scholarly journals Assessing Smallholder Farmers’ Perception on Climate Variability in Relation to Climatological Evidence: A Case Study of Benguene in the Sudanian Zone of Mali

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-34
Author(s):  
Souleymane S Traore ◽  
Mamy Soumare ◽  
Sidi Dembele ◽  
Vincent N Ojeh ◽  
Safiatou Guindo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Daily Rainfall ◽  
Conformity Index ◽  
P Value ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Adaptive Responses ◽  
Sudanian Zone

Sudanian zone is one of the regions in West Africa most confronted with high climate variability, challenging agricultural sustainability and rural livelihoods. Despite multiple research efforts devoted to exploring how farmers in this region perceive climate variability and how perceptions relate to adaptive responses, much remains to be done. This study examined farmers’ perception of climate variability compared with scientific evidence in the terroir of Benguene, between 1983 and 2018. Data was collected from twenty-nine (29) farmland heads (representing 49% of the total farmland heads in the village) through a survey conducted in October 2019. Monthly temperature data from ground measurement and daily rainfall data extracted from the gridded African Rainfall Climatology version 2 (ARC-2) time series was used. Descriptive statistic was used to analyse survey data. Climate data analysis included Mann Kendall trend analysis and computation of growing season parameters (Onset, Duration and Cessation) and its trend. In the end, a conformity index was used to compare farmers’ perceptions to climatological evidence. Conformity graph showed that apart from temperature, the farmers have low, to a weak perception of the other variables used to assess their perception. Results showed that many smallholder farmers have observed a rise in temperature (90%), delay onset (93%) and early cessation (93%) of rainfall. The analysis of the climate data showed high variability in the climate during the study period as observed in the increasing trends in temperature (p-value of 0.0007) and in the rainfall (p-value of 0.0001). Concerning the season parameters, the results show increasingly early-onset (June 1st ± 22 days) increasingly late cessation (October 09th ± 14 days) and consequently a long duration of the rainy season (130 ± 27 days). Conversely, farmers thought the opposite. These results imply the urgent need to increase smallholder farmers awareness of climate variability and change by providing climate information for better adaptation

scholarly journals Are Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability and Change Supported by Climate Records? A Case Study of Lower Gweru in Semiarid Central Zimbabwe

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Makuvaro ◽  
Cyril T. F. Murewi ◽  
John Dimes ◽  
Ignatius Chagonda
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Climate Variability And Change ◽  
Dry Spells ◽  
Rainfall Trends ◽  
Reliable Source

Abstract The livelihoods of the majority of people in semiarid areas of developing nations are based on rain-fed agriculture. In the wake of climate variability and change, communities in these regions are the most vulnerable because of their limited capacities to adapt to environmental changes. Smallholder farmers in the study area, Lower Gweru in central Zimbabwe, ascertain that they have observed changes in some rainfall and temperature patterns. These changes include higher temperatures, an increased number of seasons without enough rainfall, and an increased frequency of droughts and lengths of dry spells. The aim of this study was to find out whether farmers’ perceptions are supported by mean and extreme event trends in observed historical climate data. Gweru Thornhill meteorological data were analyzed for significant trends. The analysis showed that temperatures are increasing significantly, consistent with farmers’ observations that temperatures are getting hotter. This study revealed that farmer perceptions on rainfall were not consistent with historical climatic trends. Thus, farmers in the Lower Gweru area may not be a very reliable source of long-term rainfall trends.

scholarly journals Effects of Climate Variability on Crop Yield and its Implications for Smallholder Farmers and Precision Agriculture in Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
I. M. Sule ◽  
I. Ibrahim ◽  
J. Mayaki ◽  
S. Saidu
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
The State ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Guinea Savanna ◽  
The Impact

This study aimed to examine the effects of climate variability on annual crop yield at smallholder farmers’ level in the Guinea Savanna Region of Nigeria, using Niger State as a case study.  Climate data (rainfall and maximum temperature) for a period of 38 years (1971-2008) was acquired from National Cereals Research Institute, Bida and Nigeria Meteorological Agency, while crop yield data was acquired from Niger State Agricultural Mechanization Development Authority (NAMDA). Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) were undertaken in 18 communities in six local government areas in Niger State spread across the three agricultural zones in the State to validate the impact of climate change and variability. The climate data was analyzed with the aid of charts. Results showed a generally rising trend in both temperature and rainfall across the State. It shows that rainfall is not only more variable, but its onset and cessation patterns have shifted and its occurrence very inconsistent. Linear relationships between climatic variables and the major crops showed moderate to strong positive and negative relationships. However, when crop yields were regressed with the climate variables, only maize (.032), bambara groundnut (.029) and groundnut (.007) were very significant at .05 confidence level (95%). The policy implication of this finding is the need to provide the farmers with local climate information and the need for vigorous pursuance of the development of high yield crop varieties better suited to changing climate conditions in the Guinea Savanna ecological zone by research institutes and other relevant agencies.

scholarly journals Cataract surgery practice patterns worldwide: a survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000464
Author(s):  
Tommaso Rossi ◽  
Mario R Romano ◽  
Danilo Iannetta ◽  
Vito Romano ◽  
Luca Gualdi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cataract Surgery ◽  
Practice Patterns ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
P Value ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Surgical Volume ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Type Of Institution ◽  
Surgical Setting

ObjectiveTo report the results of a global survey on cataract practice patterns related to preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative care, surgical setting and personnel allocation.Methods and analysisAn online 28 questions survey was sent to 240 ophthalmologists asking to describe prevailing trends in their institutions across 38 countries and 5 continents. Questions inquired country, institution, surgical volume and setting, anaesthesia, preoperative and intraoperative examination and postsurgical care. Statistical analysis used crosstabs lambda statistics for non-parametric nominal variables. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results209/240 (87%) ophthalmologists responded: 38% representing public hospitals, 36% private practices and 26% academic sites; overall surgical volume was between 241 700 and 410 500 cataracts per year. There was a significant correlation between type of institution and surgical volume. Complete results available in online (https://freeonlinesurveys.com/r/W6BcLLxy).ConclusionCataract surgery related patterns of perioperative care showed significant difference among respondents, regardless to type of institution, surgical volume and country. Many evidence-based procedures are unevenly practiced around the world and some widespread and expensive habits lack solid scientific evidence while consuming enormous amount of resources both monetary and human. There is a need to reach consensus and share evidence-based practice patterns.

scholarly journals CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE: FARMER PERCEPTIONS AND UNDERSTANDING OF INTRA-SEASONAL VARIABILITY IN RAINFALL AND ASSOCIATED RISK IN SEMI-ARID KENYA

2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. P. C. RAO ◽  
W. G. NDEGWA ◽  
K. KIZITO ◽  
A. OYOO
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
General Tendency ◽  
Climate Variability And Change ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Probabilistic Nature ◽  
Semi Arid

SUMMARYThis study examines farmers’ perceptions of short- and long-term variability in climate, their ability to discern trends in climate and how the perceived trends converge with actual weather observations in five districts of Eastern Province in Kenya where the climate is semi-arid with high intra- and inter-annual variability in rainfall. Field surveys to elicit farmers’ perceptions about climate variability and change were conducted in Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Mwingi and Mutomo districts. Long-term rainfall records from five meteorological stations within a 10 km radius from the survey locations were obtained from the Kenya Meteorological Department and were analysed to compare with farmers’ observations. Farmers’ responses indicate that they are well aware of the general climate in their location, its variability, the probabilistic nature of the variability and the impacts of this variability on crop production. However, their ability to synthesize the knowledge they have gained from their observations and discern long-term trends in the probabilistic distribution of seasonal conditions is more subjective, mainly due to the compounding interactions between climate and other factors such as soil fertility, soil water and land use change that determine the climate's overall influence on crop productivity. There is a general tendency among the farmers to give greater weight to negative impacts leading to higher risk perception. In relation to long-term changes in the climate, farmer observations in our study that rainfall patterns are changing corroborated well with reported perceptions from other places across the African continent but were not supported by the observed trends in rainfall data from the five study locations. The main implication of our findings is the need to be aware of and account for the risk during the development and promotion of technologies involving significant investments by smallholder farmers and exercise caution in interpreting farmers’ perceptions about long-term climate variability and change.

Smallholder large ruminant health and production in Lao PDR: challenges and opportunities for improving domestic and regional beef supply

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Nampanya ◽  
S. Khounsy ◽  
J. R. Young ◽  
V. Napasirth ◽  
R. D. Bush ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Lao Pdr ◽  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Bubalus Bubalis ◽  
Large Ruminant ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Marketing Systems

Indigenous yellow cattle (Bos indicus) and Asiatic swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) are important livestock species in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos). Data from 2011 estimated there was a national herd of 1 586 200 cattle and 774 200 buffalo, with average numbers of 5.3 cattle and 3.4 buffalo per farm household, indicating that the majority of farm households with large ruminants were smallholders, retaining large ruminants as a storage of wealth, for sale as meat, and as a source of manure fertiliser. Increasing demand for red meat in both domestic and neighbouring markets, driven by rapidly growing economies and urbanisation, offers opportunities for Lao smallholders to gain more income from their livestock. However, improving cattle and buffalo production and a more sustainable supply of safe beef and buffalo meat, requires that numerous production, health and welfare constraints be addressed, including: prevalence of important infectious and parasitic diseases, nutritional deficits particularly in the dry season, undeveloped trading, meat processing and marketing systems, limited veterinary and extension service capacity, adverse impacts from climate change and cultural practices specific to buffalo husbandry, plus policy developments that recognise and adapt to changes in land use. Improvements in large ruminant health, processing and marketing are of particular importance as these will enable poor smallholder farmers to participate in emerging beef markets and expand other agricultural enterprises, improving rural livelihoods, with potential reductions in rural poverty and increased food security. This paper identifies the strategic interventions that may increase the supply of cattle and buffalo and improve rural livelihoods in Laos and the Greater Mekong Subregion.

scholarly journals Relationships between Meteorological Parameters and Particulate Matter in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wissanupong Kliengchuay ◽  
Aronrag Cooper Meeyai ◽  
Suwalee Worakhunpiset ◽  
Kraichat Tantrakarnapa
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Meteorological Parameters ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Pm10 Concentration ◽  
P Value ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Ambient Concentrations

Meteorological parameters play an important role in determining the prevalence of ambient particulate matter (PM) in the upper north of Thailand. Mae Hong Son is a province located in this region and which borders Myanmar. This study aimed to determine the relationships between meteorological parameters and ambient concentrations of particulate matter less than 10 µm in diameter (PM10) in Mae Hong Son. Parameters were measured at an air quality monitoring station, and consisted of PM10, carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and meteorological factors, including temperature, rainfall, pressure, wind speed, wind direction, and relative humidity (RH). Nine years (2009–2017) of pollution and climate data obtained from the Thai Pollution Control Department (PCD) were used for analysis. The results of this study indicate that PM10 is influenced by meteorological parameters; high concentration occurred during the dry season and northeastern monsoon seasons. Maximum concentrations were always observed in March. The PM10 concentrations were significantly related to CO and O3 concentrations and to RH, giving correlation coefficients of 0.73, 0.39, and −0.37, respectively (p-value < 0.001). Additionally, the hourly PM10 concentration fluctuated within each day. In general, it was found that the reporting of daily concentrations might be best suited to public announcements and presentations. Hourly concentrations are recommended for public declarations that might be useful for warning citizens and organizations about air pollution. Our findings could be used to improve the understanding of PM10 concentration patterns in Mae Hong Son and provide information to better air pollution measures and establish a warning system for the province.

scholarly journals A Multi-Phase Assessment of the Effects of COVID-19 on Food Systems and Rural Livelihoods in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vine Mutyasira
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Response Measures ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Multi Phase

The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to affect agri-food systems around the world and lay bare its fragility, worsening the welfare of millions of smallholder farmers whose livelihoods are anchored on agricultural activities. For the vast majority of sub-Saharan Africa, COVID-19 has coincided with a number of other macroeconomic shocks, which have also exacerbated the impacts of the pandemic on food security, nutrition and general livelihoods, as well curtailed policy responses and mitigation strategies. In Zimbabwe, the COVID-19 pandemic struck at a time the country was experiencing a worsening economic and humanitarian situation. This study focused more on community and household dynamics and response measures to cope with the pandemic. This paper presents a summary of findings emerging from a series of rapid assessment studies undertaken by the Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA) Programme in Mvurwi and Concession areas of Mazowe District in Zimbabwe to examine how COVID-19 is affecting food systems and rural livelihoods in our research communities.

Elderly smallholder farmers’ perceptions of and adaptation to climate variability and change in rural Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Divine Odame Appiah ◽  
Felix Asante ◽  
Lois Antwi-Boadi ◽  
Richard Serbeh
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pension Scheme ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Climate Variability And Change ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This paper aims to examine elderly smallholder farmers’ perceptions of and adaptation to climate variability and change in the Offinso Municipality, Ghana. Design/methodology/approach This paper used quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data were analyzed with frequencies and chi-square tests, whereas qualitative data were thematically analyzed. Findings The results showed that elderly smallholder farmers’ knowledge of climate variability and climate change were based on their sex, level of formal education and experience in farming. Elderly smallholder farmers adopted both on-farm and off-farm strategies to cope with climate change and variability. The vulnerability of elderly smallholder farmers to climate change calls for social protection mechanisms such as a pension scheme that guarantees access to monthly cash transfers. Such a scheme will ease constraints to livelihood and ensure improved well-being. Originality/value Elderly smallholder farmers have remained invisible in discourses on perceptions and adaptation to climate change despite the surge in number of this category of farmers. This paper therefore represents an attempt to highlight the experiences of elderly smallholder farmers with climate variability and change.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Yield Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) and Rice (Oryza sativa L.) to Future Climate Variability in The Gambia

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Ebrima Sonko ◽  
Sampson K. Agodzo ◽  
Philip Antwi-Agyei
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Rice Yield ◽  
Oryza Sativa L ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Maize Cultivars

Climate change and variability impact on staple food crops present a daunting challenge in the 21st century. The study assesses future climate variability on maize and rice yield over a 30-year period by comparing the outcomes under two GCM models, namely, CSIRO_RCP4.5 and NOAA_RCP4.5 of Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration respectively. Historical climate data and yield data were used to establish correlations and then subsequently used to project future yields between 2021 and 2050. Using the average yield data for the period 1987-2016 as baseline yield data, future yield predictions for 2021-2030, 2031-2040 and 2041-2050 were then compared with the baseline data. The results showed that the future maize and rice yield would be vulnerable to climate variability with CSIRO_RCP4.5 showing increase in maize yield whilst CSIRO_RCP4.5 gives a better projection for rice yield. Furthermore, the results estimated the percentage mean yield gain for maize under CSIRO_RCP4.5 and NOAA_ RCP4.5 by about 17 %, 31 % and 48 % for the period 2021-2030, 2031-2040 and 2041-2050 respectively. Mean rice yield lossess of -23 %, -19 % and -23 % were expected for the same period respectively. The study recommended the use of improved rice and maize cultivars to offset the negative effects of climate variability in future.

scholarly journals Effect size: a statistical basis for clinical practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
José Valladares-Neto
Keyword(s):  
Effect Size ◽  
Risk Estimation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
P Value ◽  
Conceptual Basis ◽  
Statistical Measure ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Strength Of Association ◽  
Calculate Sample Size

OBJECTIVE: Effect size (ES) is the statistical measure which quantifies the strength of a phenomenon and is commonly applied to observational and interventional studies. The aim of this review was to describe the conceptual basis of this measure, including its application, calculation and interpretation.RESULTS: As well as being used to detect the magnitude of the difference between groups, to verify the strength of association between predictor and outcome variables, to calculate sample size and power, ES is also used in meta-analysis. ES formulas can be divided into these categories: I – Difference between groups, II – Strength of association, III – Risk estimation, and IV – Multivariate data. The d value was originally considered small (0.20 > d ≤ 0.49), medium (0.50 > d≤ 0.79) or large (d ≥ 0.80); however, these cut-off limits are not consensual and could be contextualized according to a specific field of knowledge. In general, a larger score implies that a larger difference was detected.CONCLUSION: The ES report, in conjunction with the confidence interval and P value, aims to strengthen interpretation and prevent the misinterpretation of data, and thus leads to clinical decisions being based on scientific evidence studies.

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