scholarly journals Theorising Indigenous Farmers’ Utilisation of Climate Services: Lessons from the Oil-Rich Niger Delta

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7349
Author(s):  
Eromose Ehije Ebhuoma ◽  
Mulala Danny Simatele ◽  
Llewellyn Leonard ◽  
Osadolor Obiahon Ebhuoma ◽  
Felix Kwabena Donkor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
British Petroleum ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Climate Services ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Zero Hunger

In the wake of a rapidly changing climate, climate services have enabled farmers in developing countries to make informed decisions, necessary for efficient food production. Climate services denote the timely production, translation, delivery and use of climate information to enhance decision-making. However, studies have failed to analyse the extent to which Indigenous farmers residing and producing their food in an environment degraded by multinational corporations (MNCs) utilise climate services. This study addresses this gap by analysing Indigenous farmers’ utilisation of climate services in Igbide, Olomoro and Uzere communities, in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were used to obtain primary data. Findings suggest that although the activities of Shell British petroleum, a MNC, have compromised food production, other factors have fuelled farmers’ unwillingness to utilise climate services. These include their inability to access assets that can significantly scale up food production and lack of weather stations close to their communities needed to generate downscaled forecasts, amongst others. This paper argues that failure to address these issues may stifle the chances of actualising the first and second sustainable development goals (no poverty and zero hunger) by 2030 in the aforementioned communities.

scholarly journals Is Talent Management A Reality? A Case of Multinational Corporation in the Context of Karachi

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-32
Author(s):  
Anam Qamar ◽  
◽  
Shifa Haroon ◽  
Namra Anjum ◽  
Ayesha Saleem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Multinational Corporation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Talent Management ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Behavioral Challenges

Talent management is the recruitment, selection, and retainment of the most talented workforce which indicates that it is an advanced field of human resource management (HRM). The prosperity of an organization depends upon its talent force. In todays dynamic and competitive world, talent management is one of the main stumbling issues that organizations face. This research study examines the reality of talent management in Pakistan; besides, the challenges in the implementation of talent management have also been investigated. This research study is qualitative; in-depth semi-structured interviews have been conducted to collect the primary data from a Pakistani public based multinational corporation. Using content analysis, the key themes were identified. The findings reveal that talent management practices lack in Pakistan, but the renowned multinational corporations follow proper procedures and policies related to talent management. Furthermore, the findings further discover that there are three major types of challenges which are being faced today by the organizations; the managerial behavioral challenges are the most important, employee behavioral challenges are the least important and the structural challenges are also essential to overcome, for the implementation of talent management. The findings from this research can be used by the management or the policymakers of different organizations to execute talent management effectively and efficiently.

scholarly journals Current challenges in plant breeding to achieve zero hunger and overcome biotic and abiotic stresses induced by the global climate changes: A review

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 053-057
Author(s):  
Marines Marli Gniech Karasawa
Keyword(s):  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Global Climate Changes ◽  
The World ◽  
Increase Food Production ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Zero Hunger

According Sustainable Development goals until 2030 we should have zero hunger and undernourished people in the world. But to achieve this goal plant breeders must improve plants in order to produce at least the double than is produced now. This is not a easy pathway because we have only few years, but considering that plant breeding programs normally take several years to produce improved genotypes, also the further improved plants should face with pest, disease and other abiotic factors that are increasing with the current climate changes. In this review we will discuss the situation of hunger in the world and the remaining available land to increase food production, point out effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the food production and present some ways that can be used to fastening plant breeding.

scholarly journals The Nigerian Oil Industry: Assessing Community Development and Sustainability

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Mercy Erhi Makpor ◽  
Regina Leite
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Oil Industry ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Development Agencies ◽  
The Government

Purpose: The reoccurrence of loss in revenue generation from the oil industry which is due to the unstable and heated relationship between oil corporations and host communities in the Niger Delta (ND) region of Nigeria has spurred the strategic social permission of oil multinational corporations (OMNCs) to operate in the country. Thus, OMNCs have continually given attention to the challenges faced by the region through community development in terms of initiatives and projects. Community development (CD) and sustainability are core to viable social responsibility (SR) whether from the part of government or from OMNCs. However, since the independence of the country in 1960, a lot of development agencies and commissions have been established by the government towards social and infrastructural development in the ND region. These agencies and commissions often combine efforts with OMNCs to enforce development and sustainability in the region which consequently result in mutual benefits on both ends. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine CD and sustainability of host communities in the ND by evaluating initiatives conducted by government development agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and OMNCs such as ExxonMobil and Shell Petroleum Development Commission (SPDC) in the region.Approach/Design/Methodology: The paper applied a qualitative research approach. It conceptualises CD and sustainability and examines the views of community members on initiatives from the NDDC and OMNCs. Instruments for primary data collection were the Focus Group Discussion, In-depth Interviews (IDIs) and observation. The research made use of thirty IDIs and five FGDs. Secondary sources of data were journal articles, reports and other documents from both the OMNCs and NDDC. It also made use of the Nvivo11 software to organise the data while a content-based analysis was used to set data into themes. The study puts into consideration the perspectives of different community members as well as the various concepts which exist in the literature.Findings: Analysis reveals that there is positive impact when development takes place in host communities and sustainability attained but consequently, there are no probable and visible improvement of the OMNCs operations and business in the region, which is why there is reoccurrence of revenue loss in the country from the oil sector.Value/Originality: This paper gives voice to participants in a social setting by highlighting the importance of CD and sustainability in the ND region. It does this by looking into the different initiatives conducted by the NDDC, ExxonMobile and SPDC.

scholarly journals Towards Food Justice the Global-Economic Material Balance Analysis of Hunger, Food Security and Waste

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1324
Author(s):  
Gergely Tóth ◽  
János Zachár
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Material Balance ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Food Justice ◽  
Unified Framework ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Zero Hunger

Sustainable development has become a central and key goal for humanity (1 UN: Millenium Development Goals, 2 SDGs). There is no scientific or political consensus, however, about the root cause of unsustainability, so an effective cure is impossible. Nevertheless, unlimited inequality among nations and individuals, extreme poverty, and hunger are always among the most significant problems. It is also often claimed that the world’s current food production would be sufficient to feed all 7.7 billion people on Earth (see Appendix A 1) with a better (more even, ‘just’) distribution. Others use food hunger and poverty data to support claims for increased food production and agricultural output. In this paper we examine the first claim with real data, but from a theoretical perspective: is it true, theoretically, that if all of the produced and wasted food were made available to feed the extremely poor and hungry, we could reach zero hunger-related deaths? We will use food waste, hunger-related (+thirst) death, obesity, and calorie consumption data from the “happy” and “unhappy” parts of the Earth. The cause of food waste is dissonant in different economic systems, so its macro- and microeconomic approach is also completely different in different countries. The relationship between obesity, hunger, and food waste has not yet been explored in a structured framework; data are available but scattered. In this paper we propose a unified framework of comparable data as a first step in mapping the biggest missing, or at least wobbling circle of modern bio-economy: global food supply. Thinking globally is a first step toward progress development in food justice and a solution to UN sustainable development goals (SDG 2, 1, 3, and 10).

Perception of irrigation farmers’ livelihood on a changing climate in the Upper West region of Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-36
Author(s):  
E. Amankwah, V. Hans-Jürgen
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Crop Failure ◽  
Statistical Tools ◽  
Changing Climate ◽  
West Region ◽  
Irrigation Practice

Agriculture in the Upper West region is primarily subsistence and rain-fed, and irrigation practice is significantly furrow andthe use of traditional watering can. This historical approach to agriculture is predicted to suffer severe setbacks due to climatechange. This research therefore explores farmers’ perception of climate change and its impact and how the farmers can cope withthe changing climate. The primary data was gathered through field observation, interviews and administration of questionnairesto about 400 irrigation farmers in three districts of the Upper West region. The data was analysed using 1. Statistical Packagefor Social Sciences (SPSS) and basic statistical tools. It was discovered that 62% of the farmers had no formal education withmajority above 50 years of age. Over 80% have observed rising temperatures and declining rainfall over the last few decades.This has led to higher evaporation and siltation of irrigation dams, higher transpiration of crops and water stress resultingin low crop yield, crop failure and food insecurity. The research also highlights anthropogenic activities that have influencedclimate variability and food production in the region. The research was concluded with suggested strategies to facilitate farmers’adaptation to climate variability.

Coordinated intensification to reconcile the ‘zero hunger’ and ‘life on land’ Sustainable Development Goals

2021 ◽  
Vol 284 ◽  
pp. 112032
Author(s):  
Yuchen Zhang ◽  
Rebecca K. Runting ◽  
Edward L. Webb ◽  
David P. Edwards ◽  
L. Roman Carrasco
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Zero Hunger

scholarly journals Artificial Intelligence: The Attitude of the Public and Representatives of Various Industries

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 339
Author(s):  
Tatjana Vasiljeva ◽  
Ilmars Kreituss ◽  
Ilze Lulle
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Public ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Public Survey ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
Negative Factors ◽  
Near Future

This paper looks at public and business attitudes towards artificial intelligence, examining the main factors that influence them. The conceptual model is based on the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework and was tested through analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. Primary data were collected by a public survey with a questionnaire specially developed for the study and by semi-structured interviews with experts in the artificial intelligence field and management representatives from various companies. This study aims to evaluate the current attitudes of the public and employees of various industries towards AI and investigate the factors that affect them. It was discovered that attitude towards AI differs significantly among industries. There is a significant difference in attitude towards AI between employees at organizations with already implemented AI solutions and employees at organizations with no intention to implement them in the near future. The three main factors which have an impact on AI adoption in an organization are top management’s attitude, competition and regulations. After determining the main factors that influence the attitudes of society and companies towards artificial intelligence, recommendations are provided for reducing various negative factors. The authors develop a proposition that justifies the activities needed for successful adoption of innovative technologies.

Perception of the risk of contamination through feeding in pregnant and breastfeeding women

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Company-Morales ◽  
A Fontalba-Navas ◽  
M F Rubio-Jimenez ◽  
V Gil-Aguilar ◽  
J P Arrebola
Keyword(s):  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Cumulative Effect ◽  
The Body ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Large Fish ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Chemical Substances ◽  
Synthetic Chemicals ◽  
Harmful Effects

Abstract Introduction Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS) are substances that are characterized by the cumulative effect at low doses inside the body. Exposure to PTS in pregnant and breastfeeding women, through food consumption, shows various harmful effects on the health of the mother, the fetus and the baby. The objective of this article is to analyze how pregnant and breastfeeding women perceive the presence of chemical substances in food and reflect on the accumulation, transmission and elimination of these substances. Methodology Descriptive and interpretive study under the qualitative research paradigm following a phenomenological and ethnographic perspective. As instruments to obtain the primary data we rely on 111 semi-structured interviews with pregnant and breastfeeding women, 4 focused ethnographies, 8 focus groups (63 women), 71 feeding diaries, 71 free listings. To encode the content of the speeches of pregnant and nursing women we rely on the N-Vivo 12 software. Results Pregnant and breastfeeding women are concerned about food quality controls. Women trust on local and seasonal foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables from non-extensive crops and close to their home. Foods that produce distrust in women are processed, packaged foods, red meat and large fish. The latter foods promote in women a perception of risk of contamination by chemical substances, manifesting a defenseless situation to maintain a diet without contaminants. Conclusions Pregnant and breastfeeding women in Spain have no information on the risk and danger of synthetic chemicals or PTS, with the exception of certain toxic substances such as mercury present in large fish. Women maintain a duality in their own care and that of the fetus or child. This circumstance implies that the women interviewed believe that PTS and synthetic chemicals may have different harmful effects on the mother and the degree of growth of the fetus and, subsequently, of the baby. Key messages Future mothers are worried about the type of product they eat, knowing that food influences healthy growth and development of the fetus. Pregnant and breastfeeding women often distrust “processed” or “industrial” foods, which they tend to associate with low quality and large amounts of additives and chemical substances.

scholarly journals Considering treatment-as-prevention scale-up for Australian prisons: a qualitative sub-study of expert stakeholders from the Australian ‘surveillance and treatment of prisoners with hepatitis C’ project (SToP-C)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jake Rance ◽  
◽  
Lise Lafferty ◽  
Carla Treloar
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Primary Prevention ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Treatment As Prevention ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Hcv Treatment ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Direct Acting ◽  
Levels Of Support

Abstract Background With direct-acting antivirals dramatically reshaping the public health response to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), prisons are set to play a critical role in elimination efforts. Despite the theoretical demonstration of HCV treatment-as-prevention in prison in mathematical modeling, limited empirical data exist. The Australian ‘Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners with Hepatitis C’ project (SToP-C) is the world’s first trial of HCV treatment-as-prevention in prison. Drawing on interviews with HCV expert stakeholders, this paper explores the factors respondents identified as crucial to the success of future scale-up. Accounting for such perspectives matters because of the influence expert discourse has in shaping implementation. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nineteen HCV experts working across key policy, advocacy, research and clinical dimensions of the Australian HCV response. Data were coded using qualitative data management software (NVivo 11). Analysis proceeded via a hybrid deductive and inductive approach. Results Notwithstanding concerns regarding the lack of primary prevention in Australian prisons, stakeholders reported broad levels of support for the intervention and for the future scale-up of HCV treatment. A number of considerations, both external and internal to the prison system, were identified as key. The principal external factor was an enabling political-cum-policy environment; internal factors included: obtaining support from prisons’ executive and custodial staff; promoting health within a security-first institutional culture; allocating time for treatment within prisoners’ tightly regulated schedules; ensuring institutional stability during treatment given the routine movement of prisoners between prisons; prioritizing the availability of retreatment given the paucity of primary prevention; and securing sufficient clinical space for treatment. Conclusion The challenges to implementation are considerable, ranging from macrolevel concerns to in-prison logistical matters. Nonetheless, we argue that prisons remain an obvious setting for treatment scale-up, not only for prevention and potential elimination benefit, but for the treatment opportunities they afford a socially disadvantaged and underserved population. While noting widespread concerns among respondents regarding the paucity of primary prevention in Australian prisons, results indicate broad levels of support among expert stakeholders for HCV treatment scale-up in prison.

scholarly journals Revitalizing the Global Alliances for Sustainable Development: Analyzing the Viability of Sustainable Development Goal 17—A Multi-Actor Governance Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4247
Author(s):  
Elena Bulmer ◽  
Cristina del Prado-Higuera
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
Global Partnership ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Common Vision

The seventeenth Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations, Partnerships for the Goals, aims to strengthen the means of the implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. The successful implantation of the UN’s seventeenth Sustainable Development Goal will aid the execution and achievement of the other sixteen goals. This article explores the importance and viability of Sustainable Development Goal 17, using a case study based in Valencia, Spain. The study presents an illustrative stakeholder situation, where we see that there are conflicting interests among conservationists, fishermen, municipality representatives, and others. Data collection was done using desk-based research and semi-structured interviews. The interview process was performed between October 2018 and October 2019. In total, 21 different stakeholders were interviewed. For the data analyses, a stakeholder register, Power–Interest Matrices, and a stakeholder map were used, and, to complement the latter, narratives were developed. The different analyses showed that most project stakeholders supported the project, while there was really only one stakeholder, the fishermen themselves, who were reticent about participating. However, it was shown over time that, by developing a common vision with them, the fishermen came on board the project and collaborated with the scientists. Stakeholder engagement analyses are especially useful in the application of Sustainable Development Goals at the project level. Although this case study is specifically applicable to a marine conservation context, it may be extrapolated and applied to any other Sustainable Development Goals’ context.

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