Adding value through the mechanization of post-harvest cassava processing,and its impact on household poverty in north-eastern Zambia

This article investigates the impact of adopting a mechanized cassava processing system on household poverty levels in Zambia. An Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty measure was used to compare poverty levels among households using a mechanized cassava processing system against those households using a nonmechanized process. Based on the FGT poverty measure’s specifications, a significantly lower poverty status of 49% was found among households using the mechanized process when compared to the 58% found among households using the nonmechanized process. The significant factors contributing to these differences in poverty levels include whether households are using a mechanized process or not, the number of years’ schooling among household members, the number of years’ farming experience, household income and membership of associations. The study concludes that the mechanization of cassava processing, particularly if done on the right scale, can transform primary production activities, in turn leading to higher incomes and reduced poverty levels in rural villages. Thus, policies should be introduced aimed at encouraging the promotion of mechanized post-harvest cassava processing technologies among rural households, so as to enhance crop productivity and household income levels, as well as reduce poverty among rural households.     

Safety evaluation of heavy metals exposure from consumer products

The determination of heavy metals in consumer products is crucial for the safety appraisal and sources classification of human and environmental exposures. These products contain various undisclosed chemical constituents with no or little known health safety information. The public is generally unaware of these types of everyday exposure from chemical constituents of consumer products and their health consequences. In this study, we recorded a body of proof demonstrating potential harm of consumer goods, by determining concentrations of total cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and nikel (Ni contents in a variety of personal care products (n = 82) commonly used in Nigeria, using flame atomic absorption spectrometer after dry and wet digestion methods. The results of the analysis indicated that the range of Cd was 0.035 ± 0.023–0.467 ± 0.167 ppm, Cr 0.015 ± 0.009–0.435 ± 0.232 ppm, Cu 0.230 ± 0.08–0.603 ± 0.025 ppm, Zn 0.003 ± 0.005–0.743 ± 0.066 ppm, Fe 0.233 ± 0.219–1.401 ± 1.878 ppm, Pb 0.02 ± 0.007–0.2050.129 ppm and Ni 0.035 ± 0.015–0.093 ± 0.06 ppm. The values of Cd and Cr are a cause for alarm because the elements are not allowed in any amount in cosmetics. Despite the fact that zinc is essential in the body, the values obtained in this study deserves safety concerns due to cumulative effect, arising from incessant exposure.     

影响尼日利亚科瓦尔州女性组织的因素分析

本文对影响尼日利亚科瓦尔州女性组织的因素进行了分析。通过整群随机抽样确定了10个女性组织，研究发现：建立女性组织的主要目的在于实现自我权利（94％）、成员遇到困难时提供援助（99％）、贷款和信用保险（95％）、发展事业或市场交易（94％）和提高收入（93％）。为了满足成员的需求，女性组织实际涉及的活动非常广泛，包括在艰难时期给于成员援助（98％）、参与统一购买（96％）、参加庆典（92％）等。同时研究表明：女性组织面临的主要问题有基金的缺乏（99％）和成员的贫困（92％）。此外，在干旱季节水资源的缺乏是蔬菜种植者（66％）面临的一个重要问题。然而，作为一个组织共同劳动很明显地对女性组织的成功发挥了重要作用（95％），优秀的领导（96％）和接受农业推广人员的建议、监督以及拜访（88％）也有助于女性组织的成功。根据研究结果，建议应加强女性组织权力，在发展过程中不断对组织领导进行培训，并且对推广机构进行相应的建设以满足妇女组织的需要。     

The value of education in small‐scale agriculture: Some evidence from Ogun State,Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the value of education in Ogun State agriculture using the production function framework. The results indicate that education contributes substantially to agricultural production in the State. The allocative effect of increased education was found to be more important than the worker effect while the input‐selection component of the allocative effect was more important than the input‐allocation component. Thus involvement in farmers’ education or a successful policy at luring educated persons into agriculture can be expected to bring about increased agricultural production in the State and, by extension, the entire country.     

Immigration and Chinese food preferences in the Greater Toronto Area

This paper presents important socio‐economic characteristics of Chinese Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the impact of these characteristics and acculturation on their expenditure on and consumption of ethnic vegetables. These consumers purchase ethnic vegetables based on attributes such as quality, traceable production, versatility and language. The factors that predict expenditure on ethnic vegetables among Chinese Canadians are as follows: the percentage spent on food out of total monthly income, years spent in Canada and acculturation. The estimated demand per month for Chinese ethnic vegetables in the GTA is $CAD21 million. Meeting this demand with ever more locally produced vegetables will reduce ‘food miles’, enhance niche market production and facilitate greater agricultural sustainability in Ontario.