scholarly journals Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9863
Author(s):  
Hemant G. Tripathi ◽  
Harriet E. Smith ◽  
Steven M. Sait ◽  
Susannah M. Sallu ◽  
Stephen Whitfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
International Markets ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Farm Systems ◽  
Corporate Farms

Emerging information on the interactions between the COVID-19 pandemic and global food systems have highlighted how the pandemic is accentuating food crises across Africa. Less clear, however, are how the impacts differ between farming systems. Drawing on 50 key informant interviews with farmers, village leaders and extension officers in South Africa and Tanzania, we identify the effects of COVID-19 and associated measures to curb the spread of the disease on farming production systems, the coping mechanisms adopted by farmers, and explore their longer-term plans for adaptation. We focus on a diverse range of production systems, from small-scale mixed farming systems in Tanzania to large-scale corporate farms in South Africa. Our findings highlight how COVID-19 restrictions have interrupted the supply chains of agricultural inputs and commodities, increasing the storage time for produce, decreasing income and purchasing power, and reducing labour availability. Farmers’ responses were heterogeneous, with highly diverse small-scale farming systems and those less engaged with international markets least affected by the associated COVID-19 measures. Large-scale farmers were most able to access capital to buffer short-term impacts, whereas smaller-scale farms shared labour, diversified to subsistence produce and sold assets. However, compounded shocks, such as recent extreme climate events, limited the available coping options, particularly for smaller-scale and emerging farmers. The study highlights the need to understand the characteristics of farm systems to better equip and support farmers, particularly in contexts of uncertainty. We propose that policy actions should focus on (i) providing temporary relief and social support and protection to financially vulnerable stakeholders, (ii) job assurance for farmworkers and engaging an alternative workforce in farming, (iii) investing in farming infrastructure, such as storage facilities, digital communication tools and extension services, and (iv) supporting diversified agroecological farming systems.

scholarly journals Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hemant G Tripathi ◽  
Harriet E Smith ◽  
Steven M. Sait ◽  
Susannah M. Sallu ◽  
Stephen Whitfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
International Markets ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Farm Systems ◽  
Corporate Farms

Emerging information on the interactions between the COVID-19 pandemic and global food systems has highlighted how the pandemic is accentuating food crises across Africa. Less clear, however, are how the impacts differ between farming systems. Drawing on 50 key informant interviews with farmers, village leaders and extension officers, in South Africa and Tanzania, we identify the effects of COVID-19 and associated measures to curb the spread of the disease on farming production systems, the coping mechanisms adopted by farmers, and explore their longer-term plans for adaptation. We focus on a diverse range of production systems, from small-scale mixed farming systems in Tanzania, to large-scale corporate farms in South Africa. Our findings highlight how COVID-19 restrictions have interrupted the supply chains of agricultural inputs and commodities, increasing the storage time for produce, decreasing income and purchasing power, and reducing labour availability. Farmers’ responses were heterogeneous, with highly diverse small-scale farming systems and those less engaged with international markets least affected by the associated COVID-19 measures. Large-scale farmers were most able to access capital to buffer short-term impacts, whereas smaller-scale farms shared labour, diversified to subsistence produce and sold assets. However, compounded shocks, such as recent extreme climate events, limited the available coping options, particularly for smaller-scale and emerging farmers. The study highlights the need to understand the characteristics of farm systems to better equip and support farmers, particularly in contexts of uncertainty. We propose that policy actions should focus on (i) providing temporary relief and social support and protection to financially vulnerable stakeholders, (ii) job assurance for farmworkers, and engaging an alternative workforce in farming, (iii) investing in farming infrastructure, such as storage facilities, digital communication tools, and extension services, and iv) supporting diversified agroecological farming systems.

scholarly journals Food pedagogy for transformative social change

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea Klinke ◽  
Gertrude Korkor Samar
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Food Studies ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Transformative Change ◽  
Urban Farming ◽  
Transformative Engagement ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

The contemporary global agrarian regime has altered the patterns of food production, circulation, and consumption. Its efforts towards food security vis-á-vis capitalist modes of mechanized cultivation have produced large-scale climatic and socioeconomic ramifications, including the dispossession of small-scale farmers from their lands and positions in market value-chains. In an effort to improve the dynamics of contemporary agro-food systems, food practitioners and scholars are engaging in critical analyses of land-grabbing, the feminization of agriculture, extractive-led development, and more. However, we argue that there is a gap between Food Studies scholarship and community-based transformative engagement. To support social justice frameworks, our paper calls for an academic paradigm shift wherein learner-centered experiential classrooms bridge academic-public divides and enhance student learning. Through a case-study of urban farming in Calgary, we also explore topics in place-based learning and participatory approaches that acknowledge and integrate Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, being, and connecting. Our paper provides strategies for supporting local food systems through activist scholarship, capacity building of leadership and technical skills in advanced urban farming, and intercultural relationship building. We conclude by evaluating the success of our approach, presenting potential benefits and challenges, and providing recommendations for best practices in food scholarship to support transformative change.

scholarly journals HONEYBEE PRODUCTION SYSTEM, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF GEDEO ZONE, SOUTHERN NATION, NATIONALITIES AND PEOPLES REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 49-63
Author(s):  
Teklu Gebretsadik ◽  
Dinku Negash
Keyword(s):  
Production System ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Market Access ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Skill Training ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Production Constraints ◽  
Regional State

The study was carried out in selected districts of Gedeo zones of southern Nation nationality and people’s regional state: such as Wonago, Kochere and DillaZuria/chichu/ districts. The objective of the study was to asses production systems, opportunities and constraints of apiculture farming in Gedeo zones of SNNPRs. Beekeeping is a long-standing practice in the study districts and appears as ancient history of the country as a whole. A cross sectional study, in which 90 households were purposively included and conducted in selected district to assess the current beekeeping practices, production potentials and production constraints. Most (72%) of the beekeepers in the study area have owned only traditional hives and produce honey for home consumption. The beekeeping practice was dominated by male.  Despite the area have  production constraints, the area opportunities like existence of large sized natural forest and artificial forest, due attention provision from regional, federal and local government and nongovernmental organizations, yearly flowering and variety floral availability, some small scale farmers highly experienced in apiculture farming, market access and high demand of apicultural products at nationally and international level. Therefore, Designing effective honeybee pests and predators controlling methods, Introduction of full package improved beekeeping technologies with adequate practical skill training on all bee keeping trends and queen rearing practices promoting beekeepers important indigenous knowledge, Producing areal major honeybee plants in large scale, Avoiding discarding of bee colonies after honey harvest, Availing the strategies to support farmers with beekeeping business support services, Improving pre- and post-harvest handling of bee products and Improving the utilization of stingless bee’s resources, without damaging the colony is important to make the honey production system in the area more economical, so as to enhance bee products for national and international need.

scholarly journals Detection and Molecular Identification of Salmonella Virulence Genes in Livestock Production Systems in South Africa

Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mthembu ◽  
Zishiri ◽  
Zowalaty
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Foodborne Diseases ◽  
Sampling Location ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Zoonotic Infections

Livestock are an important source of protein and food for humans, however opportunistic pathogens such as Salmonella spp. turn livestock into vehicles of foodborne diseases. This study investigated the prevalence of virulence genes in Salmonella spp. isolated from livestock production systems in two provinces of South Africa. During the period from May to August, 2018, a total of 361 faecal (189), oral (100), environmental (soil (36) and water (27)) and feed (9) samples were randomly collected from different animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks and chickens) that were housed in small-scale livestock production systems from Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces in South Africa. Salmonella spp. were isolated and identified using microbiological and DNA molecular methods. Salmonella spp. were present in 29.0% of the samples of which 30.2% belonged to the Salmonella enterica species as confirmed by the positive amplification of the species specific iroB gene. Virulence genes that were screened from livestock-associated Salmonella were invA, iroB, spiC, pipD and int1. Statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) were established between the virulence genes, sampling location, animal host as well as the season when samples were collected. Furthermore, statistically significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations were observed between most of the virulence genes investigated. This is one of the recent studies to detect and investigate livestock-associated Salmonella spp. in South Africa. This study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and surveillance for pathogenic salmonellae. It also demonstrated the detection and prevalence of virulent Salmonella spp. harbored by livestock in South Africa. This study demonstrated the potential risks of pathogenic Salmonella enterica to cause foodborne diseases and zoonotic infections from farm-to-fork continuum using the global one-health approach.

scholarly journals Neurobehavioural symptoms and acute pesticide poisoning: a cross-sectional study among male pesticide applicators selected from three commercial farming systems in Ethiopia

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 283-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beyene Negatu ◽  
Roel Vermeulen ◽  
Yalemtshay Mekonnen ◽  
Hans Kromhout
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Pesticide Exposure ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Pesticide Poisoning ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pesticide Applicators ◽  
Acute Pesticide Poisoning

ObjectiveTo estimate prevalence of acute pesticide poisoning (APP) and its association with neurobehavioural symptoms in Ethiopian pesticide applicators.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional survey among 256 pesticide applicators from small-scale irrigated farms, a large-scale open farm and large-scale greenhouses. APP was ascertained using a modified WHO case definition, and neurobehavioural symptoms were collected with a standardised questionnaire (Q16). Exposure to pesticides was estimated using detailed exposure algorithms specifically developed for Ethiopian farms. Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate risk of APP and its association with neurobehavioural symptoms.ResultsOverall APP prevalence was 16%. Working as an applicator in greenhouses was strongly associated with APP (OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.38 to 6.54). Estimated annual pesticide exposure was also associated with APP (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.20). Longer duration of employment appeared to be negatively associated with APP. Having had an APP was strongly associated with reporting more neurobehavioural symptoms (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.01 to 4.58) independent of cumulative pesticide exposure. Cumulative exposure to pesticides appeared to be associated with neurobehavioural symptoms among applicators without and with APP.ConclusionsWe showed a substantial prevalence of APP that differed between farming systems and was strongly associated with neurobehavioural symptoms. Intensity of exposure was also clearly associated with these symptoms. Reduction and control of occupational exposure to pesticides is urgently needed in Ethiopia.

Herbicide Inputs for a New Agronomic Crop, Annual Wormwood (Artemisia annua)

1991 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles T. Bryson ◽  
Edward M. Croom
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Artemisia Annua ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Herbicide Treatments ◽  
Large Scale Cultivation

Annual wormwood has been cultivated on a small scale for production of the artemisinin class of antimalarial drugs in sufficient quantities for preclinical and clinical trials. Large scale cultivation will require a reliable, efficient crop production system. Production systems using 32 herbicides alone or in combinations were evaluated in growth chamber, greenhouse, and field experiments at Stoneville, MS from 1985 through 1988. The herbicide treatments that provided the best weed control were (A) metolachlor at 2.2 kg ai ha-1preemergence (PRE), (B) chloramben at 2.2 kg ai ha-1(PRE), or (C) trifluralin at 0.6 kg ai ha-1preplant soil incorporated (PPI) followed by fluazifop at 0.2 + 0.2 kg ai ha-1postemergence broadcast (POST) and acifluorfen at 0.6 kg ai ha-1(POST). These herbicide production systems provided excellent weed control (≥85%) and minimal crop injury (≤10%) with no effect on crop height or weight at harvest. Production of artemisinin was not reduced by herbicide treatments A, B, and C in 1987 and treatments B and C in 1988 when compared with the hand-weeded plots.

Cattle

1984 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 83-89
Author(s):  
Ian B. Howie
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Market Forces ◽  
Poultry Production ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Fully Integrated ◽  
Beef Producers ◽  
The Many

Matching production to the markets for meat makes the assumption that individual producers can have an influence on market forces. This may well apply nowadays to some of the very large scale poultry production units but, individually, beef producers can have little if any influence on the marketing scene. Although there are farmers who produce several hundred fat cattle a year, the bulk of the beef produced comes from fairly small scale producers. Much of beef production is on a fairly haphazard basis with little or no recording or budgeting.Nevertheless, small scale producers and feeders who move in and out of the market can exploit local or short-term, favourable, market fluctuations and, with skilful buying and selling, make good profits on a quick turnover. Larger scale producers who have pre-planned fully integrated production systems cannot react as quickly to any great extent to short-term marketing opportunities. I regard marketing as only one of the many variable factors to be taken into account when planning a beef enterprise within a whole farming system, in which it is likely to be one of a number of enterprises which have to be kept in balance.

scholarly journals Feed-Based Multi-Mycotoxin Occurrence in Smallholder Dairy Farming Systems of South Africa: The Case of Limpopo and Free State

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 166
Author(s):  
Rumbidzai Changwa ◽  
Marthe De Boevre ◽  
Sarah De Saeger ◽  
Patrick Berka Njobeh
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Simultaneous Detection ◽  
Fumonisin B1 ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Free State ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Smallholder Dairy

Mycotoxin contamination of feed does not only cut across food and feed value chains but compromises animal productivity and health, affecting farmers, traders and consumers alike. To aid in the development of a sustainable strategy for mycotoxin control in animal-based food production systems, this study focused on smallholder farming systems where 77 dairy cattle feed samples were collected from 28 smallholder dairy establishments in the Limpopo and Free State provinces of South Africa between 2018 and 2019. Samples were analyzed using a confirmatory UHPLC–MS/MS (Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) method validated for simultaneous detection of 23 mycotoxins in feeds. Overall, mycotoxins assessed were detected across samples with 86% of samples containing at least one mycotoxin above respective decision limits; up to 66% of samples were found to be contaminated with at least three mycotoxins. Findings demonstrated that deoxynivalenol, sterigmatocystin, alternariol and enniatin B were the most common mycotoxins, while low to marginal detection rates were observed for all other mycotoxins with none of the samples containing fusarenon-X, HT-2-toxin and neosolaniol. Isolated cases of deoxynivalenol (maximum: 2385 µg/kg), aflatoxins (AFB1 (maximum: 30.2 µg/kg)/AFG1 (maximum: 23.1 µg/kg)), and zearalenone (maximum: 1793 µg/kg) in excess of local and European regulatory limits were found. Kruskal–Wallis testing for pairwise comparisons showed commercial feed had significantly higher contamination for deoxynivalenol and its acylated derivatives, ochratoxin A and fumonisins (FB1 and FB2), whereas forages had significantly higher alternariol; in addition to significantly higher fumonisin B1 contamination for Limpopo coupled with significantly higher enniatin B and sterigmatocystin for Free State. Statistically significant Spearman correlations (p < 0.01) were also apparent for ratios for deoxynivalenol/fumonisin B1 (rs = 0.587) and zearalenone/alternariol methylether (rs = 0.544).

scholarly journals The first century of Phalaris aquatica L. cultivation and genetic improvement: a review

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. Oram ◽  
V. Ferreira ◽  
R. A. Culvenor ◽  
A. A. Hopkins ◽  
A. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Seed Retention ◽  
The Usa

2006 marked the centenary of the commercial propagation of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) as a cultivated pasture plant, firstly in Australia, and soon after in New Zealand, South Africa, and North and South America. Small-scale evaluation of cv. Australian began in the Toowoomba Botanic Gardens, Queensland, in 1884. The first recorded large-scale production of seed was at the Glen Innes Research Farm of the NSW Department of Agriculture in February 1906. By 1908–15, several graziers in Australia and New Zealand sold seed widely within Australia, New Zealand, USA, Argentina, and South Africa. Factors affecting the utilisation of the original cultivar in Australia over the first half-century are reviewed. Thereafter, the need to extend the area of perennial pastures into regions unsuitable for cv. Australian led CSIRO and the US Department of Agriculture to collect germplasm widely in the Mediterranean region. Selection between and within Moroccan populations produced cvv. Sirocco and El Golea in Australia, and cv. Perla koleagrass in the USA. In Argentina, selection within cv. Australian produced the very successful, seed-retaining cv. Pergamino El Gaucho INTA, which was re-selected in Australia to produce cv. Seedmaster. The discovery of a single seed-retaining plant within a certified line of cv. Australian gave cv. Uneta, which had excellent seed retention because the rachillae of most seeds remained intact at maturity. In Australia, selection in populations derived from crosses between cv. Australian and Mediterranean ecotypes gave a succession of winter-active cultivars: Sirosa, Sirolan, Holdfast, Landmaster, Atlas PG, Advanced AT, and Holdfast GT. The latter 5 have Uneta-type seed retention, reduced tryptamine and tyramine alkaloids, and adaptation to different soil and climatic niches. Populations for the hotter, drier inland slopes of NSW are being field-tested. Also, a promising but unstable semi-dwarf line has been found: dwarfism appears to be caused by a transposable element. Breeding and selection programs in Argentina, several states of the USA, New Zealand, Israel, Tunisia, and Greece also produced cultivars with specific adaptations. Active breeding programs are continuing at Ardmore, OK, USA, and Pergamino, Argentina. A major remaining obstacle to the further improvement and utilisation of phalaris is the unknown chemical nature of the toxin(s) causing ‘sudden death’, which temporarily interfere with nitrogen metabolism in the brains of herbivores, especially ruminants.

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