Showing papers in "Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development in 2019"

Assessment of pesticide hazard related knowledge and practices of agricultural extension workers in small-scale horticulture production areas in Ethiopia.

Abstract: There is a recent expansion of modern agriculture in Ethiopia that resulted in intensification of chemical pesticide use. Due to an inherent hazard of pesticides to the environment and human health they need to be properly used, handled and managed. Agriculture extension workers (AEWs) are supposed to give advices on pesticides hazards so as risks due to pesticide use is minimized. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was done by purposively sampling 69 AEWs in horticultural production districts of central eastern Ethiopia. The overall objective of the survey was assessing levels of pesticide hazard related knowledge and related practices of AEWs. More than 90 % of the surveyed AEWs have a diploma or lower level of education. 26% and 29 % of the AEWs reported attaining a course and participating in an on job training in relation to pesticide hazards. 7 % and 11 % of the interviewed AEWs mention modern methods of pesticide controls i.e. organic farming and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, respectively. 22 % of the AEWs indicate they usually give advises on pesticide hazards in general. Similarly 20% and 11% of the AEWs remarked providing advises on proper storage and disposal as well as occupational exposure prevention methods of pesticides to farmers, respectively. This study underlines a relatively lower educational level of AEWs who do not have enough pesticide hazard related knowledge and cannot or not practically advising on pesticide related hazards. AEWs should have continuous on job capacity building training on pesticide hazards in order to minimize environmental and occupational risks due to the intensifying chemical pesticide use in Ethiopian agriculture. Keywords: Ethiopia; extension workers; knowledge; pesticides hazards

Climate change impact factors in ECOWAS

Abstract: Appropriate responses to climate change in the agriculture sector are dependent on knowledge of the status and trends of the factors of the climate change impact chain in the sector. The objective of the study was to broadly assess key human, environmental, and biophysical factors in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), mainly within the decade following the launching of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP). This was done through a review of literature and analysis of data mainly from international databases. The status of and changes in these factors were generally unsatisfactory. Population growth rate was high. Average daily maximum temperatures were projected to rise by up to 3.5⁰C by 2050. Up to 35 % of the lands were estimated to be severely to very severely degraded. Internal renewable water resources per capita were below international requirements in many countries of ECOWAS. Renewable water resources per capita were more abundant but decreased over years. The substantial arable land and renewable water resources and carbon stored in soil (23503 Tg t) and forest biomass (6304 Tg t) are attributes of ECOWAS. Agricultural production was higher in the Gulf of Guinea zone compared to the Sudano-Sahelian zone but yields of some crops were higher in the Sudano-Sahelian zone. Food security status was unsatisfactory across ECOWAS although the production of major crops (in most cases), livestock, fisheries and aquaculture increased. The increase for aquaculture was dramatic (847%). Increase in production was mainly due to increased crop area harvested or livestock numbers. Policies should be revisited, institutions strengthened and financial investments made for ECOWAS to realize its potential to significantly contribute to food security and carbon storage.