scholarly journals The potential for aflatoxin predictive risk modelling in sub-Saharan Africa: a review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
B. Keller ◽  
T. Russo ◽  
F. Rembold ◽  
Y. Chauhan ◽  
P. Battilani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Significant Information ◽  
Occurrence Data ◽  
Sub Saharan

This review presents the current state of aflatoxin risk prediction models and their potential for value actors throughout the food chain in sub-Saharan Africa, with a specific focus on improving smallholder farmer management practices. Several empirical and mechanistic models have been developed either in academic research or by private sector aggregators and processors in high-income countries including Australia, the USA, and Southern Europe, but these models have been only minimally applied in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is significant potential and increasing need due to climate variability. Predictions can be made based on historic occurrence data using either a mechanistic microbiological framework for aflatoxin accumulation or an empirical model based on statistical correlations with climate conditions and local agronomic factors. Model results can then be distributed to smallholders through private, public, or mobile extension services, used by policymakers for strategy or policy, or utilised by private sector institutions for management decisions. Specific agricultural advice can be given during the three most critical points in the phenological cycle: preseason insight including sowing timing and crop varieties, preharvest advice about management and harvest timing, and postharvest optimal practices including storage, drying, and market information. Model development for sub-Saharan Africa is limited by a dearth of georeferenced aflatoxin occurrence data and real-time high resolution climate data; the wide diversity of farm typologies each with significant information and technology gaps; a prevalence of informal market structures and lack of economic incentives systems; and general lack of awareness around aflatoxins and best management practices to mitigate risk. Given advancements towards solving these challenges, predictive aflatoxin models can be integrated into decision support platforms to focus on optimisation of value for smallholders by minimising yield and nutritional losses, which can propagate value throughout the production and postharvest phases.

scholarly journals Africa’s evolving vegetable seed sector: status, policy options and lessons from Asia

Food Security ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pepijn Schreinemachers ◽  
Julie Howard ◽  
Michael Turner ◽  
Simon N. Groot ◽  
Bhupen Dubey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Private Sector Investment ◽  
Vegetable Seed ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractFostering better access to more nutritious foods across sub-Saharan Africa will be critical to ending hunger and malnutrition. In Asia, vegetable production and consumption have grown rapidly since the 1990s and the development of a dynamic vegetable seed industry, led by the private sector, played a pivotal role in this process. The availability of locally-bred and adapted varieties facilitated the rapid expansion of production and increased the supply of affordable vegetables to consumers. In contrast, the vegetable seed sector in sub-Saharan Africa has been slow to develop and has received little attention in the development agenda. Drawing from Asia’s experience, this paper outlines a four-point strategy to accelerate the vegetable seed sector in sub-Saharan Africa. First, there is a need to strengthen the technical capacity of African seed companies to allow them to develop varieties that are well-adapted to local conditions and consumer preferences. Second, seed regulations, originally designed with food grains in mind, should be reviewed and revised to facilitate domestic vegetable breeding research and seed production. Third, more farmer extension is needed to exploit improved varieties together with good management practices. Fourth, vegetable marketing systems should be strengthened to reduce risks to farmers and traders. Investment in these four areas will help energize private sector investment in the vegetable seed sector. Asian experience suggests that investment in locally adapted vegetable varieties is a critical step in improving productivity, availability and ultimately consumption of nutritious vegetables.

scholarly journals Potential Threat of Bruchids on Soybean Production in Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. PHP-10-20-0093-
Author(s):  
Michelle L. Pawlowski ◽  
Doris M. Lagos-Kutz ◽  
Michelle da Fonseca Santos ◽  
Nicole Lee ◽  
Godfree Chigeza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Callosobruchus Chinensis ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Soybean Production ◽  
Biotic Stresses ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Cultivar Development ◽  
Sub Saharan

Soybean production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been increasing in recent years in part due to the efforts of several national and international research agencies, including the Soybean Innovation Laboratory (SIL). SIL’s mission to increase utilization and production of soybean in SSA has led to several facets of research including cultivar development to increase yield through the Pan-African Soybean Variety Trials (PATs). Several abiotic and biotic stresses can decrease yield, including pathogens and pests that attack seed. While evaluating seed lots from 32 PAT locations, we identified bruchids and/or bruchid-damaged seed in nine locations in four countries (Cameroon, Malawi, Mozambique, and Rwanda). The most severe damage and infestation was recorded in Bwanje, Malawi, with 28 of the 40 seed lots infested. Seed damage ranged from 0.6 to 100% among the 28 infested seed lots. Adult bruchids discovered at the Bwanje location were identified as Callosobruchus chinensis, or the Chinese bruchid. No adults were found in other locations. Bruchids are a destructive storage pest of legumes, and monitoring the different species attacking soybean will help researchers and producers understand the potential threat of bruchids to soybean production in SSA as well as help implement the best management practices.

scholarly journals Precision Agriculture for Resource Use Efficiency in Smallholder Farming Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1158
Author(s):  
Cecilia M. Onyango ◽  
Justine M. Nyaga ◽  
Johanna Wetterlind ◽  
Mats Söderström ◽  
Kristin Piikki
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
English Language ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Sub Saharan

Opportunities exist for adoption of precision agriculture technologies in all parts of the world. The form of precision agriculture may vary from region to region depending on technologies available, knowledge levels and mindsets. The current review examined research articles in the English language on precision agriculture practices for increased productivity among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 7715 articles were retrieved and after screening 128 were reviewed. The results indicate that a number of precision agriculture technologies have been tested under SSA conditions and show promising results. The most promising precision agriculture technologies identified were the use of soil and plant sensors for nutrient and water management, as well as use of satellite imagery, GIS and crop-soil simulation models for site-specific management. These technologies have been shown to be crucial in attainment of appropriate management strategies in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of resource use in SSA. These technologies are important in supporting sustainable agricultural development. Most of these technologies are, however, at the experimental stage, with only South Africa having applied them mainly in large-scale commercial farms. It is concluded that increased precision in input and management practices among SSA smallholder farmers can significantly improve productivity even without extra use of inputs.

scholarly journals Adoption and Dis-Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture: A Case of Farmers’ Innovations and Integrated Fruit Fly Management in Kenya

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 338
Author(s):  
Charity M. Wangithi ◽  
Beatrice W. Muriithi ◽  
Raphael Belmin
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Bactrocera Dorsalis ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
Gender And Education ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Indigenous Methods

The invasive fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis poses a major threat to the production and trade of mango in sub-Saharan Africa. Farmers devise different innovations to manage the pest in an attempt to minimize yield loss and production costs while maximizing revenues. Using survey data obtained from Embu County, Kenya, we analyzed farmers’ knowledge and perception as regards the invasive fruit fly, their innovations for the management of the pest, and the determinants of their adoption and dis-adoption decisions of recently developed and promoted integrated pest management (IPM) technologies for suppression of the pest. The results show that farmers consider fruit flies as a major threat to mango production (99%) and primarily depend on pesticides (90%) for the management of the pest. Some farmers (35%) however use indigenous methods to manage the pest. Though farmers possess good knowledge of different IPM strategies, uptake is relatively low. The regression estimates show that continued use of IPM is positively associated with the gender and education of the household head, size of a mango orchard, knowledge on mango pests, training, contact with an extension officer, and use of at least one non-pesticide practice for fruit fly management, while IPM dis-adoption was negatively correlated with the size of the mango orchard, practice score and use of indigenous innovations for fruit fly management. We recommend enhancing farmer′s knowledge through increased access to training programs and extension services for enhanced adoption of sustainable management practices for B. dorsalis.

scholarly journals The Africa weather enterprise : filling a large gap

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Copping
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
End User ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Single Person ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
National Economies ◽  
Private Actors ◽  
Warning Services

<p>The study focuses on the role of the private sector in the development and delivery of hydromet and early warning services (EWS) in sub-Saharan Africa, within the current landscape of the Africa Regional Weather Enterprise (ARWE).</p><p>The study was sponsored by the World Bank and conducted through interviews with 28 National Hydro­Meteorological Services (NMHS) and 87 participating companies who either work in or have interest in the region’s hydromet market, varying in size from single-person entities to large multinationals. Less than 4% of companies have their headquarters (and solely operate) in Africa. 157 projects were identified from the 65 most active donors financing hydromet projects in sub-Saharan Africa, and classified by sector and complexity, from niche to “full-chain” solutions.</p><p>The study analyses which and how private sector actors operate within the framework of national, regional and international hydromet projects, in which countries, which products and services they provide and in which end-user categories, from research and development, to innovation and capacity building initiatives.</p><p>The study further analyses the success rates of international companies winning tenders in sub-Saharan Africa , and the patterns leading to success.</p><p>The report concludes by drawing on lessons from the positive dynamics and gaps in partnerships and engagements between public and private actors. The results of the study create the need for sixteen recommendations to further improve the ARWE, with a key emphasis on PPE, to successfully complete African hydromet programs, and in turn satisfy end-user needs, to protect lives, property, and to support their national economies for the prosperity of all.</p>

scholarly journals Implications of Climate Change on Soil Functions: A Case for Achieving Local Coconut Sufficiency from Sustainable Agricultural Practices

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinedu Egbunike ◽  
Nonso Okoye ◽  
Okoroji-Nma Okechukwu
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Soil Functions ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Climate change is a major threat to agricultural food production globally and locally. It poses both direct and indirect effects on soil functions. Thus, agricultural management practices has evolved to adaptation strategies in order to mitigate the risks and threats from climate change. The study concludes with a recommendation the coconut farmers should explore the idea of soil biodiversity in a bid to mitigate the potential negative impact of climate related risk on the farming. The study proffers the need for adopting sustainable agricultural practices to boost local coconut production. This can contribute to the simultaneous realisation of two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations: SDG 2 on food security and sustainable agriculture and SDG 13 on action to combat climate change and its impacts. The study findings has implications for tackling climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa and in particular Nigeria in order to boost local agricultural production and coconut in particular without negative environmental consequences and an ability to cope with climate change related risks.

scholarly journals Institutional Dynamics of Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Bamenda Metropolis

2021 ◽  
pp. 63-78
Author(s):  
Victor Konfor Ntoban ◽  
Mbanga Lawrence Akei ◽  
Clarkson Mvo Wanie
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Solid Waste Management ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Municipal Solid Waste Management ◽  
Political Climate ◽  
Institutional Dynamics ◽  
The Right

Rapid and uncontrolled urbanization in several parts of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), has introduced a plethora of urban development challenges. This has left city governments ‘standing in their sleep’, as they strive to deal such issues. A classic example is solid waste management – with waste considered to be principally an urban problem. While the issue of waste has been belaboured in the literature, there is a dearth in geographical literature on the institutional dynamics of solid waste management. Viewed as structures and processes, institutions demonstrate potentials to determine the intentions and actions of urban waste managers and urban dwellers, within the waste management spectrum. Taking the case of Bamenda – a primate city par excellence – this paper explores the dynamics of institutions and their implications for solid waste management. Specifically, it explores the waste management institutional transition and its bearing on current and potentially, future waste management practices. Household surveys, complemented by expert interviews provided data for the study. Through narratives and descriptive statistics, we observed that despite the litany of institutions involved in solid waste management and their related institutional frameworks, their effectiveness remains questionable. This rests, in part, on the inadequacy in personnel, and the lack of law enforcement in the courts and city judiciary systems. The ineffectiveness of these instruments in the Bamenda Municipality is as a result of weak legal institutional setup, the absence of courts and a city judiciary system to handle environmental issues (solid waste), irregular or poorly enforced laws, inaccessible neighbourhood, and organizational lapses. Furthermore, the socio-political climate, characterised by insecurity, mars the effective implementation of waste management approaches. This paper argues that the institutional change process in waste management should strive towards the introduction of economic incentives that can motivate urban dwellers to fully engage in the process. Further empirical evidence on the right business-oriented waste management models are required to ground this claim.

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