A new professionalism for agricultural research for development

There have been repeated calls for a ‘new professionalism’ for carrying out agricultural research for development since the 1990s. At the centre of these calls is a recognition that for agricultural research to support the capacities required to face global patterns of change and their implications on rural livelihoods, requires a more systemic, learning focused and reflexive practice that bridges epistemologies and methodologies. In this paper, we share learning from efforts to mainstream such an approach through a large, multi-partner CGIAR research program working in aquatic agricultural systems. We reflect on four years of implementing research in development (RinD), the program’s approach to the new professionalism. We highlight successes and challenges and describe the key characteristics that define the approach. We conclude it is possible to build a program on a broader approach that embraces multidisciplinarity and engages with stakeholders in social-ecological systems. Our experience also suggests caution is required to ensure there is the time, space and appropriate evaluation methodologies in place to appreciate outcomes different to those to which conventional agricultural research aspires.     

Bhopal,India and Union Carbide: The second tragedy

The paper examines the legal, ethical, and public policy issues involved in the Union Carbide gas leak in India which caused the deaths of over 3000 people and injury to thousands of people. The paper begins with a historical perspective on the operating environment in Bhopal, the events surrounding the accident, then discusses an international situation audit examining internal strengths and weaknesses, and external opportunities and threats faced by Union Carbide at the time of the accident. There is a discussion of management of the various interests involved in international public relations and ethical issues. A review of the financial ratio analysis of the company prior and subsequent to the accident follows, then an examination of the second tragedy of Bhopal — the tragic failure of the international legal system to adequately and timely compensate victims of the accident.The paper concludes with recommendations towards public policy, as well as a call for congressional action regarding international safety of U.S. based multinational operations.Clayton Trotter is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and College of Business Administration. Currently, he teaches in both the College of Business and the School of Law at Texas Tech University; and was formerly Associate Professor of Law at the Coburn School of Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He has taught courses in Real Estate Law, Corporations, International Business Transations, and Business Law.Mr. Trotter has been attorney of record in a number of contested civil cases and has appeared in the Fifth and Seventh United States Circuit Court of Appeals on such cases. He is licensed in Texas, Florida and the Supreme Court of the United States.He has authored a number of articles on business related legal matters.Susan G. Day is a Texas Real Estate Broker, Escrow Agent, and Insurance Agent. She graduated from Texas Tech University with a major in Business Administration with an emphasis on Management. She currently attends Texas Tech University pursuing a graduate degree in Education.Susan is Past President of the Toastmasters International group at Texas Tech University giving speeches and lectures on real estate and law. In addition, Susan is a member of the following associations at Texas Tech University: Society for Advancement of Management, Marketing Association, Tech Management Association, Lubbock Legal Secretaries Association, National Association for Female Executives and the Ex-Students Association.Amy E. Love graduated Magna Cum Laude in December, 1988 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management from Texas Tech University. Her long range goals include graduate school where she would like to emphasize finance. Amy is a member of the Society for Advancement of Management, Golden Key National Honor Society, Gamma Sigma Honor Society, and Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.     

Linkage Disequilibrium Mapping of Disease Susceptibility Genes in Human Populations

The paper reviews recent work on statistical methods for using linkage disequilibrium to locate disease susceptibility genes, given a set of marker genes at known positions in the genome. The paper starts by considering a simple deterministic model for linkage disequilibrium and discusses recent attempts to elaborate it to include the effects of stochastic influences, of "drift", by the use of either Writht-Fisher models or by approaches based on the coalescence of the genealogy of the sample of disease chromosomes. Most of this first part of the paper concerns a series of diallelic markers and, in this case, the models so far proposed are hierarchical probability models for multivariate binary data. Likelihoods are intractable and most approaches to linkage disequilibrium mapping amount to marginal models for pairwise associations between individual markers and the disease susceptibility locus. Approaches to evalutation of a full likelihood require Monte Carlo methods in order to integrate over the large number of unknowns. The fact that the initial state of the stochastic process which has led to present-day allele frequencies is unknown is noted and its implications for the hierarchical probability model is discussed. Difficulties and opportunities arising as a result of more polymorphic markers and extended marker haplotypes are indicated. Connections between the hierarchical modelling approach and methods based upon identity by descent and haplotype sharing by seemingly unrelated case are explored. Finally problems resulting from unknown modes of inheritance, incomplete penetrance, and "phenocopies" are briefly reviewed.     

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FARM INCOME DISTRIBUTION IN LDCs

There were remarkable and sustained increases in agricultural and food production in the developing countries over the last three decades. But the fruits of this progress were not shared by all, and many remain in poverty. Some believe this due to the unequal distribution of benefits and accordingly claim that an agricultural strategy which focuses on reducing disparities of income, assets and access is the most important objective for agricultural development. This approach is justified by claims of wide and increasing disparities of income in the agricultural sectors of LDCs. This paper looks at the evidence for such claims and finds that they cannot be supported by hard evidence. Indeed, the few valid studies of agricultural income distribution show modest disparities. Accordingly, redistribution strategies, especially those aimed at uni-modal farm sectors, are rejected as unnecessary, undesirable and unachievable (without destroying the main spring of agricultural progress). On the contrary, it is urged that growth in productivity, output and incomes should be the dominant development objective to encourage, as many examples show, the enterprise, ability and energy of small farmers and their families. Such a strategy produces a degree of unequal distribution of benefits which reflects the distribution of personal qualities and endowments and acts as an incentive to their exercise. To keep disparities within bounds, agricultural policies relating to pricing, extension, credit, research and so on should aim at widening the number of small farmer beneficiaries of agricultural development.     

South Africa’s transition from apartheid: The role of professional closure in the experiences of black chartered accountants

As apartheid gave way to political freedom in South Africa in the last quarter of the 20th century, chartered accounting firms began to hire black South African trainees for the first time. The study examines the oral histories of black chartered accountants within the context of social closure theory and South Africa’s changing political and ideological landscape. The evidence indicates that processes of professional closure and credentialing excluded the majority population from the ranks of the profession on basis of race and class throughout the period 1976–2000.