Rice value chain analysis in Tanzania: Identification of constraints, opportunities and upgrading strategies

The importance of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) as a food and cash crop in Eastern Africa, is increasing, but its value chain is becoming complex. In 2012/13, rice value chain analysis was conducted in rice farming systems of Lake, Eastern and Southern-Highlands zones of Tanzania. A sample of 240 producers, 60 traders and 30 processors was involved in the study. The aim of this study was to enhance rice actors with knowledge of the rice value chain, and identify feasible upgrading strategies. The study results revealed that rice was staple crop for more than 50% of the communities in Kilombero, Kyela and Mvomero districts; and less than 30% in Rorya, Mbarali and Maswa districts. It was also an important cash crop (79 - 100%) in all districts. About 44 and 61% of the total crop area cultivated per household, in lowland rainfed and irrigated ecosystems, respectively were under rice cultivation. SARO 5 was the only improved variety widely grown by 27% of farmers out of 32 varieties. Rice yield ranged from 1.5 to 4.3 t ha-1 and varied greatly by ecosystem and variety. About 61-93% of farmers sold their rice paddy to collectors, used non-standard measurements. Farmers profits ranged from US $206.63 to 994.85 per hectare. Producer\u2019s share of selling rice ranged from 34 to 40This implies that upgrading strategies are required that can increase producers\u2019 market share and improve competitiveness of rice value chain.L\u2019importance du riz ( Oryza sativa L.) comme produit de consummation et et d\u2019echanges commerciaux en Afrique de l\u2019Est va grandissante, mais la chaine de valeur du riz de plus en plus complexe. En 2012/13 l\u2019analyse de la chaine de valeur du riz a ete conduite dans les systemes de culture de riz dans la zone lacustre de l\u2019Est et Sud de la Tanzannie. L\u2019etude s\u2019est servid\u2019un echantillon de 240 producteurs, 60 commercants et 30 transformateurs de riz. L\u2019objectif de l\u2019etude etait de doter les acteurs du riz de connaissances et informations sur la chaine de valeur et identifier des strategies possibles de modernization. L\u2019etude a revele que le riz est un produit vivrier de grande consommation pour plus de 50des districts de Kilombero, Kyela et Mvomero et moins de 30districts de Rorya, Mbarali et Maswa. Le riz est aussi une culture de rente (79 - 100Environ 44 et 61par chaque menage est plantee en riz. Sur 32 varietes, SARO 5 etait la seule variete amelioree largement cultivee par 27rendement en grain du riz variait de 1,5 t ha-1 to 4,3 t ha-1 ceci en fonction de l\u2019ecosysteme et de la variete. Environ 61 \u2013 93des producteurs vendent leur riz paddy a des collectionneurs qui utilisent des outils de mesure non conventionnels. Les benefices des paysans varient de 206,63$ a 994.85 $ par hectare. La part des producteurs varient de 34 a 40%. Ceci indique que des strategies de modernisation sont necessaires et pourrait accroitre le revenue des producteurs mais aussi ameliorer la competitivite de la filiere

In: Kalipeni, E. (Ed.), Iwelunmor, J. (Ed.), Grigsby-Toussaint, D. (Ed.), Moise, I. (Ed.). (2019). Public Health, Disease and Development in Africa. London: Routledge

Although the share of global population affected by hunger significantly reduced from 60% to 15% during the past five decades, about 795 million people are still chronically undernourished. The majority of those affected are mostly from developing countries – notably in sub-Saharan Africa. This chapter provides a detailed description of a research for development project that worked to improve the quality of diets given to children from rural households within banana-based farming and food systems in East Africa. Banana is an important livelihood and food security crop for millions in Uganda. Preliminary surveys indicate that some banana cultivars, currently less commonly grown and consumed in East Africa, could substantially contribute to vitamin A intake of children 6–59 months. Food consumption studies also indicate that bananas are often prepared or consumed along with small amounts of fresh beans, green leafy vegetables, ground nut paste or meat

Child maltreatment in a high adversity context: Associations of age, type and timing of exposure with psychopathology in middle childhood

Juen F, Hecker T, Hermenau K, et al. Child maltreatment in a high adversity context: Associations of age, type and timing of exposure with psychopathology in middle childhood. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2024;157: 107060.BACKGROUND: While cumulative childhood maltreatment (CM) has been linked to psychopathological outcomes, recent studies point to the relevance of the type and timing of exposure. The aim of the current study was to better understand their importance beyond the cumulative burden of CM for psychopathological symptoms in middle childhood.; METHODS: A total of N=341 children (M=9.92, SD=1.51) were interviewed to assess trauma load (UCLA - University of California at Los Angeles Event List), exposure to CM (pediMACE - Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure - Pediatric Interview) and different outcomes of psychopathology (UCLA Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index, Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). We employed conditioned random forest regression, incorporating type, timing, and cumulative indicators of CM, to assess the importance of each predictor simultaneously.; RESULTS: Exposure to CM (abuse, neglect and cumulative indicators) exhibited a robust association with psychopathological outcomes. Recent abuse and recent neglect showed most robust associations with outcomes, neglect was stronger related to internalizing problems and timing of exposure showed clear associations with diverse pathological outcomes.; CONCLUSION: Beyond the cumulative burden, type and timing of CM show direct and diverse associations to pathological outcomes in middle childhood. Our results highlight the critical importance of early and detailed identification of CM, particularly recent exposure. This finding is valuable for researchers and clinicians, as it can refine diagnostic assessments and pave the way for effective early intervention strategies for affected children. Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved

Inventaire Floristique des Mauvaises Herbes dans une Caféiculture en Pure dans le Territoire de Kabare, DR Congo

Objectif: Cette étude avait pour objectif d’identifier les mauvaises herbes dans une caféiculture en pure, tout en précisant le degré d’infestation de chacune d’elles afin de planifier une lutte intégrée pour améliorer la production du café.Méthodologie et résultats: La méthode utilisée dans cette étude est la méthode phytosociologique de Braun Blanquet ; où trois plantations ont été enquêtées en réalisant cinq aires minimales de 35 à 90 m2 Ainsi, Une aire minimale de 20m2 à 80m2 a été déterminée suivant l’homogénéité de la végétation adventice. C’est ainsi que, 5 aires minimales par plantation ont été enquêtées avec un total de 15 aires minimales et 8 relevés par aire avec un total de 120 relevés enquêtés Il a été trouvé que la famille des asteraceae représente 35.29% et que Bidens pilosa et Galisonga ciliata sont les espèces les plus représentées et présentant un degré d’infestation élevé (adventices majeures dans les caféicultures) par rapport aux autres espèces.Conclusion et Application des résultats: Cette étude a révélé que la plupart d'espèces caractéristiques des champs de caféier en pure sont des asteraceae (Galinsoga ciliata, Bidens pilosa, Botriocline longipes, etc.) et des poaceae (Digitaria vestida, Setaria barbata, etc.). En plus, Ageratum conyzoidens, Achyranthes asper, Oxalis corymbosa, Crassophalum bumbese, Lactus spp., Cyperus distans, Commelina diffusa, Drymaria cordata, Sida acuta, Galinsoga ciliata et Bidens pilosa sont des espèces nuisibles dans les caféicultures. Ainsi, les résultats de cette étude pourraient être utilisés par les malherbologues afin de mettre en place une lutte focalisée et intégrée contre l’ensemble des mauvaises herbes qui peuvent avoir un impact négatif sur la culture du café et/ou son rendement.Mots clés: Inventaire, Mauvaises herbes, Caféier, asteraceae, gestion des mauvaises herbesEnglish AbstractObjective: The floristic inventory of weeds in this study aims to identify weeds in a pure coffee plantation, while specifying the degree of infestation of each of them in order to plan an integrated fight to improve the production of coffee.Methodology and results: The method used for this study is the phytosociological method of Braun Blanquet; where 5 minimum areas of 20 to 80 sqm were analysed in three large coffee farms. In each minimum area 8 quadrats were investigated. The Asteraceae has been found at 35.29% and Bidens pilosa and Galisonga ciliata are most represented species with a high degree of infestation.Conclusion and application and results: This study revealed that most characteristic species of pure coffee fields are Asteraceae (Galinsoga ciliata, Bidens pilosa, Botriocline longipes, etc.) and Poaceae (Digitaria vestida, Setaria barbata, etc.). In addition, Ageratum conyzoidens, Achyranthes asper, Oxalis corymbosa, Crassophalum bumbese, Lactus spp. Cyperus distans, Commelina diffusa, Drymaria cordata. Aida acuta. Galinsoga ciliata and Bidens pilosa are harmful species in coffee growing. Thus, the results of this study could be used by weed scientists to put in place a focused and integrated fight against all weeds that can have a negative impact on the coffee culture and / or its yield.Keywords: Inventory, Weeds, Coffee, Asteraceae, weed managemen

High prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after the first wave of COVID-19 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: results of a cross-sectional household-based survey

Background On October, 2020, after the first wave of COVID-19, only 8290 confirmed cases were reported in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, but the real prevalence remains unknown. To guide public health policies, we aimed to describe the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the general population in Kinshasa. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, household-based serosurvey between October 22, 2020, and November 8, 2020. Participants were interviewed at home and tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins in a Luminex based assay. A positive serology was defined as a sample that reacted with both SARS-CoV-2 proteins (100% sensitivity, 99.7% specificity). The overall weighted, age-standardized prevalence was estimated and the infection-to-case ratio was calculated to determine the proportion of undiagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infections. Results A total of 1233 participants from 292 households were included (mean age, 32.4 years; 764 [61.2%] were women). The overall weighted, age-standardized SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 16.6% (95% CI 14.0-19.5). The estimated infection-to-case ratio was 292:1. Prevalence was higher among participants ≥ 40 years than among those ˂18 years (21.2% vs 14.9%, respectively; p˂0.05). It was also higher in participants who reported hospitalization than among those who did not (29.8% vs 16.0%, respectively; p˂0.05). However, differences were not significant in the multivariate model (p=0.1). Conclusion The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 is much higher than the number of COVID-19 cases reported. These results justify the organization of a sequential series of serosurveys by public health authorities to adapt response measures to the dynamics of the pandemic.Peer Reviewe

Clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with late stage cervical cancer diagnosis in Botswana

Abstract Background Cervical cancer is the leading cause of female cancer mortality in Botswana with the majority of cervical cancer patients presenting with late-stage disease. The identification of factors associated with late-stage disease could reduce the cervical cancer burden. This study aims to identify potential patient level clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with a late-stage diagnosis of cervical cancer in Botswana in order to help inform future interventions at the community and individual levels to decrease cervical cancer morbidity and mortality. Results There were 984 women diagnosed with cervical cancer from January 2015 to March 2020 at two tertiary hospitals in Gaborone, Botswana. Four hundred forty women (44.7%) presented with late-stage cervical cancer, and 674 women (69.7%) were living with HIV. The mean age at diagnosis was 50.5 years. The association between late-stage (III/IV) cervical cancer at diagnosis and patient clinical and sociodemographic factors was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression with multiple imputation. Women who reported undergoing cervical cancer screening had lower odds of late-stage disease at diagnosis (OR: 0.63, 95% CI 0.47–0.84) compared to those who did not report screening. Women who had never been married had increased odds of late-stage disease at diagnosis (OR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.02–1.86) compared to women who had been married. Women with abnormal vaginal bleeding had higher odds of late-stage disease at diagnosis (OR: 2.32, 95% CI 1.70–3.16) compared to those without abnormal vaginal bleeding. HIV was not associated with a diagnosis of late-stage cervical cancer. Rural women who consulted a traditional healer had increased odds of late-stage disease at diagnosis compared to rural women who had never consulted a traditional healer (OR: 1.61, 95% CI 1.02–2.55). Conclusion Increasing education and awareness among women, regardless of their HIV status, and among providers, including traditional healers, about the benefits of cervical cancer screening and about the importance of seeking prompt medical care for abnormal vaginal bleeding, while also developing support systems for unmarried women, may help reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality in Botswana. </jats:sec