Loading...
Journal Article
The dynamics of climate change adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa : a review of climate-smart agriculture among small-scale farmers
Author(s): Abegunde, Victor O.; Obi, Ajuruchukwu; Sibanda, Melusi
Attachments [1]
Issue Date: 2019
More Detail
Abstract:
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) as a credible alternative to tackle food insecurity under the changing climate is gaining wide acceptance. However, many developing countries have realized that concepts that have been recommended as solutions to existing problems are not suitable in their contexts. This paper synthesizes a subset of literature on CSA in the context of small-scale agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa as it relates to the need for CSA, factors influencing CSA adoption, and the challenges involved in understanding and scaling up CSA. Findings from the literature reveal that age, farm size, the nature of farming, and access to extension services influence CSA adoption. Many investments in climate adaptation projects have found little success because of the sole focus on the technology-oriented approach whereby innovations are transferred to farmers whose understanding of the local farming circumstances are limited. Climate-smart agriculture faces the additional challenge of a questionable conceptual understanding among policymakers as well as financing bottlenecks. This paper argues that the prospects of CSA in small-scale agriculture rest on a thorough socio-economic analysis that recognizes the heterogeneity of the small farmer environment and the identification and harnessing of the capacities of farming households for its adoption and implementation.
Citation: Abegunde, V.O., Sibanda, M. and Obi, A., 2019. The dynamics of climate change adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review of climate-smart agriculture among small-scale farmers, Climate, 7(11), pp.132.
Publication Place: Basel, Switzerland
Other: https://doi.org/10.3390/cli7110132
Journal Title: Climate
Journal Issue / Part Number: 11 / 7
Peer reviewed: Yes
Pre-print: No
ISSN: 2225-1154
Other: https://doi.org/10.3390/cli7110132
Publisher: MDPI
Related items (Items from the same collection.)
Now showing 1 - 20 of 1563
- 2019| Springer NatureCadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles have been synthesized from CdX2 (X = Cl–, I–) complexes of 4-chlorobenzaldehyde and benzophenone thiosemicarbazone. The complexes have been studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis, FT-IR, and NMR spectroscopy. The solvothermal decomposition of the complexes has afforded oleylamine-capped CdS nanoparticles with a wurtzite hexagonal phase. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies show different morphologies which are influenced by reaction temperature and the nature of the ligands on the precursor complexes. Particles in the form of irregular cubes, elongated cubes and nanodendrites have been observed. The UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements show temperature and nature of complex-dependant optical properties. Blue-shifted band gap energies have been observed at lower reaction temperatures.
- 1
- 2
- 0
- 2021| World Scientific Pub...In this paper, we investigate a Bianchi type I exact Universe by taking into account the cosmological constant as the source of energy at the present epoch. We have performed a [Formula: see text] test to obtain the best fit values of the model parameters of the Universe in the derived model. We have used two types of data sets, viz., (i) 31 values of the Hubble parameter and (ii) the 1048 Pantheon data set of various supernovae distance moduli and apparent magnitudes. From both the data sets, we have estimated the current values of the Hubble constant, density parameters [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The dynamics of the deceleration parameter shows that the Universe was in a decelerating phase for redshift [Formula: see text]. At a transition redshift [Formula: see text], the present Universe entered an accelerating phase of expansion. The current age of the Universe is obtained as [Formula: see text] Gyrs. This is in good agreement with the value of [Formula: see text] calculated from the Plank collaboration results and WMAP observations.
- 0
- 1
- 0
- Brand crises are unexpected and any organisation can be exposed to a brand crisis. Existing research on brands in crisis focus mostly on the effectiveness of the organisation’s response. However, there is limited research on the effect of a brand crisis on consumer’s brand loyalty. This study aims to examine the impact of a brand crisis on a consumer’s brand loyalty, with the Listeriosis crisis used as a case study. A quantitative research method was used to collect data from 384 randomly selected food retail store shoppers at Empangeni and Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal, through the use of questionnaires. The findings reveal that females and males differ significantly and high-income earners expressed loyalty to Rainbow and Enterprise even after the Listeriosis crisis because of their reliability, the unique products that they offer, and the fact that they satisfy their customer needs. Findings also showed that customers remain loyal even after a brand crisis.The research was limited to uMhlathuze municipality thus it cannot be generalised. The brand crisis was limited to the Listeriosis case. This study contributes to the literature on brand management by examining why consumers remain loyal to certain brands even after a crisis. This study also provides insight into how organisations can prepare for a crisis because there is no organisation immune to a brand crisis. The research concludes that because of the strong relationship that consumers have with brands, the former is less affected by crises. Moreover, the positive prior beliefs towards brands faced with a product-harm crisis, lead to less blame from consumers. Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that brand loyalty far outweighs temporal crises. Organisations should build strong and positive relationships with consumers through engaging in corporate social responsibility activities and should also have a crisis management team to handle product-harm crises.
- 1
- 2
- 0
- Going beyond the static, dangerous version of a single story about who an African child inmate is, is an ethical responsibility – especially when we consider the structural and material forces that are tangled in this evil deed. Drawing on a sociological framing of self and Foucault’s theory of ethics, we take a narrative inquiry stance to explore what can be learnt about being an African child from a juvenile ex-inmate, Bakhona who negotiates the complex educational experience as a poor, orphaned and homeless child. The three storied vignettes represent our attention to the multiplicity and fluidity of self – negotiated through the entangled pathways of learning to and from prison. The analysis releases our eyes to a deeper understanding of the young African child who turns to crime driven by a desire to learn, know, and live differently. The choice to learn to care for self differently within dislocating and unproductive material and structural conditions is complex and possible if schooling as a system can become more educationally relevant, socially responsive and inclusive teaching and learning sites.
- 1
- 1
- 0
- Aproaerema modicella (Deventer), Aproaerema simplexella (Walker) and Stomopteryx subsecivella (Zeller, 1852)(Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) are micro moth (Micro-Lepidoptera) pests of groundnut and soya bean that have beendescribed as different species on different continents. Recent DNA analyses of these species suggest that they areconspecific. Here, a review with emphasis on the genetics, biology, ecology and known host plant preferences of this apparent species is given. We argue, through the genetic/DNA data and analyses, that the three species should be grouped as a single species. The review ends by highlighting the areas that need further research to confirm our hypothesis.
- 1
- 2
- 0
- Aspalathin is a rooibos flavonoid with established blood glucose lowering properties, however, its efficacy to moderate complications associated with hepatic insulin resistance is unknown. To study such effects, C3A liver cells exposed to palmitate were used as a model of hepatic insulin resistance. These hepatocytes displayed impaired substrate metabolism, including reduced glucose transport and free fatty acid uptake. These defects included impaired insulin signaling, evident through reduced phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/ protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) protein expression, and mitochondrial dysfunction, depicted by a lower mitochondrial respiration rate. Aspalathin was able to ameliorate these defects by correcting altered substrate metabolism, improving insulin signaling and mitochondrial bioenergetics. Activation of 5´-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) may be a plausible mechanism by which aspalathin increases hepatic energy expenditure. Overall, these results encourage further studies assessing the potential use of aspalathin as a nutraceutical to improve hepatocellular energy expenditure, and reverse metabolic disease-associated complications.
- 1
- 1
- 0
- In the present study, the effects of metallic doping on the photoelectron\chemical properties of zinc oxide thin films have been studied. All films have been deposited using the spray pyrolysis technique at a constant doping level of 3 wt% whereby Cu, Ni, and Pb were used as dopants. The structure of all films was studied by X-ray diffraction which showed the grain size of all doped films to be 50 nm. The energy band gap of all films was estimated using optical transmission spectroscopy. The Ni, Cu, and Pb-doped ZnO photoelectrodes were applied for the photoelectrochemical (PEC) H2 generation from H2O. Pb doping leads to the highest photocurrent of the ZnO photoelectrodes. The current density–potential characteristics were measured under white light and monochromatic illumination. The stability of the electrode was quantified as a function of the number of H2 production runs and exposure time. Finally, the incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency, IPCE, and applied bias photon-to-current efficiency, ABPE, were calculated. The optimum IPCE at 390 nm was ∼30% whereas the ABPE was 0.636 at 0.5 V.
- 1
- 2
- 0
- Background: Acacia senegal (Fabaceae) Wild is a leguminous tree with economic values, but its leaves are under-utilised. Objective: To investigate the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant potential of crude extracts from A. Senegal’s leaves. Methods: Methanol and acetone crude extracts of leaves of A. senegal were prepared by maceration using organic solvents, methanol and acetone respectively. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of the crude extracts were evaluated using Association of Agricultural and Chemist (AOAC) protocols. Antioxidant activities of the crude extracts were determined using 2, 2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) respectively. Results: The crude extracts (acetone and methanol) showed vary quality of phytochemical constituent including flavonoid, alkaloids, carbohydrate, saponins, tannin, steroids, and terpenoids. Acetone crude possessed significant (P < 0.05) higher total flavonoid and proanthocyanidin content in comparison with methanol extracts. Whereas, methanol crude extract possessed significant higher total phenol content compared with acetone crude extract. The crude extracts showed antioxidant activities as evidence in scavenging ABTS and DPPH radicals. However, acetone crude with lower IC50 of 0.09 mg/mL possessed significant higher ABTS scavenging ability compared to methanol (0.07 mg/mL) and ascorbic acid (0.07 mg/mL). Conclusion: The crude extracts could serve as a promising natural antioxidant agent in management of oxidative stress diseases. For further studies, bioactive compounds need to be ascertained.
- 1
- 1
- 0
- The emergence of COVID-19 necessitated the need for lockdown and social distancing. It presented additional challenges for teachers and learners with disabilities (LwDs), whose life and active learning engagements depend largely on social interaction with teachers, caregivers, therapists and peers. COVID-19 presents anxieties associated with teaching and learning processes, potential relapse of previously gained learning outcomes and aggravated disabling condition. However, there seems to be less teachers’ capacities to continually foster learning among their LwDs during the lockdown because there are low teachers’ morale and pedagogical gaps for digital teaching. Based on the current realities, it is evident that there is need for a shift in teacher preparation to be able to teach LwDs in crisis situations. Hence, this reviewed intellectual piece advances the need to modify the existing teacher education curriculum to extensively build on teachers’ morale while incorporating the use of technology in teacher preparation programmes in Africa.
- 1
- 2
- 0
- We consider a homogeneous and anisotropic cosmological model, namely, a Bianchi type-I model in which deceleration parameter is time dependent in the context of f (R, T ) gravity theory. To obtain exact solutions of the field equations, we use a form of the deceleration parameter that varies as the nth power of time, and covers Berman’s law (Nuovo Cimento B 74:182, 1983) where it is constant. For n =1, it covers cosmological models with linearly varying deceleration parameter given by Akarsu and Dereli (Int J Theor Phys 51:612, 2012). We extend the behavior of cosmological models for n = 2, and discuss the physical and geometrical properties of the model, and we show that the model is consistent with current observations.
- 1
- 2
- 0
- Goats in rural communities are often raised in conditions which do not allow them to achieve their maximum performance nor express their genetic potentials. For goats to perform to their full potential, they require high nutritious feed especially in the winter season when there is food shortage or during high milk-producing periods. However, supplementation can be done using fresh green feeds, protein blocks or vitamins which are often expensive, hence the need to source for indigenous crop residues. This study assessed the knowledge and perceptions of farmers on feeding sweet potato vines to their goats. The data were gathered by administering a total of 105 structured questionnaires using face-to-face interviews. The results showed that the majority of farmers (71.4%) were aware and practise some sort of supplementary feeding. Most farmers (72.4%) cultivated sweet potatoes, and they used them for different purposes such as income generation (53.3%), consumption (27.5%) or both (8%). Sweet potato vines were being discarded as waste or burnt (32.4%), left on the field as manure (25.7%), conserved as propagation material (8.6%) or randomly fed to livestock (7.6%). Nevertheless, most of the farmers (78.1%) rejected the use of sweet potato vines as feed to livestock. In conclusion, more intervention measures are required for developing farmers’ knowledge and perception on feeding sweet potatoe vines to livestock. Farmers may be assisted through training and workshops on the use of sweet potato vines and other indigenous forage supplementation as feed.
- 1
- 2
- 0
- Agricultural activities are often associated with contamination of water, which resulted in high concentration of nutrients and trace metals in the shallow aquifer. Occurrence and distribution of nutrients and trace metals in the groundwater of intensively irrigated region of Luvuvhu catchment were carried out to determine the status of groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking. Groundwater samples were collected and analysed for physio-chemical parameters. The results suggest that the concentration of nutrients and trace metals in the groundwater are below the permissible limit of drinking water standards recommended by the World Health Organization and South African standards except pH, K, and Pb. Low pH (51%), potassium (31%), and lead (100%) restrict the groundwater usage for drinking. Relation between groundwater flow direction and EC, sulphate, nitrate, and ammonium contents indicate that it is mostly constant towards the center of the study area, but sudden enrichment is noticed in the downstream. Silica and fluoride have increased along with the direction of groundwater flow. Trace metals (B, Pb, and Zn) show decreasing trend in the flow direction. However, pH, K, Li, Cr, and phosphate concentrations do not show significant variation along the flow direction. Positive relation between nitrate, EC, sulphate, and ammonium implies that groundwater quality is affected by the surface contamination sources, and mostly from irrigation return flow, through the application of fertilizers and organic manures. However, groundwater with high silica and fluoride also has high nitrate, which justify that wastewater infiltration from surface has triggered the mineral dissolution in the vadose. Trace metals does not correlate with nitrate. High concentrations of trace metals are recorded with low nitrate, which implies that metals are derived from mineral weathering. However, boron concentrations in few wells show positive relation with nitrate, which justified the impact of natural sources and irrigational activities.
- 1
- 3
- 0
- We used the 8πγ-ray spectrometer at the TRIUMF-ISAC radiocative ion beam facility to obtain high precision branching ratios for 19Ne β+ decay to excited states in 19F. Together with other previous work, our measurements determine the superallowed 1/2+ → 1/2+ β branch to the ground state in 19F to be 99.9878(7)%, which is three times more precise than known previously. The implications of these measurements for testing a variety of weak interaction symmetries are discussed briefly.
- 1
- 4
- 0
- This brief, case study reports on a clinical sport psychological skills training intervention using HeartMath techniques with a 12 year old boy. The pre-test and post-test, process and outcome evaluative, research design included qualitative and quantitative, integrated and mixed method techniques, in the form of psychometric testing and diarizing of qualitative experiential descriptions. Findings indicated significant improvements in psychophysiological coherence, sense of coherence, resilience, mood, psychological well being and mental skills. Findings endorse theoretical principles and practical guidelines for implementing and evaluating clinical sport psychological and HeartMath interventions.
- 1
- 5
- 0
- The study analysed the impact of fiscal policy on economic growth in South Africa, using the annual time series data from 1960-2017. The study employed Johansen VECM approach to examine the short-run and long-run relationship between fiscal policy variables and economic growth. The economic variables for empirical investigation include government expenditure, revenues, public debt, gross fixed capital formation, and economic growth. The empirical findings show that government revenues and gross fixed capital formation have a significant positive long-run impact on economic growth in South Africa. While government expenditure and public debt share a negative long-run relationship with economic growth, the government expenditure has been growing at a higher pace than revenues. The study proposes that policymakers ought to formulate prudent fiscal policies that encourage gross fixed capital formation which would have a direct impact on tax revenues, reduce public deficit and debt, and ultimately improve economic growth.
- 1
- 3
- 0
- The study explores the impacts of entrepreneurship education on business organizations. Quantitative research method was adopted for data collection. Self-designed questionnaire was administered to 450 Technical and Vocational and Training Education (TVET) lecturers, though only 371 were duly completed and analysed for the study. A major finding of the study shows that entrepreneurship education is yet to be up-help appropriately based on the provision of the adopted curriculum. Hence, the study recommends that curriculum planners consider revisiting the curriculum and ensuring that entrepreneurship education is introduced as a core module for students in all programmes and at all levels. Also, partnership between institutions of learning such as TVET colleges and business organizations should be promoted to enhance Work Integrated Learning (WIL).
- 1
- 1
- 0
- The Maputaland coastal plain of KwaZulu-Natal is one of the popular tourist areas in South Africa. Groundwater is the major source for drinking and irrigation purposes which is abstracted from unconsolidated aquifers having higher infiltration rate possibly increases the risk of aquifer contamination. Comprehensive study was conducted in 53 groundwater monitoring wells to identify the characteristic of water quality and processes controlling groundwater chemistry using multiple methods. Rock-water interaction and Na/Ca ion exchange are the dominant processes. Water quality index (WQI) varies from 18.9 to 157.1 with an average value of 45.55. Majority of the samples are classified as good, 22% as poor, 2% as very poor and 7% under unsuitable category, which are spatially distributed towards southern and western part of the study area. Health risk assessment of trace elements via ingestion and dermal absorption pathways was carried out. Hazard quotient through dermal absorption (HQdermal) and hazard index (HI) for Co and Mn are above 1 in adults, children and infants. HQdermal and HI for Cd are greater than 1 in children and infants. HQdermal and HI for As and Pb are greater than 1 in infants. This implies that these metals pose serious to adverse health risk on people while infants are more vulnerable than children and adults. This study provides the baseline data on hydro geochemistry that can be utilised for further studies in future. This study recom mends that groundwater in this region should be treated before utilisation and suggest that further extended studies should be conducted to explore more on groundwater resources in this area.
- 1
- 3
- 0
- Literature on trade and wage disparities has gained prominence since the mid-90s following the push for trade liberalization across the globe. Despite the 26 years of empirical research, however, questions of whether trade closes or widens the wage gap remain relevant today, particularly in countries such as South Africa where income inequality remains a persistent policy concern. Against this background, this paper contributes to the literature by examining the effect of trade on relative wages between skilled and low-skilled workers in South Africa using a local municipality-level dataset observed between 1995 and 2019. Results from the system GMM estimator confirm that trade has had a positive and non-trivial effect on wage disparities in the past two decades. When decomposed into exports and imports, it is the latter that appears to have added a relatively large wage premium on skilled workers at the expense of low-skilled workers. This result is crucial in designing both trade and industrial policies. In particular, it brings to the fore the need for targeted interventions that protect low-skilled workers. Such interventions may include programs for skills upgrade and trade protectionist policies in low-skill labour-intensive industries.
- 1
- 4
- 0
- The aim of this study was to characterise and compare phenotypic characteristics of South African unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats. Phenotypic characteristics of 44 South African unimproved indigenous and 41 Tankwa goats were assessed. The qualitative characteristics were assessed through visual appraisal. Quantitative characteristics such as body measurements were obtained using a flexible tape, while body weight was determined by using a weighing scale and body temperature with a thermometer. Body condition score of South African unimproved indigenous goats (98%) was more satisfactory when compared to that of Tankwa goats (74%). None of the Tankwa goats had ticks under their tails while 53% of South African unimproved indigenous goats had them. Most of the Tankwa goats had single or two colours as their main colours. Both goats’ types had high proportion of moderate necks, brown eyes, average eye width and mouth shape. Tankwa goats’ horns and hooves were more damaged when compared to those of South African unimproved indigenous goats. Tankwa goats had higher phenotypic characteristics (quantitative) with the exception of body temperature. In conclusion, qualitative characteristics were comparable between South African unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats. However, quantitative characteristics of Tankwa goats were higher, with the exception of body temperature.
- 1
- 3
- 0
- 2021| MDPIFerredoxins, iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster proteins, play a key role in oxidoreduction reactions. To date, evolutionary analysis of these proteins across the domains of life have been confined to observing the abundance of Fe-S cluster types (2Fe-2S, 3Fe-4S, 4Fe-4S, 7Fe-8S (3Fe-4s and 4Fe-4S) and 2[4Fe-4S]) and the diversity of ferredoxins within these cluster types was not studied. To address this research gap, here we propose a subtype classification and nomenclature for ferredoxins based on the characteristic spacing between the cysteine amino acids of the Fe-S binding motif as a subtype signature to assess the diversity of ferredoxins across the living organisms. To test this hypothesis, comparative analysis of ferredoxins between bacterial groups, Alphaproteobacteria and Firmicutes and ferredoxins collected from species of different domains of life that are reported in the literature has been carried out. Ferredoxins were found to be highly diverse within their types. Large numbers of alphaproteobacterial species ferredoxin subtypes were found in Firmicutes species and the same ferredoxin subtypes across the species of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, suggesting shared common ancestral origin of ferredoxins between Archaea and Bacteria and lateral gene transfer of ferredoxins from prokaryotes (Archaea/Bacteria) to eukaryotes. This study opened new vistas for further analysis of diversity of ferredoxins in living organisms.
- 1
- 3
- 0
Select desired time period