall seasonal forecasts to improve agricultural production and livelihood security in West Africa. In so doing, We also report on the research findings from the project that organized this encounter and that we have been working with for the last three years. Our intent is to highlight the complexities and challenges inherent in this process of integrating scientific information and farmers' production decisions, while also pointing to practical issues to be considered in implementing such initiatives.

2008 ◽  
Vol 148 (11) ◽  
pp. 1798-1814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashok Mishra ◽  
James W. Hansen ◽  
Michael Dingkuhn ◽  
Christian Baron ◽  
Seydou B. Traoré ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Porgo ◽  
John K.M. Kuwornu ◽  
Pam Zahonogo ◽  
John Baptist D. Jatoe ◽  
Irene S. Egyir

Purpose Credit is central in labour allocation decisions in smallholder agriculture in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effect of credit constraints on farm households’ labour allocation decisions in rural Burkina Faso. Design/methodology/approach The study used a direct elicitation approach of credit constraints and applied a farm household model to categorize households into four labour market participation regimes. A joint estimation of both the multinomial logit model and probit model was applied on survey data from Burkina Faso to assess the effect of credit constraint on the probability of choosing one of the four alternatives. Findings The results of the probit model showed that households’ endowment of livestock, access to news, and membership to an farmer-based organization were factors lowering the probability of being credit constrained in rural Burkina Faso. The multinomial logit model results showed that credit constraints negatively influenced the likelihood of a farm household to use hired labour in agricultural production and perhaps more importantly it induces farm households to hire out labour off farm. The results also showed that the other components of household characteristics and farm attributes are important factors determining the relative probability of selecting a particular labour market participation regime. Social implications Facilitating access to credit in rural Burkina Faso can encourage farm households to use hired labour in agricultural production and thereby positively impacting farm productivity and relieving unemployment pressures. Originality/value In order to identify the effect of credit constraints on farm households’ labour decisions, this study examined farm households’ decisions of hiring on-farm labour, supplying labour off-farm or simultaneously hiring on-farm labour and supplying family labour off-farm under credit constraints using the direct elicitation approach of credit constraints. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine this problem in Burkina Faso.


Nature ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 248 (5448) ◽  
pp. 464-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Winstanley

Curationis ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Leech ◽  
N.C. Van Wyk ◽  
C.J.E. Uys

In the previous article, the author described, according to the scope of practice of registered nurses, the responsibilities oi community nurses with regard to the management of infant developmental needs in primary health care clinics in South Africa. In this article, the focus is on the development of guidelines for the support of community nurses in fulfilling these responsibilities. Before the development of the guidelines is addressed, a brief overview of the background of the study, assumptions of the researcher and the methodology of the study is given. The development of the set of guidelines (DEFINE HOPE) is set against the background of the drive to improve the quality of developmental care for infants and their families. As guidelines help to translate scientific information into statements, it could be valuable to community nurses to improve their delivery of developmental care. To gather evidence for the formulation of the guidelines, the researcher utilised the themes identified during the analysis process in phase one of the research; investigated research articles; and compared findings and recommendations of the articles with the research findings obtained in phase one. In addition to the research findings and literature review, a focus group (health care professionals represented in the case study), was utilised to assist with the final development and validation of the guidelines. The researcher adapted a number of desirable attributes for guidelines, which are indicated in the literature, to compile the criteria for validation of the guidelines. In conclusion, guidelines are necessary to support community nurses in finding “best practice” within their scope of practice to ensure higher quality of developmental care to families with infants 0-2 years.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document