Prospect of Small Indigenous Fish (SIF) Culture in Assam

Assam is an abode of hundreds of small indigenous fish species (SIF) which are used as highly nutritious food and preparation of traditional dishes by the ethnic groups. As most of the population are fish eaters, the demand for fish is ever increasing. Rampant fishing, destruction as well as shrinkage of fishing habitats and above all, our ignorance about the true value of so called ‘trash fish’ have already wiped out many of our indigenous small fish species. People in general, are not aware of the importance of small fish other than their food value. The sub-tropical climate and rich water resources of the state provide good opportunity for small fish culture. This status paper highlights the importance of SIF as food, aesthetic, bio-controlling agent and therapeutic values and also their rearing prospects in captive conditions.

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Composition of nutrients, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and microbiological quality in processed small indigenous fish species from Ghana: Implications for food security

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0242086 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. e0242086

Author(s):

Astrid Elise Hasselberg ◽

Laura Wessels ◽

Inger Aakre ◽

Felix Reich ◽

Amy Atter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Fish Species ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Coliform Bacteria ◽

Value Chains ◽

Small Fish ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Indigenous Fish Species

The triple burden of malnutrition is an incessant issue in low- and middle-income countries, and fish has the potential to mitigate this burden. In Ghana fish is a central part of the diet, but data on nutrients and contaminants in processed indigenous fish species, that are often eaten whole, are missing. Samples of smoked, dried or salted Engraulis encrasicolus (European anchovy), Brachydeuterus auritus (bigeye grunt), Sardinella aurita (round sardinella), Selene dorsalis (African moonfish), Sierrathrissa leonensis (West African (WA) pygmy herring) and Tilapia spp. (tilapia) were collected from five different regions in Ghana. Samples were analyzed for nutrients (crude protein, fat, fatty acids, several vitamins, minerals, and trace elements), microbiological quality (microbial loads of total colony counts, E. coli, coliforms, and Salmonella), and contaminants (PAH4 and heavy metals). Except for tilapia, the processed small fish species had the potential to significantly contribute to the nutrient intakes of vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. High levels of iron, mercury and lead were detected in certain fish samples, which calls for further research and identification of anthropogenic sources along the value chains. The total cell counts in all samples were acceptable; Salmonella was not detected in any sample and E. coli only in one sample. However, high numbers of coliform bacteria were found. PAH4 in smoked samples reached high concentrations up to 1,300 μg/kg, but in contrast salted tilapia samples had a range of PAH4 concentration of 1 μg/kg to 24 μg/kg. This endpoint oriented study provides data for the nutritional value of small processed fish as food in Ghana and also provides information about potential food safety hazards. Future research is needed to determine potential sources of contamination along the value chains in different regions, identify critical points, and develop applicable mitigation strategies to improve the quality and safety of processed small fish in Ghana.

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Of Nils and Nation: Selma Lagerlöf'sThe Wonderful Adventures of Nils

International Research in Children s Literature ◽

10.3366/ircl.2008.0005 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 168-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

BJÖRN SUNDMARK

Keyword(s):

Natural Resources ◽

Ethnic Groups ◽

School System ◽

The State ◽

Social Classes ◽

State School ◽

Linguistic Differences ◽

Vested Interests ◽

National Ideology ◽

Selma Lagerlof

Recently past its centenary, The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (1906–7), by Selma Lagerlöf, has remained an international children's classic, famous for its charm and magical elements. This article returns to read the book in its original contexts, and sets out to demonstrate that it was also published as a work of instruction, a work of geography, calculated to build character and nation. Arguing that it represents the vested interests of the state school system, and the national ideology of modern Sweden, the article analyses Nils's journey as the production of a Swedish ‘space’. With a focus on representations of power and nationhood in the text, it points to the way Lagerlöf takes stock of the nation's natural resources, characterises its inhabitants, draws upon legends and history, and ultimately constructs a ‘folkhem’, where social classes, ethnic groups and linguistic differences are all made to contribute to a sense of Swedish belonging and destiny.

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Water Governance and Management in Indus Basin - Challenges & Threats

Studies of Applied Economics ◽

10.25115/eea.v38i3.3601 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Marium Sara Minhas Bandeali

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Civil Society ◽

Water Resources ◽

Water Policy ◽

Water Governance ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Water Security ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

The State ◽

Indus Basin

Water governance and management are important challenges for the River Indus Basin in Pakistan. Water governance refers to social, political and economic factors that influence water management. The water scarcity and water security are a major concern for the state to control its water resources. The study aims to give Sindh water policy by exploring the challenges to Indus Basin in managing water resources and to identify opportunities Indus Basin can look to improve water management. Interviews were conducted from water experts and analysts having 5 years’ experience or more in the water sector of Pakistan through a semi-structured self-developed questionnaire using purposive sampling technique and transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The findings show that increasing population, climatic change and rising demand of water are major challenges Indus is facing and Indus with time is getting water-scarce therefore need strong institutions, civil society and legislatures to ensure equitable distribution of water and maintain the ecosystem. The study emphasizes that water governance and management are necessary for sustainable use of water. Pakistan, the water stress country needs to address ‘governance’ at a wider scale to solve problems in the Indus Basin for the livelihood of people. The research will benefit the state, water experts, institutions as well as civil society to promote efficient use of water in Indus Basin.

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Afars of Ethiopia in the system of ethnic federalism

10.31132/2412-5717-2018-43-2-126-146 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 126-146

Author(s):

Roza Ismagilova

Keyword(s):

Ethnic Identity ◽

Ethnic Groups ◽

Fundamental Principle ◽

Ethnic Relations ◽

The State ◽

Political Crisis ◽

The Political ◽

Horn Of Africa ◽

State Structure ◽

Ethnic Federalism

The article pioneers the analyses of the results of ethnic federalism introduced in Ethiopia in 1991 – and its influence on Afar. Ethnicity was proclaimed the fundamental principle of the state structure. The idea of ethnicity has become the basis of official ideology. The ethnic groups and ethnic identity have acquired fundamentally importance on the political and social levels . The country has been divided into nine ethnically-based regions. The article exposes the complex ethno-political and economic situation in the Afar State, roots and causes of inter- and intra-ethnic relations and conflicts with Amhara, Oromo, Tigray and Somali-Issa, competition of ethnic elites for power and recourses. Alive is the idea of “The Greater Afar”which would unite all Afar of the Horn of Africa. The protests in Oromia and Amhara Regions in 2015–2017 influenced the Afar state as welll. The situation in Ethiopia nowadays is extremely tense. Ethiopia is plunging into serious political crisis. Some observers call it “the beginning of Ethiopian spring”, the others – “Color revolution”

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Water resources of the State of Colorado

10.3133/wsp74 ◽

1902 ◽

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

The State

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Managing Water for Food and Agricultural Transformation in Africa

The Oxford Handbook of Food, Water and Society ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190669799.013.26 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 469-487

Author(s):

Timothy O. Williams

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

Food Systems ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Rural Transformation ◽

Agricultural Transformation ◽

Development Agenda ◽

Policy Measures ◽

Technical Solutions ◽

Food Value

This chapter examines the links between water, food and society in Africa. Agricultural transformation to promote growth, eliminate poverty and hunger and sustain ecosystems is one of the central pillars of current development agenda in Africa. Achievement of this agenda will crucially depend on sustainable water management. However, agri-food systems and water resources are under greater pressure than ever before due to demographic, economic and climatic changes. The nature and scale of these changes suggest that only a holistic and integrated management of all shades of water resources, green, blue and grey, will allow Africa to eliminate hunger and poverty. Research-based technical solutions as well as institutional and policy measures are proposed that would allow available water resources to be sustainably used to promote climate-resilient farming systems, improve agricultural productivity and food security and spur the development of viable food value chains needed for agricultural and rural transformation.

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Inter-Ethnic Dynamics in the Wake of Terrorist Attacks: Evidence from the 2015 Baga Massacre

Peace Economics Peace Science and Public Policy ◽

10.1515/peps-2020-0009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Alessandro Belmonte

Keyword(s):

Ethnic Groups ◽

Large Scale ◽

Natural Experiment ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

The State ◽

Terrorist Attacks ◽

Boko Haram ◽

Far North ◽

North East

AbstractThis paper investigates the consequences for inter-group conflicts of terrorist attacks. I study the 2015 Baga massacre, a large scale attack conducted by Boko Haram at the far North-East state of Borno, Nigeria, as a quasi-natural experiment and examine a set of attitudes in the aftermath of the event of Christians and Muslims throughout the country. Comparing individuals, outside the region of Borno, interviewed by Afrobarometer immediately after the massacre and those interviewed the days before within same regions and holding fixed a number of individual characteristics, I document that the informational exposure to the event rendered Christians less amiable to neighboring Muslims and Muslims less likely to recognize the legitimacy of the state. Nonetheless, Muslims increased their view of the elections as a device to remove leaders in office, event that took place 2 months later with the election of the challenger, Muhammadu Buhari. My findings indicate that terrorist attacks may generate a relevant and heterogeneous backlash across ethnic groups.

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