The role of agricultural development policies in promoting Africa’s structural transformation

Henri-Ukoha, A.; Osuji, Emeka; Anyanwu, U. G.; Okwara, M. O.; Eze, E. U.

doi:10.31248/jasp2019.139

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 22 publications

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“…Such vulnerabilities are also worsened by environmental degradation such as deforestation due to farmland expansion (Johansson and Abdi 2020) and extraction of charcoal and firewood (Johansson and Isgren 2017). Government institutions (with the power to exercise control) often highlight economically disadvantaged groups (with little or no agency to influence their situation) as the main agents behind these environmentally degrading activities while ignoring similar (or even worse) environmental effects caused by industrial development such as the promotion of powerful and influential commercial large-scale agribusinesses or infrastructure development (Belhabib et al 2019, Henri-Ukoha et al 2019, Sulle 2020. In these contexts, where development and visions have long been dominated by Western ideals, it is critical to make explicit the relevance of local cultures and the importance of the past for navigating the future (Pereira et al 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Participatory futures thinking in the African context of sustainability challenges and socio-environmental change

Johansson¹

2021

E&S

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Futures thinking is a key competency in sustainability studies, and the field is currently experiencing a strong surge in participatory scenario development and visioning approaches. Sub-Saharan Africa has a particularly long history of participatory approaches to development; however, the same participatory approaches have often faced critique for lacking the potential to stimulate empowerment and social change. To explore these contradictions, I systematically review the use of participatory scenario development and visioning in sustainability and socio-environmental change research in the region between 2011 and 2021. The analysis is structured around three key questions: Who participates, in what, and for whose benefit? Of the 23 reviewed studies, most focused on exploratory scenarios and aimed to understand trade-offs and future risks to identify sustainable pathways to alternative futures. Fewer scenarios were normative and aimed to imagine futures beyond current societal structures and values, and thereby radically challenge the status quo (e.g., business as usual, current socioeconomic systems) by including solutions to power imbalances and injustice. Most scenario development processes engaged a wide range of participants (in terms of power and agency) because this strategy was meant to facilitate knowledge co-production and understanding between (sometimes) conflicting stakeholders. In the end, most scenario development processes strived for consensus and compromise regarding which futures were wanted and which futures were to be avoided. Based on this review, I challenge what is often considered "best practice" in sustainability discussions by raising some limitations of mixing a wide range of stakeholders in the futures thinking process. Although such mixing is considered to enhance mutual understanding and conflict resolution, it might also limit the potential to stimulate radically different futures that would benefit the vulnerable and marginalized through challenging the status quo. My findings provide guidance for researchers and other actors who intend to use or develop methods for exploring innovative solutions for more just and sustainable futures in different areas and contexts of sustainable development.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Participatory futures thinking in the African context of sustainability challenges and socio-environmental change

Johansson¹

2021

E&S

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Evaluation of soils on a toposequence formed from the coastal plain sands of the Imo river basin, Southeastern Niger

C.O

P.C.

I.K

et al. 2021

NJSS

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Due to the increasing land degradation in southeastern Nigeria – with particular reference to the ubiquitous gully network in the region – selected soils formed from the Coastal Plain Sands of the Imo River Basin were evaluated and characterized to determine their potentials and capabilities. , Three profile pits were consequently dug on the upper slope (Umuariam), -mid-slope (Umulogho), and foot slope (Umungwa) of three towns on the Imo River Basin underlain by the coastal plain sands. The soil color ranged from greyish brown (5 YR 5/2) to dull brown (7.5 YR 5/3) in the topsoil and from dull orange (5 YR 6/4) to orange (5 YR 6/7) in the subsoil. The soils had sandy topsoil and relatively more clayey subsoil. The pH (in KCl) ranged from very strongly acidic (4.5 – 5.0) to moderately acidic (5.1 – 6.0). They had low organic matter, low total nitrogen, low ECEC, low Al saturation, and moderate base saturation. The soils of Umuariam (Upper Slope) and Umulogho (Mid Slope) were classified as Typic Hapludults (Chromic Acrisols), while that of Umungwa (Foot Slope) was classified as Typic Udipsamments (Rubic Arenosols). Umuariam had a USDA land capability class of IIes and a USBR land capability class of 2v/C. Umulogho and Umungwa both had a USDA and USBR capability class of IVs and 3v/C respectively. Though moderately to marginally irrigable, the soils can still produce increased and sustainable agricultural yield if the appropriate land use and husbandry practices are adopted, with particular reference to erosion control, organic manure, lime, and fertilizer application.

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Performance Evaluation of a Developed Dried Grass Shredding Machine for Composting

Ebunilo

Atumah

Orhorhoro

2021

AEF

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In Nigeria Arable land covers approximately 745,000km2 of the total land area and at present organic farming is not prevalent, encouraged or facilitated despite its sustainability advantages. The anaerobic digestion process produces two main outputs (biogas and digestate). The digestate when properly harnessed can be used as a substitute for inorganic fertilizer. The digestate retains a high content of organic matter such as Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium (K), as well as a range of other macro-and micronutrients like Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Manganese, Zinc and ammonium. In this research work, a developed grass shredding machine for the composting of a digestate was evaluated for performance. Preliminary studies were undertaken to determine the liquid absorbability of non-shredded grass vise-visa dry shredded grass, the moisture content of fresh elephant and spear grass. An internal combustion powered shredding machine was developed to shred dry and sieve crushed grasses to be used as absorbent of digestate. The machine was evaluated for performance using different samples of properly dried elephant and spear grass. The shredded grasses samples were mixed with discharge digestate collected from a bio-digester to produce organic fertilizer. The shredding time, machine throughout capacity efficiency, mass of fibre and liquor were determined. The results of performance evaluation with elephant grass sample revealed that an average value of efficiency (90.97%), machine through put capacity (1.225g/sec), shredding time (126.54seconds), percentage loss (8.393%), fibre (288.58g) and liquor (119.83g) were established. Similar result were obtained with spear grass; efficiency (90.50%), machine through-put capacity (1.225g/sec), shredding time 126.54 seconds), percentage loss (8.32%), fibre (294.12g), and liquor (118.85g). The outcome of the results revealed that both solid fertilizer (fibre) and liquid fertilizer (liquor) were extracted from the digestate, and an average mass of 138.86g dried grass can absorb 269.55g of liquid digestate to produce organic fertilizer.

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The role of agricultural development policies in promoting Africa’s structural transformation

Cited by 3 publications

References 22 publications

Participatory futures thinking in the African context of sustainability challenges and socio-environmental change

Participatory futures thinking in the African context of sustainability challenges and socio-environmental change

Evaluation of soils on a toposequence formed from the coastal plain sands of the Imo river basin, Southeastern Niger

Performance Evaluation of a Developed Dried Grass Shredding Machine for Composting

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