Practices and Perceptions of Biosand Filter Users in Treating Drinking Water in a Rural District of Zimbabwe
KANDA Artwell,
GOTOSA Jephita,
MASAMHA Blessing,
NYAMADZAWO George,
MISI Shepherd Norman
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
Pages:
1-5
Received:
15 December 2013
Published:
10 January 2014
Abstract: A field survey was conducted in Bindura district of Zimbabwe in January 2012 to evaluate the perceptions and practices of rural households on biosand filters after two years of use. A questionnaire was administered to 33 sampled households during an unannounced visit to solicit information on demography, use of biosand filters and safe water storage. A field kit (Oxfam delAgua) was used to estimate faecal coliforms in 83 water samples drawn from the household source (17), filter-spout (33) and storage vessel (33). Results indicate that biosand filters were structurally intact and operational with a mean treatment efficiency of 95.9±1.4% (n=33) suggesting a high sustained use. Households (n=33) expressed great satisfaction with the use of biosand filters as they got adequate drinking water (90.9%). Households cited improved health (100%), clean water (100%); good taste (100%) and ease of use (90.9%) as perceived benefits of using the biosand filter. The mean faecal coliform level of biosand filter-treated water (3.2±1.4cfu/100ml) was significantly lower than that of source water (37.1±8.9cfu/100ml) (p<0.05). Biosand filters (78.8%) provided safe drinking water (0cfu/100ml) but were recontaminated (26.9%, n=26) during storage. Poor household hygiene, unrecommended storage methods and withdrawal practices were attributed to recontamination of stored treated water.
Abstract: A field survey was conducted in Bindura district of Zimbabwe in January 2012 to evaluate the perceptions and practices of rural households on biosand filters after two years of use. A questionnaire was administered to 33 sampled households during an unannounced visit to solicit information on demography, use of biosand filters and safe water storag...
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The Prospects and Challenges of Cassava Inclusion in Wheat Bread Policy in Nigeria
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
Pages:
6-17
Received:
24 January 2014
Published:
20 February 2014
Abstract: Nigeria is a large country of nearly one million square kilometers. The population of the country is rapidly increasing, reaching 167 million in 2012. Due to urbanization and changes in lifestyle, bread is increasingly being consumed in the country. Wheat performs poorly under Nigerian climate; hence the country spends huge foreign exchange for the importation of wheat. Nigeria spent N 635 billion Naira (US $1 = N 156) on the importation of wheat in 2010 alone. The country is therefore spending nearly N 1.8 billion daily for wheat importation. The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) planned to reduce wheat importation by implementing 40% cassava inclusion in bread policy in July 2012. This paper appraised the benefits and challenges of the 40% cassava inclusion in bread policy. The benefits of the policy include increased domestic agricultural productivity, food security, foreign exchange savings, employment generation, and wealth creation. On the other hand, implementation of the policy could precipitate several challenges including lack of enough domestic capacity to generate the volume of cassava flour needed to actualize the policy, increased smuggling of wheat, poor cassava flour supply chains, weak policy implementation, technology and processing challenges, reluctance of millers to use cassava flour, and cassava bread policy instability. Unless, these challenges are addressed the current attempt of 40% cassava inclusion policy could fail like previous attempts.
Abstract: Nigeria is a large country of nearly one million square kilometers. The population of the country is rapidly increasing, reaching 167 million in 2012. Due to urbanization and changes in lifestyle, bread is increasingly being consumed in the country. Wheat performs poorly under Nigerian climate; hence the country spends huge foreign exchange for the...
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