SDG02 Zero hunger

Adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices by smallholder dairy farmers in Chipinge and Mutasa Districts of the Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe

2026-09-30T10:23:52Z

Adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices by smallholder dairy farmers in Chipinge and Mutasa Districts of the Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe Chavhunduka, Tinashe Climate change poses significant constraints on smallholder dairy production systems in Zimbabwe, particularly in drought-prone regions such as Manicaland Province. This study analysed farmers’ perceptions of climate change and their influence on the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices among smallholder dairy farmers in Chipinge and Mutasa districts. It further quantified the extent of adoption of adaptation- and mitigation-based CSA practices and identified socio-economic and institutional determinants shaping adoption decisions. Guided by the Climate-Smart Agriculture framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization, which integrates productivity, resilience, and greenhouse gas mitigation objectives, the study employed a cross-sectional survey design. Primary data were collected from 154 smallholder dairy households using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics indicated that feed shortages (59.6%) and water scarcity (55.0%) were the most severe climate-related constraints, while 84.7% of respondents reported high awareness of the impacts of climate change on dairy production. Inferential analysis revealed a statistically significant association between climate change perception and CSA adoption (χ², p < 0.05), indicating that perception significantly shapes adoption behaviour. Binary logistic regression results showed that CSA adoption was significantly influenced by household size, education level, herd size, farming experience, access to finance, and perception of climate variability (p < 0.05), confirming that both human capital and resource endowments are key adoption drivers. Further, multinomial logistic regression results demonstrated that district location significantly influenced farmers’ choice among adaptation-only, mitigation-only, and integrated CSA strategies (p < 0.05), highlighting spatial heterogeneity in adoption behaviour. The model exhibited acceptable explanatory power, confirming robustness in predicting CSA adoption categories. Despite high awareness levels (84.7%), CSA adoption remains constrained by structural socio-economic and institutional barriers. Adaptation practices are widely adopted but predominantly reactive and short-term coping strategies, while mitigation practices remain limited and are primarily motivated by productivity gains rather than by emission-reduction objectives. Agroforestry demonstrated moderate adoption (34%) and provided synergistic adaptation–mitigation benefits. v The study concludes that although smallholder dairy farmers exhibit adaptive capacity, their responses remain largely survivalist rather than transformative. Strengthening access to finance, enhancing extension services, and providing targeted incentives for mitigation-oriented technologies are critical to promoting integrated and sustainable climate-smart dairy systems in Zimbabwe

Impact of climate change adaptation strategies on food security of groundnut farming households in Yirol East County South Sudan

2026-09-23T12:40:52Z

Impact of climate change adaptation strategies on food security of groundnut farming households in Yirol East County South Sudan Achuoth, Makur James With projected temperatures rising higher than the rest of the world – and an increase in the occurrence of droughts, floods, and other natural disasters – the people, economy, and ecosystems of Africa are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. South Sudan is experiencing substantially warmer and drier weather, and the combination of these effects leads to increasing evapotranspiration and more droughts. The main purpose of this study was to identify adaptation strategies used by groundnut farmers in Yirol East County (District), assess the factors influencing the adoption of these adaptation strategies as well as evaluate the impact of adopted climate adaptation strategies on the household food security of groundnut farmers. Four payams (sub-districts) in Yirol East County namely; Adior, Malek, Pagarau, and Yali were targeted for data collection. A sample of 481 respondents was drawn from the total population of 113,052 farming households in the study area. Primary data were collected using structured and semi-structured questionnaires in kobo collect software and focused group discussion (FGD). In this study, objective one used descriptive statistics while objectives two, three, four, and five used inferential analysis from the sampled data. Objective six was analysed qualitatively. Findings of the descriptive statistics show that most of the participants were female as shown by 64.4% while the rest were male as shown by 35.6%. Most of the participants were in the age category ranging from 31 – 45 years as shown by 52.8% out of which 92.9% of the participants were married. However, the majority of groundnut farmers 82.7% had not attained basic education levels. Most of the respondents have been residence in a community for more than 11 years as shown by 60.1%, of which 55.9% with farming experience in years was more than 11 years. The findings further show that there is a positive and significant relationship between good agricultural practices and distance to market (r=0.443; p=0.000), knowledge of climate change adaptation strategy (r=0.286; p=0.000) as well as access to extension services (r=0.257; p=0.000), membership to farmers’ group (r=0.294; p=0.000) as well as perceived change in droughts and floods (r=0.146; p=0.001). Other factors such as membership of the farmers’ group (r=0.136; p=0.003) and perceived change in droughts and floods (r=0.186; p=0.000) have a positive and significant relationship with farm technology adopted by groundnut farmers in Yirol East County. Nevertheless, the study established that distance to market (r=0.462; p=0.000), knowledge of climate change adaptation strategy (r=0.359; p=0.000), access to extension services (r=0.250; p=0.000) and membership to farmers’ group (r=0.432; p=0.000) have a positive and significant relationship with off-farm activities such as business, casual labour and formal employment. The study also revealed that gender of the farmer (r=0.100; p=0.028), experience in farming (r=0.098; p=0.032), length of residence in the community (r=1.000; p=0.000), access to climate and weather information (r=0.117; p=0.01) and perceived change in prevalence of diseases and pests (0.275; p=0.000) have a positive and significant relationship with livestock farming as climate change adaptation strategy. The research further shows that the decision to adopt climate change adaptation strategies (CCAS) is determined by farmers’ age, sex, farming experience, farm size, farmers’ income, and knowledge level. In addition, the findings showed that climate change adaptation strategies (CCAS) adoption has a significant relationship with food secure status and food insecure status of groundnut farming households. The research has found that four major socio-economic sectors (SES) which include livestock, water, agriculture, environment/forestry, and health care services in the study area are highly sensitive to the impacts of climate change due to high risks of extreme weather conditions. In light of the findings of this study, a functional climate change adaptation framework was developed for groundnut farming households in Yirol East County but, could as well be used as a reference tool by the government of the Republic of South Sudan, United Nations (UN) agencies, national and international non-governmental organizations (NNGOs/INGOs) in the country. Abstract and text in English

Foreign capital on suitable development: the moderating influence of institutional quality

2026-08-25T14:34:57Z

Foreign capital on suitable development: the moderating influence of institutional quality Sogah, Enerst Over the past decades, the continent of Africa has significantly depended on foreign capital flows to propel growth; however, concerns remain about their environmental and food security consequences in vulnerable contexts. Although foreign capital can either worsen environmental degradation or enhance ecological transition, empirical evidence remains limited, especially in Africa. Again, few studies have examined how institutional structures and partnerships condition these relationships. This creates a theoretical and empirical gap regarding the moderating role of institutional quality and partnerships in shaping the environmental and food security outcomes of foreign capital in Africa. Hence, this thesis examines the effect of foreign capital on ecosystem conditions and the moderating role of institutional quality in Africa, while also exploring how foreign capital influences food security when conditioned on Partnerships for the Goals. Covering the period from 2000 to 2022, the study is structured around three main objectives. The study employed a two-step system Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) for the econometric estimation and complements it with dynamic panel threshold techniques to capture nonlinearities. The first objective assesses the effect of foreign capital on ecosystems; again, the study investigates the moderating role of institutional quality in foreign capital-ecosystem contagion. Building on this, the second objective investigates the moderating role of political institutions in the relationship between economic institutions and ecosystem contagion. The third objective shifts focus to food security, examining how the impact of foreign capital on food security changes when conditioned on partnership for the goals. The results provide several important insights. First, the findings indicate that the impact of foreign capital indicators, including external debt, remittances, FDI, and portfolio investment, on ecosystems is more pronounced above the threshold. These thresholds suggest that beyond certain levels, foreign capital inflows contribute meaningfully to ecosystem improvement. Second, the analysis shows that stronger political and economic institutions significantly enhance ecosystem transitions, highlighting the importance of governance quality. Third, the study reveals that the conditional effect of foreign capital on food security becomes positive when moderated by partnership for the goals. This implies that while the unconditional effect of foreign capital on food security is negative, effective partnerships can reverse this outcome and strengthen food security. The study extends the ecological modernization theory by revealing how international capital supports ecosystem and food security sustainability in Africa. The study recommend that foreign capital reforms should be done in a manner to enhance ecosystem and food security financing in Africa. The study made the first attempt to link foreign capital to ecosystem and food security in Africa.; Emashumini eminyaka edlule, izwekazi lase Afrika lithembele kakhulu ekungeneni kwezimali zakwamanye amazwe ukuze liqhubekele phambili ekukhuleni komnotho; nokho, ukukhathazeka kusaqhubeka mayelana nendawo yazo ezungezile kanye nemiphumela yokuphepha kokudla ezimweni ezingozini. Nakuba izimali zakwamanye amazwe zingalimaza kakhulu ukucekelwa phansi kwemvelo noma isekela uguquko lwezemvelo, ubufakazi obunamandla buhlala bunomkhawulo, ikakhulukazi e-Afrika. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ucwaningo olumbalwa luye lwaphenya ukuthi izinhlaka zezikhungo kanye nokusebenzisana kubeka lobubudlelwano ukuthi bube Nezinjongo Zokuthuthukiswa Okusimeme. Ngenxa yalokho, kunegebe le-theory kanye nokusebenza mayelana nezindima zokulinganisa zekhwalithi yesikhungo kanye nobudlelwano ekubumbeni imiphumela yezemvelo kanye nokuvikeleka kokudla kwezimali zakwamanye amazwe e-Afrika. Le-thesis ihlola umthelela wemali yangaphandle ezimeni ze-ecosystem, ngokubheka ikakhulukazi indima yokulinganisa izinga lesikhungo e-Afrika. Iphinde ihlole ukuthi izimali zakwamanye amazwe zikuthinta kanjani ukuvikeleka kokudla uma kuncike ebudlelwaneni bezinjongo. Ihlanganisa isikhathi kusuka ku- 2000 kuya ku-2022, ukuhlaziya kuhlelwe ngokwezinjongo ezintathu ezibalulekile. Ukulinganiswa kwe-Econometric kwenziwa kusetshenziswa indlela yezikhathi yezinyathelo ezimbili ezijwayelekile (SGMM), kuhambisana namasu e-panel e-dynamic threshold ukuze ithwebule okungeyona imigqa. Ihloso yokuqala yokwenza uhlolo, imiphumela yemali yangaphandle ezimweni ze-ecosystem, kanye nendima yokulinganisa ikhwalithi yesikhungo ebudlelwaneni be-capital-ecosystem yangaphandle. Ukwakhela phezu kwalokhu, inhloso yesibili ukuhlola indima yokulinganisa izikhungo zezombusazwe ebudlelwaneni phakathi kwesikhungo nezombusazwe ebudlelwaneni kwesikhungo sezomnotho nezimo ze-ecosystem. Inhloso yesithathu ukuhlola umthelela wezimali zakwamanye amazwe ushitsha kanjani ekuvikeleleni ukudla. Okutholakele kunikeza iminingwane eminingana ebalulekile. Okokuqala, okutholakele kubonisa ukuthi umthelela wezinkomba zemali yangaphandle, njengesikweletu sagaphandle, izimali ezamukelwayo, utshalomali oluqondile lwangaphandle kanye nokutshalwa kwezimali kwe-portfolio, ezimweni ze-ecosystem zigqama kakhulu ngaphezu kwemikhawulo ekhonjiwe. Lemikhawulo ikhombisa ukuthi, ngale kwamazinga athile, imali engenayo yamazwe angaphandle inegalelo elibonakalayo ekuthuthukisweni kweecostsyem. Okwesibili, ukuhlaziya kukhombisa ukuthi izikhungo eziqinile zezepolitiki nezomnotho zithuthukisa kakhulu uguquko lwe-ecosystem, egqamisa ukubaluleka kwekhalithi yokubusa. Okwesithathu, okutholakele kukhombisa okuthalakele kukhombisa ukuthi umthelela onemibandlela wemali yangaphandle ekuvikelekeni kokudla kuba kuhle uma wengamela ubudlelwane nezinjongo. Loku kuphakamisa ukuthi, nakuba umthelela ongenamibandela wemali yakwamanye amazwe ekuvikelekeni kokudla mubi, ubudlelwano obusebenzayo bungawuhlehlisa lomphumela futhi uqinise ukuvikeleka kokudla. Ucwaningo lunweba I-theory yesimanje yezemvelo ngokukhombisa ukuthi imali yamanye amazwe ingasekela kanjani ekusimameni kwe-ecosystem kanye nokuvikeleka kokudla e-Afrika. Ngokusekela okutholakele, Kunconywa ukuthi kwenziwe uguquko lwezimali zakwamanye amazwe ngendlela ezothuthukisa ukusimama kwe-ecosystem kanye nokuxhaswa ngezimali kokutholakala kokudla e-Afrika. Lolucwaningo lunegalelo langempela ngokuxhumanisa imali yakwamanye amazwe nezimo ze-ecosystem kanye nokuvikeleka kokudla e-Afrika.; Esikhathini esingangetjhumi leminyaka edlulileko, ikhontinenti ye-Afrika bekade ithembele khulu ekungeneni kwemali yangaphandle ukuthuthukisa umnotho; nofana kunjalo, ukutshwenyeka kuragela phambili mayelana nemiphumela yokuvikeleka kwebhoduluko nokudla ebujameni ebusengozini. Nalokha imali yangaphandle ingaragisela phambili ukuwohloka kwebhoduluko nofana isekele ukutjhuguluka kwemvelo, ubufakazi obubonakalakho busese buncani, khulukhulu e-Afrika. Ngaphezulu kwalokho, ziimbalwa iimfundo ezenze irhubhululo lokobana amaziko nokubambisana okunqophene nemiNqopho yokuThuthuka okuNzinzileko kunamuphi umthelela ebudlelwaneni lobu. Ngalokho-ke, kunesikhala sethiyori nobufakazi mayelana neendima zokulinganisa ikhwalithi yamaziko nokubambisana ekubumbeni imiphumela yokuvikeleka kwebhoduluko nokudla okulethwa yimali yangaphandle e-Afrika. Ithisisi le ihlolisisa umthelela wemali yangaphandle ebujameni behlelo lemvelo, ngokutjhejisisa indima yokulinganisa ikhwalithi yamaziko e-Afrika. Ihlolisisa nokobana imali yangaphandle inamuphi umthelela ekuvikelekeni kokudla lokha nayilawulwa budlelwana bemiNqopho le. Ukuhlaziya kwakhiwe ngokuqala iminqopho emithathu, kufakwa isikhathi ukusukela ngomnyaka we-2000 ukuya kowe-2022. Ukulinganiswa komnotho kwenziwe ngokusebenzisa ihlelo elinamagadango amabili le-SGMM, ngokurhelejwa mathekhniki wephaneli yomkhawulo enamandla ukubona ukungalingani. Umnqopho wokuthoma bekukuhlola umthelela wemali yangaphandle ebujameni behlelo lemvelo, kunye nendima yekhwalithi yamaziko yokulawula ubudlelwana bemali yangaphandle nehlelo lemvelo. Ngokwakhela phezulu kwalokhu, umnqopho wesibili bekukuhlahluba indima yamaziko wezepolitiki ekulawuleni ubudlelwana phakathi kwamaziko wezomnotho nobujamo behlelo lemvelo. Umnqopho wesithathu bekukuhlahluba umthelela wemali yangaphandle ekutjhugulukeni kweviveleko lokudla lokha nalisame ebudlelwaneni bemiNqopho ehlosiweko. Imiphumela inikela ngelwazi eliqakathekileko elinengana. Kokuthoma, imiphumela itjengisa bonyana iinkomba zomthelela wemali yangaphandle, njengeenkolodo zangaphandle, ukuthunyelwa kwemali, isisomali yangaphandle ebunqopha nesisomali yephothofoliyo, ebujameni behlelo lemvelo ubonakala khulu ukudlula imikhawulo ebekiweko. Imikhawulo le itjengisa bonyana, ngale kwamazinga athileko, ukungena kwemali yangaphandle kuyasiza ekuthuthukiseni ihlelo lemvelo. Kwesibili, imiphumela le itjengisa bonyana amaziko wezepolitiki newezomnotho aqinileko athuthukisa ukutjhuguluka kwehlelo lemvelo, kuveze ukuqakatheka kwekhwalithi yokubusa. Kwesithathu, imiphumela le itjengisa bonyana umthelela onemibandela wemali yangaphandle ekuvikelekeni kokudla uba ngomuhle lokha nawulawulwa budlelwana bemiNqopho ehlosiweko. Lokhu kuveza bonyana, nanyana umthelela onganamibandela wemali yangaphandle ekuvikelekeni kokudla ungaba ngomumbi, ukubambisana kungawubuyisela emuva umphumela lo begodu kuqinise nevikeleko lokudla. Irhubhululo leli linabisa ithiyori ye-mordenisation yehlelo lemvelo ngokutjengisa bonyana imali yamazwe wangaphandle ingakusekela njani ukunzinza kwehlelo lemvelo nevikeleko lokudla e- Afrika. Ngokusekelwa miphumela yerhubhululo leli, kuphakanyiswa bonyana amatjhuguluko wezangaphandle enziwe ngendlela ezakuthuthukisa ukunzinza kwehlelo lemvelo nesekelomali levikeleko lokudla e-Afrika. Irhubhululo leli lenza umnikelo wokuthoma ngokuhlanganisa imali yangaphandle nobujamo behlelo lemvele kunye nevikeleko lokudla e-Afrika. Includes abstract in isiZulu and isiNdebele

The food safety knowledge of street food vendors and the enforcement of food safety policies and procedures in Oyo State, Nigeria

2026-08-30T15:38:51Z

The food safety knowledge of street food vendors and the enforcement of food safety policies and procedures in Oyo State, Nigeria Alawode, Oluwatoyin Wumi Inadequate food safety knowledge, insufficient enforcement and compliance with food safety regulations, and the lack of hygienic food safety regulation resources at street food vending sites may result in food contamination risk and outbreaks of foodborne diseases. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of food safety of street food vendors and the implementation of food safety policies and procedures in Oyo State, Nigeria. This research study uses a cross-sectional survey design and a quantitative method for data analysis. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was employed, and fifteen local government areas (LGAs) were randomly selected from the three senatorial zones, with 40 street food vendors per LGA, totaling 600 respondents. The data were collected through a structured interview schedule. A quasi-experimental approach was used for the pre-and post-training assessment of 42 street food vendors on food safety knowledge. Findings revealed that 75.7% of street food vending sites had low compliance with food safety requirements, while 90% had weak enforcement. Nearly all street food vendors (96.5%) had inadequate food safety knowledge, and 80.7% had never attended any food safety training course. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.72, p≤0.05) existed between food safety knowledge and awareness. Additionally, no significant difference in sanitary compliance or enforcement was found between licensed and unlicensed street food vendors, and 85.7% of street food vending sites were uninspected. In the pre-and post-training assessment, street food vendors' food safety knowledge dropped from 85.7% to 14.3 %. The assessments show that food safety training programmes can enhance food safety knowledge among street food vendors.