This report provides an overall assessment of land fragmentation problems in East Africa. Many parts of East Africa have become highly fragmented, putting development systems and activities in these areas at risk of c...This report provides an overall assessment of land fragmentation problems in East Africa. Many parts of East Africa have become highly fragmented, putting development systems and activities in these areas at risk of complete collapse. Land fragmentation occurs when land gets converted for agriculture, industrialization, or urbanization, invaded by non-local plants, or enclosed for individual use and by subdividing farmlands into subsequent smaller units called parcels with varying average farm sizes. Fragmentation results from inappropriate agricultural development processes and ineffective land use planning that fails to recognize how farmland is used, and the importance of its interconnected areas. Insecurity of tenure and resource rights are key factors in making this possible. Land fragmentation is one of the key reasons why the ability of most resources in East Africa becomes scarcer, and those remaining become “privatized” by more powerful community members—keen to maintain their access to them. Such individualistic attitudes are new and disadvantage the poorest even further by affecting the traditional customary safety nets and agricultural outputs. Neither the government nor customary governance systems effectively protect resource access for the poorest. This review summary report identifies the key causes, measures, and implications, government interventions, and the common remedies to land fragmentation problems in the East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania including neighboring Ethiopia, and the Sudan. The findings indicated from 2005 to 2015, the population kept increasing for all the named countries in East Africa with Rwanda and Uganda having a substantial increase in population density. The study review further explores the trend in the performance of agriculture by average farm sizes within the intervals of five years by highlighting their strong linkages and found that the average farm size has declined drastically, especially for Kenya. This can only mean that small farms kept becoming smaller and smaller and that there were more small-scale farmers. The results further depicted that the major and commonly cultivated food crops among the East African countries include maize, sorghum, rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, Irish potatoes, beans, peas, etc., with maize yields (Mt/ha) in 2003 for Uganda being the highest (1.79 Mt/ha) and the lowest in Rwanda (0.77 Mt/ha) respectively. Therefore, from the review results, recommendations are being made as to how the negative impacts of land fragmentation on agricultural productivity can be reduced or mitigated. One way is by community sensitization and awareness about the importance of land consolidation and its proposition on farm productivity.展开更多
Stand structure, diversity and regeneration status of woody species were investigated in open and exclosed dry woodland sites in Island Safari, Shorobe and Xobe, northeastern Botswana. A total of 105, 111 and 130 quad...Stand structure, diversity and regeneration status of woody species were investigated in open and exclosed dry woodland sites in Island Safari, Shorobe and Xobe, northeastern Botswana. A total of 105, 111 and 130 quadrats, measuring 20 × 20 m each, were laid down along parallel line transects in the three sites, respectively, to collect data. A total of 47 species, representing 16 families and 24 genera, were recorded in the study sites. Of these, 33 species representing 13 families and 20 genera, 41 species representing 15 families and 23 genera and 27 species representing 10 families and 14 genera were encountered in Island Safari, Shorobe and Xobe, respectively. The most diverse family was Fabaceae followed by Combretaceae and Tiliaceae at all the three sites. The most diverse genus was Acacia, followed by Combretum and Grewia. The diversity of woody species in the study sites were 2.18, 2.15 and 1.5 in Shorobe, Island Safari and Xobe, respectively, while their corresponding evenness values were 0.6, 0.6 and 0.5, respectively. The mean densities of the woody species encountered in Island Safari, Shorobe and Xobe were 2629, 4271 and 2745 individuals haǃ, respectively. The five densest species were Colophospermum mopane, Dichrostachys cinerea, Acacia tortilis, Philenoptera violacea and Terminalia prunioides in Island Safari, C. mopane, A. tortilis, A. erioloba, P. violacea and D. cinerea in Shorobe and Acacia mellifera, A. tortilis, P. nelsii, A. luederitzii and A. erubescens in Xobe. The highest important value index values were exhibited by C. mopane, D. cinerea, A. tortilis, P. violacea and T. prunioides in Island Safari, C. mopane, A. erioloba, A. tortilis, P. violacea and C. imberbe in Shorobe, and A. mellifera, A. tortilis, P. nelsii and A. luederitzii in Xobe. The alarming result was the fact that 71%, 80% and 85% of the woody species recorded in Island Safari, Shorobe and Xobe, respectively, exhibited hampered regeneration and, thus, unhealthy population structures. Therefore, there is an urgent need to address the observed unhealthy population structures of the woody species through investigation of the major causes of their hampered regeneration, and also designing measures that will facilitate natural and artificial regeneration of these species at the three study sites.展开更多
AIM:To quantitatively examine the impacts of an easyto-measure parameter-weight gain-on metabolic syndrome development among middle-aged adults. METHODS:We conducted a five-year interval observational study.A total of...AIM:To quantitatively examine the impacts of an easyto-measure parameter-weight gain-on metabolic syndrome development among middle-aged adults. METHODS:We conducted a five-year interval observational study.A total of 1384 middle-aged adults not meeting metabolic syndrome(MetS)criteria at the initial screening were included in our analysis.Baseline data such as MetS-components and lifestyle factors were collected in 2002.Body weight and MetS-components were measured in both 2002 and 2007.Participants were classified according to proximal quartiles of weight gain(WG)in percentages(%WG≤1%,1%< %WG≤5%,5%<%WG≤10%and%WG>10%, defined as:control,mild-WG,moderate-WG and severe-WG groups,respectively)at the end of the follow-up. Multivariate models were used to assess the association between MetS outcome and excessive WG in the total population,as well as in both genders. RESULTS:In total,175(12.6%)participants fulfilled MetS criteria within five years.In comparison to the control group,mild-WG adults had an insignificant risk for MetS development while adults having moderate-WG had a 3.0-fold increased risk for progression to MetS [95%confidence interval(CI),1.8-5.1],and this risk was increased 5.4-fold(95%CI,3.0-9.7)in subjects having severe-WG.For females having moderate-and severe-WG,the risk for developing MetS was 3.6(95% CI,1.03-12.4)and 5.5(95%CI,1.4-21.4),respectively. For males having moderate-and severe-WG,the odds ratio for MetS outcome was respectively 3.0(95%CI, 1.6-5.5)and 5.2(95%CI,2.6-10.2). CONCLUSION:For early-middle-aged healthy adults with a five-year weight gain over 5%,the severity of weight gain is related to the risk for developing metabolic syndrome.展开更多
Rice blast disease,caused by fungus pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae,is one of the most destructive diseases that impact rice farming.In the worldwide,rice harvests lose 10%to 30%of the total production because of blast in...Rice blast disease,caused by fungus pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae,is one of the most destructive diseases that impact rice farming.In the worldwide,rice harvests lose 10%to 30%of the total production because of blast infection,which is estimated to be enough for feeding 60 million people(Skamnioti and Gurr,2009).展开更多
Population varieties can meet the needs of organic farming as they are composed of diverse genotypes and have nutritional and sensory characteristics of interest. Their intra-specific genetic variability helps to adap...Population varieties can meet the needs of organic farming as they are composed of diverse genotypes and have nutritional and sensory characteristics of interest. Their intra-specific genetic variability helps to adapt to the diversity of soil and climate conditions, management practices and needs. Moreover, an integrated organic bread sector has emerged willing to use more wheat populations. To explore sensory and nutritional potential of bread wheat populations, hedonic tests, sensory profile and nutritional analyses were implemented on eight wheat population varieties and one modern variety. Hedonic tests revealed consensus among consumer when ranking according to specific sensory characteristics and showed preferences for red wheat breads. Descriptive sensory test showed significant differences between genotypes on 6 out of 11 descriptors and confirmed the sensory specificity of red wheat accessions. Nutritional analyses showed differences especially on minerals content. Sensory differences between breads from different genotypes can be perceived both by trained and untrained panels as suggested by results. Moreover, red accessions showed specific sensory characteristics which are well-perceived by the two panels. Breeding effort should be maintained for high diverse genotypes with improved sensory and nutritional qualities adapted to organic farming conditions. Indicators like kernel colour should be sought to help integrate such criteria.展开更多
The global decline in farmland bird populations in India is often ignored. The overuse of agrochemicals in farming is the root cause of all these catastrophic results. There is ample evidence in the literature that tr...The global decline in farmland bird populations in India is often ignored. The overuse of agrochemicals in farming is the root cause of all these catastrophic results. There is ample evidence in the literature that transitioning to agroecological practices may reverse this trend. We anticipated that the bird population visiting natural farming-Andhra Pradesh Community managed Natural Farming (APCNF), a novel farming approach popular in India, will increase. The study used nested design to compare the number of bird visitations in natural farming versus chemical farming to determine whether natural farming can enhance the bird numbers and diversity. Furthermore, we analyzed the bird species visits to natural and chemical farms in different agroecological zones in Andhra Pradesh, the southernmost state of India. We used the point count survey approach to count the birds on comparable farms. MANOVA and non-parametric analysis are used to examine the findings. The bird species were ranked using a Likert scale. The results show that the average bird population visiting natural vs. chemical farms varies significantly at the 0.05 level of significance, and the bird species visiting both natural farming fields and chemical farms varies between geographies and time interval.展开更多
Bioaerosol exposure has been linked to adverse respiratory conditions.Intensive farming and composting facilities are important anthropogenic sources of bioaerosols.We aimed to characterise populations living close to...Bioaerosol exposure has been linked to adverse respiratory conditions.Intensive farming and composting facilities are important anthropogenic sources of bioaerosols.We aimed to characterise populations living close to intensive farming and composting facilities.We also infer whether the public are becoming more concerned about anthropogenic bioaerosol emissions,using reports of air pollution related incidents attributed to facilities.We mapped the location of 1,257 intensive farming and 310 composting facilities in England in relation to the resident population and its characteristics(sex and age),area characteristics(deprivation proxy and rural/urban classification)and school locations stratified by pre-defined distance bands from these bioaerosol sources.We also calculated the average number of air pollution related incidents per year per facility.We found that more than 16%of the population and 15%of schools are located within 4,828 m of an intensive farming facility or 4,000 m of a composting facility;few people(0.01%)live very close to these sites and tend to be older people.Close to composting facilities,populations are more likely to be urban and more deprived.The number of incidents were attributed to a small proportion of facilities;population characteristics around these facilities were similar.Results indicate that populations living near composting facilities(particularly>250 to≤4,000 m)are mostly located in ur6an areas(80188%of the population),which supports the need for more community health studies to be conducted.Results could also be used to inform risk management strategies at facilities with higher numbers of incidents.展开更多
文摘This report provides an overall assessment of land fragmentation problems in East Africa. Many parts of East Africa have become highly fragmented, putting development systems and activities in these areas at risk of complete collapse. Land fragmentation occurs when land gets converted for agriculture, industrialization, or urbanization, invaded by non-local plants, or enclosed for individual use and by subdividing farmlands into subsequent smaller units called parcels with varying average farm sizes. Fragmentation results from inappropriate agricultural development processes and ineffective land use planning that fails to recognize how farmland is used, and the importance of its interconnected areas. Insecurity of tenure and resource rights are key factors in making this possible. Land fragmentation is one of the key reasons why the ability of most resources in East Africa becomes scarcer, and those remaining become “privatized” by more powerful community members—keen to maintain their access to them. Such individualistic attitudes are new and disadvantage the poorest even further by affecting the traditional customary safety nets and agricultural outputs. Neither the government nor customary governance systems effectively protect resource access for the poorest. This review summary report identifies the key causes, measures, and implications, government interventions, and the common remedies to land fragmentation problems in the East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania including neighboring Ethiopia, and the Sudan. The findings indicated from 2005 to 2015, the population kept increasing for all the named countries in East Africa with Rwanda and Uganda having a substantial increase in population density. The study review further explores the trend in the performance of agriculture by average farm sizes within the intervals of five years by highlighting their strong linkages and found that the average farm size has declined drastically, especially for Kenya. This can only mean that small farms kept becoming smaller and smaller and that there were more small-scale farmers. The results further depicted that the major and commonly cultivated food crops among the East African countries include maize, sorghum, rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, Irish potatoes, beans, peas, etc., with maize yields (Mt/ha) in 2003 for Uganda being the highest (1.79 Mt/ha) and the lowest in Rwanda (0.77 Mt/ha) respectively. Therefore, from the review results, recommendations are being made as to how the negative impacts of land fragmentation on agricultural productivity can be reduced or mitigated. One way is by community sensitization and awareness about the importance of land consolidation and its proposition on farm productivity.
文摘Stand structure, diversity and regeneration status of woody species were investigated in open and exclosed dry woodland sites in Island Safari, Shorobe and Xobe, northeastern Botswana. A total of 105, 111 and 130 quadrats, measuring 20 × 20 m each, were laid down along parallel line transects in the three sites, respectively, to collect data. A total of 47 species, representing 16 families and 24 genera, were recorded in the study sites. Of these, 33 species representing 13 families and 20 genera, 41 species representing 15 families and 23 genera and 27 species representing 10 families and 14 genera were encountered in Island Safari, Shorobe and Xobe, respectively. The most diverse family was Fabaceae followed by Combretaceae and Tiliaceae at all the three sites. The most diverse genus was Acacia, followed by Combretum and Grewia. The diversity of woody species in the study sites were 2.18, 2.15 and 1.5 in Shorobe, Island Safari and Xobe, respectively, while their corresponding evenness values were 0.6, 0.6 and 0.5, respectively. The mean densities of the woody species encountered in Island Safari, Shorobe and Xobe were 2629, 4271 and 2745 individuals haǃ, respectively. The five densest species were Colophospermum mopane, Dichrostachys cinerea, Acacia tortilis, Philenoptera violacea and Terminalia prunioides in Island Safari, C. mopane, A. tortilis, A. erioloba, P. violacea and D. cinerea in Shorobe and Acacia mellifera, A. tortilis, P. nelsii, A. luederitzii and A. erubescens in Xobe. The highest important value index values were exhibited by C. mopane, D. cinerea, A. tortilis, P. violacea and T. prunioides in Island Safari, C. mopane, A. erioloba, A. tortilis, P. violacea and C. imberbe in Shorobe, and A. mellifera, A. tortilis, P. nelsii and A. luederitzii in Xobe. The alarming result was the fact that 71%, 80% and 85% of the woody species recorded in Island Safari, Shorobe and Xobe, respectively, exhibited hampered regeneration and, thus, unhealthy population structures. Therefore, there is an urgent need to address the observed unhealthy population structures of the woody species through investigation of the major causes of their hampered regeneration, and also designing measures that will facilitate natural and artificial regeneration of these species at the three study sites.
文摘AIM:To quantitatively examine the impacts of an easyto-measure parameter-weight gain-on metabolic syndrome development among middle-aged adults. METHODS:We conducted a five-year interval observational study.A total of 1384 middle-aged adults not meeting metabolic syndrome(MetS)criteria at the initial screening were included in our analysis.Baseline data such as MetS-components and lifestyle factors were collected in 2002.Body weight and MetS-components were measured in both 2002 and 2007.Participants were classified according to proximal quartiles of weight gain(WG)in percentages(%WG≤1%,1%< %WG≤5%,5%<%WG≤10%and%WG>10%, defined as:control,mild-WG,moderate-WG and severe-WG groups,respectively)at the end of the follow-up. Multivariate models were used to assess the association between MetS outcome and excessive WG in the total population,as well as in both genders. RESULTS:In total,175(12.6%)participants fulfilled MetS criteria within five years.In comparison to the control group,mild-WG adults had an insignificant risk for MetS development while adults having moderate-WG had a 3.0-fold increased risk for progression to MetS [95%confidence interval(CI),1.8-5.1],and this risk was increased 5.4-fold(95%CI,3.0-9.7)in subjects having severe-WG.For females having moderate-and severe-WG,the risk for developing MetS was 3.6(95% CI,1.03-12.4)and 5.5(95%CI,1.4-21.4),respectively. For males having moderate-and severe-WG,the odds ratio for MetS outcome was respectively 3.0(95%CI, 1.6-5.5)and 5.2(95%CI,2.6-10.2). CONCLUSION:For early-middle-aged healthy adults with a five-year weight gain over 5%,the severity of weight gain is related to the risk for developing metabolic syndrome.
基金supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(Grant No.2017YFD0102002)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.31600999 and 31601282)。
文摘Rice blast disease,caused by fungus pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae,is one of the most destructive diseases that impact rice farming.In the worldwide,rice harvests lose 10%to 30%of the total production because of blast infection,which is estimated to be enough for feeding 60 million people(Skamnioti and Gurr,2009).
文摘Population varieties can meet the needs of organic farming as they are composed of diverse genotypes and have nutritional and sensory characteristics of interest. Their intra-specific genetic variability helps to adapt to the diversity of soil and climate conditions, management practices and needs. Moreover, an integrated organic bread sector has emerged willing to use more wheat populations. To explore sensory and nutritional potential of bread wheat populations, hedonic tests, sensory profile and nutritional analyses were implemented on eight wheat population varieties and one modern variety. Hedonic tests revealed consensus among consumer when ranking according to specific sensory characteristics and showed preferences for red wheat breads. Descriptive sensory test showed significant differences between genotypes on 6 out of 11 descriptors and confirmed the sensory specificity of red wheat accessions. Nutritional analyses showed differences especially on minerals content. Sensory differences between breads from different genotypes can be perceived both by trained and untrained panels as suggested by results. Moreover, red accessions showed specific sensory characteristics which are well-perceived by the two panels. Breeding effort should be maintained for high diverse genotypes with improved sensory and nutritional qualities adapted to organic farming conditions. Indicators like kernel colour should be sought to help integrate such criteria.
文摘The global decline in farmland bird populations in India is often ignored. The overuse of agrochemicals in farming is the root cause of all these catastrophic results. There is ample evidence in the literature that transitioning to agroecological practices may reverse this trend. We anticipated that the bird population visiting natural farming-Andhra Pradesh Community managed Natural Farming (APCNF), a novel farming approach popular in India, will increase. The study used nested design to compare the number of bird visitations in natural farming versus chemical farming to determine whether natural farming can enhance the bird numbers and diversity. Furthermore, we analyzed the bird species visits to natural and chemical farms in different agroecological zones in Andhra Pradesh, the southernmost state of India. We used the point count survey approach to count the birds on comparable farms. MANOVA and non-parametric analysis are used to examine the findings. The bird species were ranked using a Likert scale. The results show that the average bird population visiting natural vs. chemical farms varies significantly at the 0.05 level of significance, and the bird species visiting both natural farming fields and chemical farms varies between geographies and time interval.
文摘Bioaerosol exposure has been linked to adverse respiratory conditions.Intensive farming and composting facilities are important anthropogenic sources of bioaerosols.We aimed to characterise populations living close to intensive farming and composting facilities.We also infer whether the public are becoming more concerned about anthropogenic bioaerosol emissions,using reports of air pollution related incidents attributed to facilities.We mapped the location of 1,257 intensive farming and 310 composting facilities in England in relation to the resident population and its characteristics(sex and age),area characteristics(deprivation proxy and rural/urban classification)and school locations stratified by pre-defined distance bands from these bioaerosol sources.We also calculated the average number of air pollution related incidents per year per facility.We found that more than 16%of the population and 15%of schools are located within 4,828 m of an intensive farming facility or 4,000 m of a composting facility;few people(0.01%)live very close to these sites and tend to be older people.Close to composting facilities,populations are more likely to be urban and more deprived.The number of incidents were attributed to a small proportion of facilities;population characteristics around these facilities were similar.Results indicate that populations living near composting facilities(particularly>250 to≤4,000 m)are mostly located in ur6an areas(80188%of the population),which supports the need for more community health studies to be conducted.Results could also be used to inform risk management strategies at facilities with higher numbers of incidents.
