The water shortage in the Middle East is a well-known problem. The introduction of diesel operated pumps for irrigation has caused a severe drop in groundwater levels. At the same time the demand for groundwater is gr...The water shortage in the Middle East is a well-known problem. The introduction of diesel operated pumps for irrigation has caused a severe drop in groundwater levels. At the same time the demand for groundwater is growing to alarming proportions. Alternative ways of groundwater supply and management need to be found to halt social and economical disaster in the future. Why not look at history？ Qanats are subterranean tunnels ancient civilizations built to access groundwater. The technique is a sustainable method of groundwater extraction. Throughout the Middle East some settlements still make use of these ancient systems. In the summer of 2000, a community rehabilitation of a qanat was executed International Center for Areas （ICARDA） and with support from the Agricultural Research in Dry international donors. The renovation served as a pilot community intervention within a participatory action research project aimed at evaluating the use of qanats in Syria. In a second stage of the project, the pilot was scaled up to a nation-wide survey of Syrian qanats in 2001. This resulted in qanat renovations on other sites executed in 2oo2 and 2oo3 with further international support. This paper compares the first pilot renovation with a recent qanat renovation that took place in Qarah, Syria.展开更多
Age of African pike Hepsetus odoe from Ado Ekiti Reservoir Ekiti State, Nigeria was studied. Annuli on the opercula bones and scales were used to determine the age. The standard length of specimens examined varied bet...Age of African pike Hepsetus odoe from Ado Ekiti Reservoir Ekiti State, Nigeria was studied. Annuli on the opercula bones and scales were used to determine the age. The standard length of specimens examined varied between 12.50 and 29.80 cm and body weight 10-385 g. Annuli （growth rings） observed on the opercula bones of specimens with mean standard lengths 21.70 ± 1.4 cm had one real annulus, 24.80 ± 1.1 cm had two real annuli, 27.4 ± 0.9 cm had three real annuli indicating age one, two, and three （1 ＋, 2＋, 3＋ ） respectively. Growth rings observed on scales appeared as interruptions in the normal pattems of scales. Specimens with mean standard lengths of 21.3 ± 1.5 cm, 24.7 ± 0.8 cm and 27.35 ± 11 cm were interpreted to be ages 1＋, 2＋, and 3＋ respectively. The maximum age of samples, derived from annuli on both opercula bones and scales was 3 years. Specimens below 18 cm standard length did not register any growth mark. The mean lengths at the estimated ages obtained using both opercula bones and scales were not significantly different （P 〉 0.05, P 〉 0.01）.展开更多
This paper presents an ex-ante assessment of the potential implications of the 2011 Human Rights Watch Report on the South African fruit industry. The report explicitly mentions the lack of compliance with ethical cod...This paper presents an ex-ante assessment of the potential implications of the 2011 Human Rights Watch Report on the South African fruit industry. The report explicitly mentions the lack of compliance with ethical codes within the fruit industry, the prevalence of exploitative conditions for farm workers and diverse human rights abuses in farms. The report recommends import ban on culprits as well as engaging third party auditing to ensure compliance. The high vulnerability of the smallholder farmers justified the special interest in the implications on their reputation and hence their ability to access profitable export markets. Although large-scale commercial farmers are potentially at risk of reputational damage due to the Human Rights Watch Report, they are better able to cope owing to their stronger capital base. The opinions of knowledgeable industry insiders were therefore elicited through qualitative research that used a five-point Likert scale to assess perceptions about market access. On the basis of the results, it is probable that the report will lead to improved working conditions for farm workers, improved concern for consumers＇ health, and enforcement of legislation by the govemment. The negative implications involve increased competition, possibility of retailers＇ rationalising their supply base and increased evaluation that ends at the farm gate. There is also high probability of increased marginalisation of the already disadvantaged smallholder suppliers, and possible increase in costs of auditing and accreditation for the entire fruit industry. Thus, active collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the competitiveness of the fruit industry is inevitable.展开更多
文摘The water shortage in the Middle East is a well-known problem. The introduction of diesel operated pumps for irrigation has caused a severe drop in groundwater levels. At the same time the demand for groundwater is growing to alarming proportions. Alternative ways of groundwater supply and management need to be found to halt social and economical disaster in the future. Why not look at history？ Qanats are subterranean tunnels ancient civilizations built to access groundwater. The technique is a sustainable method of groundwater extraction. Throughout the Middle East some settlements still make use of these ancient systems. In the summer of 2000, a community rehabilitation of a qanat was executed International Center for Areas （ICARDA） and with support from the Agricultural Research in Dry international donors. The renovation served as a pilot community intervention within a participatory action research project aimed at evaluating the use of qanats in Syria. In a second stage of the project, the pilot was scaled up to a nation-wide survey of Syrian qanats in 2001. This resulted in qanat renovations on other sites executed in 2oo2 and 2oo3 with further international support. This paper compares the first pilot renovation with a recent qanat renovation that took place in Qarah, Syria.
文摘Age of African pike Hepsetus odoe from Ado Ekiti Reservoir Ekiti State, Nigeria was studied. Annuli on the opercula bones and scales were used to determine the age. The standard length of specimens examined varied between 12.50 and 29.80 cm and body weight 10-385 g. Annuli （growth rings） observed on the opercula bones of specimens with mean standard lengths 21.70 ± 1.4 cm had one real annulus, 24.80 ± 1.1 cm had two real annuli, 27.4 ± 0.9 cm had three real annuli indicating age one, two, and three （1 ＋, 2＋, 3＋ ） respectively. Growth rings observed on scales appeared as interruptions in the normal pattems of scales. Specimens with mean standard lengths of 21.3 ± 1.5 cm, 24.7 ± 0.8 cm and 27.35 ± 11 cm were interpreted to be ages 1＋, 2＋, and 3＋ respectively. The maximum age of samples, derived from annuli on both opercula bones and scales was 3 years. Specimens below 18 cm standard length did not register any growth mark. The mean lengths at the estimated ages obtained using both opercula bones and scales were not significantly different （P 〉 0.05, P 〉 0.01）.
文摘This paper presents an ex-ante assessment of the potential implications of the 2011 Human Rights Watch Report on the South African fruit industry. The report explicitly mentions the lack of compliance with ethical codes within the fruit industry, the prevalence of exploitative conditions for farm workers and diverse human rights abuses in farms. The report recommends import ban on culprits as well as engaging third party auditing to ensure compliance. The high vulnerability of the smallholder farmers justified the special interest in the implications on their reputation and hence their ability to access profitable export markets. Although large-scale commercial farmers are potentially at risk of reputational damage due to the Human Rights Watch Report, they are better able to cope owing to their stronger capital base. The opinions of knowledgeable industry insiders were therefore elicited through qualitative research that used a five-point Likert scale to assess perceptions about market access. On the basis of the results, it is probable that the report will lead to improved working conditions for farm workers, improved concern for consumers＇ health, and enforcement of legislation by the govemment. The negative implications involve increased competition, possibility of retailers＇ rationalising their supply base and increased evaluation that ends at the farm gate. There is also high probability of increased marginalisation of the already disadvantaged smallholder suppliers, and possible increase in costs of auditing and accreditation for the entire fruit industry. Thus, active collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the competitiveness of the fruit industry is inevitable.
