A Comparative Analysis of Pre and Post Watershed Development Programme: A Case Study of Umngoh Watershed in Ri-Bhoi District of Meghalaya

This paper assesses the impact of the watershed development programme (WDP) on the cropping intensity, livestock population, income, income distribution, and employment generation of the beneficiaries. The results revealed that there wasa more or less positive change in cropping intensity during the post-intervention of the programme. Due to the watershed programme, there was a significant increase in the livestock population and a working day. It led to the enhancement in the income of the benefitted individuals in both the on-farm and off-farm sectors. Further, results revealed a more uniform income distribution among the beneficiaries post-intervention of the watershed project. Thus, the watershed programme made a positive impact on the socio-economic condition of the rural poor.

2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Godwin O. Ovenseri-Ogbomo ◽  
Harriette Osafo-Agyei ◽  
Ralph E.U. Akpalaba ◽  
James Addy ◽  
Elizabeth O. Ovenseri

Patients’ perspectives on the impact of clinical interventions have been recognised as critical elements in patient care. Quality-of-life instruments are designed to measure these perspectives. We used the National Eye Institute’s 25-item Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ) to measure the impact of optical low vision devices on the quality of life of 22 low vision patients who obtained and were using low vision devices from a secondary low vision clinic in the Eastern Region, Ghana. The study employed a pre- and post-intervention technique. We found statistically significant improvements in measured visual acuity and NEI VFQ scores in 8 of the 10 domains evaluated. We conclude that optical low vision devices have a positive impact on the quality of life of low vision patients in Ghana.Keywords: low vision; quality of life; visual acuity; visual impairment; Ghana


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fortunate Nosisa Zaca ◽  
Edilegnaw Wale ◽  
Unity Chipfupa

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the impact of social grant dependence on on-farm entrepreneurial spirit of smallholders. A sample of 175 farmers was obtained from two communities in KwaZulu-Natal. The study employed Principal Components Analysis and Tobit regression. The entrepreneurial spirit indices were constructed from revealed preference-based questions. The study found a positive relationship between the social grant and on-farm entrepreneurial spirit. The positive impact on rural household farming activities implies that the prevailing low entrepreneurial levels among farmers are not the result of social grant dependence but lack of opportunity and other resource constraints. However, to remain effective, policy should ensure that the grant money benefits (directly/indirectly) the intended beneficiary and their households. The other factors found to be associated with on-farm entrepreneurship include age of the farmer, gender, psychological capital, access to training, access to education, access to land, inadequate farming assets, water insecurity, extension, off-farm income and group membership. The study also recommends the need for strategies that improve psychological capital and thus enhance positive on-farm entrepreneurial behaviour among smallholder farmers. Addressing institutional and farming constraints related to access to resources and services (land, credit, extension, and water) and collective action will positively contribute to on-farm entrepreneurship.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 66-74
Author(s):  
E.D Oruonye ◽  
◽  
Tukura Ejati Danladi ◽  
M Joseph ◽  
Menwo Ukechi Wilson-Osigwe

The study assesses the impact of IFAD-VCDP on rice yield and farmers’ income, as well as constraints to IFAD-VCDP implementation in the study area. A purposive sampling method was adopted to select 220 rice farmers. Primary and secondary data were used. Questionnaires were used to collect information from the beneficiaries of the programme. The respondents verified the claims of the programme with respect to the provisions of farm inputs, extension service and basic infrastructures. A paired-samples t-test was used to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed that 55% of the respondents have yields between 1–10 bags (100kg) and after the intervention, 52% of the respondents had yield of 61–80 bags (100kg). Similarly, 43% of the respondents have income between N51,000-N70,000 before the intervention programme and after the intervention, 52% of the respondents have income between N141,000-N170,000 and 42% have between N171,000-N200,000. This shows significant positive impacts on crop yield and income. The results of the paired-sample t-test show that there is difference in the mean income of rice farmers before IFAD-VCDP intervention (M = 2.54, SD = .81) and after IFAD-VCDP intervention (M = 4.35, SD = .59) at the .05 level of significance (t = 27.25, df = 219, n = 220, p< .05, 95% CI for mean difference 1.68 to 1.94). Given the positive impact of the IFAD-value chain development programme on rice farming in the study area, there is a need to extend it to other rice-producing LGA in Taraba State. Keywords: Ardo Kola, IFAD, Rice farming, Smallholder farmers and VCDP.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-125
Author(s):  
Judy Clegg ◽  
Carla Rohde ◽  
Henrietta McLachlan ◽  
Liz Elks ◽  
Alex Hall

Training early years practitioners to facilitate the language development of young children is a widely used intervention. Evidence to support the effectiveness of training in terms of the impact of children’s language development is limited. The Elklan Talking Matters programme is an accredited training programme for early years practitioners. Practitioners train to be Lead Communication Practitioners (LCPs) who cascade training across early years settings or Key Communication Practitioners (KCPs) who are embedded into these settings. The aim of this study was to identify if the Talking Matters Programme is effective in facilitating the language development of pre-school children. One hundred and twenty-six children from 13 early years settings were recruited (mean age 27.81 months; SD 4.90). Thirteen settings participated in the Talking Matters Programme (five LCP+KCP settings, four LCP settings and four control settings). At time 1, prior to practitioners participating in the programme, children completed the Pre-School Language Scales 5th Edition (PLS-5), a standardized assessment of receptive and expressive language. At time 1, 126 children completed the baseline assessment ( n = 43 in the LCP+KCP settings, n = 43 in the LCP settings and n = 40 in the control settings). Children then completed the post intervention (time 2) assessment approximately six months later. Children in the intervention groups (LCP+KCP settings and LCP settings) made more progress in their language development from time 1 to time 2 compared to the control. The children in the LCP+KCP settings made more gains than the children in the LCP settings. A significant main effect of groups and time was found but not an interaction of group scores with time, meaning the increases in scores were not statistically significant between the intervention and control groups. The study provides tentative evidence that the Talking Matters programme has a positive impact on pre-school children’s language development.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 485-490
Author(s):  
Bruna Krawczky ◽  
Míriam Raquel Meira Mainenti ◽  
Antonio Guilherme Fonseca Pacheco

ABSTRACT Introduction: Exercises of Pilates method have been widely used to improve postural alignment. There is strong evidence favoring their use in improving flexibility and balance, as well as some evidence of improvement in muscle strength. However, the benefits related to posture are not well established. Objective: To investigate in healthy adults, the impact of the Pilates method in the postural alignment through some angles in the sagittal plane and the occurrence of pain before and after an exercise session, and after the completion of a 16-session program. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study of pre and post-intervention type. Healthy adults (n = 37) interested in starting Pilates were evaluated for acute effects on posture after a Pilates session (n = 37) and after a 16-session program, for a period of 10 weeks (n = 13). Using the postural assessment software (SAPO), six angles were analyzed: head horizontal alignment (HHA), pelvis horizontal alignment (PHA), hip angle (HA), vertical alignment of the body (VAB), thoracic kyphosis (TK), and lumbar lordosis (LL). The occurrence of pain was investigated to control adverse effects. Results: Statistically significant (p<0.05) differences found after one session include increased HHA (left view), decreased VAB (left view) and TK (both side views). After 16 sessions, we observed an increase of HHA, and a decrease of TK, LL (both side views) and HA (right view). All the differences point to an improvement of postural alignment. A significant reduction of prevalence of pain was verified after the first session (40.5% vs. 13.5%; p=0.004) and after the full program (30.8% vs. 15.3%; p=0.02). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the Pilates method has a positive impact on postural alignment in healthy adults, besides being a safe exercise.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Maria Tallon ◽  
Raquel Saavedra Dias ◽  
Aldo Matos Costa ◽  
Janine Narciso ◽  
Ana Barros ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Obesity prevalence has been rising worldwide and currently is one of the most serious public health problems. Nutrition literacy is important to the development of healthier habits that could help prevent and stem obesity and overweight. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of using a multimedia web platform to provide nutrition education to Portuguese adolescents. Methods The intervention consisted in a two-week period in which students (n = 1291) had access to an interactive multimedia web platform with nutritional content, and designed for a self-paced learning experience. Students completed a knowledge questionnaire at baseline and immediately after the end of the intervention. Results The results obtained revealed that 85.8% of the students increased their nutrition knowledge. No gender differences were observed post-intervention. There were significant differences in the knowledge acquisition regarding age (P &lt; 0.001). The baseline knowledge seemed to influence the learning process. Conclusions Overall, the intervention had a positive impact. The preliminary results observed will be important for the improvement of the intervention, though they need to be confirmed by further research. Nevertheless, it is safe to say that technology-based assets can be important tools to incorporate and complement health-related interventions in schools.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6877
Author(s):  
Eunji Choi ◽  
Jonghoon Park ◽  
Seongwoo Lee

Faced with an aging and declining population, many governments around the world endeavor to revitalize their rural communities in a sustainable manner. In South Korea, the Comprehensive Rural Village Development Program (CRVDP) was carried out from 2004 to 2013 as a key strategy to reinvigorate rural areas. This study aims to conduct an ex-post quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of the CRVDP in boosting rural households’ farm income. In doing so, the present study adopts quasi-experimental research design that is seldom utilized in assessing rural policies. As an alternative evaluation tool with flexibility for using readily available data, the study employed the combined application of the Heckman selection model and the Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition method. The study revealed a significant positive impact of the Program on farm income of rural households in the program-supported areas from both cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives. A robust causal estimation of the impact of this bottom-up, multi-sectoral rural development program on farm income is achieved, which can be leveraged to widely promote similar type of rural development approach.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 407-428
Author(s):  
BRADLEY T. HEIM ◽  
SHANTHI P. RAMNATH

AbstractTo contribute to a retirement plan (barring an increase in income), an individual must either reduce consumption or increase debt. Using data from the 2004 wave of the Survey of Income and Program Participation, we examine the extent to which contributing to 401(k)-type accounts leads to an increase in short-term financial difficulties, particularly among low-income individuals. After instrumenting for plan take-up, we find that contributing to a 401(k) plan appears to have a small positive impact on the presence of any material hardship and debt holding among the lowest income quintiles, though that effect diminishes further up the income distribution.


sjesr ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-66
Author(s):  
Iram Irshad Bhatti ◽  
Dr. Tahira Kalsoom ◽  
Dr. Tahira Batool

This study explores the impact of 3-weeks intervention based on resilience as a psychosocial skill to enhance the levels of optimism, self-esteem, and resilience as well as the correlation between these variables. Participants were selected randomly from the Law College studying in Undergraduate Program. The intact group received 3 two-hours weekly sessions. Measures of Life Orientation Test (Revised), resilience scale and self-esteem scale were administered to gauge pre-post intervention. Data analysis indicated a significantly higher resilience score, moderately high score on the self-esteem score and significant high-rise on levels of optimism providing a reasonable positive impact. The findings of the study clearly show that resilience intervention is effective to boost self-esteem, resilience and positive life orientation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 588-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anil Kulshrestha ◽  
Y. K. Singh ◽  
S. K. Sen

The study was carried out in Bastpur micro watershed in Morena block of the Morena district of Madhya Pradesh during 2010-11.To assess the impact of watershed development programme in farming system. It could be found that the overall watershed development practices in the study area have positive and effective changes in agricultural area of bajra, and arhar , cropping productivity of gram and arhar, land use, use of land resources, water resources, and livestock due to increase in availability of water and use to improved agricultural inputs like improved seeds, recommended doges of fertilizers, required irrigation, plant protection measures,etc in the study area. It was also found positive change in agricultural land, irrigated area, area under horticultural and vegetables crops. Similarly cattle population was also increased due to sufficient availability of water and fodder in watershed area.


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