I realized that I didn't have enough content to write a working on three additional book projects: “Boda Tales”, business book and that's when the idea of a novel was a set of short stories that paint a picture of contemporary born – why not write a work of fiction instead? culture in Uganda from the perspective of a motorcycle taxi driver; “Governor and Genesee”, a novel about One of my passions is music; I play the cello. At the time I intersections in the lives of people in a community; and was playing continuo cello for a production of Purcell's “An African ABC”, a children's book intended as a “Dido and Aeneas”' with the La Jolla Renaissance Singers, fundraiser for a home for street children in Uganda. I like a madrigal group. Our conductor, Bill Propp, gave a to think that the varied and multicolored strands of my life fascinating pre-concert lecture in which he divulged that and interests entwine to produce their own unique DNA, in the original story from the Aeneid, Dido doesn't quietly which in turn spawns my writing. fade away after singing her famous lament “When I am Laid in Earth”. Instead, after Aeneas deserts her, she Janet White is an author, scientist, musician and mentor builds a pyre from the weapons he left behind and then living in San Diego, California, USA. She recently leaps on to it and burns to death. I was struck by the story published her first novel “Daughters' Dilemma”, which is and this was the seed from which the premise of the available from Amazon. Phoenix mystery developed. In my novel, “Daughters' Dilemma”, the heroine, an archaeologist, stumbles upon the secret of the Phoenix – that the legendary bird is somehow embodied by famous women leaders of history, first Dido and then Joan of Arc, and ultimately Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, all of whom perished in the flames. In this way my book about women scientists and their careers took on elements of the mystery stories beloved of my youth and acquired an Indian setting. The section in Cambridge and the concept of letters between a mother and daughter have some autobiographical elements too. Other themes include the many references to birds and also the descriptions of food, which extends to recipes in the back. You could say that this book contains many facets of, and takes inspiration from many elements of my own life and experience. I spent about six months researching the book before I by started to write; I read thick tomes on modern Indian history, Egyptology, and Joan of Arc. Writing the book Author Dr. Janet White took just over a year, mainly at times when I was traveling Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation, on business; I was re-employed by then and working in Business Development which afforded me many Seattle opportunities to travel. Most of the writing was done on long plane journeys and in hotel rooms away from the distractions of home. I worked out the plot first, as painstakingly as a strategic plan, and then developed my characters. When the book was complete, I started to contact literary agents, and after receiving some interest, hired an editor, Beverly Trainer, to work with me to polish up the manuscript. I also attended the La Jolla Writers' Conference, where I gained some helpful feedback and suggestions for the book, and spent some more time on a more substantial rewrite. It's very satisfying to see the fruits of my labors in print; not only have I created a personal legacy in “Daughters' Dilemma” but I've also learned a tremendous amount about writing and publishing in the process. I'm currently 140
Beneath the Lion's Gaze Beneath the Lion's Gaze is the outstanding debut novel of the Creative Arts and Yaddo, she currently lives in an unquestionably gifted writer, Maaza Mengiste whose Brooklyn, New York. writing style is absolutely beautiful; she flawlessly combines flowing description and contemplative characters with an action-oriented plot. Her debut novel, Beneath the Lion's Gaze, tells the story of a doctor's family in Addis Ababa whose lives are radically changed by the revolution. It is a portrait of how far people are ready to go to achieve freedom, of the human tragedies that follow civil war, and of how feelings are twisted by a brutal regime.This memorable, heartbreaking story opens in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1974, on the eve of a revolution. Yonas kneels in his mother's prayer room, pleading to his god for an end to the violence that has wracked his family and country. His father, Hailu, a prominent doctor, has been ordered to report to jail after helping a victim of state-sanctioned torture to die. And Dawit, Hailu's youngest son, has joined an underground resistance movement-a choice that will lead to more upheaval and bloodshed across a ravaged Ethiopia. Beneath the Lion's Gaze tells a gripping story of family, of the bonds of love and friendship set in a time and place that has rarely been explored in fiction. It is a story about the lengths human beings will go in pursuit of freedom and the human price of a national revolution. Emotionally gripping, poetic, and indelibly tragic, Beneath The Lion's Gaze is a transcendent and powerful debut. Profile Maaza Mengiste : by In 1974, when Mengiste was four years Author Maaza Mengiste, old, Emperor Haile Selassie was Ethiopia overthrown in a military coup. Among the victims of the revolution were three of Mengiste's maternal uncles. Her family was forced to flee the country, and she grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, Nairobi in Kenya, and in the United States. She has an MFA in creative writing from New York University, and today lives in New York, where she teaches the same subject. Seen as one of the many talented young voices who portray the African continent, A recent Pushcart Prize nominee, she was named \"New Literary Idol\". by New York Magazine. Her work has appeared in The Baltimore Review, Ninth Letter, and 42opus, has been translated and published into German and Romanian for Lettre International, and can be found in the Seal Press anthology Homelands: Women's Journeys Across Race, Place and Time. A recipient of fellowships from the Prague Summer Program, the Virginia Center for 141
Music Diplomacy In the photo from left tabla player Mandar Pilwalkar, Avadhoot Phadke flute player, and Sweekar Katti Sitar Player Introducing two young budding stars, Sweekar Katti and · Shree. Raghavendra Baliga (Flute) Avadhot Phadke who have devoted their life to music. · Dr. Rasika Phadke (Music Theory and Vocal) Both Sweekar & Avadhoot are 22 yr old child prodigies in · Pandit. Shankar Abhyankar music field. Like Sweekar Katti, Avadhoot is also blessed with Born into a musical family, Sweekar started learning sitar at awards and accolades, such asL an early age from his father Dr. Sunil Katti, a well known sitar and santoor player & a music composer. He continues 1st ranker of Dombivli Lions club competition in to do so till date. His mother Dr. Vandana Katti is a well year known vocalist of the Jaipur atrauli gharana. Sweekar belongs to the 'Etawah gharana' and hence follows the 2003& 2004. immensely appealing 'Gayaki ang' style of playing. Sweekar 3rd ranker of Sharda Sangeet Vidyalaya competition is a Commerce graduate. in Bandra, Mumbai. As an upcoming artist of great promise he has bagged a 1st ranker and Trophy winner of all India music & number of prizes in inter collegiate and other competitions. Some of them being: dance competition of Swar Sadhana Samiti Mumbai Best music composer award for Multi lingual drama 1. Swar Sadhana All India Music competitions.(2004) , 2. Sharda Sangeet Vidyalaya music competitions.(2005), 3. and dance competition in Orissa. Enigma-Inter collegiate competitions (Podar 1st prize with trophy & cash award from Sahara college).(2006), 4. Aarohan (Ruia college).(2008), 5. India Umang (NM college).(2009), 6. Mood Indigo (IIT Powai).(2009) parivar Jyoti Divas all India Bansuri competition. Kalashri award on 26-04-06 by KALASANSKAR of While Sweekar has family in music profession, Avadhoot started afresh through sheer interest in this field supported Dombivli. by his family ofcourse. Avadhoot has a Sangeet Visharad Silver medal in Mumbai university youth festival. Degree from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. 1st ranker n trophy holder of Indradhanushya 2011 He is trained in flute by 3 gurus. state level inter university youth festival. 3rd prize in NATIONAL Youth Festival held by central govt. at Mangalore 2011. by Sweekar Katti And Avadhoot Phadke, Vile Parle Music Club 142
History, Ethnography and Policy, and their effects on the definition, role and outcomes of Education “A national system of education is a living thing, the shapes them into tolerant democratic citizens. Stevenson, outcome of forgotten struggles and difficulties and of in Education and Cultural Citizenship, (2011) defines a battles long ago. It has in it some of the secret workings of democratic society as one that “respects the formation of national life. It reflects, while seeking to remedy, the complex hybrid identities, offers them the protection of failings of national character. By instinct it often lays the social state and grants the access to a critical education special emphasis on those parts of training, which the which seeks to explore the possibility of living in a future national character particularly needs. Not less by instinct, that is free from domination and oppression.” (Stevenson, it often shrinks from laying emphasis on points p.89) concerning which bitter dissensions have arisen in former periods of national history.” (Sadler, [1900] cited in Hans, I agree with the emphasis of Stevenson's definition on the 1949, p. 3, cited in Welch, 1993, p. 8) creation of tolerance and hybrid identities, rather than the standard idea of democracy as the participation of the In June 2012, between 32,000 and 90,000 students, citizenship in the selection of political parties. Political parents, teachers and citizens demonstrated outside the party selection does not always allow for the creation of new government building in Hong Kong. They were hybrid identities, as minority groups' agendas can often be demonstrating against a new “moralizing and excluded from majority-focused political acts. Stevenson nationalizing” part of the curriculum which the argues that at the core of education policy and government plans to incorporate into every public school development is the creation of multicultural agendas in by 2016. The protesters claimed that the curriculum is schools, which means not only recognizing and validating essentially brainwashing the children in the way that it the history and cultures of others, but also recognizing glorifies the communist party and glosses over disturbing that in the increasingly globalized world, this “globalized historical events, including the Tiananmen Square and the culture” must be understood. Cultural Revolution. (Lau, 20012) Stevenson's argument is not without opponents- Marxist This demonstration highlights important questions for scholarship which views education as a means of breaking every education system, including, what moralizing role down economic barriers, which they claim, are at the heart education should play, (if any), not only in China, but also of social and class conflict. Neoliberalism, built on the in the world. Moreover, it raises the question of how one foundations of capitalism, privatization, and free trade, might measure the historical consciousness of any has begun to opt for the privatization of education; people, as well as the question of the depiction of schools become arenas to develop “human capital,” a set historically volatile events in the education curriculum. of skills and knowledge that translate to better economic growth and outcomes. Stevenson however, argues that This paper will explore the role of historical and creating a competitive education market only reinforces ethnographic frameworks in addressing each of these class divisions such as the differences between elite versus questions in the explicit creation and subsequent working-class children. (Stevenson, p. 3) evaluation of education policy. Historical methods not only elucidate obscure past events but they play an Instead Stevenson argues that, “By fostering educated important role in the formation of a democratizing forms of inter-cultural dialogue, the aim of a multicultural education system, as they 'make visible' cultural biases education is not to reinforce enclaves ...or promote which otherwise would not be explicitly detected. polarized argument through guilt tripping, but the Ethnography, by its nature, is concerned with simultaneous development of more inclusive and understanding the subjective experiences of individuals contested forms of public space.” (Stevenson, p. 50) The or groups within their contexts; it can therefore be a question therefore becomes how one brings about this powerful tool for the understanding, and evaluation of shift to hybrid identities and an inclusive public space. policy programs, and can therefore be used as a feedback mechanism to improve education policy. The current status quo Stevenson argues against, as highlighted more explicitly in the Chinese curriculum There can be little discussion of educational methods protests, reveals how schools can be places of social and used without addressing the monolithic question of the cultural reproduction. They reproduce what Gramsci core purpose of education. Implicit in every research would consider “hegemonies” both explicitly; in the method used to study education is the normative curriculum and in the knowledge in which they pre-filter assumption of what the ideal role of education should be for their students, and implicitly with the promotion of in a given society. I argue that the ideal form of education norms, languages, behaviors, and cultural expressions of would be one which not only develops the analytic and more dominant groups. One of the goals of policy critical thinking capacity of students, but also one that makers and educational comparitivists should therefore 143
be to counter against this suppression of cultural forms, is also a push for the privatization of schools. For Howell and to make any biases in school curriculums more and Prevenier, the ultimate goal of the historian is to explicit. “choose reliable sources, read them reliably, and put them together in a way that provides reliable narratives about However, according to Welch, in Class, Culture and the the past.” (Howell & Prevenier, p. 58) State, (1993), the methodological frameworks utilized used by educational comparativists impact the “cultural” Given the subjective nature of educational narratives and outcomes of curriculums and policies. Welch argues that frameworks, the role of the historian in education policy is current educational policies which focus their efforts on a to analyze the creation of an education system and place more “empirically, positivist” based curriculum suppress each of it's components within a historical framework. the cultures of the people they are supposed to represent. Ideally, a historian or a researcher with a background in “Powerful examples of the same process have been history would ultimately become a policy maker. On a very pointed to…where the cultural traditions of a less practical level, historians can help alleviate some of the powerful group are suppressed by the agenda of the state. core issues which have been highlighted in the case study In this process school textbooks, as an emphasis on of the Chinese curriculum. If one wanted to create a science and scientific ideology and educational policies all curriculum without the historical bias and hegemonic play an important role. (Welch, 1993, p. 19) view (in the Chinese case this was the little attention paid to the Tiananmen massacre), a historian would be person The claims of scientific and empirical approaches to best positioned to analyze the facts and understand some education, he argues, tend to claim “objectivity,” and in of the core issues in the conflict in order to ensure that an doing so, end up “objectifying” the people studied. “The entire country does not adopt a biased historical narrative danger in such scientist approaches is that culture can be of such a major event. objectified, since the method overwhelms, performs and distorts the 'object' of study.” (Welch, p.19) Welch makes One might argue however, that the subject of history explicit that while the normative and descriptive gap of within a curriculum is just that, and that curriculum education is wide, the outcomes of educational research creation is separate from policy creation. Policy creation could be just as wide depending on the research methods however is multi-tiered, as well as dialectic, that is to say utilized. that the governments create policy based on their view of history, which may have been informed by their On the grounds of the role of the research methods education. For example, if the Tiananmen Square informing the outcomes of the research, this paper argues massacre was laid out in such a polarizing way in the public that the historical and ethnographic frameworks are the imagination (which one might argue consists of modes of most suitable for understanding and informing education informal education) in China, it may be no wonder that the policy. Historians and historiography can inform policy government may want to repress that history. making both on a curriculum level and through the analysis of past frameworks to explicate biases and Though China is largely propagandistic, a very similar assumptions and underpinnings of educational research scenario occurred in Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge and policy. As Howell & Prevenier (2001) argue, history is massacre, in which over two million people were killed subjectively written. over the space of seven years. While the Cambodian government wanted to bring the history to their students, While I would disagree with Howell and & Prevenier's the teachers were too traumatized and were not qualified idea that history is not a reality until it is written down (as enough to teach the history of horrific events. As a result, one might argue oral narratives are just as important as the lack of the topic in the education system has led to a written accounts), I do agree that like any narrative, any large percentage of a younger generation denying some history will not only be subjectively biased in lieu of the parts of the events which took place. (Khamboly, 2012) person writing it, the people commissioning it, but also in The lack of this history within the Cambodian curriculum regards to the time-period in which it was written. This is will doubtlessly impact the future education, and possible especially true of the history of education policy. future policies which might be needed to address the gross inequalities which may have resulted from the massacre. Up to the last decade and a half, the issue of comparative On more theoretical level, historians contribute to the education was defined as an “in country,” or “state' issue, shaping of policy through their systematic analysis of but given the historical trend towards globalization and these policies within historical trends. As mentioned the ubiquity of capitalist mechanisms, not only is earlier in the paper, the neoliberal education policies of comparative education policy increasingly considered privatization developed with the advent of the creation of 'transnational,” both within states and globally, but there the World Bank, the IMF and the OECD. These 144
organizations, in turn, increase the privatization of this policy 'field' through our creative responses and education as they selectively choose to fund more private interpretations.”(Mills & Morton, p. 99) The role of the education organizations. Without arguing for or against ethnographer is therefore to understand the dialectic historical trends such a privatization, the importance of between policy makers and reactions to policy, as each being able to situate policies within these frameworks is informs the other. imperative, given that each of these frameworks have basic assumptions about human existence. For example, In conclusion, history and ethnography complement each capitalist views of the importance of socioeconomic other. Both methods understand the subjective nature of forces in shaping human existence led to a the human policy creation and the ever changing relationships capital theory of education in the 1960's and 70's, which between policy creation and it's impact on human lives. focused on using education as a means for development- No policy can be effectively implemented without an and that human education breeds economic capital. understanding of what came before it, and how the citizens are going to be impacted by said policy. In the case The role of ethnography in education policy helps answer of the Chinese curriculum, it is clear that the government the question, which directly follows from the previous is attempting to use the curriculum as a means of statement; how does one know what education breeds or manipulating the “national consciousness” of its people. the outcomes of education? The normative definition of education as creating tolerant, democratic citizens of We can only hope that with the aid of historical analysis, hybrid identities is best measured through ethnographic and within an ethnographic framework, we keep the methods. Without giving a history of ethnography in curriculum as unbiased as possible and understand what education, it is suffice to say that it can be traced back to how the Chinese population are affected by this policy. By the 1920's in which Bronislaw Malinowski wrote understanding where the narrative deviates from reality, Argonaughts of the Western Pacific. (Mills & Morton, we might yet arrive as close as possible to our world of 2013) Like historians, ethnographers can help make the cultural democracy which is free from dominance and invisible visible, through understanding the subjective oppression. meaning which people and groups create within particular contexts and about particular issues. As Mills and Morton References: argue, “ethnographers seek to find ways to make Howell, M. & Prevenier, W. (2001). From Reliable connections between abstract social forces and the Sources: An Introduction to Historical Methods. Ithaca, intensity of lived experience.” (Mills & Morton, 2013. NY: Cornell University. p.99) In addition to studying the subjective experiences which are the outcomes of policy implementation, Khamboly, D. (2012). Teaching genocide in Cambodia: ethnographers can contribute to policy making through Challenges, Analyses and Recommendations. Retrieved studying the policies themselves within a particular from: ethnographic theoretical frameworks. This means http://www.hurights.or.jp/archives/pdf/education12/h understanding “power structures” or the dialectical reas-12-12-cambodia.pdf interplay between institutions and policies and reactions of individuals to those policies is important. Lau, J. (2012, July 29). Thousands Protest China's Plans for Hong Kong Schools. The New York Times. Retrieved Considering the power structures between individuals from and institutions is just one mode of the ethnographic http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/world/asia/tho framework. Although Mills and Morton outline multiple usands-protest-chinas-curriculum-plans-for-hong-kong- types of ethnographic fieldwork, including; activist, in schools.html?_r=0 which the research takes part in the events and writes about his/her experiences, participatory, in which the Mills, D. & Morton, M. (2013). Ethnography in researcher participates but still maintains a different Education. BERA/SAGE Research Methods in identity to the subjects and events being studied or Education. observational, in which the researcher records subjects and does not take part in the activities- all of the different Stevenson, N. (2011). Education and Cultural Citizenship. methods converge in a single aim which is to understand London: Sage. human interaction and reaction to events, people and even policies. Welch, A. (1993). Class, culture, and the state in comparative education: Problems, perspectives, and Mills and Morton quote Marilyn Strathern, who states prospects.Comparative Education, 29(1), 7-27. that “students and academics are not simply the victims of policy decisions decided far away. We are also part of by Nahseemha Mohamed Ogunnaike Co- Founder, Center For African Culture Excellent Harvard University, Boston, MA 145
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT IN GHANA A Case Study of Ghana's Youth in Agriculture Programme 1.0.0 INTRODUCTION 2.2.2.Livestock and poultry module- beneficiary youth The Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP) concept are assisted with day old chicks, piglets, breeding sows and was first conceived by the late President of Ghana, boars, feed, vaccines, veterinary drugs and other inputs, Professor Evans John Atta Mills in 1999, when he was the on the same terms as in the block farm. A number of Chairman of the Economic Management team from animals are recovered from farmers and passed to new 1996 to 2000. This was one of the interventions the young farmers. National Democratic Congress Government introduced as its solution to the precarious youth unemployment in 2.2.3 Fisheries/Aquaculture- beneficiary youth are the country. provided with cages, ponds, fingerlings, feed and training. Beneficiaries have two years to pay in full all credits in cash The Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP) in and weaned off the programme. Ghana is a Government of Ghana (GOG) agricultural sector initiative with an objective of 2.2.4 Agribusiness – beneficiary youth are given training motivating the youth to accept and appreciate and basic equipment to go into food processing and sales. farming as a commercial venture, thereby taking Graduates of tertiary institutions will be given basic up farming as a life time vocation. training in research, environmental management, financial management, engineering, proposal writing and The Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP) has been in other technical areas. These skill will enable them provide existence since 1999, received more emphasis and consultancies to young and practicing farmers. attention since 2009. From a 47,000 youth who gained employment in 2009 under the programme, by 2011 the The Ministry of Food and Agriculture as the figure rose to 81,000. In 2012 the number of youth implementing agent of the programme, provides the employed reduced to 45,000 because some of them were needed inputs to the young farmers, such as land weaned off and others dropped because they have preparation, high quality seed, fertilizer, herbicides, consistently failed to repay back credit given to them. combine harvesters and threshers, etc. The ministry has deployed its entire technical staff to provide young 2.1.0 An Overview of the Youth in Agriculture farmers with the necessary technical assistance needed in Programme (YIAP) agricultural production. 2.1.0 Core Functions of the Youth in Agriculture 2.3.0 Who is eligible to join the YIAP? Programme In Ghana, a youth is any person between the ages of 15 The core functions of the Youth in Agriculture and 35 years. Any youth interested in farming; food Programme amongst others include: processing and sales; groups of young men and women in any community who offer to farm in block; youth under • The provision of employment for the youth through national service; religious youth groups are all eligible to the provision of subsidized agricultural inputs and join the programme. services; Maybe just very briefly how a youth interested can join the • Making the youth accept farming as a commercial programme might be also useful (e.g.: who does the youth business venture; get into contact with, and then what is the process that follows? Etc). • Ensuring a regular income for the youth; • Improvement in the standard of living through 2.4.0 Main Actors of the Youth in Agriculture Programme improved incomes; The whole concept of the youth in agriculture • Production of enough food crops, meat and fish using programme is based on \"Public –Private-Partnership\". modern methods to meet food security target. The government of Ghana mobilizes the youth; provides • Introducing the youth to market opportunities that funds for inputs; facilitate whole process of production; and support young farmers in marketing of their produce. exist in Ghana and the sub-region. The private sector provides tractor services for land preparation; quality seed; fertilizer and agrochemicals; 2.2.0 Components and Services Provided Under the transport and storage space. The young farmers are the YIAP core actors of the programme and are the direct users of 2.2.1Block farm/Crops module - under this inputs towards the production of food. component, YIAP provides tractor services, seed, fertilizer, agrochemicals, harvester services and marketing inputs to farmers on credit and interest free. Recoveries are in kind and in some case (perishables) in cash. 146
3.0.0 Impact of YIAP on Yield, Income of Youth 4.1.0 MADAM EMELIA YOOBI TETTEH'S FARM 3.1.0 Land Cultivated and Number of Young FROM 2010 TO 2012 Farmers 2010 2011 2012 REMARKS 4.0 Paid off debts in cash in 2010 and YEAR AREA NO. OF MALE FEMALE % OF YIELD MT/YOUTH/YR TOMATO 1.0 2.0 2011 (HA)/YR YOUTH FEMALE (MT)/YR (HA) 2.5 - do- 2009 11,000 47,000 39,950 7,050 15 23,100 0.49 PEPPER (HA) 0.5 1.5 1 -do- 1.5 -do- 2010 47,000 80,000 60,000 20,000 25 120,000 1.50 OKRO (HA) 0.5 0,5 2011 52,750 81,150 64,092 17,059 27 132,000 1.63 2012 45,000 45,600 31,920 13,680 30 - - CASSAVA 1.0 1.0 (HA) 3.2.0 Government of Ghana Funding and Recoveries YEAR GOG FUNDING GOG FUNDING % RECOVERIES EXOTIC 02 8 In kind IN GHANA CEDIS IN PIGS 4 12 -do- 2009 US$ 45.0 GOATS 2010 GH 5,517,241 60.9 2011 8,000,000.0 10,714,285 56.0 5.0.0Challenges of Youth in Agriculture Programme 6,1 17647 • Apart from seed, almost all inputs for block farm 15,000,000.0 10,400,000.0 production are imported from abroad. This brings about late delivery of inputs to farms in some cases. 3.3.0 Effect of Modern Technology on Productivity • Late release of funds from the Ministry of Finance • Difficulties in recoveries CROP STD BEFORE 2009 2010 2011 • Appropriate storage space and facilities are limited. (Mt/Ha) (Mt/Ha) (Mt/Ha) • Unreliable weather and erratic rains ACHIEVABLE YIAP • Most farmers are unable to do production twice in a year 2.9 3.0 3.0 due to insufficient irrigation facilities across the country. (Mt/Ha) (Mt/Ha) 3.0 3.0 2.9 • Most farmers are yet to appreciate importance of 1.8 2.0 2.1 consultancy services. MAIZE 6.0 1.7 2.0 2.2 2.0 • Financial banks are reluctant to provide services to farmers, compelling the GoH to carry the burden of RICE 6.5 2.0 funding young farmers. SOY A 2.3 1,4 SORGHUM 2.0 1.3 • Other than input provision what is the role of the 7.0.0 Exit strategy private sector? An organization or individual in business without an exit strategy may be in a quagmire. At worst, an exit strategy • What's the linkages of the programme with other will save face; at best an exit strategy will peg a withdrawal development programmes and donor programmes? to the achievement of an objective worth more than the cost of continued involvement. Following this principle • What are the profiles of the young farmers engaging in YIAP has introduced an exit strategy whereby YIAP (age, education background, what kind of crops beneficiaries of the programme are weaned. do they usually go into? This information will be extremely valuable). 4.0.0 THE SUCCESS STORY OF MADAM 8.0.0 Conclusion EMELIA YOOBI TETTEH The programme has made farming attractive and seen as Madam Emelia Yoobi Tetteh is a 34 year old outstanding business; incomes of young farmers have improved; young female farmer of the Youth in Agriculture extension agricultural officers derive job satisfaction; Programme. She started farming at the age of 15 years appreciation of their worth in agricultural production. and a mother 5. She joined the programme in 2010 and has since expanded her farm. At the end of the 2010 and 2011 farming seasons, Madam Tetteh paid off all her debts owed YIAP, in two installments in each year. by Alhaji E. A Mahama, NATIONAL COORDINATOR, YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME, GHANA Presented at a side event Of Youth in Agriculture at THE AFRICAN GREEN REVOLUTION FORUM (AGRA) Arusha, Tanzania, September 27, 2012 147
Lead Us Today: bringing our best selves in service of OUR common good When I was seventeen, I established an \"Inspiration business entrepreneurship and social innovations. Lead Club\" in my high school, Mzingwane, in Zimbabwe. This Us Today's programming provides learning experiences would be the first of a number of initiatives I started, that close the gap between the current and ideal skill sets which met serious needs in the communities that I was and mindsets needed by the young people in Zimbabwe to part of. At the time of establishing this club in 2006, thrive in the country's difficult economy and Zimbabwe's economy was on a steep decline, with an simultaneously alleviate its challenges. inflation rate in the order of thousands percent and an unemployment rate of over 80%. Many of my high Driven by a deep commitment to meet this stark need, school peers began to question the long-term value of Lead Us Today has developed one of the most innovative working hard in school in the context of an economy that and impact-oriented youth leadership and did not guarantee significant returns to studiousness. entrepreneurship development programs in Zimbabwe. Moreover, we experienced hardship all around us – our We deliver a program structured around the academic parents struggled to feed and clothe our families well, year, which focuses on enabling students to make tangible neither did we have the best learning resources in our impact in their communities. In the first half of the year, schools. However, I felt it was important for the students meet with our facilitators for training sessions Inspiration Club to bring together young people and every week for two hours. Building from that training, provide a space for them to envision their long-term students identify, design and implement an innovative and contributions to Zimbabwe's advancement in spite of and financially sustainable community development project. beyond the difficult circumstances we were in. In the past, students have helped unemployed young people create a catering business in their high school, Today, many members of that club are studying in initiated a community recycling project and established a some of the leading universities all over the world and free community night school for adult education. building their capacity to contribute as leaders in the various realms of Zimbabwean society. Since this first To date, we have provided world-class leadership and experience of building a school club which has lasted for entrepreneurship training to nearly 1,500 students seven years and is still going strong, I have worked hard to attending 20 schools in three out Zimbabwe's ten build young people's confidence and skills that enable provinces. The schools that we have partnered with for them to impact their communities in positive ways. our program represent a diversity of schools catering for students from high and low-income families, urban and After establishing other initiatives such as the Careers rural settings, able-bodied and disabled students. Support Initiative at Waterford Kamhlaba, my high school in Swaziland, and working with a group of In thinking about our work in the context of the students with a deep commitment to developing young Millennium Development Goals, I believe that our work people's leadership potential at the Leadership Institute at at Lead Us Today is contributing to meeting their Harvard College in the USA, I founded a non-profit milestones and also innovating beyond them. In organization in Zimbabwe, Lead Us Today (LUT). LUT particular, we recognize that some of our country's provides high school students in the country with challenges emanate from a dearth in sound leadership. rigorous training on leadership and entrepreneurship. Often, people think of leadership only in the political Through this training, we build students' capacity to sense yet we believe that it is important to think beyond identify opportunities for social innovation and enable who currently runs government or who should run it. them to mobilize their communities to address shared Instead, we believe that it is important to instigate deep challenges. shifts in people's values and ensure that initiative, innovation and integrity is engrained in citizens' DNA. The relevance and importance of our work stems from Because of this focus, we are building a whole generation the grim reality that in Zimbabwe, only 4% of students, of engaged and socially responsible citizens at all levels of writing the high school final examinations (Ordinary society and in as many spheres, who are always thinking Level) in any year eventually secure a job with decent about how they can take initiative and use local resources income in the formal economy given the education to address local challenges in innovative and ethical ways. system's design and the startling 70% unemployment rate. My organization has already started to work towards this Unfortunately, the rigid school curriculum does not goal. provide the 96% of students, who eventually gain income through informal economic activity, with skills that allow I am only 24 and, in the coming decades, I look forward them to thrive in that sector. Essentially, students in to living my passion of creating opportunities for others Zimbabwe need a relevant curriculum that broadens their to bring their best selves in service of OUR common career options and equips them with skills that enhance good. 148
Profile: he was named one of \"Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Zimbabwe\" by Junior Chamber International, was Dalumuzi Mhlanga is the Founder & identified as an \"Emerging Global Innovator\" by Chief Executive Officer of Lead Us Today American Express and Ashoka and was profiled as one of (www.leadustoday.org), a nonprofit the 22 most impressive students at Harvard University by organization that mobilizes Zimbabwean Business Insider, a leading business magazine in the US. In youth to be socially responsible citizens 2011, he received the prestigious College Social Innovator who directly address pressing community Award, conferred by Forbes.com and the Harvard Social needs through its consolidated package of leadership Innovation Collaborative. He is also a StartingBloc and training, community service and internship programs. Sandbox entrepreneurship fellow. Dalumuzi is currently Since its founding in May 2010, Lead Us Today has trained pursuing a Master of Science in African Studies as a nearly 1,500 students who have designed and Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford and holds a implemented dozens of community development Bachelors degree in Social Studies from Harvard projects including a community catering business, University. recycling programs and a night school for drop outs. Dalumuzi Mhlanga trains the youth addressing following four cornerstones for successful implementation of the Lead Us Today program: 1. Building a strong team, which weathers the storms: While Dalumuzi is \"the face\" of Lead Us Today, there is a very strong and stable team that has worked very hard to ensuring that the organization delivers great results. Dalumuzi share's his lessons on how to build, maintain and strengthen a results-oriented team that is committed to a mission. 2. Developing and refining your idea for social change: Over the last three years, Lead Us Today has grown in tremendous ways – its model has been revised several times, its current curriculum is nothing like the first that was taught in May 2010 and the organization's focus has shifted paradigmatically in the last year. Dalumuzi teaches how to actively learn from your work so you can refine it and increase its potential for greater impact. 3. Building widespread, global support for your idea: Every idea and initiative needs to be supported by people who are not directly involved with the work. Dalumuzi share's tips and advice on how to build political, media and financial support for your idea and initiative. 4. Being a student of your entrepreneurial work: by Throughout the years, Dalumuzi share's how he has used his work with Lead Us Today to enrich his learning Dalumuzi H. Mhlanga experience as a student. More broadly, Dalumuzi has University of Oxford UK experience developing youth leadership programs spanning seven years during which he has started 16 service-oriented youth clubs in Zimbabwe and Swaziland that involve 400+ students at any one point. He has received widespread recognition for his work: In 2012, 149
For My Vision of Africa As coordinator of the regional youth network for forest mind. Evidently, pure minds cannot harbor violence. If all for central Africa, REJEFAC and as founder and would keep thoughts of love and care for one another President of Jeunesse Verte du Cameroun, I will start by then nations would not fight against other nations, have saying that the world lost a great woman & a legend neither vengeance nor a trace of oppression of the Wangari Mathai - one of my heroes from Africa and her minority. vision is the one I have! She passed away, although her vision will always continue via our organization and People are living in fear for their own lives; children under Regional Youth Network for Forests for Central Africa, the age of ten are being abducted to fight in wars, civilian an obligation for the younger generation of leaders to youth are making harsh protests against their continue with her stand for Africa. governments all in the name of freedom. This is just a drop in the ocean of all that is going on in the world today. My hope as a spokesperson for African Youth is PEACE, It should not be forgotten that freedom cannot be RESPECT OF STATES SOVEREIGNITY AND achieved through violence. I would like to see young WISH OF REAL SOLIDARITY. There is an urgent need Africans challenging world power and break the cycle of to cultivate violence with peace education and actions. It is time that we make peace with one another and live harmoniously so as to build our nations. Our role is to bring awareness on non-violence and educating the youth in this area. We believe in peace, freedom and democracy for a healthier environment. That is why we encourage all youth and youth leaders to give power to good ideas of development. The late leader, everywhere the seeds of peace in the heart of every young Mahatma Gandhi's novel mode of mass African for a lasting peace. African youths must mobilization and non- violent action brought down consolidate peace and national unity by making patriotic colonialism, strengthened the roots of popular choices. This vision is for the world too, not just for Africa sovereignty, of civil, political and economic rights, and who needs peace, but it is for every single human being, greatly influenced many a freedom struggle and inspired every man, woman, youth and child who needs it when leaders like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. you look at what's happening today. When people are in Many great leaders have done their parts. The question is peace, the world, Africa, Cameroon will be in peace. The what are you as an individual doing about it? You also can only place where it is possible to know peace, it is in every bring change to your surroundings. Educate others citizen. This message of peace is neither new nor old, against violence so that we all may live in a peaceful world because it has no age, because satisfaction lies in everyone. we desire to. Remember where there is love there is peace, Whatever the situation we are in and facing, we have two stability and growth but where there is hate, violence is choices, chaos or the voice of peaceful constant and non inevitable. With this, let us therefore abide by our words violent dialogue. and serve the youth in developing the world non-violently and implore our leaders to stop such inhumane behaviors. This is a cry from the heart of a youth to us all. This is my cry. We saw what is happening in our countries. Young There is an urgent need to cultivate everywhere the seed people of the world and of Africa! Are you content with of peace in the heart of every young Cameroonian, where our youth are heading with this torment of a African for a lasting peace. African youths must freedom search? By the way of deadly arms or war guns, consolidate peace and national unity by making patriotic Mahatma Gandhi once said I object to violence because choices. This is my cry for you, CULTURE OF PEACE when it appears to do well, the good is only temporary; the AND CALL TO VIGILANCE. \"Building Peace in evil it does is permanent Violence is inhuman and often at Africa\" is strong and meaningful, events that have taken times it claims the lives of people even the innocent, place in Ivory Coast, in Libya, and other African countries. leaves many injured and depressed. Violence starts in the The role of the international community and the impact of their decisions via the Security Council - some youths are pledging that those decisions should be driven to solve urgent crises like the food crisis in the Horn of Africa, employment and education reforms, the support to the local agriculture and industrialization, support to local projects. This is a major challenge. I do not know how you 150
feel, but every time I come across the term \"peace- responses and evidence of their concern for peace, social building\", I am confronted with ambivalent feelings and I cohesion and preservation of national unity. I put the am sure there some more like me. challenge out of here before the election; we have in political parties that arise in the presidential elections, 20 deputies or alternates youth in the National Assembly from the 10 regions, 20 young people appointed for their skills in positions of responsibility. And when I say young, I mean that defined by the African Charter, those under 40 years. “Building Peace\" is not simple apprehension, given the This evidence of political-will might enable young people increasing complexity of all violent conflicts encountered to make a choice, because they have two alternatives: one in the world, especially if you look at the African of the militia (manipulated by politicians, indecisive, continent in recent times. Develop instruments for fearful) and circles or democratic decisions (respect for sustainable peace; it's not as easy as building a house - the law and constitution). We must make the right choice make a plan, pool resources and equipment to do it. This and for this the government must be careful not to be the is to lay a foundation and then put stones, one above the violent face of social demands by all means provided by other, until the house is completed and reassurance that it law, including peaceful marches, efforts that have been is solid so that it remains a safe space for a long time. It is made since. The young, including women and the girl has for this purpose provide a bit of TLC from time to time, to fight for, as they say so, nothing is given, all is won. Why but above all, ensure good building before proceeding we do we answer that we cannot participate in politics or with renovation. The issue of peace, is it not too serious to talk about political events? Why we are told we are young, say that we can simply \"build\"? For as the wise men have and therefore we know nothing of what is done and often said, \"war and insecurity do not choose a camp decide for us, these frames of speech of ours. For this, we when they set up\" it is a long process. want a pro-active youth, voluntary and free for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and \"We will not change the world in a peaceful place for Africa's industrialization. The choice of the street is from one day to another, but each activity carried out open to all when it is not channeled, organized, by us or by young members of our network can be supervised, and we invite officials to ensure that as a part considered as a stepping stone that helps to build a of speech this is in place for peace to be effective and culture of peace, which goes far beyond the efficient among youth. agreements and declarations of intent. A culture of peace, as defined by the United Nations (UN) \"is a set of In Cameroon, I encourage young people to register as values, attitudes, behaviors and ways of life that reject voters, have their voting cards, track registrations, and violence and prevent conflicts by tackling root causes of listen to their voices in a political party (the party in power problems through dialogue and negotiation among or in opposition). individuals, groups and nations.\" This requires new attitudes, a new sensitivity in core human rights, human The part of this is love for our country. Social cohesion, dignity and a deep respect for nature, its infinite variety should be placed in the foreground. Youth is aware and and social change especially with the great question of must take responsibility to put aside the mind deniers. We independence, social justice, equitable sharing of must stand together and reflect together, overcoming the resources of our states. It calls for a sense of global challenge's of our time, begin with concrete actions and responsibility and awareness of the fundamental unity of visible mark in the field's of civic engagement and all humanity. The purpose of this message is to encourage voluntary participation. We, the youth have to impose our dialogue between young African citizens, those groups vision and no longer suffer the choices of others. This is and political parties that together they look in the same our position in the pre-election period, but this will be direction, that of peace: peace through dialogue, sincerity, effective in post-election period as well. peace by tolerance, peace through social cohesion and peace for sustainable development. \"Young just needs to Remain united in diversity and protect our country be present, as a voter and candidate, and its role must be without discrimination. This is my vision of the struggle clear. For this peace to be effective, I will wish for example of African youth. I invite everyone, to contribute at that African politicians give us guarantees, specific personal level towards our own minds of young people interested in social change, to become builders of peace and worthy representatives for a true culture of peace! There is an urgent need to grow everywhere to plant the seed of peace in the heart of every young African to lasting peace. Cameroon Youth must consolidate peace 151
and national unity by making choices patriotic and pierres, l'une au-dessus de l'autre, jusqu'à ce que la maison volunteerism activities. Every human being on this planet, soit terminée et se rassurer qu'elle est solide afin qu'elle every man, woman and child every young person needs demeure un abri sûr pour une longue durée. Il faut à cet peace in terms of what is happening today. effet prévoir un peu de rénovation de temps en temps, mais avant tout, assurer une bonne construction avant de When people are at peace, the World and Africa will also procéder à ladite rénovation. be at Peace. The only place where it is possible to know is through peace being in every citizen's heart. This message La question de paix n'est-elle pas trop sérieuse pour dire of peace is neither new nor old, because it has no age, que nous pourrions simplement la «construire»? Car, satisfaction is found in all of us. Whatever the situation we comme l'ont souvent dit les sages : « la guerre et l'insécurité are in, we have two choices, chaos or the peace through ne choisissent pas un camp quand elles s'installent », c'est dialogue and non-violence. My choice is the last, what un processus long ». Nous ne changerons pas le monde about yours? dans un endroit paisible d'un jour à l'autre, mais chaque activité réalisée par nos soins ou par des membres de notre In French réseau jeune peut être considérée comme une pierre qui contribue à l'édification d'une culture de la paix, qui va Culture de la paix et de la non violence: Notre bien au-delà des accords et déclarations d'intentions. leitmotiv Une culture de la paix, telle que définie par l'Organisation des Nations Unies (ONU) \"est un ensemble de valeurs, Il est urgent et nécessaire de cultiver partout pour semer la d'attitudes, de comportements et de modes de vie qui graine de la paix dans le coeur de chaque jeune rejettent la violence et préviennent les conflits en AFRICAIN pour une paix durable. La jeunesse s'attaquant à leurs causes profondes de problèmes par le AFRICAINE doit consolider la paix et l'unité nationale dialogue et la négociation entre individus, groupes et en faisant des choix patriotiques. Ce n'est pas le monde, c nations \". Cela exige de nouvelles attitudes, une nouvelle 'est l'Afrique qui a besoin de paix, ce sont chaque être sensibilité impérieuse en matière de droits de l'homme, de humain de cette planète, chaque homme, femme, jeune et dignité humaine et d'un profond respect pour la nature, enfant qui en as besoin au regard de ce qui se passe de nos son infinie variété et une mutation sociale surtout avec la jours. Lorsque les gens sont en paix, le monde, l'Afrique, le grande question de l'indépendance, de la justice sociale, du Cameroun le sera. Le seul endroit où il est possible de partage équitable des ressources de nos Etats. Il appelle à connaitre la paix, c'est en chaque citoyen. Ce message de un sens de responsabilité globale et une prise de paix n'est ni nouveau, ni ancien, car il n'a pas d'âge, la conscience de l'unité fondamentale de toute l'humanité. satisfaction se trouve en chacun. Quelque soit la situation L'objectif de ce message est de favoriser le dialogue entre dans laquelle nous sommes, nous avons deux choix, le les jeunes citoyens AFRICAINS, ceux des groupements et chaos ou la voix pacifique par le dialogue et constant et partis politiques pour qu'ensemble ils regardent dans la non violent. C'est un cri de coeur de la jeunesse lancé à même direction, celle de la paix : la paix par le dialogue, la tous. C'est mon cri à moi. sincérité, la paix par la tolérance, la paix par la cohésion sociale et la paix pour le développement durable ». JEUNESSE, CULTURE DE LA PAIX ET APPEL AU DISCERNEMENT Le jeune doit juste être présent, comme électeur et candidat, et son rôle doit être clair. Pour que cette paix soit \"Construire la paix en AFRIQUE\" sont des mots forts et effective, je souhaiterai par exemple que les politiciens significatifs et plus précisément au regard des événements AFRICAINS nous donnent des garanties, des réponses qui ont eu cours en cote d'ivoire, en Lybie,…mais aussi la concrètes et des preuves de leur soucis de paix, de crise alimentaire au niveau de la corne de l'Afrique. Il s'agit cohésion sociale et de préservation de l'unité nationale. Je là d'un défi majeur à relever. les mets au défi que d'ici avant les élections, nous ayons dans les partis politiques qui se présenteront aux Je ne sais pas comment vous le ressentez, mais à chaque présidentielles, 20 députés ou suppléants jeunes à fois que je suis tombée sur les termes «consolidation de la l'Assemblée Nationale issus des 10 régions, 20 jeunes paix\", je suis confrontée à des sentiments ambivalents. nommés pour leurs compétences à des postes de «Construire la paix\" n'a pas cette appréhension simpliste, responsabilité. étant donné la complexité croissante de tous les conflits violents qu'on rencontre dans le monde entier, en Et quand je parle de jeunes, je parle de celle définie par la particulier si l'on regarde le continent africain ces derniers charte africaine, ceux de moins de 40 ans. Ces preuves du temps. Mettre en place les instruments d'une paix durable, politique vont permettre aux jeunes de faire un choix, car, ce n'est pas aussi facile que construire une maison - faire ils en ont deux : celui de la milice (manipulé par les un plan, mettre des ressources et du matériel pour y politiciens, indécis, apeuré) et celui des cercles de arriver. Il s'agit ici de poser une fondation, puis mettre des décisions ou démocratiques (respect des lois et de la constitution). 152
Il faut faire le bon choix et pour cela, le gouvernement doit chaque jeune et chaque enfant qui en as besoin au regard veiller à ne pas être violent face aux revendications de ce qui se passe de nos jours. sociales par tous les moyens prévus par la loi, y compris par des marches pacifiques, des efforts sont déjà faits Lorsque les gens sont en paix, le monde, l'Afrique, le depuis. Cameroun l'est également. Le seul endroit où il est possible de connaître cette paix est en chaque citoyen. Ce Le jeune, y compris la femme et la jeune fille, doit se battre message de paix n'est ni nouveau, ni ancien, car il n'a pas ; car, comme on le dit si bien, rien n'est donné, tout se d'âge, la satisfaction se trouve en chacun de nous. Quelque conquiert. Pourquoi nous réponds-t-on que nous ne soit la situation dans laquelle nous sommes, nous avons pouvons pas faire de la politique ou parler de faits deux choix, le chaos ou la voix pacifique par le dialogue politiques ? pourquoi nous dit-on que nous sommes constant et non violent. Mon choix est le dernier, qu'en est jeunes, et que par conséquent, nous ne savons rien de ce -il du tien ? C'est un cri de coeur de la jeunesse lancé à tous. qui se fait et se décide pour nous, ces cadres d'expression sont les nôtres. Profile : TAMOIFO NKOM Marie Spokesperson for the African youths and Diaspora/ Pour cela, nous voulons une jeunesse pro active, Bamako 2005, President of AJVC, Cameroon (2006 – volontaire et libre en vue de l'atteinte des objectifs du 2012), Regional Coordinator of the Regional Central millénaire pour le développement et que l'Afrique Africa youth forest Network (2008 – 2011), Facilitator of s'industrialise. Le choix de la rue est ouvert à tous lorsqu'il the National Environmental Youth network in Cameroon n'est pas canalisé, organisé, encadré ; nous invitons donc and peace network in the sub region. Marie is the les responsables à veiller à ce qu'un cadre d'expression soit coordinator of the Youth regional network on Forests for mis en place pour que cette paix soit effective et efficiente Central Africa (for Congo, RDC, Chad, RCA, Equatorial en milieu jeune. Guinea, Gabon, Sao tome and Principe, Rwanda, Burundi, and Cameroon) and she coordinate's the focal Au Cameroun j'invite les jeunes a s'inscrire sur les listes points of all of this countries and national network since électorales, avoir leur carte d'électeur, faire le suivi de leur 2008. inscription, faire écouter leur voix dans un parti politique (parti au pouvoir ou au sein de l'opposition). Ceci She has organized the United Nations Environment participe de cet amour pour notre pays. Youth Program on Sustainable Consumption Campaign in Cameroon under the auspices of UNEP Youth La cohésion sociale au Cameroun et en Afrique doit être Advisory Council Associate Advisor for Africa in placée au premier plan. La jeunesse en est consciente et collaboration with the German Development doit prendre ses responsabilités pour mettre de côté les Corporation (GTZ), the Ministry of Environment and esprits négationnistes. Nous devons rester unis et Forestry (MINEF). réfléchir ensemble, surmonter le défi de notre temps, entamons des actions concrètes et visibles, marquons le In 2005 she was been designated spokesperson for terrain par notre engagement citoyen et volontaire. MDGS/ 2015 UNDP campaign for Cameroon. In August 2005 she was one of the laureates of the King Nous, jeunes devons imposer notre vision et ne plus subir Mohammed IV Award on Youth Led Projects on the le choix des autres. Telle est notre posture en cette période MDGS. pré électorale mais elle le sera davantage en période post électorale. Restons unis dans la diversité et protégeons In 2010, she was one of leaders representing Cameroun, notre pays, sans discrimination aucune. C'est ma vision du participating in the President Obama's Africa Forum with combat du jeune africain. Young African Leaders. Je nous invite donc à entamer un travail personnel au sein by de vos propres esprits de jeunes désireux de changement social, afin de devenir des bâtisseurs de la paix et des Mme Tamoifo Nkom Marie, représentants dignes pour une véritable culture de la paix! Presidente Il est urgent et nécessaire de cultiver partout pour semer la graine de la paix dans le coeur de chaque jeune Jeunesse Verte, camerounais pour une paix durable. La jeunesse Cameroun camerounaise doit consolider la paix et l'unité nationale en faisant des choix patriotiques. Ce n'est pas le monde ou du moins l'Afrique qui a besoin de paix, c'est chaque être humain de cette planète, chaque homme, chaque femme, 153
The Blue Peace: Rethinking Middle East Water An International Report Highlights The water crisis in the Middle East can be transformed Following are the highlights from the report: The river into an opportunity for a new form of peace – the blue flows in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan have peace where any two countries with access to adequate, depleted by 50 to 90 per cent from 1960 to 2010. For clean and sustainable water resources do not feel instance, the Yarmouk River declined from 600 MCM to motivated to engage in a military conflict. This is possible about 250-300 MCM per year while the Jordan River from with new policy instruments, some of which would be 1300 MCM to 100 MCM. The water level in Barada River acceptable to the governments in the region in the near Basin in Syria has dropped from 50 meters below ground future, while others could be adapted in the long run. In in 1990 to 200 meters at present. the process, the River Jordan and Barada, Mountain Aquifer, and the Dead Sea, which are currently depleting at a fast rate, would be rejuvenated. The Euphrates, Tigris, Litani, Orontes, El Kabir Rivers and Lake Kinneret (Tiberias), which face threats from climate change and drought, would be made sustainable. These are the conclusions of an international report on long term assessment and policy options for water security in seven countries in the Middle East: Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Depleting River Flows Seasonal Variations – Lean Months and Wet Months Martin Dahinden, Director General of Swiss Agency for Development With regards to Yarmouk, Euphrates and Tigris, and Cooperation; Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of Switzerland; upper and lower riparian countries continue to disagree about the actual amount of flow of the Sundeep Waslekar SFG; during the launch of the report in February 2011, rivers across boundaries. The report proposes a Switzerland Cooperation Council for Water Resources for Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan as a political The Strategic Foresight Group report, The Blue Peace: mechanism to establish common standards for Rethinking Middle East Water, was prepared with input measuring water flow and quality, set goals for from almost 100 leaders, serving and former ministers, sustainable management of water resources, and senior officials, and experts in the seven countries. The adapt regional strategies to combat climate change input was obtained through political consultations, and drought. The establishment of a Cooperation research papers, an Internet forum, and three workshops Council can also facilitate basin level cooperation in held at Montreux, Switzerland (February 2010), each river basin. Amman, Jordan (May 2010) and Sanliurfa, Turkey Cooperation Council for Water Resources for Turkey, (September 2010). The project was supported by the Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency of the Government of Sweden and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Political Affairs Division IV of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Switzerland. Some of the workshops were supported by A K Party and the State Hydraulic Works (DSI) of Turkey and El Majlis El Hassan of Jordan. 154
The report suggests that desertification is expected to Changing Dead Sea: affect Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Jordan - approximately 60 The marshlands in Iraq have shrunk by 90 per cent. Lake per cent of the land in Syria faces the threat of Kinneret (Tiberias) reaches the lower red line of 212 desertification. In the Koyna basin in Turkey, about 80 per metres below sea level in drought years. The deterioration cent of the depletion has occurred over the last decade, of these water resources not only results in economic and the basin faces complete desertification by 2030. Iraq crisis but also undermines people's culture. The report faces the threat of desertification at an average rate of 0.5 recommends that critical water bodies should be declared per cent per year. Dust storms have worsened over the last as regional commons and all riparian countries should few years due to the drought and decrease in vegetation. work together to set common goals for their rejuvenation and sustenance. The renewable freshwater resources in the Mountain Aquifer, shared by Israel and the Palestinian Territories, In Iraq, report underscores that due to consecutive years report mentions have been reduced by seven per cent of drought, war and the lack of adequate governance has from 1993 to 2010 and in the Western Galilee Aquifer by hindered overall development in the water sector, and the 15-20 per cent. This is assuming full recharge in a normal country is simply unable to provide the required water to rainy year. The availability of water is substantially its population. Amman-Al Zarqa, located in north central reduced in drought years. As a result, the calculations Jordan with the highest population density, is at the edge made at the time of Oslo Accords and hitherto used by of the Badia Desert. Important Syrian cities – particularly most international organisations need to be revised Damascus, Homs, Hama – are in the western part of the downwards to provide a realistic formula for water country, while the Euphrates flows in the eastern part. In sharing between Israel and the Palestinian Territories (or a Turkey, the most fertile region is around the Euphrates- future Palestinian State). Tigris Basin in the east and the Seyhan-Ceyhan rivers in the south. Comparison with Oslo II (MCM per median year) The central parts of the country have few rivers and The report calls for a confidence-building initiative receive less than 250 mm of rainfall annually. Turkey's between the heads of water authorities of Israel and PA, capital city, Ankara is located there and has no natural with support of political leaders and under observation water body or groundwater source located close to it. of representatives of Quartet or major donor countries, Izmir and Adana also face water shortages as the potential to assess the real situation with regards to the state of of nearby basins is not fully harnessed. The report freshwater resources in the aquifers along with recommends that it is most essential to address internal coordinated water management. Such a process should be disequilibrium on an urgent basis. Any plans for carried out at high political level, authorised by the cooperation between countries would not be politically respective Prime Ministers, and should complement attractive unless and until internal needs of all countries, technical level interaction through the Joint Water including relatively water surplus countries, are satisfied. Committee, as well as the trilateral Israel-PA-US forum. The report also calls for strengthening of the waste water Internal Disparities: In the past 20 years, the report management capacity of the Palestinian Territories, studied that Turkey has examined the possibilities of possibly using small sized decentralised plants, which can exporting water from its national rivers. In future, Turkey benefit the poor population, provided a monitoring will only consider exporting water from its system is put in place to control the sewage discharge from such facilities. The report has identified that the water level in the Dead Sea has dropped from 390 metres below sea level in the 1960s down to 420 metres below sea level at the present and will be 450 metres below sea level by 2040. The water surface area has shrunk by a third, from 950 square kilometres to 637 square kilometres. If the surface water level in the Dead Sea continues to erode, it will be reduced to a lake in 50 years, and will eventually disappear altogether. 155
national rivers such as Manavgat, Ceyhan, Seyhan, and Profile: Ms Ilmas Futehally is Co-founder, Executive others. It will not export water from trans-boundary rivers Director and Vice President of Strategic Foresight Group such the Tigris and Euphrates. Turkey will have an (SFG), with responsibility for overall management of the exportable surplus of 2-4 BCM from national rivers organisation. She has during 2010-2030, though it would be uneven throughout the year. In the lean season of 8-9 months, it can be as low been a member of SFG delegations for as 100 MCM per month. During such a period, Turkey will consultations with Heads of require water for its domestic use. It will still be able to Governments and Foreign Ministers of export at least 1-1.5 BCM water in the wet and average several countries on various global months to Jordan Valley countries if the latter work out a issues. In 2010-2011, she led projects on mutually acceptable formula for water to be utilised by all water security in the Himalayan River of them and if Turkey finds it politically feasible to Basins and the Middle East. She is the undertake this endeavour. Co-author of Big Questions of Our Time (2011), Co- Turkish National Water Exports author of Cost of Conflict in the Middle East (2009), Principal Author of Global Security and Economy: Emerging Trends (2008), Principal Author of Cost of Conflict between India-Pakistan (2004) and co-author of about ten other internationally acclaimed research reports. She has contributed chapters to three books on regional cooperation in South Asia. The report recommends an expert study to examine the Ilmas has been a non-residential fellow (2001-2002) at the long term prospects of the supply capacity of the Turkish Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs, national rivers, taking into account the potential impact of New York, and a Visiting Fellow (1998) in regional climate change, snow melt, domestic demand, economic security at the Henry L. Stimson Center in Washington, needs and seasonal variations. DC. She has travelled to more than 40 countries for consultations with government leaders and experts on global issues. She is the recipient of Young Achievers Award of Indo-American Society for 2001 for her work on issues of relevance to the relationship between the two countries. She was profiled by timesofindia.com among India's ten upcoming young leaders on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of India's independence. The Blue Peace, essentially requires a comprehensive She obtained her Master of Science degree from Bombay approach. It is necessary to act on several fronts at the University. She has also undertaken advanced same time, and yet it is possible to choose different entry professional courses in Security, Technology and Arms points of intervention as per social and political dynamics. Control conducted by King's College, London. She The report presents a roadmap for action beginning with worked as a research scientist in Excel Industries and as efficient internal management, storage and distribution; Assistant Director at the International Centre for Peace the establishment of Cooperation Council for Water Initiatives prior to her current responsibilities. Resources for Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey; and separately launching of a high level Confidence Building Initiative between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. For more information regarding the report please by contact: Strategic Foresight Group Ilmas Futehally & Team, Email: [email protected] Executive Director, Tel/fax: +91 22 26318260 http://www.strategicforesight.com/The%20Blue%20Pe Strategic Foresight Group, ace%20Presentations2.pdf Mumbai 156
Transforming Tanzania’s Agrarian Sector Through Maize Breeding Background Tanzania ranks 23rd in maize production in the world Maize (Zea mays L.) is a widely studied and used crop (FAOSTAT, 2007), with small-scale farmers contributing worldwide. The species is widely adapted across a range over 80% of the total production (RATES, 2003). The per of altitudes, latitudes, soils, moisture regimes, slopes, and capita consumption of maize in Tanzania is among the production technologies. It is widely adapted because of highest just as it is in other SSA countries. The crop is its allogamy nature of reproduction; easy of agronomic cultivated on an average of two million hectares (AATF management, harvesting, and processing compared to 2009), which is about 45% of the cultivated area in small-grains of African origin. Introduction of western Tanzania (Bisanda et al., 1998). In 2005/2006 maize education in Africa by colonialists reduced labour production in Tanzania was 3,423, 000 tons (AGSTATS because children who scared birds that destroyed small FOR FOOD SECURITY, 2007), whereas FAOSTAT grains had to be sent to school so adopted and adapted as (2007) indicate 3.66 million MT (Table 1). About 85% of the grains are tightly protected by husk cover which the maize produced in Tanzania is grown by peasants popularized further maize in Africa. whose farms are <10 ha, medium-scale commercial farms (10-100 ha) produce 10%, and large-scale commercial In Tanzania the crop was popularized in the Southern farms (>100 ha) produce 5%. Between 1961-65 and 1985- Highlands Zone between 1950s and1970s. however, from 95, national maize production was estimated to have the crop-pest ecological point of view, and being alien to grown by 4.6%, of which 2.4% can be attributed to Africa, maize suffers from indigenous biotic and abiotic growth in area and 2.2% to growth in yield. Despite this stresses and their interactions. Such stresses keep maize marginal yield growth, average yields stagnate at <1.5 productivity at low and erratic grain yield within and t/ha, although yields are higher in high-potential areas across countries and regions. Changes in climatic such as the Southern Highlands (SHT) (Bisanda et al., conditions and artificial selection pressure to suit various 1998), where Lyimo (2006) estimate yield potential of 8 human needs exacerbate low productivity. The most t/ha. Such farmers’ yield figures are slightly above the intractable stresses of African origin include striga (witch range of 0.9-1.2 t ha-1 in SSA, which is very low yield level weed), maize streak virus foliar disease, and insect pests in relation to the average world maize production by many of which are alien to Africa but they have adapted resource-poor farmers in the comparable altitudes (Elings themselves so fast to infest on maize. et al., 1997). However, research on safety of grain maize in food and feed systems has been barely done in Tanzania. The diversity of uses of maize decreases with level of Therefore the safety of whatever little is available for economy of the country. The potential of the crop to direct consumption might have been infested with boost Agrarian Economies is higher particularly in sub mycotoxins thus compromising health of consumers. Sahara Africa (SSA) as maize is synonymous with food Generally, grain security and it is also a source of income to rural resource- yields fluctuate with seasons and locations but with no poor farming communities. With regards to contribution significant rise to meet the self-sufficiency levels for the of maize to Africa’s Green Revolution, the potential is country the challenge which maize research has been higher in Africa viz. Asian Green Revolution because the attempting to address. later revolution followed a top-down and reductionist approach as it was against biodiversity conservation, Advantage of use of improved cultivars which an Indian Environmental Activist - Vandana Shiva Genetic advancement in crops contributes significantly to termed it as ‘Monocultures of the mind’. Maize is a food security. MacRoberts (2009) reported that improved political crop in SSA. The evidence sends us back to mid varieties are a prime catalyst to strategies use of agro- 2000s when a Minister for Agriculture in Kenya had to inputs and other sectors of crop development. For step down because of failing to manage grain maize thus instance, tolerance of crops to biotic stresses would endangering food security. Recently in Tanzania the minimize use of pesticides (Robinson, 1987), whereas Prime Minister banned unofficial cross boarder export of tolerance to a biotic stresses may suggest use of less grain maize to safeguard in-country food security and to fertilizers under low soil moisture conditions (Bänzinger know official contribution of maize industry to the et al., 2000), all of which reduce costs of production to economy. Still, inconclusive debates ram SSA with resource-poor farmers (Echarte et al., 2008) and facilitate regards to introduction and use of Genetically-Modified sustainable conservation of natural resources (Duvick, maize and/or its products from the western world. 1999). Uniformity characteristic of improved varieties warrant value addition at different nodes in maize value Importance of maize in Tanzania chain i.e. agronomic management, post harvesting, Maize provides 60% of dietary calories and more than processing, packaging and marketing. These few examples 50% of utilizable protein to the Tanzanian population. are in support of Echarte et al. (2008) that improved 157
cultivars are beneficial over unimproved genotypes. Region/Countr y Grain production† Amount of inorganic Nonetheless, inadequate availability of seed of improved (million MT) fertilisers applied varieties and poor access by farmers to improved good (kg ha -1 ) quality seed of, albeit a few varieties in the market, has continued to hamper increased productivity of maize at Industrialised countries* 352.15 206 the country level. Unfortunately this situation is made worse by the lack of an efficient seed production, South East Asia 30.46 135 promotion and distribution system for locally-bred improved cultivars, affecting mostly poor rural farming South Asia NA 100 communities and country’s economy at large. Latin America 84.61 73 Constraints to maize production in Tanzania South Africa 7.13 50 Disparity between actual and potential grain yields Malawi 3.23 27 Yield instability due to biotic and abiotic stresses which is further compounded with socio-economic factors such as T anzania 3.66 9 poverty, conflicting and uncoordinated policies on access to technologies (i.e. seeds of improved varieties, Source: http://www.tzonline.org, adopted from Abuja fertilizers, extension, and credit), among others limit food security in Tanzania. New and improved varieties of Africa Fertilizer Summit, June 2006) maize should be continuously made available to the resource-poor farming communities in order to safeguard * = Western Europe and United States of America, MT = the national food security and alleviate poverty in a sustainable manner. Because any threat to maize industry metric tons, NA = data not available; may compromise the country’s food security, and spill over effects to neighbouring countries who import maize †FAOSTAT (2007) from Tanzania. Insecure food situation Smale and Jayne (2004) reported that none of the most Shortage of the availability and accessibility of food to major maize producing countries in SSA has actual maize people in Tanzania due to natural or socioeconomic production per capita kept pace with population over the factors is estimated at 4-7% (Amani, 2004). Such factors past 40 years. Specifically to Tanzania, Amani (2004) still make the food security status in Tanzania pointed out that maize production has not kept up with unpredictable. According to the Tanzania’s National Food population growth (i.e. 2.8 to 3.0%). Possible Balance Sheet, maize consumption in the country was explanations for such disparity include: i) the higher cost estimated at around three million metric tons per year of fertilizer, ii) expansion of export crops due to export (RATES, 2003). Compared toTable 1 this suggests that liberalization, iii) shifts in demand toward other staples, Tanzanians consume what they produce. Food security, and iv) insufficient and erratic rains due to climate change, involves three components: food availability, access, and v) high levels of poverty among resource-poor farmers utilization in right amount and quality to right segment of who feed the country, vi) uncoordinated and dishonest human population, time and place in order to support a markets specific to the maize industry, vii) poor healthy and productive life. Because food security is a governance with regards to maize industry i.e. reliance of cross-cutting issue rapid scientific and governance foreign seed, failure to control fraudulence of inputs for interventions are therefore required to level off the maize production, low investments in maize research, existing scarcity. among others. Despite impoverished soils, farmers in Tanzania apply less inorganic fertiliser to farms compared Unstable climate to many countries in the world (Table 1) thus perpetuating low yields. Breeding initiatives for nutrient-use efficient According to Bisanda et al. (1998) and Moshi and cultivars which are early maturing and locally adapted Marandu (1985) agro-ecologies for maize production in even under low moisture levels would reduce the existing Tanzania are divided into three major zones and calendar yield gap between farmers’ yields and potential yields. physiological maturities. These include: low altitudes (<900 m.a.s.l. with 90-100 maturity days), intermediate Table 1: Consumption of fertilisers and estimates of altitudes (900-1500 m.a.s.l. with 130-170 maturity days) maize grain production in Tanzania compared with and the high altitudes (>1500 m.a.s.l. with 170-200 selected regions and countries. maturity days). However, Lyimo (2006) reported that bracket maturity periods for maize in Tanzania and other SSA countries are no longer fixed and they have been reduced significantly due to climatic changes as farmers now require relatively earlier maturing elite cultivars than it used to be. Suitable production conditions for maize are no longer reliable. It further implies that effective maize production area has been declining with time. And farmers produce maize under multiple stresses (Plates 1-7). As a result the rising human population numbers will not survive on little food that is produced. Soil impoverishment; abject poverty; rising temperatures and decreasing, yet, unpredictable and unevenly distributed rains decimate maize production and productivity. Very often unstable weather leads to proliferation of new strains of biotic stresses such as pests and diseases and abiotic stresses (i.e. drought, floods, soil deprivation and changes in soil pH, changing in planting density and planting seasons thus reducing further effective areas for maize production. 158
Plate 1: Irrigation canal for maize production in Kiwere Plate 5: Striga weed cohabiting grasses at Upendo village village in Iringa region, Tanzania. Despite this costly indicating that this site is hotspot for striga. Presence of infrastructure (~600,000US$) maize production is under an alternative host is an undesirable adaptation threat and farmers are about to deny maize production due to mechanism that will further ravage maize productivity. Maize Streak Virus disease as indicated in Plate 2 below. Plate 2: Maize field with sparse population density at Kiwere Plate 6: Maize infested with termites (left) and effect of village due to Maize Streak Virus disease early season drought at Mtandika village in Kilolo district in Iringa region, Tanzania Plate3: Heavy infestation of maize crop with striga weed Plate 7: Farmers at Upendo village observing and (left) and farmers holding a striga weed in a close range (right) assessing damage of stalk borer insect pest at Upendo at Upendo village in Chunya district, Tanzania. The farmer village in Chunya district, Tanzania NB: all photographs called it a menace as it deepens poverty in their village. The were taken between mid January to early February 2012 weed is a partial parasite. during Monitoring and Evaluation of AGRA-funded project Low use of seed of improved cultivars Plate 4: Dying maize plant due striga weed at Upendo village; Majority of farmers in Tanzania use seeds of unimproved intercropping maize with cowpea could not protect maize cultivars. Edmeades et al. (1997) associated dry lands and from the weed. impoverished soils with the preponderance of use of unimproved cultivars (landraces and recycled cultivars which have lost genetic integrity) in tropical maize. Echarte et al. (2008) reported that unimproved varieties use available agricultural inputs (i.e. fertilizers, pesticides) less efficiently. These production constraints result in stagnantly low and erratic maize grain yields observable in 159
Tanzania contrary to the production potential. The yield Dependency syndrome on external inputs in maize figures in low potential areas are further lower estimated production system at 5 t ha-1. Nonetheless open pollinated varieties (OPVs) are usually not an option in these zones as it has been Dependency syndrome on foreign seed companies for suggested by previous studies. Pixley and Bänzinger about 70% in Tanzania as Lyangituo et al. (2008) reported (2004) asserted that OPVs are relevant and appropriate may retard pace of Green Revolution in Agrarian where farmers’ yields are <2 t ha-1, but farmers need to Economies for the reasons that become clear. Use of shift to hybrids in agro-ecological zones with higher varieties which have not been bred for local adaptation potential. Enhanced maize production to narrow the gap very often succumb them to many locally important between grain yield and increasing human population will stresses. Regrettably this has led maize industry to depend be compromised if higher yielding varieties are not bred more on pesticides, fertilizers, and other agro-inputs, and adopted by farmers which in most cases are very expensive for farmers to afford. These inputs are not available on time. Farmers Table 2 indicates that farmers in Tanzania use mainly need to be instructed on judicious use of such inputs, unimproved cultivars of maize compared with while other inputs are fake. Evidence is real in Tanzania neighbouring countries such as Kenya, Malawi and for fake inputs in the agricultural sector, maize industry in Zambia, though statistics are about 20 years old the trends particular. Foreign varieties have also not been bred to may not have changed much to date. Inability to pay for meet consumers’ preferred traits. Eventually such seed of improved cultivars and inability to sell product in dependency has led to agricultural technologies which are a stable and open market is the chief impediment to not environmentally friendly, economically viable, and adoption of improved and properly adapted maize socially acceptable. cultivars, in many developing countries in Africa (Smale and Jayne, 2004). Furthermore the social investigations by New improved high yielding and earlier maturing locally Mushongi (2010) revealed that in areas where maize is adapted maize hybrids are therefore needed to support irrigated farmers always use improved seed of maize agrarian Tanzania in a changing ecological and social although this was not the case where farmers had world. Efforts are needed to build farmers’ awareness on alternative sources of income other than maize. This may advantages of new varieties through famer participatory suggest that irrigation infrastructure may increase breeding and promotional strategies. Linkage between the adoption of improved cultivars. Therefore appropriate public and private institutions involved in research, seeds of improved cultivars especially which tolerant to production, promotion and distribution of seeds of elite Maize Streak Virus diseases are highly needed. And this hybrids, to eventually put in place a sustainable local seed would be cost effective because with undesirable security mechanism, for the benefit of resource-poor consequences of climate change, irrigation schemes rural farming communities is highly required. should be increased, though breeding of water use efficient (and other ecological resources) cultivars would Situation with reference to Africa’s Green Revolution be needed in future as water resources are becoming The national maize breeding initiative holds experimental scarce. hybrids, sufficient and appropriate breeding populations with all the desired traits for successful implementation of Table 2: Estimated area planted to white maize hybrids as Green Revolution. All the commercial and potential percentage of total maize area in selected inbred lines have been classified based on the SH-MIP’s countries in 1992 A-B heterotic grouping system. This grouping system helps design of hybrids with desired characteristics such Country Percent Country Percent Country Percent as tolerance to stresses of economic importance and Egypt 28 Kenya 74 Zambia 65 market traits. The grouping is also used as a reference to Benin 0 Rwanda 0 Guatemala 12 discriminate and assess advantages of any newly Ghana 0 Mozambique 4 Honduras 12 introduced breeding populations into the local breeding Nigeria 3 Tanzania 6 Mexico 29 programme. Since according to Hallauer and Miranda Togo 1 Uganda 5 Nicaragua 3 (1988) that heterotic grouping is arbitrary, all the exotic Cameroon 5 Lesotho 80 Venezuela inbreds could therefore be discriminated into their Ethiopia 4 Zimbabwe 100 United States 95 respective groups against the local SH-MIP. Smale and Malawi 24 El Salvador 34 South Africa 100 Jayne 2004) reported that very often maize germplasm 94 from the temperate areas do not have direct application to the tropical zones which suggest that the value of every Source: 1993/94 World Maize Facts and Trends. Maize germpalsm introductions must be assesed for its Seed Industries, Revisited: Emerging Roles of adaptability to the recipient ecologies. The authors added the Public and Private Sectors, Selected Maize Statistics, that continued infusion of maize germplasm/seed CIMMYT, 1994, Mexico, DP. 160
through farmer purchases and seed distribution schemes, Old maize cultivars vulnerable to local stresses and those and of the involuntary mixture of germplasm types to suit changing human needs imply that more and more through cross-pollination in farmers’ fields, could render newly improved cultivars should be bred and made it difficult to estimate reliably the areas under improved accessible to farmers. The different stakeholders are seed in SSA. However, effort should be established to needed to such challenge. The Asian Green Revolution in continue to speed up the breeding process and release of the mid past century cannot be emulated 100% to SSA the new cultivars in adequate, affordable, appropriate today because of of the changing world. Heterosis is key amount, and create awareness to the needy farming to revolutionalising sub Saharan maize industry for communities on the gains out of improve varieties. substantial food security and poverty alleviation. However, due to market imperfections and cash Diffusion, adoption and impact studies for commercially constraints and lack of improved seed, African released varieties are very crucial if impact from breeding smallholders often “recycle” F1 seed. Farmers lack program is anticipated. Nevertheless, the potential knowledge and skills on recycling of cerified seed. And challenge is to conduct these social studies to the this has been the case with the farmers in Tanzania, communities where the local seed industry is dependent particularly this trend increases as the altitudes descend, on imports. In addition to this, small scale farmers poverty increase and/or level of training in maize produce maize under sub optimal production conditions agronomic practices decreases. (Plates 1-7) which reduces plant population density thus low productivity. However, Plate 8 indicates with the right Heterosis in maize means three very important things for varieties under good agronomic practices optimum African smallholder farmers. First, it means that to sustain population densities are possible thus pointing to high the yield increases they seek, they are reliant on a seed productivity. This situation places various local seed industry in a way that neither the rice nor wheat farmers stakeholders at cross roads on the entry point to address of Asia’s Green Revolution ever have been. On the other this challenge. The possible intervention would be to deal hand, a hybrid-based maize sector also requires large-scale with the root cause of the problem, i.e. inadequate seed to commercial seed enterprises, whose profits can be farmers and where could have the Government gone sustained only by strong seasonal demand by farmers for astray with regards to the current status of the local seed renewing their seed (Tripp 2001). Furthermore, temperate industry. Involvement of the private seed sector to share maize germplasm is not easily adapted to the non- ideas and breeding materials developed by public research temperate environments of the developing world-so that system leaving regulatory mechanisms to the the gains achieved by private companies in the western Government could be pertinent solution to this long- world and some parts of China are not easily transferred term existing challenge of inadequate seed availability to many of the smallholder farmers who produce in wide and overly dependency of the country on improved seed ranges of microclimates and technologies found in the from abroad. developing world (Morris 2001). There is no doubt that as the land frontier diminishes in many parts of the Plate 8: Field technicians thinning maize crop to optimum continent, including Tanzania, sustainable development plant population density (44,444 plants per hectare) at in societies that remain primarily agrarian will require Adnaced Maize Variety Trial site in Kiwere village in productivity gains rather than area expansion. Heterosis Iringa, Tanzania. The experiment is funded by Alliance for grain yield and other key adaptive traits is therefore a for Green Revolution in Arica (AGRA) under the measure of local adaptation (Duvick, 1999, Kang, 1994). initiative known as Programme for African Seed System Improved cultivars i.e. hybrid maize are therefore (PASS). The experiment aims at evaluating improved important because maize is the highest yielding (per plant maize cultivars that are tolerant to Maize Streak Virus and per unit area) crop species than any other cereal disease. This plate indicates that tolerant cultivars could particularly in SSA. The market potential of improved be bred and compared to Plate 2 which shows susceptible maize hybrids particularly at different nodes on the value maize due to the disease. chain needs a diversity of stake holders. Therefore this urges strengthen the public-private-partnership in developing countries if real Green Revolution in the Agrarian Economies is to take place. Targeted breeding products (varieties and traits) Deliberate breeding investments are needed to raise farmers’ grain yields from the current <1.5 ton ha-1 to about 5 and 8 in low and high potential zones, respectively providing new maize cultivars that are adapted to farmers’ production environments. The target varieties must 161
include three-way and top-cross hybrids for two main provide the net revenue on the millions of farms that are reasons. First is to take advantage of the wide genetic base 0.5-1.0 hectares or smaller to generate substantial crop embedded in these varieties to confer general adaptation income growth. The viable solution would be to engage because maize production in the targeted environments is private sector in the design for new maize cultivars in conducted under multiple stresses. Secondly is to ensure order to increase grain yield productivity under bumper seed yields when it comes to seed production unpredictable production conditions. stage for eventual wider distribution of seed to farmers. The ‘background breeding strategy’ targeting at the traits The availability of fake inputs in the market where of economic importance along with improved cultivar farmers loose money for seed, pesticides, fertilizers and productivity (per plant and per unit area) would mitigate labour thus perpetuating poverty to farmers who are the changing ecological and socio-economic challenges. already resource poor and produce maize nder suboptimal The SH-MIP including the ideotype breeding approach conditions. Smallholders are likely to be even farther from (engineering designs) of Mock and Pierce (1975), had all realizing yield potential, for reasons not confined to of these traits addressed in its routine breeding activities. weather. One reason is that the genetic advances offered by breeding research have not been matched by Capacity and continuity of maize breeding agronomic practices and efficient support services for programme smallholders, many of whom are located in marginal The genetic advances needed to sustain or enhance maize areas. Byerlee and Heisey (1996) asserted that as adoption yields depend on past investments in maize research. of improved maize moves into more marginal areas the Elsewhere, the availability of germplasm material and effects on national yield levels are also numerically technical capacity for any breeding programme has been marginal. Put simply, there may be little advantage of key to complement and assure its continuity toward using a hybrid if the yield potential of the farmer’s soil is successful achievements even after the senior breeders less than 1 ton. Therefore for maintaining high turnover retire. Smale and Jayne (2004) cited national maize of maize industry, new cultivars adapted under sub improvement capacity (i.e. including germplasm optimal production conditions coupled with market traits resources) and staff continuity as a success story to are relevant. Kenya’s maize breeding programme whereas lack of the same ruined the Malawian maize breeding programme. Assessment of the advantages from the breeding investments is vague because predominant use of The SH-MIP at ARI-Uyole has potential germplasm base unimproved cultivars in Agrarian Economies. Earlier which are locally adapted to mitigate the challenges to stated, the maize breeding investments have not been maize production and productivity such that exotic dedicated to achieve Green Revolution right from the inbred lines with genes of interest may be screened and needy communities in the intermediate and transition to- used for hybrid combinations with the local inbreds. low- altitudes mainly due to few skilled breeders and Inbred lines fixed for economically important stresses are limited funds. Evidences include a large number of available in the SH-MIP but some other traits such as foreign hybrids in these ‘forgotten ecologies’. In such early maturity, adaptive traits, and kernel productivity lack areas the farmers rely on cultivars that are unimproved, in the local breeding programme the situation which recycled, and/or landraces. The farmers do not use metric PASS initiative under AGRA has been devoted to address. units to weigh the grain produce because all the exotic It is expected that given continuity of resources for maize hybrids have large kernel volumes with low kernel research and farmers adopting newly relased cultivars densities which underestimates production and with time these efforts would be taken further to improve productivity of maize, and even susceptibility to post- national food security and alleviation of poverty. harvest loses due insect pests, poor processing qualities and losses due to high bran. However, the SH-MIP To minimize this challenge of maize sector-human hybrids have been selected for high kernel density. Exotic population growth gap, the Government should design hybrids do not contain most of the desirable traits as policy, institutional and science and technology those found in the local cultivars. These areas are mechanisms to feed the increased number of people becoming potential for maize production because of under declining productivity of maize ecosystems. Smale changing climate patterns, and the need for shorter and Jayne (2004) warned that rising land constraints will maturing cultivars which take up ecological resources progressively encourage farmers to shift toward crops faster (and probably efficiently) due to erratic moisture, providing high returns to scarce land - provided that the and fast accumulation of growing heat units within marketing and institutional infrastructure allows them to shorter periods. The other potential challenge is the threat do so. This would be manifested in a shift from the food of MSV since this disease compromises the anticipated self-sufficiency strategy to a comparative advantage sustainable bumper yields from irrigation investments. strategy. Given reasonable assumptions about future Therefore maize under continuous irrigation and by even productivity improvements, it is unlikely that maize can making the matter worse where farmers use cultivars that 162
are unimproved, segregating and susceptible provide certified varieties may have short shelf lives in the market. favorable conditions for MSV. The germplasm base ever developed and those advanced breeding populations and Breeding strategy proposed to solve the problem experimental hybrids would, for continuity reasons due to Empirical breeding for targeted traits farmers’ preference of newly bred cultivars, be of actual advantage if the SHMIP gets funds on constant basis Emerging and evolving challenges suggest that genetic from pro Green Revolution donors such as AGRA. improvement should be a continuous process in order to design cultivars that will respond to farmers’ demands. The threats of economic importance e.g. MSV, require it The maize breeding chain is as indicated in Figure 1. necessary to incorporate resistance genes into several of Strategies to minimize challenges could be both general local elite inbred lines through appropriate breeding and specific. Local inbred parents with per se grain yield methods. For instance use of local inbred parents with (GY) potential of 3.0-3.5 t ha-1 to confer yield heterosis desired tolerance in hybrid combination and (i.e. local adaptation to economically important stresses) incorporation of good combining ability and stalk quality would be a general strategy. Specific strategy would be use has been a common approach by the SH-MIP and this of exotic and/or local inbred lines with specific genes to provides a bright future to mitigate multiple stresses. With confer tolerance/resistance to stresses outlined reference to MSV disease, Barrow (1992) reported that a previously, and any other traits of interest. For instance, commercial MSV resistant variety must not have yield heterosis for early calendar physiological maturity, a highly penalty under disease free conditions. The good example required character in current elite cultivars of tropical was the yellow hybrid Sa34 which was released in 1975 maize, is always achievable through hybridization such after extensive testing (van Rensburg and Kühn, 1977), that the F1 cross matures earlier than the two parents but it was not accepted commercially due to low grain whereas a three-way cross is usually earlier than the F1 yield under disease free conditions (Barrow, 1992). This is cross provided wise selection is done (Hallauer and the evidence where continuity of the developed Miranda, 1988, Mather and Jinks, 1977; Giesbrecht, 1960). innovation would be compromised. The SH-MIP has In both strategies, common parents with general therefore been considering the grain yield components in combining ability must constitute the superior hybrids in MSV tolerant cultivars. order to facilitate and simplify seed production. In all situations to minimise loss of yield advantage, a male From the above, it is evident that availability of resources parent in a final cross must have high GY potential since and continuity of the breeding program would enable that parent constitutes 50% of genes for the trait under implementation of any maize improvement initiative focus. successfully. This could speed up the process of designing new experimental hybrids for immediate Three-way and top cross maize hybrids are commonly evaluation and their eventual release for the needy used in Tanzania just as other countries in SSA (Smale and communities. However, the challenge has been Jayne, 2004; Pswarayi and Vivek, 2007). Smale and Jayne inadequate local resources to sustain maize improvement (2004) preclude .use of F1 hybrids by resource-poor activities the situation which has cemented the disparity farmers for the reason of difficulty in seed production by between consumption and production. Hundreds of commercial seed companies. However, single-cross experimental hybrids at various levels of genetic stages hybrids, which may have a greater yield advantage due to known to be adapted to the economically important maximum heterosis and are more uniform, may be stresses have not been tested either for the same reason of marketed at premium prices. Notwithstanding, breeders lack of local resources. A few varieties released have not and seed businessmen should consider farmers who been adequately accessible to poor farmers who feed the predominate maize production to be able to access seed country. Markets and marketing infrastructure at all of single cross hybrids. To ensure adequate seed yield for nodes in the maize value chain is ill-governed and commercialization and that the farmers benefit from the coordinated either. Deregistration of the certified breeding programmes, the SH-MIP uses the modified varieties is not common in Tanzania as it is the case to cross breeding approach. In the modified single cross South Africa or other countries where seed industry has hybrid, this is the cross of an F1 hybrid produced by matured (MacRobert, 2009). With open and well crossing two related inbred lines (AxA’) with an unrelated controlled market in the hybrid maize industry farmers inbred line C i.e. (AxA’)xC. In order to overcome the may have choice for varieties and this would speed problem of a low yielding female line as expressed in some breeding initiatives - because breeding will be market ordinary single cross hybrids, use of a cross between two oriented. In countries with highly sophisticated seed related lines as the female parent in this type of industry, promotion efforts are very regular and organized because farmers’ awareness and their hybrids ensure more seed production while most of the willingness to test the new cultivar and the final choice uniformity characteristics typical in single cross hybrids also are higher. Consequently in such seed systems many are maintained. In some cases the double modified single 163
cross hybrids are desired. In such cases, the mating takes 2007). Most disappointingly, farmers’ selection indices the form of (A’xA) x (B’xB) thus A‘ and A are closely have not been systematically documented (Bänziger et al., related lines as a B‘ and B. The cross serving as a female 2000; de Groote et al., 2002). In such cases, agronomic should produce more seed than either parent used alone. features embedded in released cultivars might not have Similarly the cross serving as the male should produce been defined adequately (Joshi and Witcombe, 1996), so more pollen than either parent used alone. For the case of most cultivars that reach farmers are inappropriate modified three-way cross hybrid, the form of (AxB) x (Efisue et al., 2008). Partnerships between farmers and (CxC’) is used where the male parent is a cross between breeders, or client-oriented breeding (CoB) (Witcombe et two related inbred lines. This type of hybrid combination al., 2003; Virk et al., 2005), has been known to work well. may be used when it is desirable to enhance the male For instance, the CoB approach has reduced the breeding parent for pollen producing ability or general vigour. cycles of elite varieties in Thailand and India (Pandey and According to Kang (1994) should there be any need of Rajatasereekul, 1999; Witcombe et al., 2003; Virk et al., importing germplasm, its value should be assessed on 2005). There is potential for such an approach to be ability to 1) introduce new genes, and 2) forming heterosis applied in Tanzania (Nkonya et al., 1997), where the with elite local inbreds. adoption of improved maize varieties has been very low. producing ability or general vigour. According to Kang RESEARCH INSTITUTES (Breeding Prorammes) (1994) should there be any need of importing germplasm, its value should be assessed on ability to 1) introduce new Population improvement 8) genes, and 2) forming heterosis with elite local inbreds. 901-901. 0: Newly released varieties should conform to farmers’ ;<( production environments, so that farmers choose to grow ( them and they should also impose no added input costs -00 )- (Joshi and Witcombe, 1996). These varieties should be . 9( more superior than existing ones in terms of maturity, 89(. grain yield, adaptability, stability and marketability (Witcombe et al., 2003; Virk et al., 2005; Derera et al., = 901 2006). Very often such varieties are specific to culture, -= agro-ecology and socioeconomic aspects, as reported by (9>9>,7+9? Derera et al. (2006) in eastern Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, 1>,(>. breeders working alone would not easily identify these traits. Breeders should therefore always engage with farmers in target environments for the developed varieties. Involvement of the private seed sector Involvement of the private seed sector is essential if there is to be a sustainable access by farmers to quality seed of ( locally-improved cultivars. Private sector seed companies -:)>>. have the capacity to produce and distribute quality seed, and this fact has been evidenced in many other countries which have strong seed production and marketing < enterprises under the private sector (MacRoberts, 2009). Figure 1: Chain of sustainable production and availability Private sector seed companies should be involved in the of improved seed of maize to farmers variety demonstration and promotion phase, so that in Tanzania farmers get to know and build confidence in them as far as their requirements for certified seed are concerned. Participatory variety development Overall, a map on new and existing suitable certified Participation of farmers and breeders in the development cultivars including areas of their adaptation and the of varieties would result in the use of new varieties that vibrant seed firms in the respective zones would be impact positively on grain yield because farmers and developed and delivered to farmers as a suite of maize maize breeders have different selection criteria (de production technolog y. This strateg y, if done Groote et al., 2002; Virk et al., 2005). A crop variety is a concomitantly with identifying and locating prominent complex entity, with each farmer making his/her own maize-input dealers would enable farmers to access state- choices which are always difficult to quantify (Hu et al., of-the art technologies in hybrid seed industry eventually engaging the seed sector efficiently. 164
Variety Adoption Strategy Development (USAID), established the first seed project State of seed companies or seed multiplication in 1972, to produce and distribute seed, targeting primarily groups that may take up distribution of the new cereals and to a lesser extent legumes. Upon completion cultivars of the project, all major features of the seed sub-sector in Tanzania were in place (Rutabanzibwa and Kirenga, At least at the moment the seed business sector has begun 2000). These included; (a) establishment of foundation to go vibrant in Tanzania. So the private seed sector has to seed farms (Arusha, Mwele, Dabaga, Msimba, and limited capacity started to research, multiply and supply seed to farmers or community-based organizations Kilangali); (b) enactment of seed legislation i.e. Seed (CBOs). For example, the Highland Seed Growers Regulation Standards Act (No. 29 of 1973) and Seed Company Ltd which trade seed bred by national research Regulation of 1978; (c) formation of the government institutes under special contract has contracted some parastatal enterprise – Tanzania Seed Company individual farmers, CBOs and Government institutions (TANSEED) in 1973; (d) establishment of the Tanzania such as Prisons, National Service, and agricultural Official Seed Certification Agency (TOSCA) and its seed colleges to multiply seed of improved varieties and/or testing laboratories at Morogoro, Njombe and Arusha; parents of the certified locally-bred varieties. In this case and (e) the establishment of seed unit at the headquarters the contractor provides technical backstopping where of the Ministry of Agriculture. At this point, all new applications for contracts have been overwhelmingly institutions responsible for the importation, production, high. Internal quality control which is a joint technical research, processing, distribution, sale (and to a large backstopping between the granter of the contract and the extent, use) of modern varieties were effectively under contract grower improve further the physical and genetic government control. No any viable economic reforms in purity of the seed. Therefore this would be a potential to Tanzania has been able to rescue the local seed sector boost the seed industry of locally-bred improved except only to impact negatively on small scale seed cultivars of maize ultimately reducing food insecurity, business men and eventually trickling down to resource- poverty and degradation of natural resources. poor farmers (Rutabanzibwa and Kirenga, 2000; Hella and Mlabiti; Hella, 1992). Involvement of farmers (when and how) Farmers should be involved in the entire breeding cycle if Economic reforms and the seed industry in Tanzania newly improved cultivars are to be taken up and stay Macro-economic reforms came into being in the mid- longer in the market (de Goote et al., 2002; Doss et al., 1980s after realization that the economy was in a state of 2003). Farmers should therefore inform the design of sustained decline. Fiscal crises were the driving force new varieties because they are the end-users (i.e. informer behind the acceptance of structural adjustment in the of market-related traits and productivity) they also know African Governments (Smale and Jayne, 2004). The the trends and conditions of the patterns of their Government began to implement a Structural production environments which may help the empirical Adjustment Programme (SAP) by liberalization of the breeder to know the type and nature of stress. At the seed sub-sector. The process was further accentuated by advanced breeding stage and post-release of the varieties, the implementation of the Economic Structural farmers should be involved in promotion sessions. Adjustment Programme (ESAP) in the late 1980s up to Promotional services and researches need to be done in the early 1990s. In 1993 the Government announced its collaboration with the private sector who knows better decisions to liberalize agricultural inputs, including seed. grass-root stakeholders. Therefore this effort is coupled This was the time when proposals leading to the with regular farmers’ awareness creation sessions to help privatization of state enterprises, including those in the farmers cope with undesirable effects from climate seed sub-sector such as TANSEED and Foundation seed changes and challenges from socio-economic pressures farms, commenced. Input and output prices were no all of which may influence the breeding process. longer fixed by the Government. The private sectors begin to invest in agricultural production including the Evolution of the national seed industry and provision of inputs and services, such as seeds, agro- engagement of private sector History of seed sector chemicals and veterinary pharmaceuticals. A few in Tanzania multinationals, as well as regional, and local investors started investing in the seed sector as well. The most It is worth noting at the outset, that before 1970 Tanzania prominent of these were Cargill Hybrid seeds, Alpha had no formal seed sub-sector and almost all farmers Seeds, Incofin Tanzania Ltd, East African Seed Co., (except for those who could afford expensive imported Manungu Seed Co., Zambia Seed Co., Kenya Seed Co., seed) remained outside the formal seed system. Having Pannar, PopVriend, and Sluis Brothers (Rutabanzibwa realized these shortfalls, the government, in collaboration and Kirenga, 2000). with the United States Agency for the International 165
Liberalization of the seed industry, which saw the entry launch the Agricultural Seed Agency on 23/6/2006. This of several strong private seed enterprises almost Agency oversees promotion and protection of certified immediately, started threatening the existence of the local seed of local publicly bred crop cultivars. However, ASA seed company, TANSEED. Records had showed that still has a long to go because as Lyangituo (2008) reported, TANSEED carried out its activities fairly successfully Tanzania’s local seed industry depends on imported seed since its inception and up to the mid- 1980s, at which time by 70%. It therefore appears that ASA including other it had attained sales of up to 5500 metric tones of seed public seed stakeholders and the private seed sector must maize per season, let alone other cereals and pulse crop have a common platform to put in place strategies to seeds (Mussei et al, 2003). Other data show that by July reinvent the wheel to ensure the local seed industry is 1990 the company did marketing about 42 crop varieties revived. comprise 26 cereals, 11 legumes and 5 oil crops. According to seed statistics (1990), the company had Generally many private seed companies in Tanzania lack been operating in 17 regions, either through their four visionary ideas as business firms. They also lack skilled branches, five depots and nine retail shops or their 138 manpower especially trained maize breeders and state-of officially recognized stockists in the country. By the late the-art seed processing machinery in the pipeline of seed 1980s, however, inefficiency and excessively poor production and marketing. This situation has made local management started creeping into the seed system with seed companies to diversify their framework of goods and some devastating consequences. Since that period, this consultancy other than their primary objective i.e. the organization consistently failed to ensure a ready seed seed. Majority of these companies have been used by supply of appropriate crop varieties, of the right quality foreign seed companies which bring in their products and quantities as demanded by farmers operating in other than seeds and only a handful of these local various agro-ecological zones across the country. By the companies sell local certified seed. In the effort of their late 1990s seed sales had dropped down to less than 1000 survival, some local seed companies have lost focus metric tons per season and the number of cereal, legume consequently indulging into unscrupulous seed business. and oil crop varieties marketed by the company dropped Deliberate efforts from the Government to support and by 54%, 82% and 80% respectively. According to Mussei build up a strong local private seed sector are crucial if et al (2003), farmers’ decision to dis-adopt crop seeds ‘real’ Agricultural Revolution through maize industry is to marketed by TANSEED plunged the enterprise further take place in Tanzania. Some of these efforts could be, but into problems and by the year 2001, the company not limited, to: collapsed. This situation left the country without a sustainable local seed production and delivery systems. • the central government to train local seed companies This situation was made even worse by failure of many of on entrepreneurial skills, the registered local seed enterprises to quickly fill the vacuum left behind following the demise of TANSEED. • local private seed companies to be strongly linked up The past decade has been characterized by a combination with the local government authorities of unfavorable weather conditions, declining public because these authorities are closer to resource-poor investments in agricultural research, subsidy reductions, farming communities, and erratic policies, which appear to have precipitated a decline in productivity of maize industry. • because both the private and public seed stakeholders target a farming rural resource-poor Description of seed companies operating in the community there should be a regulated exchange of country: consequences and way forward ideas and materials relating to seed industry. This The above circumstances have thrown the local seed partnership may decrease as the capacity of each firm system into chaos and uncertainty as far as service to to produce and sell hybrid seed has attained a self- farming communities are concerned, however, a number contained research program. This could emulate the of relatively new local seed companies have already USA’s seed industry whereby the potential economic emerged and have shown the desire to participate fully in returns from the hybrid maize made the private seed the effort to revive the local seed industry. In addition, the sector to take off from the 1930’s and peaked by the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Food 1970’s. However, this trend decreased because of the Security and Cooperatives clearly realizes the potential passage of Plant Protection Act and the contribution of the private sector (i.e. PPP) in agricultural competitiveness of the commercial seed industry. development and has, therefore, been supportive of the Hallauer (1987) reported that until the 1980’s the extent formation of various types of partnerships with the of modern private breeding programmes exceeded private sector in order to speed up the effort to restore the those in the public sector and the trend was increasing. national seed industry. The other initiative by the Government to revive the national seed industry was to • providing and safeguarding subsiding environment to the local seed industry, • capacity building for breeders in the private sector to graduate degrees, and 166
• foreign donors to fund visionary and vibrant local seed and human resources. A few highlights where Agrarian companies. Economies could minimize dependency syndrome and realize Green Revolution are suggested: In a nutshell, identification of visionary seed firms and strengthening their capacity must be a priority. The • First and foremost is to conduct situation analysis to identified firms would in turn be exposed to other seed prioritise and focus on what is relevant to the needy companies to share experiences and skills, and the communities and achievable in a sustainable manner. techniques to remain competitive in the seed business. An Agrarian Economy could prioritise on safeguarding and harnessing genetic base of bio-resources and Current status of collaboration between the Public and consider Mineral sector a later priority because mineral the Private sector The local private seed companies seem ores are very few and exhaustible within a few decades. to have viable plans for capacity building and growth and Apparently the Mineral sector has not helped the they may eventually become strong players with regard to critical mass of people in Agrarian countries who have hybrid seed production, distribution and marketing in been custodian of the minerals. Such investment and Tanzania. The private-public partnership (PPP) could be decision by majority of Agrarian SSA has left villagers an engine to Agricultural Revolution in Africa particularly displaced, victims of pollution, with reduced land for in countries where formal seed sector is poorly developed crop production and eventually perpetuating misery. like Tanzania (MacRoberts, 2009). Monyo et al. (2004) and Tripp (2001) reported 66-85% of seed used by • Agrarian Governments should learn to trust, listen and resource-poor farmers in SSA source from informal use their local scientists and researchers to achieve market, thus prompting engagement of the PPP development goals. One major pitfall in Agrarian approach in the seed sector in SSA. Economies has been to politicize agriculture. A real Green Revolution will be a nightmare if bureaucracy The PPP is expected to continue grow stronger for continues to dominate science and technology. In my mutual benefit and for the benefit of resource-poor own view, such trend must be reversed. farmers in Tanzania. Having understood and used effectively, the approach would reduce unnecessary • Political will and good governance over all agro- expenditures of public resources for reasons that become resources for countries like Tanzania where peace and clear. First, both the public and private sector target to tranquility have been stable would be potential improve livelihoods of resource-poor farmers. Secondly, environment to demonstrate real Green Revolution. the private sector is business-oriented such that efficient Human population is an indispensable resource but it trading system is at their centre-stage compared to the could be hostile and disastrous if it is not managed and public system where many cross-cutting issues make it directed to a right path of economic development – ‘a inefficient in operation (MacRoberts, 2009). Thirdly, by hungry man could be an angry man’. Improved maize the very nature of the public system its role should be productivity (quantity and quality) to feed this potential limited to regulatory issues whereas the private sector resource seems to be only solution because this crop should take full charge of seed business and marketing impacts significantly the livelihoods of people in SSA. including funding of some applied and/or basic Having achieved food security then the Agrarian researches undertaken by public research institutes for Governments must search for viable strategies to tap crops like maize that form a large share of livelihoods of such resource and engage it strategies geared to achieve Tanzanians. sustainable development. How? poverty alleviation through wise investments in agriculture; coordinated Conclusion policies on food and nutrition, seed and crop varieties, Agrarian Economies have a potential to prosper if they food security, land, environment and natural resources, prioritise and use their local resources wisely in a changing agriculture and marketing especially through value ecological and socioeconomic world to eventually achieve addition in a honest market in the entire commodity sustainable development. Food insecurity and poverty chain, preventing and combating corruption; still ravage deeply SSA countries due mainly to two root democratization of all development plans and causes – natural and human related, and interaction of interventions, among others. Having achieved this, the these major factors. National development interventions gap between growth of Maize sector and human in agrarian SSA have been centering at symptoms instead population will be reduced thus attaining sustainable of addressing root causes the situation which has resulted economies in Agrarian countries. to dependency syndrome. As a result neocolonialism observed to date from the industrial economies on SSA • The private sector must be strengthened and its role to has been gaining momentum. Agrarian countries may Green Revolution must be boldly clear on the ground. synonymously be called ‘raw material region’ for the It is high time for Agrarian Governments to emulate developed world. And raw material covers both natural 167
how the private sector evolved, got involved and Bisanda,S., W. Mwangi, H. Verkuijl, A.J. Mushi, and P. continue to flourish as key partners of development in Anandajayasekeram. 1998. Adoption of maize the developed world. Having well managed and production technologies in Southern Highlands of regulated with clear roles with regards to Green Tanzania. The united Republic of Tanzania and the Revolution, the private sector would relieve the public Southern African Centre for Cooperation in Agricultural sector of heavy load a great deal. The motto for Research (SACCAR). Mexico D.F. Mexico. Agrarian Economies should be Public Private Partnership with more and more seed of improved de Groote, H., M. Siambi, D. Friesen, and A. Diallo. 2002. cultivars. Among other areas, the extension services Identifying farmers' preferences for new maize varieties could be privatized under special contracts whereas the in Eastern Africa. CIMMYT, Mexico DF: Mexico. current public research system could be made semi autonomous with some other special tasks taken up by Derera, J., P. Tongoona, A. Lyangituo, M.D. Laing, and B. the private sector. Some levels of devolution of roles Vivek. 2006. Farmer perceptions on maize cultivars in the among key players in the maize industry would reduce marginal Eastern Belt of Zimbabwe and their the notion that farmers are IGNORANT, extension implications for breeding. African Crop Science Journal officers are LAZY whereas researchers are 14:1-15. ARROGANT. And the consequences have been to reduce receptivity of farmers to developed Doss, C.R., W. Mwangi, H. Verkuijl, and H. de Groote. innovations. Therefore the change to address and 2003. Adoption of maize and wheat technologies in reverse such trend must underpin the real African Eastern Africa. A synthesis of the findings of 22 case Green Revolution. studies. CIMMYT, Mexico D.F. Mexico. References Duvick, D.N. 1999. Heterosis: Feeding people and AATF (African Agricultural Technology Foundation). protecting natural resources. In: J.G. Coors and S. Pandey 2009. Annual Report 2008. Addressing farmer’s (eds.). Genetics and exploitation of heterosis in crops. constraints through scientific interventions. English ASA, CSS, and SSSA. Madison, Wisconsin, Press, Nairobi. Kenya. United States of America. AGSTATS FOR FOOD SECURITY. 2007. The Echarte, L., S. Rothstein, and M. Tollennar. 2008. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, response of leaf photosynthesis and dry matter United Republic of Tanzania. Vol 1: The 2007/08 Final accumulation to nitrogen supply in an older and a new Food Crop Production Forecast for 2008/09 Food maize hybrid. Crop Science 48:656-665. Security. Edmeades, G.O., M. Banzinger, H.R. Mickelson and C.B. Amani, H.K.R. 2004. Agricultural development and food Peña-Valdivia (eds.). 1997. Developing drought- and low security in sub-Saharan Africa; Tanzania country report. nitrogen tolerant maize. Proceedings of a ymposium, Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF), Dar March 25-29, 1996, CIMMYT, El-Batán, Mexico, D.F. es Salaam, Tanzania. Mexico. ARI-Uyole, 2002/03 season. Annual Progress Report. Efisue, A., P. Tongoona, J. Derera, A. Lyangituo, M. Laing, Mbeya, Tanzania. and B. Ubi. 2008. Farmers' perceptions on rice varieties in Sikasso Region of Mali and their implications for rice Bänziger, M., G.O. Edmeades, D. Beck, and M. Bellon. breeding. Journal of Agronomy & Crop Science 194:393- 2000. Breeding for drought and nitrogen stress tolerance 400. in maize: From Theory to Practice. CIMMYT, Mexico D.F. Mexico. FAOSTAT. 2007. Food and agricultural commodities production. United Nations Food and Agriculture Barrow, M.R. 1992. Development of maize hybrids Organization. FAO, Rome. Italy. resistant to maize streak virus. Proceedings of the Ninth South African Maize Breeding Symposium, Giesbrecht, J. 1960. Inheritance of maturity in maize. Pietermaritzburg 1990. Technical Communication, Canadian Journal of Plant Science 40:490-499. Department of Agricultural Development, Republic of South Africa. No232, 120-124. Byerlee, D. and P. W. Heisey. (1996). Past and potential Hallauer, A.R., and J.B. Miranda. 1988. Quantitative impact of maize research in sub-Saharan Africa. Food genetics in maize breeding. 2 ed. Iowa State University, Policy 21(3): 255-277. Iowa. United States of America. 168
Hallauer, A.R. 1987. Maize. In: Fehr, W.R. (ed.). Principles New partnership to strengthen seed systems in Southern of cultivar development. Vol. 2. Crop species. Pp 249- Africa. Innovative community/commercial seed supply 294. Macmillan Publishing Company, Macmillan Inc., models. In: P.S. Setimela, E.S. Monyo, and M. Bänziger New York , United States of America. (eds.), Successful community-based seed production strategies. Mexico, D.F.: CIMMYT. Hella, J. P. 1992. The Status of Hybrid Seed Maize Utilization in Tanzania: The case of Iringa region. Mussei, A.N.; L.T.H. Nsemwa; N.G. Lyimo; C. Kabungo; Unpublished MSc thesis, SUA Morogoro M.M. Mkoma. 2003. The Impact of Market Liberalisation in Improved Seed Marketing in Ruvuma Region, Ministry Hella J. P. 1998. Role of Infomal Seed Sector in Tanzania’s of Agriculture and Food Security, ARI-Uyole, Mbeya, Seed Industry. A Consultancy report to Promotion of Tanzania. Small Scale Seed Production Project funded by. GTZ/SADC, 43 Merchant House, Robert Manyika Mushongi, A. 2010. Genetic studies of seconday traits and Avenue, Harare Zimbabwe. yield in maize under high and low nitrogen conditions incorporaating farmer perceptions and preferences for Hella, J.P. and M.E. Mlambiti. 1998 Impact of Macro- new varieties. PhD Thesis. University of KwaZulu- Natal, economic reforms on Improved Seed Utilization in Pietermaritzburg, Republic of South Africa. Tanzania. AGREST Conference series Vol. 3. SUA Morogoro. Morris, M. L. (2001). Assessing the benefits of international maize breeding research: An overview of the Hu, R., J. Cao, J. Huang, S. Peng, J. Huang, X. Zhong, Y. global maize impacts study. Part II of the CIMMYT 1999- Zou, J. Yang, and R.J. Buresh. 2007. Farmer participatory 2000 World Maize Facts and Trends. Mexico, D.F. Mexico. testing standard and modified site-specific nitrogen management for irrigated rice in China. Agricultural Moshi, A.J., and W. Marandu. 1985. Maize research in Systems 94:331-340. Tanzania. In B. Gelaw (ed.). To feed ourselves: a proceedings of the first Eastern, Central and Southern Joshi, A., and J.R. Witcombe. 1996. Farmer participatory Africa Regional Maize Workshop, Lusaka, Zambia. crop improvement. I. Participatory varietal selection, a case study in India. Experimental Agriculture 32:461-477. Nkonya, E., T. Schroeder, and D. Norman. 1997. Factors affecting adoption of improved maize seed and fertiliser Kang, M.S. 1994. Applied quantitative genetics. in northern Tanzania. Agricultural Economics 48:1-12. Department of Agronomy, Louisiana State University. United States of America. Pandey, S., and S. Rajatasereekul. 1999. Economics of plant breeding: the value of shorter breeding cycles for Langyintuo, A.S. W. Mwangi, A.O. Diallo, J. MacRobert, J. rice in Northeast Thailand. Field Crops Research 64:187- Dixon, and M. Bänziger. 2008. An analysis of the 197. bottlenecks affecting the production and deployment of maize seed in eastern and southern Africa. Harare, Pixley, K.V., and M. Bänziger. 2004. Open-pollinated Zimbabwe, CIMMYT. maize varieties: a backward step or valuable option for far mers? In D.K. Friesen and A.F.E. Palmer Lyimo, N.G. 2006. Improving farmers' access to and (eds.),Integrated approaches to higher maize productivity management of disease resistant cultivars in the Southern in the new millennium: Proceedings of the 7th Eastern Highlands of Tanzania. Final Technical Report. Uyole and Southern Africa regional maize conference. 5–11 Feb. Agricultural Research Institute, Mbeya, Tanzania. 2002. Nairobi, Kenya: CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) and KARI (Kenyan MacRobert, J.F. 2009. Seed business management in Agricultural Research Institute). Africa. Harare, Zimbabwe, CIMMYT. Pswarayi, A., and B. Vivek. 2007. Combining ability Mather, K., and J.L. Jinks. 1977. Introduction to among CIMMYT's early maturing maize (Zea mays L.) Biometrical Genetics. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, germplasm under stress and non-stress conditions and New York. United States of America. identification of testers. Euphytica 162:353-362. Mock, J.J., and R.B. Pearce. 1975. An ideotype of maize. RATES. 2003. Centre for Regional Agricultural Trade Euphytica 24:613-623. Expansion Support (RATES). Maize Market Assessment and Baseline Study for Tanzania, May 2003. Nairobi. Monyo, E.S, M.A. Mgonja, and D.D. Rohrbach. 2004. Kenya. 169
Robinson, R. A. (1987) Host management in crop pathosystems, NY, Macmillan Publishing Company. United States of America. Rutabanzibwa, A.P. and G.I. Kirenga (2000). Policy and regulatory changes to the Tanzania seed and sub-sector: Institutional implications for future availability of quality seed. In Seed Systems for the New Millennium: An Action Plan for Tanzania. The Proceedings of the Stakeholders’ Review and Planning Workshop, 7-8 December, 1999, SADC/ICRISAT, Sorghum and Millet Improvement Program, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. 31- 38pp. Smale, M. and T.S. Jayne. 2004. Maize in Eastern and Southern Africa: “Seeds” of Success in Retrospect. Conference Paper No. 9. Paper presented at the NEPAD/IGAD regional conference “Agricultural Successes in the Greater Horn of Africa”. Nairobi. November 22-25, 2004. Tripp, R. 2001. Seed provision and agricultural development. London, UK; Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and James Currey, London and Oxford. van Rensburg, J.B.J and Kühn, H.C. 1977. Maize streak disease. Maize Series E.3.3. Virk, D.S., M. Chakraborty, J. Ghosh, S.C. Prasad, and J.R. Witcombe. 2005. Increasing the client orientation of maize breeding using farmer participation in India. Experimental Agriculture 41:413-426. Witcombe, J.R., A. Joshi, and S.N. Goyal. 2003. Participatory plant breeding in maize: A case study from Gujarat, India. Euphytica 130:413-422. by Arnold A Mushongi, Ph. D. National Maize Breeder, Tanzania 170
Oslo’s Young World Leader serves Table for Two MOSAICQUE magazine, interview’s the Norwegian -Where else does one find a core group of friends that Young World Leader who is passionate about having communicates daily thoughclosed social media platforms, world peace in our lifetime. He is the Chairperson of the with the purpose to help and inspire eachother? Norwegian Chapter of the NGO Table for Two – an organization that is committed to reducing child The YGL community for me is a real support system. It is malnutrition in the world by serving healthy meals for the a support system that has inspired and helped me, to go children. back into politics and get elected in 2011. Bjarte Reve is also a decorated Young Global Leader I’m running again in 2015 at the city level in Norway. Now (YGL) @ World Economic Forum (WEF). He served with a green platform after joining a small group of YGLs WEF for five years in the capacity of being a member of on learning journey to Greenland in June. Seeing the Economic Development Committee. dramatic climate change going on in Greenland, has inspired me to act on a local level, by using nudges and We asked Bjarte few questions regarding his commitment, incentives, to help people take greener choices. profession and vision – here are the excerpts of his interview: Bjarte is proud to serve as country Chair for “Table for Two” NGO and achieve its MDGs goals milestone by What inspires you? addressing malnutrition, and child mortality. It inspires me to see people pursue what’s important to Profile: them and develop their skills to fulfil their dreams. I enjoy working with children and empowering them to attain Bjarte Reve, is Chief their full potential and assist them in using their abilities Communications Officer at and potential for building the society. Akershus University Hospital in Norway and Member of the What is your vision? management committee. The 9,000- employee hospital is one of the most I believe it’s important for every society to provide modern in Europe and offers everyone the opportunity for a thriving life. I believe in specialized healthcare in the Oslo education for all and affordable access to healthcare. It is region. Previously, he was Chief important for everyone in the society to consider being a politician whether in India, Africa or Europe. I, as an Executive Officer of Oslo Cancer Cluster, a non-profit elected official have done good for my community such as organization set up to accelerate the development of new providing access to free education which is a building cancer medication. Formerly, he was a political adviser in block for a thriving community. Parliament for the Conservative Party. He then moved into the private sector and worked for Merck & Co in Bjarte’s journey at World Economic Forum as a Young external affairs. He has been Director of Strategy for the Global Leader from 2009 to 2014 in his own words: Southern Norway Regional Health authority, and headed the national healthcare practice for Ernst & Young I have been fortunate enough to be part of the Young Advisory and Geelmuyden Kiese Group in Norway. Reve Global Leaders community since 2009, so I will be alumni holds an Executive MBA in Strategy from NHH in soon. The community has grown with me, and I have Norway and a Master's in Management from BI in appreciated it more and more over the years. Norway. Reve is an elected politician in Bærum, Norway, for the Conservative Party. He has been a Member of the -Where else can you find life-long friends across cultures, city council and also the city school board since nations, boundaries and religion? September 2011. -Where else does one get a chance as a relative young leader, to get engaged in international projects for the Bjarte Reve is the Norwegian Country Chair for Table for betterment of people? I have been active myself with Two NGO, based in Tokyo. TABLE FOR TWO (TFT) Table for Two as one example. provides rights balance to feed the school children around the world. When one chooses a healthy meal in a Table for -Where else does one get a world class team from WEF Two organizations like Akershus university hospital, one doing its utmost to help, engage, plan, inspire and enable also provides a healthy school meal to a child in Ethiopia. YGLs to perform better as a team and individually? Table for Two (TFT) was initiated by and is an official 171
affiliate of the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders. We are always looking for more partner organizations around the world to join TFT. It helps your own employees eat more healthy meals, but also provides a warm school meal to a child in need. by Bjarte Reve Chief Communications Officer, Nansen mauro son, Of Oslo Norway 172
EBOLA VIRAL DISEASE AND EBOLA VIRUS: A REVIEW ABSTRACT Health in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nigeria announced a cumulative total of 1,779 suspect and Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and 961 with a death rate of up to 90%. EVD formerly known as deaths, as of August 6, 2014. Of the 1,779 clinical cases, “Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF)”. Till now due to 36 1,134 cases have been laboratory confirmed for Ebola EVD outbreaks 4140 number of cases reported while virus infection 2. Table 2 shows number of incident and 2,510 lost their lives during outbreaks. EVD is caused due death cases reported during ebola virus disease outbreaks to ebola virus which is linear, single-stranded, negative- from 1st September 1976 to 6th August 2014. sense RNA molecule and belongs to the family Filoviridae. Mode of transmission of Ebola into the Year Country Ebolavirus species Case Death human population is through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of 2014 Nigeria Zaire 13 2 infected animals. The incubation period I defined as “the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of 2014 Liberia Zaire 554 294 symptoms”. The incubation period for ebola virus is 2-21 days. EV infection can be diagnosed by Enzyme-linked 2014 Sierra Leone Zaire 717 298 Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), antigen detection tests, serum neutralization test, reverse-transcriptase 2014 Guinea Zaire 495 367 polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and virus isolation by using viro cell line. No effective antiviral drug and no 2012 Democratic Republic of Congo Bundibugyo 57 29 specific licensed vaccines are available in international market for EV. To overcome this lack of awareness and 2012 Uganda Sudan 7 4 knowledge part about ebola virus this review article in planned by Indian authors. 2012 Uganda Sudan 24 17 2011 Uganda Sudan 1 1 Keywords: 2008 Democratic Republic of Congo Zaire 32 14 Ebola virus (EV), Ebola viral disease (EVD), Ebolavirus 2007 Uganda Bundibugyo 149 37 species, clinical features and treatments. Death Year Country Ebolavirus species Case 187 INTRODUCTION: 2007 Democratic Republic of Congo Zaire 264 10 Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness 7 with a death rate of up to 90%. EVD formerly known as 2005 Congo Zaire 12 29 “Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF)”. In this article, the 128 concise overview of the outbreaks of ebola viral disease 2004 Sudan Sudan 17 44 (EVD) history, structure of ebola virus, mode of 53 transmission, clinical features, diagnosis, treatments and 2003 Congo Zaire 35 224 preventive measures are given below- 1 2003 Congo Zaire 143 45 OUTBREAK OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE (EVD) 21 : 2001-2002 Congo Zaire 59 254 Ebola virus disease (EVD) affects humans and 0 nonhumans primates like chimpanzees, gorillas and 2001-2002 Gabon Zaire 65 monkeys. Till now 36, EVD outbreaks recorded. From 36 outbreaks, 4140 number of cases reported while 2,510 2000 Uganda Sudan 425 lost their lives during outbreaks. The first EVD outbreak was appeared in 1976 in Nzara, Sudan and in Yambuku, 1996 South Africa Zaire 1 Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter was in a village situated near the Ebola River, from which the disease 1996 Gabon Zaire 60 takes its name 1. Table 1 shows the chronology of previous ebola virus disease outbreaks from 1st 1996 Gabon Zaire 31 September 1976 to 6th August 2014. The World Health Organization, in partnership with the Ministries of 1995 Democratic Republic of Congo Zaire 315 1994 Cote d’lvoire Tai Forest 1 173
TABLE. 1: SHOWS THE CHRONOLOGY OF negative-sense RNA molecule. The EV virion is PREVIOUS EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE pleomorphic, producing 'U'-shaped, '6'-shaped or circular OUTBREAKS FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER 1976 TO forms but the predominant forms of the virion most 6TH AUGUST 2014. frequently seen by electron microscope are long tubular structures 6. Year Number of cases reported Number of deaths reported 1976 603 431 Ebola virus comprises of 5 distinct species namely- 1) 1977 1 1 Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV), 2) Zaire ebolavirus 1979 34 22 (EBOV), 3) Reston ebolavirus (RESTV), 4) Sudan 1989-1990 3 0 ebolavirus (SUDV) and 5) Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV). 1990 4 0 Out of these 5 species, BDBV, EBOV, and SUDV are 1994 53 31 associated with large EVD outbreaks in Africa. The 1995 315 250 RESTV can infect humans but no illness or death in 1996 40 23 humans has been reported till date. This species 1996-1997 60 45 predominantly found in Philippines and the People's 2000-2001 425 224 Republic of China 1. Table 3 shows death rates as per 5 2001-2002 122 96 ebola virus species from 1st September 1976 to 6th 2002-2003 143 128 August 2014. 2003 35 29 2004 18 8 Ebola virus Subtypes Number of cases reported Number of deaths reported 2007 264 187 Ebola 3162 2048 2007-2008 149 37 Sudan 779 412 2008 6 0 Reston 13 0 2008-2009 32 15 185 50 2011 1 1 Bundibugyo virus 1 0 2012 47 17 Taï Forest 4140 2510 2013 6 3 Total 2014 1779 961 Total 4140 2509 TABLE. 3: SHOWS DEATH RATES AS PER 5 EBOLA VIRUS SPECIES FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER 1976 TO 6TH AUGUST 2014. TABLE. 2: SHOWS NUMBER OF INCIDENT MODE OF TRANSMISSION : AND DEATH CASES REPORTED DURING EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE OUTBREAKS FROM Mode of transmission of Ebola into the human 1ST SEPTEMBER 1976 TO 6TH AUGUST 2014. population is through close contact with the all bodily fluids of infected animals and persons 7. In Africa, EBOLA VIRUS (EV) infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest Ebola virus disease (EVD) is sever haemorrhagic fever antelope and porcupines found ill or dead or in the caused due to EV. According to the International rainforest 8,9. Ebola able to spreads in the community Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, ebola virus belongs through human-to-human transmission, with infection to the family Filoviridae. Filovirus particles are ~80 nm in resulting from direct contact like broken skin or mucous diameter and found in the form of twisted filaments 3. membranes with the blood, secretions, organs or other This Ebola virus (EV) genome is 19kb long and 4.2x106 bodily fluids of infected people and indirect contact with Da with seven open reading frames encoding structural environments contaminated with such fluids 6. Sexual proteins including the virion envelope glycoprotein (GP), contact is also major route of transmission for ebola virus. nucleoprotein (NP), and matrix proteins VP24 and VP40; Men who have recovered from the EVD can transmit the nonstructural proteins, including VP30 and VP35; and the virus through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery viral polymerase 4. The GP open reading frame of Ebola from illness. Ebola virus was isolated from semen 61 days virus gives rise to two gene products namely, a soluble 60- after onset of illness in a man who was infected in a 70 kDa protein (sGP) and a full-length 150-170 kDa laboratory 1,10. Till date, it is hard to extrapolate the protein (GP) that inserts into the viral membrane through health effects of the virus to all population groups such as transcriptional editing 5. It is linear, single-stranded, immunocompromised persons, persons with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women and children. 174
CLINICAL FEATURES : suspected people with EVD or confirmed with EVD The incubation period I defined as “the time interval from should be isolated from other patients and treated by infection with the virus to onset of symptoms”. The health workers using strict infection control precautions incubation period for ebola virus is 2-21 days 1. The 12. clinical features can be divided into four main parts as follows- (1) In this phase, patients suffering from ebola PREVENTIVE MEASURES : virus display influenza–like syndrome symptoms like high There are few simple ways by which Ebola transmission fever, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, sore throat, and can be controlled if outbreak takes place:- malaise with nausea; (2) In acute phase, patients do not respond to antibiotics and display headache, intense · Routine cleaning of animal farms of pig or monkey fatigue, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, anorexia and vomiting with sodium hypochlorite as disinfectant or other like symptoms; (3) In pseudo-remission phase, patients detergents should be effective in inactivating the virus. may recover during this phase and survive from the disease on day 7-8 and in (4) aggravation stage the health · After EV outbreak is suspected, the premises should be status gets worse and patient might lost his life due to quarantined immediately. Any way of animal to human clinical manifestations like – respiratory disorders transmission should be avoided. Restricting or banning (dyspnea, throat and chest pain, cough, hiccups); the movement of animals from infected farms to other symptoms of haemorrhagic diathesis (bloody diarrhoea, areas can reduce the spread of the disease. Gloves and haematemesis, conjunctival injection, gingival bleeding, other appropriate protective clothing should be worn nosebleeds and bleeding at the site of injection consistent when handling sick animals or their tissues and when with disseminated intravascular coagulation); skin slaughtering animals. manifestations (petaechiae, purpura; neuro-psychiatric manifestations (prostration, delirium, confusion, coma); · Reducing the risk of wildlife-to-human transmission cardio-vascular distress fluids 6. from contact with infected fruit bats or monkeys / apes and the consumption of their raw meat. Animals DIAGNOSIS : should be handled with gloves and other appropriate Early laboratory confirmation of suspected clinical protective clothing. Animal products such as meat haemorrhagic fever cases is essential to implement should be thoroughly cooked before consumption or appropriate control measures. Ebola virus infections can one can avoid eating meat for that particular time of be diagnosed definitively in a laboratory through several disease progression in world 6. types of tests like Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), antigen detection tests, serum neutralization · Reducing the risk of human-to-human transmission test, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT- can be achieved by avoiding Close physical contact with PCR) and virus isolation by using viro cell line 6. Other Ebola patients. Gloves and appropriate personal diseases that should be ruled out before a diagnosis of protective equipment should be worn when taking care EVD can be made include: malaria, typhoid fever, of ill patients at home. Regular hand washing is shigellosis, cholera, leptospirosis, plague, rickettsiosis, required after visiting patients in hospital, as well as relapsing fever, meningitis, hepatitis and other viral after taking care of patients at home. haemorrhagic fevers 1. In INDIA, to diagnose this ebola disease laboratory capacity strengthened at the National · Samples taken from suspected human and animal Institute of Virology, Pune and National Centre for Ebola cases for diagnosis should be handled by well Disease Control (CDC), Delhi 11. and properly trained staff and processed in suitably equipped laboratories and should be handled with utmost care 1. CONCLUSION : TREATMENT : To overcome this lack of awareness and knowledge part Till writing this article no effective antiviral drug and no about ebola virus this review article in planned by Indian specific licensed vaccines are available in international authors. market. However, several clinical trials are going on to prevent or treat ebola virus infection 6. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care in hospitals. During infection, they are frequently feel dehydrated as a result they need intravenous fluids or oral rehydration with solutions that contain electrolytes. However, in some cases of EVD they will recover after the appropriate medical care. To prevent further spread of the virus, 175
REFERENCES : by http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en / Vikrant C. Sangar 1. [Last accessed on 8th Aug 2014]. Scientific Officer, http://www.who.int/csr/don/2014_08_08_ebola/en Department of Virology, / Haffkine Institute Mumbai, 2. [Last accessed on 9th Aug 2014]. 3. Gatherer D: The 2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak in Mumbai West Africa. Journal of General Virology 2014; 95: 1619-1624. 4. Sanchez A: Filoviridae: Marburg and Ebola viruses. In D. M. Knipe, & P. M. Howley (Eds.), Fields virology Philadelphia, PA.: Lippencott-Ravenpp 2001: 1279- 1304. 5. Sullivan N, Yang Z and Nabel GJ: Ebola Virus Pathogenesis: Implications for Vaccines and Therapies. Journal of Virology 2003; 77(18): 9733-9737. 6. Muyembe-Tmfum JJ, Mulangu S, Masumu J, Kayembe JM, Kemp A and Pweska JT: Ebola virus outbreaks in Africa: Past and present, Onderstepoort Journal of Veternary Research 2003; 79(2): 1-8. 7. Leroy EM, Rouquet P, Formenty P, Souquière S, Kilbourne A, Froment JM: Multiple Ebola virus transmission events and rapid decline of central African wildlife. Science 2012; 303: 387-390. 8. Le Guenno B, Formenty P, Wyers M, Gounon P, Walker F and Boesch C: Isolation and partial characterisation of a new strain of Ebola virus. Lancet 1995, 345: 1271-1274. 9. Rouquet P, Froment JM, Bermejo M, Kilbourne A, Karesh W, Reed P: Wild animal mortality monitoring and human Ebola outbreaks, Gabon and Republic of Congo, 2001–2003. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2005, 11: 283-290. 10.Bausch DG, Towner JS, Dowell SF, Kaducu F, Lukwiya M, Sanchez A: Assessment of the risk of Ebola virus transmission from bodily fluids and fomites. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2007, 196 (Supplement 2): 142- 147. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/governme nt-issues-alert-for-early-detection-of-ebola- virus/article6288093.ece 11. [Last accessed on 8th Aug 2014]. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/faq- ebola/en/ 12. [Last accessed on 8th Aug 2014]. 176
Counter Culture Coffee Since 1995, Counter Culture Coffee has been dedicated to Health in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nigeria sourcing unique coffees from exceptional producers, announced a cumulative total of 1,779 suspect and roasting them with care and sharing them – along with our confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and 961 passion for all things coffee – with coffee lovers. As the deaths, as of August 6, 2014. Of the 1,779 clinical cases, company grew in the early 2000s, its buying team built a 1,134 cases have been laboratory confirmed for Ebola reputation for traveling to remote coffee farms to virus infection 2. Table 2 shows number of incident and establish relationships with farmers and co-operatives death cases reported during ebola virus disease outbreaks based on mutual respect and trust. In addition to helping from 1st September 1976 to 6th August 2014. us tell compelling stories, these relationships are crucial to both the taste of our product and the sustainability of our Profile: company: not only do we get insight about the Kim Elena Lonescu, is a green coffee buyer and the environmental and social conditions of the farm, we are manager of sustainability for the internationally lauded also able to work together with growers to develop the coffee-roasting company Counter Culture Coffee, which potential for delicious coffee that everyone from coffee is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. When she's farmer to coffee drinker recognizes as highly valuable. not on the road visiting coffee producers, Kim works to advance the company's environmental and social With delicious coffee and higher prices as a platform, we commitments in the communities where its employees are able to influence coffee producers to adopt and customers live. agricultural practices that will ensure long-term productivity and environmental health. We are also in a position to respond to the needs of coffee-producing communities and help strengthen their capacity to continue growing coffee and thrive, as opposed to simply surviving. In keeping with our commitment to being great students of coffee as well as educators, we both share our knowledge with farmers and connect them to resources as well as learning from them and spreading good ideas and successful techniques to farmers in our global network. Though coffee grows in upwards of fifty countries around the world and demand for it is increasing every year, the volatile global market for green, unroasted coffee makes farming coffee a risky livelihood, especially for the smallholder farmers who produce more than 50% of the world's supply (and an even higher percentage of the really good stuff). Coffee's ability to survive and successfully adapt to global challenges like climate change, economic instability and population pressure demands that we work collaboratively within our supply chains and across to connect communities in pursuit of shared long term goals. The growth of the market for high-quality, or specialty, by coffee, over the past decade is inspiring: as coffee lovers seek to know more about where their morning cup comes Kim Elena Lonescu from, how its made and why it tastes the way it does, Sustainability Manager, coffee has gotten better and better. Sustaining this growth and upward trajectory, however, relies on our ability to North Carolina communicate clearly, collaborate and deliver on the promise of this extraordinary product. The road is full of challenges, but we are excited to work on them together. 177
“Solutions for Water” Every three years the World Water Council organizes a Financing Water for All - The World Panel on Financing World Water Forum in close collaboration with the Water Infrastructure also called Camdessus Panel, was authorities of a host city and country. The World Water active over the 2001-2003 period, and presented its final Forum is the largest international event in the field of report \"Financing Water for All\" at the 3rd World Water water—over 20,000 participants from more than 190 Forum in Kyoto, 2003. The Panel's objective was to countries attended the last edition. In 2012, the world address ways and means of attracting new financial water Forum will be organized in Marseilles, France. resources to the water field. It comprised 20 personalities with top-level experience in government, finance ministries, international development financial agencies, commercial banks, water companies, NGOs active in the water sector and a number of eminent independent professionals. Prime Minister Gul, Turkey during 2009 World Water The Task Force on Financing Water for All (or Gurria Council annual event in Istanbul Task Force) has been formed at the end of 2005 as a follow-up of the Camdessus Panel to ensure that the World Water Vision - At the 1st World Water Forum, financing issues related to water and sanitation receive the Marrakech, 1997, the World Water Council received the continuous attention they deserve. Under the mandate to develop the World Water Vision for Life and chairmanship of Angel Gurria, former Mexican Minister Environment for the 21st Century. Within two years, over of Finance and new Secretary General of the OECD, the 15,000 women and men at local, district, national, regional Task Force members focused on local authorities' access and international levels shared their aspirations and to finance and water for agriculture. The report “Task developed strategies for practical action towards the Force on Financing Water for All: Enhancing access to sustainable use and management of water resources. The finance for local governments - Financing water for Vision includes contributions from professionals and agriculture“ was presented during the Fourth World Water stakeholders in more than 15 geographic regions. It was Forum in Mexico. presented by the World Commission on Water for the 21st Century at the Second World Water Forum in March 2000 Strengthening Local Authorities – The World Water in The Hague, the Netherlands. Council set up a programme to develop capacities of local authorities (municipalities, district and provincial World Water Actions – In continuity with the Vision, the governments in rural and urban areas) for development World Water Council set-up an action-monitoring and management of water and water services. As a result, program after the 2nd World Water Forum (The Hague, the Istanbul Water Consensus was presented during the 2000). This exercise was conducted by the Water Action 5th Unit, focusing on field actions, and on leading processes. The “World Water Actions report” is an inventory of the World Water Forum, Istanbul 2009. This document thousands of worldwide actions which affect the way requires cities to prepare action plans to analyse water- water is managed. It aims to raise awareness of solutions related challenges and implement strategies to cope with that are available to improve water resources management them, to set up a series of indicators and to report on the and anticipate emerging priorities which will serve as progress at the next World Water Forum. 250 Local and guidelines for future efforts. The accent is placed on Regional Authorities from 43 countries were represented actions that are significant at the national level, and/or in Istanbul and more than 800 Mayors have already signed that show innovation and new approaches to recurring the IWC. Ten big cities like Vienna, Lausanne, Incheon, challenges. Paris and Buenos Aires have even committed to become “champion cities” of the IWC and will build on the momentum and coordinate the work carried out for specific subjects. Founded: 1996 Headquarters: Marse ille, France Approx. 400 Members President: Loïc Fauchon Vice President: Benedito Braga http://www.worldwatercouncil.org 178
“Solutions for Water” The World Water Council was established in 1996 on the · Raise awareness with decision makers and the public at initiative of water specialists and international large on water issues and, subsequently, to generate organizations. Following the Dublin Declaration in 1992 action; and in response to the decision of the Ministerial and Officials Conference on Drinking Water and · Contribute to improving access to water supply and Environmental Sanitation held in March 1994 in the sanitation and report on progress towards meeting the Netherlands (and endorsed by the Commission on Millennium Development Goals1; Sustainable Development and the General Assembly of the United Nations) to explore the concept of a World · Provide opportunities to progressively develop shared Water Forum, the International Water Resources visions on challenging water issues, to develop new Association meeting in Cairo in 1994 charged a partnerships and to pave the way for cooperation and committee to carry out the preparatory work to create a action among a wide diversity of organisations and World Water Council. This Committee defined the individuals; mission and objectives of the World Water Council, formally established in Marseille on June 14, 1996, as set · Encourage greater media attention for water issues and forth in its Constitution. solutions. The World Water Council's objectives, as stated in its Till date the world water council has organized Constitution, are: following annual events, 1. To identify critical water issues of local, regional and Location Year Approximate Total Number of Theme global importance on the basis of ongoing assessments Marseille, France 2012 Attendees (including fair and expo) Istanbul, Turkey 2009 of the state of water; “Solutions for Water” Mexico City, Mexico 2006 2. To raise awareness about critical water issues at all levels 2003 over 20,0002 “Bridging Divides for Kyoto, Japan 2000 Water” of decision making, from the highest authorities to the The Hague, The 1997 general public; Netherlands 27,50010 “Local Actions for a Marrakech, Morocco Global Challenge” 3. To develop a common strategic vision on integrated water resources management on a sustainable basis, 25,000 “A Forum with a and to promote the implementation of effective Difference” policies and strategies worldwide; 5700 “From Vision to Action” 500 “Vision for Water, Life and the Environment” The World Water Council is comprised of over 400 member organisations based in over 60 countries and organised in 5 Colleges that represent the main groups of stakeholders: 4. To provide advice and relevant information to College 1: Intergovernmental organisations institutions and decision-makers on the development College 2: Government and governmental authorities and implementation of policies and strategies for College 3: Enterprises and facilities sustainable water resources management, with due College 4: Civil society organisations and water user respect for the environment and social and gender equity; and associations College 5: Professional associations and academic 5. To contribute to the resolution of issues related to transboundary waters. Aim of the Council is to: institutions Membership of the World Water Council is open to any organisation with an interest in water issues that accepts the missions and objectives of the World Water Council, as defined in its Constitution and By-laws. Membership fees are calculated according to the country's GDP (PPP). by Melaine Giard World Water Council, Paris 179
Ronit Avni, Just Vision, Virginia, VA
The power of the young As we progress in our careers our passion has a tendency to wane. We get mired in the weeds. We become more Jill is an entrepreneur. She is a big thinker with big ideas. concerned about benefits and compensation She is also an idealist. She imagines a world in which packages. We make safer and safer decisions for fear we companies make their impact on society their primary may lose what we've worked so hard to get. Worse, we bottom line and the financial results that follow as their often forget why we started down the path in second bottom line. She is smart and articulate and her the first place. The young remind us why we started. They ideas are really good, but she's struggling to get anyone to remind us of ourselves when we were their age. They are take her seriously. like a jolt of electricity that can recharge even the most beleaguered of devices. What's the problem? According to the companies that close the door on her, it's Nelson spent time below deck to soak up this passion. He because she's only 24. understood that it was the responsibility of the experienced to pass down their lessons to the There is something about youth that the more inexperienced, so that, one day, they would become the experienced often forget and don't take advantage of - great admirals of the seas. But he also understood that the their passion. Passion is a valuable currency. Some are passionate had a vital role to play in the system. Nelson rich with it and some poor. Some trade it in over the wanted to hear their ideas, their dreams, their optimism. It course of their careers only to be left at the end of their kept him going. His ability to \"stay young\" was one of the lives with a big house and a fast car but no more passion. reasons he became on of the greatest leaders in history - The youth, low on experience, are often rich in passion. commanding astonishing loyalty from the young and More importantly, it is their passion that provides the the experienced alike. necessary capital required to make the kind of progress that the financially rich can only look upon and drool. To all those people who told Jill you're not interested in her ideas because she has no experience, may I remind Steve Jobs was 21 when he founded Apple. Mark you, that's not her job...it's yours. Your job is to hear the Zuckerberg was 20 when he started Facebook. Michael ideas you don't have and figure out how to make them Dell was 20 when his company built its first computer, happen. That's the value of experience. And, in the Bill Gates was 20 when Microsoft became Microsoft. process, you may just achieve something great...just like Larry Page and Sergey Brin were 25 when they founded you dreamed of when you were young. Google and Richard Branson was only 22 when he opened Virgin Records. Everyone on this list was low on experience and even lower on cash when they started. All they had was an intense passion to pursue their visions and an ability inspire others to join them in their pursuit. Horatio Nelson, the British admiral made famous for Reprinted With Full Permission. defeating Napoleon's navy at the Battle of Trafalgar, had an unusual habit when at sea. He would go to the bottom by deck and spend time with his most junior officers. In those days, this was just not done...an admiral socializing Simon Sinek with the youngest ranks? It was unheard of. But Nelson Start With Why, didn't go down to tell them a thing or two. He didn't go below deck to whip them into shape. Quite the opposite. Boston, He spent time with them to get something from them. To MA get something they had lots of, more than any of his ranking officers: unbridled passion and blind optimism...and Nelson loved it! 180
Miss Arizona 2014 Meet Miss Arizona 2014 Alexa Rogers, is a passionate and dynamic young leader who is committed in using her victory to address hunger and poverty issues in United States. She is particularly passionate about addressing challenges facing the homeless children in Arizona & United States. Within this context she works with Future for Kids NGO based in Arizona that address children at risk by taking projects related to atheletics, ethics and education. She wishes to be Miss America. by Alexa Rogers Miss Arizona 2014, Miss America Organization 181
Drug Discovery & Development in Bangladesh MOSAICQUE Oct. edition honors the first ever TWAS Shamsun, has spent indeed a great deal of her childhood Chemistry award instituted in the honor of Dr. Atta-ur- time with her maternal grandparents Mohammad Harun Rahman, a leading scientist & scholar from Pakistan, Mallick and Mrs. Raisa Harun, - who served the Bengal ushered onto Young Women Scientist Dr. Shamsun Civil Service Cadre. Mrs. Raisa Harun has made an Nahar Khan from Bangladesh. extensive contribution in the development of education system and economical status of woman in Bangladesh Atta-ur-Rahman, from Pakistan, is a leading and has also been decorated with the prestigious scientist and scholar in the field of organic Presidential award for her elaborate contributions to the chemistry, especially renowned for his research in social welfare to the woman deprived from social benefits areas relating to natural product chemistry. With in the country. Dr. Shamsun Khan has been influenced, over 850 publications, he is also credited with groomed, embraced and encouraged by her grandmother reviving higher education and research practices in from childhood towards nation building. Pakistan. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society (UK) in 2006 thereby becoming one of the only 4 Regarding the research: scientists in the Muslim world to ever have earned Dr. Khan's started her drug discovery research during her this honor. He is Vice-President (Central & South undergraduate training in Dhaka, by conducting clinical Asia) of the TWAS Council, President of the trials studying various important indigenous medicinal Network of Academies of Sciences of Islamic plants and their bioactivity on chronic skin diseases. These Countries (NASIC) and Foreign Fellow of the diseases, according to Dr. Khan did not show any Korean Academy of Sciences. Atta-ur-Rahman was sensitivity or activity using conventional steroids, but the President of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences observed fascinating bio-activity by using these medicinal from 2003 to 2006, and was again elected President of plants. So she went ahead and isolated multi drug resistant the Pakistan Academy of Sciences in 2011. clinical bacterium specimen from different clinical disease conditions and discovered that many of the plants Introduction: extracts of these medicinal plants are highly bioactive on In this October edition of MOSAICQUE Magazine, we these bacterium specimens. are featuring an outstanding & blessed Young Women Scientist from Bangladesh – Dr. Shamsun Nahar Khan, This led to Dr. Shamsun's keen interest in the drug the eldest daughter of Begum Hasmat Ara M.D. and discovery and development, that started earlier in her Sahfique Khan. Her father is a well known activist from research career. Till date, she has discovered more than 20 Bangladesh, profoundly involved with the development classes of new alpha-glucosidase inhibitors from both of the country by serving himself as an Executive natural and synthetic sources. These are of interest, due to Director and Senior Advisor of Gonoshahthaya Kendra their therapeutic potential in the treatment of variety of (Peoples' Health Center; Coordinator Dr. Zafrullah disorders, such as diabetes, HIV infection, cancer, and Chowdhury, is the winner of Alternative Nobel Prize\"), lysosomal storage diseases. Results of this research are and has played a prominent role in nation building, as a reflected in her thirty research publications, in peer- health care provider to a vast majority of population in reviewed and reputed journals. Bangladesh particular with respect to global health care issues. Due to the important clinical and industrial applications of her research, she has been awarded a total of 7 US Dr. Shamsun Khan's, Mother Dr. Hasmat Ara started patents and publications. She has also expanded her work her career as a medical doctor (Dhaka Medical College) to the enzyme stabilizers by characterizing Pulicarside-1; and later on engaged herself as an academician to teach which helps to increase efficiency of the alpha- Pharmacology at the Bangladesh Medical College - one of glucosidase by reducing the production cost of the most renowned medical institute of the country. Dr. monosaccharide from disaccharides. She has elaborated Khan has been brought up by her parents in an her work to the method development of clinical / intellectually enlightened environment. synthetic fungal transformation. 182
Dr. Khan has shown an extraordinary enthusiasm for headquarters in Trieste. Khan completed her thesis at the both chemistry and biology since her doctorate studies, H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International and carried out a variety of interdisciplinary Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, at the investigations, including: anticancer studies; enzyme University of Karachi, Pakistan, in 2008. kinetics using chromatographic techniques; homology modelling; and pesticide & medicinal plant analysis etc. Shamsun Nahar Khan is the holder of 7 patents, and the She eventually focused her efforts on the identification of recipient of several awards, including the award of Merit enzymes associated with different clinical conditions and Scholarship Programme for High Technology from the a kinetic study of enzyme inhibition. Islamic Development Bank in Saudi Arabia. She supervised some 20 students between 2008 and 2010, and One of Dr. Khan's projects involved the identification of has authored more than 30 papers in international peer- a complex structure of 7sk small nuclear RNA and HIV-1 reviewed journals. For these contibutions to her field, (human immunodeficiency virus) Tat peptide through Khan was awarded the Atta-ur-Rahman Prize for NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). She has currently chemistry. completed this project successfully with excellent findings. One of the findings includes introducing Shamsun has had been invited for many international innovative research idea in the country specially to work in conferences and university for her talk including, most the interface of chemistry and biology. She is currently prestigious 42nd congress of IUPAC (International working in the field of pharmacology and enzymology Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry) held in Glasgow, along with phytochemical investigation of medicinal UK and University of Bath, UK in 2009. plants in Bangladesh. She has had been awarded \"TWOWS Postgraduate Dr. Khan's project was also involved in the identification Fellowship\" to start her Ph.D. due to her keen research of a complex structure of 7sk small nuclear RNA and interest. For her excellent performance as an academician, HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) Tat peptide East West University awarded her \"Excellence in through NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). She has Research and Teaching\" award. completed the project successfully with an excellent finding. She is introducing this innovative research idea in Publications: the country specially to work in the interface of chemistry One of her important contribution is as an author of a and biology. She is working in the field of pharmacology chapter of a book entitled \"Bioassay Models for and enzymology along with phytochemical investigation Antidiabetic Activity of Natural Products\" published by of medicinal plants in Bangladesh. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Trieste, Italy. This chapter is very often used as Dr. Khan is now working on developing novel alpha guidelines for the alpha-glucosidase inhibition and in-vivo glucosidase inhibitors - alpha glucosidases are known to pharmacological studies for diabetic and related research be the enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. work by the researchers. Their inhibitors interfere with the absorption of glucose in the gut, and could help to control the blood sugar level She actively participates to extending her contribution to in type-2 diabetes. Dr. Khan has identified some major the different international and national organization inhibitors within different families of natural compounds, among them \"RSC (Royal Society of Chemistry) UK, such as terpenoids, flavonoids and iridoids, as well as \"Organization for Women in science for Developing within synthetic compounds such as biscoumarins, world (OWSD)\", Italy and \"Asian Network Research on isocoumarins and chalcone derivatives. Antidiabetic Plants\" are noticeable. Awards & Accolades: Khan began her academic career in 1999 as a lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacology, at Gono Bishwabidyalaya (People's University), in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In 2002, she was awarded a postgraduate fellowship to undertake research on a PhD by the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), which is hosted by TWAS at its 183
Profile: Dr. Shamsun Nahar Khan, Born in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1974, Shamsun Nahar Khan received the first Atta-ur- Rahman Prize in chemistry in 2012, she has been also awarded TWAS-Bangladesh Young Scientist Award in 2011. Dr. Khan has Bachelor and Master's in Pharmacy, being a Professional she has chosen to develop her carrier as an academician and continued her research in academia. Dr. Khan has been recently completed her postdoctoral training program from the department of Molecular and Cellular Biology Department, Cambridge, MA, USA. Shamsun is exceptionally resourceful; she has established well-equipped laboratories with HPLC (High pressure Liquid Chromatography, IR (Infrared Spectroscopy), GC (Gas Chromatography) to facilitate research work at her university. During pursuing her Ph.D she showed her courage and volunteer as a coordinator of her research group at her host research institute for a significantly longer period of time. She was actively involved in organizing more than a dozen's of international conferences and workshops. At this moment she is serving as an Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy, East West University Currently Shamsun is guiding more than 10 research students at Masters and graduate levels. Shamsun is looking forward to have contemporary science education in Bangladesh. Currently Shamsun is guiding more than 10 research students at Masters and graduate levels. Shamsun is looking forward to have contemporary science education in Bangladesh. by Prof. Shamsun Nahar Khan, Ph.D. University Of Dhaka, Bangladesh 184
Current Research in Secondary Metabolism of Medicinal Plants in India My article is focused on my studies on “Interrelationship pathways in the nucleus. This important finding offers between gene silencing phenomena in Drosophila insights towards establishment of a coherent link melanogaster” as well as my current interest on secondary between the two silencing processes. metabolism in medicinal plants. Gene silencing refers to reduction or ‘knock down” of a particular gene. It can In addition, using bioinformatics tools we have predicted operate at transcriptional or post transcriptional level. At miRNA genes in avian influenza and adenoviral genomes. post transcriptional level double stranded RNA acts as The predicted targets of these microRNA in host human guide for sequence specific cleavage of homologous genome identified a wide spectrum of genes including mRNA transcripts or for translational repression. At genes involved in signal transduction pathways, transcriptional level binding of multiprotein complexes transcriptional factor etc. Most importantly genes of Polycomb (PC) or Heterochromatin Protein 1 silence involved in RNAi and chromatin remodeling pathway the expression of a gene, by obstructing access to were also the part of predicted targets. This proposed an transcription factors. My study has attempted to establish alternate host-pathogen relationship and complexity in a link between various such silencing processes. which miRNA plays and important role and unravels a new mechanism how viruses invade and thrive in the host I have been instrumental partly in establishing the role of environment. RNAi machinery in heterochromatin formation at tandem repeats of drosophila eye color reporter gene Current Research: white. This was first study in a metazoan demonstrating the role of RNA in transcriptional silencing. This research A variety of organic compounds are synthesized by plants has been published in esteemed journal Science. that are chiefly classified as primary and secondary metabolites. Primary metabolites are required for basic Using en-w transgenes – carrying noncoding engrailed processes like photosynthesis, respiration, growth and polycomb response element fused to white coding development. Secondary metabolites are other sequence in a hybrid transgene – I have tried to establish a phytochemicals which are accumulated in unusually high link between co- suppression of dispersed transgenes and amount – not as mere intermediates of chemical pairing sensitive repression (PSR). Mutations of the processes. These compounds are very diverse and their minimal 181bp en PRE were analyzed for their ability to distribution is often limited to related species. Plant show PSR and co-suppression. Thus sequence Secondary metabolites are the major source of novel determinants of the two independent silencing pathways compounds, and about 60% all FDA approved drugs are were determined. Previous reports had indicated the either natural products or their derivatives. Taxol and requirement of RNA silencing factors for PC mediated Artimisin are examples of a few blockbuster drugs that transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) of Fab7 PRE. are natural products. However in my studies of en-w transgenes the interplay between RNA silencing and TGS seems to be different. My lab currently works on elucidating the secondary The transcriptional repression of en-w transgenes is metabolic pathways in medicinal plants, with a long term enhanced in the mutants of RNAi pathway. Thus these objective of producing some of these metabolites in studies indicate how various polycomb response elements simpler organisms such as yeast. Functions of many such previously thought to be behaving similarly can show secondary metabolites are not well established. We are subtle differences. also trying to understand the function of these metabolites in plants. We employ both genetic as well as Finally, I have characterized a novel gene Gas41, whose molecular approach to find the genes that either encode loss of function mutations disrupt RNA silencing of the enzymes of secondary metabolism pathway or that white, the drosophila eye color gene in sensor transgenics have regulatory roles pertaining to expression of encoding white hairpin RNA. Loss of silencing in secondary metabolites. Coleus forskohli is a medicinal microRNA sensors & reduction of various mature herb that produces a labdane diterpene named forskolin. miRNAs in Gas41 mutants, suggests a role of Gas41 in Forskolin is a reversible adenylate cyclase activator and is microRNA biogenesis. Moreover, it also affects widely used in cell biology assays. Its unique chemical heterochromatic silencing & assembly of its components structure with eight chiral centres has intrigued synthetic and position effect variegation in wm4h & Sbv. This is chemists for a long time, and the chemical synthesis corroborated by loss of Histone 3 Lysine 9 methylation process is very lengthy and expensive. mark & reduction in Heterochromatin protein 1 binding. These results demonstrate the crucial role Gas41 plays in The plant remains the only viable source of forskolin. bridging the transcriptional and chromatin silencing Recently, 1,9 dideoxy forskolin, a forskolin synthesis intermediate was shown to have potent anti-cancer 185
activity. Despite the discovery of forskolin about three decades ago, there is almost no information available on the genes involved in the biochemical pathway that produces forskolin. Forskolin is known to be synthesized in the leaves and then it gets transported to roots, where it gets stored. This provides opportunity to make subtractive EST libraries in order to identify genes involved in synthesis of this compound. We are preparing and sequencing the subtractive EST libraries from Coleus forskohlii. Detailed annotation will be performed, followed by full-length cloning and heterologous expression of candidate genes. Their activities will be confirmed through in-vitro assays, as well as through RNAi mediated knockouts, in-vivo. We also intend to perform genome wide mutagenesis screens to identify these genes.activity. Despite the discovery of forskolin about three decades ago, there is almost no information available on the genes involved in the biochemical pathway that produces forskolin. Forskolin is known to be synthesized in the leaves and then it gets transported to roots, where it gets stored. This provides opportunity to make subtractive EST libraries in order to identify genes involved in synthesis of this compound. We are preparing and sequencing the subtractive EST libraries from Coleus forskohlii. Detailed annotation will be performed, followed by full-length cloning and heterologous expression of candidate genes. Their activities will be confirmed through in-vitro assays, as well as through RNAi mediated knockouts, in-vivo. We also intend to perform genome wide mutagenesis screens to identify these genes. Another metabolite Rohitukine in biosynthesized in a few tree species of Meliaceae family, such as Amoora rohituka and Dysoxylum binectariferum. Structure activity studies with this metabolite led to the development of US-FDA approved anti-cancer drug Flavopiridol, a potent and specific inhibitor of human Cyclin Dependent Kinases (CDK). Here also we are interested in identifying the genes involved in biosynthesis of rohitukine as well as to try and understand the function of rohitukine in the plants. Summit Gandhi Ph.D., Scientist, CSIR 186
Kerosene: still a burning issue in Africa Lifeline Energy is a non-profit social enterprise that Unfortunately, stories like this are all too common in provides on-demand access to education and information Africa. Exposure to kerosene retards economic progress, to vulnerable populations. Lifeline Energy designs, poisons children, causes deadly fires, horrific burns and manufactures and distributes solar and wind-up media injuries, and death. This fuel is silently destroying the lives players and radios for classroom and group listening. It and livelihoods of countless women and children across also provides clean energy LED lights to support night- Africa. time learning and women’s empowerment. With nearly 900 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, Lack of access to radio and reliance on poor quality more than 80% have no access to electricity. Much of the batteries are other forms of energy poverty. Dependency population straddles the equator where it gets dark at on disposable batteries along with firewood, kerosene, night and light in the morning around 6:30 each day. In charcoal and candles – energy sources of the poorest – all addition, many African houses are rough hewn from mud contribute to environmental degradation and poverty. or aluminium and poorly ventilated. Seeing inside is Since 1999, 500,000 of our radios and media players have difficult even in daytime. People don’t use them at night provided learning access to an estimated 20 million for fear of the dark, snakes, or being attacked. Of the listeners, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. options available for lighting - kerosene, candles, firewood and batteries - kerosene is the most common. And Kerosene use by the poor remains a perilous issue across because it’s for household use, it’s a woman’s fuel - and the developing world. Renewable energy products and woman and children bear the brunt of energy poverty. services are making in-roads, however, kerosene is still the primary light and cooking source for much of Africa, Nyeri, a 32 year-old former teacher from Kenya’s Great where Lifeline Energy mainly works. Rift Valley barely survived the fire that started when a koroboi’s flame caught her skirt. She was eight months Kerosene dousing dreams in sub-Saharan Africa pregnant. Living in a rural area, it took hours for her to be transported to a hospital, which was ill-equipped to deal Like many girls in Africa, Rose’s dream is to become a with life-threatening burns. In agonizing pain, Nyeri teacher. The shy grade six student revises her homework prematurely gave birth to a boy. Having no way to nurse at a rickety table in a tin shack in a Nairobi slum. A the baby because burns covered half of her body, the baby kerosene lamp fashioned from a can of bug spray called a died. Badly disfigured, when she was well enough to koroboi in Swahili, allows Rose to study for just 15 return home her husband divorced her, kept custody of minutes a night. The light is inefficient and dim. The her children and banished her to her parent’s faraway fumes are noxious; the smoke ‘scratches’ her eyes. homestead. When Nyeri’s parents passed away she was plunged into destitution and now depends on hand-outs to survive. In the morning she ‘spits up black’. She hates kerosene Masquerading as a benign fuel not only because it stinks and makes her feel tired and ill, but because six years ago her younger brother tipped over There are an estimated 1.4 billion a koroboi, catching the house on fire killing her mother, people globally who live without father and brother. To 13-year-old Rose, kerosene is the reliable access to electricity, and an smell of death. additional 1.2 billion who live with intermittent electricity. If you?re reading this, then electricity is likely the flip of a switch. The life threatening and profoundly challenging energy issues that the poor deal with every day have until recently been consigned to the periphery. Wikipedia portrays kerosene as a\" diverse and relatively harmless fuel, used mostly to power jet-engine aircraft and rockets.\" Although it briefly glosses over the fact that \"at one time\" it was widely used in lamps and lanterns, it woefully fails 187
Search
Read the Text Version
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
- 82
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 87
- 88
- 89
- 90
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 97
- 98
- 99
- 100
- 101
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- 109
- 110
- 111
- 112
- 113
- 114
- 115
- 116
- 117
- 118
- 119
- 120
- 121
- 122
- 123
- 124
- 125
- 126
- 127
- 128
- 129
- 130
- 131
- 132
- 133
- 134
- 135
- 136
- 137
- 138
- 139
- 140
- 141
- 142
- 143
- 144
- 145
- 146
- 147
- 148
- 149
- 150
- 151
- 152
- 153
- 154
- 155
- 156
- 157
- 158
- 159
- 160
- 161
- 162
- 163
- 164
- 165
- 166
- 167
- 168
- 169
- 170
- 171
- 172
- 173
- 174
- 175
- 176
- 177
- 178
- 179
- 180
- 181
- 182
- 183
- 184
- 185
- 186
- 187
- 188
- 189
- 190
- 191
- 192
- 193
- 194
- 195
- 196
- 197
- 198
- 199
- 200
- 201
- 202
- 203
- 204
- 205
- 206
- 207
- 208
- 209
- 210
- 211
- 212
- 213
- 214
- 215
- 216
- 217
- 218
- 219
- 220
- 221
- 222
- 223
- 224
- 225
- 226
- 227
- 228
- 229
- 230
- 231
- 232
- 233
- 234
- 235
- 236
- 237
- 238
- 239
- 240
- 241
- 242
- 243
- 244
- 245
- 246
- 247
- 248
- 249
- 250
- 251
- 252
- 253
- 254
- 255
- 256
- 257
- 258
- 259
- 260
- 261
- 262
- 263
- 264
- 265
- 266
- 267
- 268
- 269
- 270
- 271
- 272
- 273
- 274
- 275
- 276
- 277
- 278
- 279
- 280
- 281
- 282
- 283
- 284
- 285