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Impact of the E4L Project on Food Security and Livelihoods Among Beneficiaries in Savelugu Municipality of Northern Region, Ghana
Alhassan Bawa,
Lukman Yussif
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
37-42
Received:
22 December 2020
Accepted:
31 December 2020
Published:
12 March 2021
Abstract: Agricultural production is the main activity in the northern sector of Ghana and is practiced mainly on seasonal and subsistence level. Most farmers in Northern Ghana are therefore food insecure owing to post-harvest, the seasonal of nature of agriculture, coupled with inadequate modern agricultural technologies. Adoption of modern agricultural technologies and cultural practices such as irrigation, fertilizer application, use of resistant varieties, good planting and harvesting times, among others might be the panacea to increased agricultural production and improved food security and livelihoods among farmers in northern Ghana. The study therefore sought to assess the impact of the Empowerment for Life (E4L) programme intervention on food security and livelihood among beneficiary women and farmer groups in Savelugu/Nanton Municipal of Northern region of Ghana. Out of several project interventions that are implemented in the Northern region, the purposive sampling technique was used to select the Empowerment for Life (E4L) programme for the study. Out of the five operational districts of the Empowerment for Life (E4L) programme, the Savelugu/Nanton municipal was selected through simple random sampling. The simple random sampling technique was again used to select ten beneficiary groups, out of a total of seventeen beneficiary groups in the Savelugu/Nanton municipal, for the study. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 45 beneficiary farmers, 40 beneficiary women and 5 members of E4L staff. In all, 100 respondents were selected for the study. The study revealed that majority of the beneficiary farmers have had improved food security through the adoption of improved agronomic practices and improved linkage between farmers and other actors in agricultural value chain. The study further established that the livelihoods of beneficiary farmers have been improved through improved capacity building, information sharing and improved access to productive resources such as land, labour and farm inputs. The study also revealed that in times of difficulties, majority of the farmers relied on their savings and/or sale of property as the mitigation measure or coping strategy. It is recommended that capacity building of farmers on agronomic practices and improved modern methods of farming should be intensified to further sharping the skills of farmers for increased productivity and hence, improved food security and livelihoods.
Abstract: Agricultural production is the main activity in the northern sector of Ghana and is practiced mainly on seasonal and subsistence level. Most farmers in Northern Ghana are therefore food insecure owing to post-harvest, the seasonal of nature of agriculture, coupled with inadequate modern agricultural technologies. Adoption of modern agricultural tec...
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Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
43-54
Received:
2 January 2021
Accepted:
22 January 2021
Published:
12 March 2021
Abstract: This paper argues that there is a need to reconstruct a new paradigm for poverty policy planning in Africa because Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism as proposed paradigms for Africa’s development are untenable. This is so because the above trio are sexist, androcentric and oblivious to structural injustices that feminize poverty in Africa. The paper further argues that even in the Western world, the neo-liberal GDP metric has been challenged and the search for alternative development indicators and paradigms is on. In addition, there is a fully fledged post-neo-liberalism movement in Latin America and a de-growth and post-growth social movement in the West against neo-liberalism and its nebulous economic growth understanding of wellbeing. The paper contends that Africa cannot afford to remain aloof to all these developments. There is therefore a need to develop Pan African paradigms to articulate an endogenous perspective to African development. The paper thus advocates for the Dignified Humanness Paradigm (DHP) as an alternative to neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism. The paper also surmises that the actualization of the DHP requires an immediate awakening of the Pan African Moral Consciousness since this will militate on decolonization of the African mind from the amoral neo-liberal economism.
Abstract: This paper argues that there is a need to reconstruct a new paradigm for poverty policy planning in Africa because Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism as proposed paradigms for Africa’s development are untenable. This is so because the above trio are sexist, androcentric and oblivious to structural injustices that feminize poverty i...
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Social Predictors of HIV-testing Among Malaysian Individuals at Higher Risk of HIV Infection
Davood Mehrabi,
Ezhar Tamam,
Hamisah Hasan,
Jusang Bolong
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
55-61
Received:
23 September 2020
Accepted:
9 October 2020
Published:
12 March 2021
Abstract: Willingness to test for HIV is initial critical factor to break HIV transmission cycle. This study determined social predictors of willingness for HIV-testing among Malaysians at higher risk of HIV infection. A cross-sectional survey involving 369 individuals at higher risk of HIV was conducted in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. The study used a combination of snowball and respondent-driven sampling methods to approach 456 individuals yielded a response rate of 80.9%. Data were analysed using logistic regression. Almost one third (35.2%) of the respondents were willing to test for HIV. The odd ratios suggest that the odds of estimating correctly who is willing to take HIV-testing improve by 89% if one knows the subject’s level of HIV-related self-stigma, by 11% if one knows the subject’s level of HIV knowledge, and by 6% if one knows the subject’s age. Successful intervention programs to increase HIV testing willingness among individuals at higher risk of HIV infection is contingent upon the subjects’ HIV-related self-stigma, knowledge about HIV and age. The role of HIV-related self-stigma is more prominent to prevent individual at higher risk of HIV exposure from HIV testing. Further research is needed to investigate social context-specific predictors of HIV-related self-stigma.
Abstract: Willingness to test for HIV is initial critical factor to break HIV transmission cycle. This study determined social predictors of willingness for HIV-testing among Malaysians at higher risk of HIV infection. A cross-sectional survey involving 369 individuals at higher risk of HIV was conducted in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. The study used a combin...
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Socio-economic Factors Influencing Migration: The Case of Eastern Zone Tigrai Regional State, Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
62-74
Received:
26 January 2021
Accepted:
10 March 2021
Published:
17 March 2021
Abstract: Background: Migration is the movement of people from one place to another place. This type of movement can be permanent, temporary, volunteer or forced. People can move from one place to another place outside its country, like moving from Asia to Europe, like moving from Ethiopia to America and inside its country, like adigrat to Addis Ababa and from Gondar to Humera immigration. People migrate from place to place due to different reason among these economic, social, political and environmental reason are take a lion share. Materials and Methods: The main goal of this study was to investigate the causes migration from eastern zone of Tigrai. The study focuses on to identify the socio economic and demographic factors of migrant to leave their place of origin in the study area. To achieve this objective, both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed. The Primary data was collected mainly from the returnee migrants, zone Labor and Social affairs office and from any sample of the study area economically active adult populations (15-49). The data gathered from four purposefully selected (discrete) in eastern zone. The tools used to gather the primary data were questionnaires. A total 180 respondents were selected for survey questionnaire by using simple random sampling technique from purposefully selected discrete. Descriptive statistical method was employed to analyze these quantitative data by using stata software and also Binary Logistic regression was also applied to analyze the determinant factors of migration by using stata software. Results: The result of the study indicated that migration is dominated by young aged (15-25), single male or female, their education level are primary education, their job unpaid family worker and those their family size are large. unemployment, poverty, agricultural land scarcity, individual wants to open up personal business, natural disaster like famine drought, low access to credit and experience of crop failure are the key push factors of migration. On the other hand, employment opportunities, better income from abroad and smugglers at destination country are identified as pull factors of migration. The main determinant forces or variables significantly affect migration decision in econometric analysis were age, family size, family shocks, family or individual respondent land size and high income at destination. Regarding the way of migration most of migrants were out illegal way about 75% Based on these findings.
Abstract: Background: Migration is the movement of people from one place to another place. This type of movement can be permanent, temporary, volunteer or forced. People can move from one place to another place outside its country, like moving from Asia to Europe, like moving from Ethiopia to America and inside its country, like adigrat to Addis Ababa and fr...
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Food Taboo and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in SendafaBeke Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
Robert Wondimu,
Esubalew Tesfahun,
Zalalem Kaba
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
75-86
Received:
30 January 2021
Accepted:
10 March 2021
Published:
17 March 2021
Abstract: Background: Dietary practices often take the form of rules stating which foods should not be eaten, that is food proscriptions or taboos. Food proscriptions are usually temporary and selective, but food taboos may have an absolute nature. Food taboos refer to the restriction of specific food as a result of social or religious customs. In many traditional societies, cultural norms and customs govern behaviors including, during critical life stages like pregnancy. Every day at least 1600 women die from the complications of pregnancy and childbirth globally. Declaring certain food taboos because they are thought to make a person sick, is also the basis for the many food taboos affecting pregnant women. Objective: To assess the prevalence of food taboo and its associated factors among pregnant women in SendafaBeke town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study conducted from March 1, 2019 to May 17, 2019 among pregnant women who selected using systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using both a structured interviewer administered questionnaire and for qualitative, Focused Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted. The data was coded, entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for data cleaning and analysis. Descriptive measures mean, median, frequency and percentage were used. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the magnitude and direction of association between a set of independent variables and the outcome variable at p<0.25. Then those variables with p<0.25 was selected for multivariable analysis. Finally, odds ratio with 95% confidence level was computed and p-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results: More than half (55.3%) of total pregnant mothers encountered for at least for one food item. Food items avoided were, milk and milk products (26.9%), eggs (20.23%), linseed (17.86%), fatty meats (15.07%), fruits (9.52%), Honey (6.74%) and vegetables (3.57%). Reasons mentioned for avoidance of this food item; fear of fat baby, fear of abnormality baby, fear of abortion, plastered on fetal head and food flavor. Conclusion: This study revealed that food taboos and eating behavior during pregnancy like aversion, skipping and no use additional meal and occupation of husbands and educational status shows that significant association with food taboo affects more than half of pregnant mothers due to beliefs in old unscientific tales.
Abstract: Background: Dietary practices often take the form of rules stating which foods should not be eaten, that is food proscriptions or taboos. Food proscriptions are usually temporary and selective, but food taboos may have an absolute nature. Food taboos refer to the restriction of specific food as a result of social or religious customs. In many tradi...
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Assessment of Financial Reporting Qualities of Ethiopian Commercial Banks: A Comparative Study on Private and Public Banks
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
87-97
Received:
5 March 2020
Accepted:
17 February 2021
Published:
26 March 2021
Abstract: The main purpose of this study was to assess financial reporting qualities of commercial banks of Ethiopia that incorporated both private and public sectors (17 commercial banks). Mixed research approach was used and quantitative (using questionnaires) and qualitative data (using interview) data’s were taken by using purposive and judgmental sampling design respectively. A questionnaire with five Likert scale for the survey which is mainly used for quantitative part and semi-structured interview guide for the qualitative were used as data collection tools. SPSS version 20 for windows was employed to perform statistical analysis and findings were displayed using tables and pie-charts. In order to investigate the findings, the study tried to assess the qualities of those targeted banks financial report depending on fundamental (relevance and faithfulness) and enhancing (understandability, comparability and timeliness) qualitative characteristics of accounting information. Accordingly, survey results showed that the qualities of financial report of privates sector banks is relatively moderate than the public sectors banks. Recognizing the weakness of both sector banks financial report qualities, the researcher would like to recommend that it’s better if private and public sector banks of Ethiopia shall recognize the above mentioned characteristics of accounting information system for improving their qualities of financial report.
Abstract: The main purpose of this study was to assess financial reporting qualities of commercial banks of Ethiopia that incorporated both private and public sectors (17 commercial banks). Mixed research approach was used and quantitative (using questionnaires) and qualitative data (using interview) data’s were taken by using purposive and judgmental sampli...
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Review on Determinants of Rural Livelihood Diversification Strategies in Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
98-106
Received:
26 October 2019
Accepted:
24 November 2020
Published:
26 March 2021
Abstract: Driving force of livelihood diversification strategies can be different on the basis of location, assets, income levels, opportunities, institutions and social relations. Determinant Factors that undermine the rural house hold in Ethiopia; Land holding, Labor, financial access, Technology adoption, Water resource, Institutions &Organizations and Education Demographic factor (sex, age, and dependency ratio) and Choice of Livelihood strategies are On -farm activities; Off- farm activities; Non- farm activities and Combinations of two or three of above activities and the finally the outcome; Higher Income level; improved Wellbeing; Farmland scarcity; Agro-climatic condition and Decline in livestock productivity, crop and animal disease; Negative attitude of the society, lack of raw materials, low institutional capacity, lack of time, lack of storage facilities and costly inputs and lack of coordination. Hence, improved food security and sustainable resources utilization was the main of policy makers in the country. But, gender based impact on livelihood diversification option like agriculture; non-farm; off farm and mixed all kind option is common difference in common in many investigation which occurred all parts of Ethiopian regional settlement male and female participation and involvement is differ..
Abstract: Driving force of livelihood diversification strategies can be different on the basis of location, assets, income levels, opportunities, institutions and social relations. Determinant Factors that undermine the rural house hold in Ethiopia; Land holding, Labor, financial access, Technology adoption, Water resource, Institutions &Organizations and Ed...
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Effect of Job Stressors Onjob Performance of Lecturer Physical Education; Mediating Role of Coping Mechanism (Relaxation Coping)
Muhaamad Asghar Khan,
Azmat Ali Shah,
Afshan Jabeen,
Mehwish Manzoor
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
107-112
Received:
22 December 2020
Accepted:
15 January 2021
Published:
7 April 2021
Abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of job stressors on job performance with mediating role of coping mechanism. The finite Population of the study comprised of 73 female and 97male physical education lecturers’ serving in government colleges of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Three different types of self-administered cum close-ended questionnaires such as Job Stressors, Job Performance and Coping Mechanism were used for the data collection. Face and content validity was done from the export in the relevant field. To assess the feasibility of the tool; the researcher conducted a small scale preliminary study i.e. a pilot study with 25 lecturers physical education (13 male and 12 female), the subgroup of the intended population. Mean, stander deviation, multiple regressions and Pearson’s correlation coefficient used to test the hypotheses. The process v3.3 by Andrew F. Hayes was used for mediation. Results of existing study highlighted that there is a positive and significant relationship and effect among job stressors, job performance and relaxation coping (r=.662; 939 & p=.000 <.01). The mediating role of relaxation coping was found greater and partial. The researcher concluded that there is partial mediating role of relaxation coping between job stressors and job performance of the lecturer’s physical education at collage level in KP Pakistan. The researcher recommended that the lecturer physical education may ensure the contribution of the relaxation coping mechanism for the purpose to improve their job performance at college level.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of job stressors on job performance with mediating role of coping mechanism. The finite Population of the study comprised of 73 female and 97male physical education lecturers’ serving in government colleges of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Three different types of self-administered cum close-ended ...
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