JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT VOL. 2, NO. 2, SEPTEMBER, 2005 PP. 2-8
FROM PERIODIC MARKETS TO
SUPERMARKETS: WHAT HOPE FOR EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD MARKETS IN AFRICA?
PORTER, G.
Department of Anthropology,
University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom
Email: r.e.porter@durham.ac.uk
ABSTRACT
This
study considered informal food trading through traditional periodic markets in
West Africa, and examined the emergence of the supermarket and its current and
potential role in food supply patterns in the region. Periodic markets currently
form a vital component in the supply chain linking rural producers to urban
consumers across much of western and central Africa. Vigorous traditional periodic market systems
performing bulking, wholesale and retail functions have existed from pre-colonial
times, interlinking the whole region. Despite the continuity of the rural
periodic market tradition in West Africa, individual regional market systems
have seen aspects of both continuity and substantial change since the late
1980s. Some markets decline and may
ultimately die, while new markets emerge and, if conditions prove conducive,
will flourish. Meanwhile, larger
roadside and peri-urban markets may even become so successful that they are
transformed from periodic to daily markets. Rapid expansion of urban
populations is putting increasing pressures on Africa’s traditional food supply
systems. Although traditional systems based on bulking through periodic markets
seem to work remarkably effectively, a new competitor may be emerging with potential
implications for actors throughout the food distribution system in West
Africa: the supermarket. In Kenya supermarket development has already
impacted significantly on the horticultural products trade. Zambia has already been colonised by the South
African food retailer Shoprite (a chain which targets the poor). Some important
implications of supermarket expansion in African food retailing to local urban
mass markets for local farmers are suggested.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT VOL. 2, NO. 2 SEPTEMBER, 2005 PP. 9-14
INTERNET FACILITIES ON GLOBAL
SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION (GSM) DEVICES
AKINSANMI,
O.
Department of Electrical
Engineering Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
E-mail: akinsanmi_oa@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This
paper presents the possibility of accessing Internet on Global system for
mobile communication (GSM) device, through the enhanced facilities of the
latest generation of the technologies. The different mobile phone access
technologies were reviewed and focus was given to the wireless technology
platforms, which provide the enhanced facilities in the third generation GSM
(3G) that were not available in the second generation GSM (2G) technology.
These platforms include the general packet Radio service (GPRS), the Wireless
Access Protocol (WAP) and Enhanced Data Rate for Global Evolution (EDGE). With
this technology, there has been an open door for skillful men and women to be
trained in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), to keep
the terrain of global development, and hence a sustainable development.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
VOL. 2, NO. 2 SEPTEMBER, 2005 PP. 15-24
CONTRIBUTIONS OF FEMALE
IMMIGRANTS TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AT
SOURCE AND DESTINATION IN BORIPE AREA OF OSUN STATE, NIGERIA
KUPONIYI, F. A.
Department of Agricultural
Economics & Extension
Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology, P. M. B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
E-mail: adekupo2000@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the behaviour of female
immigrants as individual migratory elements rather than being regarded as mere
‘luggage’ of migrating husbands and parents. The study was carried out in
Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. 118 respondents were
chosen through a multi-stage random sampling technique and data were procured
from them using pre-tested and validated interview schedule. The result
indicated that 70% of the respondents were in their productive ages of 21 – 60
years. 71% were married, 15.2% single, 8.5% widowed and 5% divorced. About 67%
were literate with the largest proportion (24%) completing primary school. None
was a full-time farmer in their host communities but 58% were involved in
agro-allied ventures. 74% belonged to various social groups with 45% belonging
to “home development” associations.
About 32% have lived in their host communities for not less than 15
years. Only one-third rarely visited home while 41.5% would return home finally
later. About 65% were sending cash and food items home regularly to cater for
relatives left behind and to contribute to community development at home. About
65% were properly integrated into their host communities due to rewarding
occupations and marriage to indigenes. Major contributions to host communities
were in the area of commerce (72.9%), food security through involvement in agricultural
production/processing (40%) and active involvement in community development
activities (26.3%).Female immigrants should be assisted to settle down quickly
to enable them contribute their best to the development of host communities.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT VOL. 2, NO. 2, SEPTEMBER, 2005 PP. 25-32
REPOSITIONING FOOD AID IN THE
ATTAINMENT OF MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS BY 2015
BABU, S. C.
International Food Policy Research
Institute, Washington, DC, United States
ABSTRACT
Food
aid remains a major tool for food security interventions in countries affected
by chronic food shortages. Yet, debate
continues about its relevance, effectiveness in addressing long-term hunger
problems, and its disincentive effects on local food production and food
prices. Repositioning the role of food
aid is needed if progress towards the Millennium Development Goal of reducing
hunger by half by the 2015 could be made. Based on selected case studies, this
paper analyzes the role of food aid in international development strategy. Specific lessons for food aid as a food
security intervention are derived.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT VOL. 2, NO. 2, SEPTEMBER, 2005 PP. 33-39
DETERMINANTS OF TECHNICAL
INEFFICIENCY OF FISH FARMS IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA
AJAO, A. O, AMAO, J. O AND
WILLIAMS, S. B
Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology, Ogbomoso-Nigeria. Email: dayo_67@hotmail.com
ABSTRACT
Efficiency
measurement has been a source of concern for researchers with an aim to
investigate the efficiency levels of farmers engaged in various agricultural
practices. Identifying determinants is a major task in an efficiency analysis,
hence, this study attempts to measure technical efficiency of fish farms and
identify its determinants in Oyo state using stochastic production frontier.
Cross-sectional data were collected from 100 randomly selected fish farmers in
Ibadan/Ibarapa zone of the state ADP. Technical efficiency effects are modeled
as function of firm specific factors which are classified into demographic
characteristics, farm practices and institutional support information. Water
source, land acquisition, frequency of extension visit and size stocking
variable are positive and significantly affect the technical efficiency. The
estimates of sigma square (19.01) is significantly different from zero
indicating a good fit and correctness of the distributional assumption
specified and the variance ratio (
) which measures the effect of technical efficiency in the
variation of observed output has a value of 0.1. This means that about 10
percent of the differences between the observed and maximum production frontier
outputs were due to differences in farmers’ levels of technical efficiency and
not related to random variability.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT VOL. 2, NO. 2, SEPTEMBER, 2005 PP. 40-52
ECONOMIC AND GENDER BASED
EMPLOYMENT IMPACTS OF INTRODUCING DUGWELLS IN THE RAINFED FARMING SYSTEM OF
PUNJAB, PAKISTAN
SAJIDA TAJ1, UMAR FAROOQ2,
NADEEM AKMAL1 AND ABDUL MAJID2
1.
Social Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Center,
Islamabad, Pakistan
2.
Barani Village Development Program, ICARDA Office at Islamabad, Pakistan
ABSTRACT
Moisture
stress at critical stages of crop production is one of the major causes of low
agricultural productivity in Pothwar region. The development institutions
introduced dugwells as one of the promising solutions for some selected sites.
This study provides empirical evidence as ex post analysis of the economic and
gender based employment impacts of dugwells introduction in this tract. The
benefits obtained were of both implicit and explicit natures. The implicit
benefits were in the form of doubling the value of agricultural land
transformed into irrigated parcels from rainfed fields and this benefit is more
than twice higher than the construction cost of dugwells. The explicit benefits
were in the form of changes in the cropping patterns on rainfed and irrigated
parcels during the post-dugwell period, increased returns per hectare from both
parcel types resulting in improvements in total income per farm by more than
75% and escalating total demand for labor by nearly 55% and of female labor by
about 52%. Moreover, this challenge of increase in demand for female labor was
also easily met by family female labor. The benefits of these interventions
could be further enhanced with measures like introduction of more efficient
water using techniques, training of beneficiary farmers in more efficient
production methods and incorporating more profitable enterprises into the
system. It is also suggested that such interventions should be further
replicated in the area at appropriate sites.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT VOL. 2, NO. 2, SEPTEMBER, 2005 PP. 53-63
SPRING PULSES: A VIABLE OPTION FOR RESTORING SOIL
HEALTH IN THE RICE- WHEAT CROPPING
SYSTEM OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN
MUHAMMAD ZUBAIR ANWAR,
MUHAMMAD AZAM NIAZI AND ABDUL GHAFOOR
National Agricultural Research
Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
ABSTRACT
