34 research outputs found
Capacity development (CapDev) in the Humidtropics CRP: Key strategy and elements for extension phase 2015-16
No full textThird progress report 2nd January - 31st December 2017 : capacity for agricultural research for development (C4R4D) in Sub-Saharan Africa
No full textThe project works to strengthen the institutional capacity of the National Agricultural Research Systems in four targeted countries: Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and Togo. Emerging agricultural science graduates and leaders in agricultural research have been targeted for support, towards studies that generate research outputs to meet the needs of smallholder farmers. The main activities and current findings are outlined in this report. Twenty-eight Masters in Science students are part of this programme. There are some delays in thesis completion due to external problems. Student networking set up through the program is considered a key asset
Capacity for agricultural research for development (C4R4D) in Sub-Saharan Africa Final Technical Report
No full textThe Project is for three years and its objective will be achieved through four expected outputs: (i) research, communication and leadership capacities, and skills of students to undertake quality AR4D sustainably strengthened; (ii) delivery of research outputs in line with national priority research areas supported; (iii) capacities and skills of women scientists strengthened for a better representation in AR4D; and (iv) collaboration and networking among National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), CORAF, and IITA increased. Specifically, the Project aimed at supporting, at least, 20 MSc and PhD candidates, through a competitive process during the three years. Each country should receive five scholarships (3 MSc and 2 PhD).
C4R4D is mainly a coaching program. It provided support to the awardees when they had completed their course work and were preparing the dissertation proposal. In preparation for this critical task, IITA scientists and the national supervisors coached the students to help them to achieve their professional goals. The coaching focused on developing research knowledge and skills that complement the material provided by their respective university’s programs while supporting their research objectives. This involved bringing students to IITA hubs to work on their research projects and develop their skills and competency. This establishes them as scholars in their fields
Climatological analysis of temperature and pluviometry in Guinea 1960-2016
No full textInternational audienceThe purpose of this study is to improve the understandings on climate variability in Guinea. The methodology used is based on climatological analysis. The pluviometry and temperature data recorded at 12 meteorological stations were used. The annual variability of temperature shows the semi-annual cycle, and the interannual evolution of monthly mean temperature is characterized by an increasing trend over the years. The pluviometry values seems to indicate a decrease since 1960s, and is characterized by an annual cycle. The northward distributions of the temperature and rainfall show an increase and decrease respectively for the country
Does youth participation in the farming program impact farm productivity and household welfare? Evidence from Nigeria
No full textOne significant issue in the Global South, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, is youth unemployment. This is a result of the aging and shrinking agriculture industry, increased unemployment rates mixed with a sizable unskilled workforce, and rapid population expansion. Studies have shown that farming programs, when supported by increased investment and regulatory frameworks, provide opportunities for meaningful employment for many young people. This study attempts to estimate the impact of youth participation in farming programs on farm productivity and welfare using rice-growing household data from northern Nigeria. We used propensity score matching (PSM) and endogenous switching regression (ESR) to address biases that may arise from both observed and unobserved factors. Our results show that age, education, household size, farm size, extension, access to credit, and membership of a social group are positive and significantly associated with youth participation in farming programs. The outcome demonstrates that participants fare better than non-participants in terms of farm productivity and welfare status. Furthermore, youth participation in farming programs has implications for heterogeneity within the participant group, which depends on socio-economic characteristics such as access to finance, association membership, and education, emphasizing the need for specific interventions and focusing on particular youth groups. Therefore, access to credit through relevant agencies with low interest rates and flexible payment options, strengthening youth organization could encourage participation in farming programs and job opportunities for the prosperity of the rural economy
Determinant of University Students’ Choices and Preferences of Agricultural Sub-Sector Engagement in Cameroon
No full textAlthough the agri-food sector has a huge potential to offer attractive employment opportunities for Africa’s burgeoning youth, a negative perception of agriculture persists among Cameroonian youths, such as in many other African countries. The paper assesses the determinants of university students’ choices and preferences for agricultural sub-sector engagement in Cameroon. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 550 students from two state universities. We used the SWOT analysis to evaluate students’ perceptions of challenges and opportunities within the agricultural sector in Cameroon, the binomial probit analysis to assess the determinants of students’ choices of agriculture as a university major, and an ordered probit analysis to evaluate the determinants of students’ preferences of agricultural sub-sector engagement. Findings reveal that choice of agriculture as a university major is significantly determined by sex, pre-university farming experience, pre-university academic background, mother’s level of education, and household income. Likewise, preference of agricultural sub-sector engagement is significantly determined by the student’s level of study and location of a childhood home. Improving the attractiveness of, and working conditions in, the agricultural sector could increase youth engagement in agribusiness and rural economic activities. The results also reinforce the need to increase household income in Cameroon, as this could lift families out of poverty and offer them more economic opportunities. Policies that regulate levels of education can equally be used to allocate human resources into different agricultural sub-sectors, subject to felt needs
Fig 4 -
No full textA. Stormwater sampling, B. Open drain water sampling, C. Gully water sampling. Source: Author.</p
Study on Temporal Variations of Surface Temperature and Rainfall at Conakry Airport, Guinea: 1960–2016
No full textInternational audienceThe monthly averaged data time series of temperatures and rainfall without interruption of Conakry Airport (9.34 • N 13.37 • W, Guinea) from 1960 to 2016 were used. Inter-annual and annual changes in temperature and rainfall were investigated. Then, different models: Mann-Kendall Test, Multi-Linear-Regression analysis, Theil-Sen's slope estimates and wavelet analysis where used for trend analysis and the dependency with these climate forcings. Results showed an increase in temperature with semi-annual and annual cycles. A sharp and abrupt rise in the temperature in 1998 was found. The results of study have shown increasing trends for temperature (about 0.21 • /year). A decrease in rainfall (about −8.14 mm/year) is found since the end of 1960s and annual cycle with a maximum value of about 1118.3 mm recorded in August in average. The coherence between the two parameters and climate indices: El Niño 3.4, Atlantic Meridional Mode, Tropical Northern Atlantic and Atlantic Niño, were investigated. Thus, there is a clear need for increased and integrated research efforts in climate parameters variations to improve knowledge in climate change
Climatology of Guinea: Study of Climate Variability in N’zerekore
No full textInternational audienceN'zerekore is a geographical region of Guinea, which houses a weather observatory located at longitude 8.8°, latitude 7.7° and altitude 475 m. This region is of major socioeconomic interest for the country. The climatological study of this region shows the variability of each parameter. The objective of this study was to analyze meteorological parameters trends and to assess the space-time evolution of some agro-climatic risks related to the main trends observed in the meteorological parameters regime of this region. In this study, programming tools were used for processing and analyzing meteorological parameters data, including temperatures, rains, wind, evaporation and storms measured in this observatory from 1931 to 2014. The interannual, annual and daily variations of these parameters were obtained, as well as temperature, precipitation anomalies and agroclimatic indexes trends. The analyzing of these variations explained that September is the rainiest months, and the year 1932, 1957 and 1970 are normal, rainy and dry year, respectively. The evaporation increased since 1971 from January to March and November to December. A positive temperature anomaly was observed since 1973 with the maximum 26-33 °C and the minimum 16-21 °C. A dominant westerly wind with a speed of 2.6 m/s was determined. Agro-climatic parameters in N'zerekore have high variability. From 1931 to 2014, three major periods can be distinguished: a wet period from 1931 to 1977, a dry period from 1978 to 1994 and rainfall variability from 1995 to 2014. The trend of these parameters explains the impact of climate change in this part of the world. This is exacerbated by human activity (deforestation), thus mitigation measures are necessary. It would be useful to extend this study throughout the country
