TY - JOUR A1 - Ullah, Ayat A1 - Mishra, Ashok K. A1 - Bavorova, Miroslava A1 - Kächele, Harald T1 - The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on market integration: Evidence from vegetable farmers in Pakistan JF - International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the agriculture sector and farming communities to unprecedented risks. This study investigates the impact of the pandemic, identifying the suggestions of community elders for effective resilience via in-depth interviews (IDIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). We also examine determinants of vegetable farmers' inputs and outputs market participation using a binary logit model. The findings reveal poor business owners’ support, difficulties accessing inputs and outputs markets, non-availability/shortage of inputs recommended by extension services, and poor access to mechanizations. Labor shortages, lack of access to agricultural credit, and lack of information on innovations and markets are also barriers to market integration of farming communities in Pakistan. Results of the logit model show that farming experience and support from market owners drive the participation of both the inputs and outputs market. Similarly, ownership of personal vehicles and the availability of farm machinery drive the participation of farmers in outputs markets. Various strategies are suggested to mitigate the risks of the Covid-19 pandemic, including the establishment of inputs and outputs markets, strategies for transportation, access to information, and farm machinery at the local level. KW - Agriculture sector; Farming communities; Coronavirus; Markets integration Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7430 SN - 2212-4209 IS - 80 PB - Elsevier ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Madaki, Mustapha Yakubu A1 - Lehberger, Mira A1 - Bavorova, Miroslava A1 - Igbasan, Boluwatife Teniola A1 - Kächele, Harald T1 - Effectiveness of pesticide stakeholders’ information on pesticide handling knowledge and behaviour of smallholder farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria JF - Environment, Development and Sustainability N2 - Although pesticides ensure the quality and quantity of agricultural produce, they have adverse effects on farmers, their families, and consumers. Therefore, in order to reduce the unpleasant effects of pesticide use, stakeholders would be well advised to extend guidance and precautions to end users. The objective of this study was to determine the pesticide handling behaviour and the effectiveness of pesticide information on pesticide handling knowledge and personal protective equipment (PPE) use among farmers in southwest Nigeria. One hundred and fifty-six farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire in December 2019 and January 2020. The results revealed that a one-third of the farmers dispose their pesticide residues on the field, only 3% of the farmers dispose the hazardous pesticide waste at a collection point, and 65% of them dispose the empty containers indiscriminately. The majority of farmers never use respirators (79%), hats (60%), and boots (57%) when applying pesticides. Knowledge of pesticide application and waste management is low (58% of respondents scored less than 10 on a knowledge scale of 0–14). The result of the regression model shows that information from pesticide labels and farmer-to-farmer exchanges significantly increase farmers’ knowledge of pesticide handling and PPE use. Our results suggest that the effectiveness of current information provision to smallholder farmers on the correct use of pesticides is not sufficient. Therefore, we highlight the need for pesticide companies, distributors, and government agencies to intensify and further develop their efforts to empower smallholder farmers to improve their knowledge and use of pesticides. KW - Pesticide handling; Personal protective equipment; Pesticide information sources; Pesticide labels Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-8213 PB - Springer Nature ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kandel, Giri Prasad A1 - Bavorova, Miroslava A1 - Ullah, Ayat A1 - Kächele, Harald A1 - Pradhan, Prajal T1 - Building resilience to climate change: Examining the impact of agro-ecological zones and social groups on sustainable development JF - Sustainable Development N2 - Nepal is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, which is negatively affecting agricultural production and food security. However, the role of agro-ecological zones and social groups in climate change adaptation (CCA) and its impact on smallholder farmers in Nepal remains unexplored. To fill this gap, this study aimed to identify the effect of agro-ecological zones and social groups on smallholder farmers' adaptation to climate change using the multivariate probit model. Multistage sampling was used to collect data from 400 households in three agro-ecological zones of Nepal. These zones were highland (mountainous region), midland (hilly region) and lowland (terai/plain region). The results of our study showed that farmers in the Mountain region are more likely to adopt off-farm activities and temporary migration as a CCA strategy than those in the Terai/plain agro-ecological zone. In the Terai/Plain, farmers mainly adopt small-scale irrigation and agroforestry. In terms of social groups, the Brahmin group was more likely to adopt new crop varieties and small-scale irrigation than the Sudra group. The Sudra farmers preferred temporary migration and off-farm activities more than the Brahmins. Our study shows that policies to promote the adoption of CCA strategies need to take into account location and social group differences in order to improve the adaptive capacity of the most vulnerable farmers. Mountain and Sudra farmers need support to adapt to climate change and sustain agriculture. KW - agro-ecological zones KW - climate change KW - multivariate probit model KW - social groups KW - sustainable development Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-8226 SN - 0968-0802 VL - 31 IS - 5 SP - 3796 EP - 3810 PB - Wiley ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Madaki, Mustapha Yakubu A1 - Muench, Steffen A1 - Kächele, Harald A1 - Bavorova, Miroslava ED - Barkenbus, Jack T1 - Climate Change Knowledge and Perception among Farming Households in Nigeria JF - Climate N2 - Nigeria is committed to achieving a 20% unconditional and 45% conditional reduction of GHG emissions by 2030 through a strong focus on awareness of and preparedness for climate change impacts via the mobilization of local communities for climate change mitigation actions. As land cover changes and forestry contribute 38% and agriculture contributes 13% of the country’s GHGs, farmers are among the stakeholders to be aware of and prepare for climate change mitigations and adaptations. This study assessed the knowledge of agriculturally related practices associated with climate change and its relation to climate change perception. One thousand and eighty (1080) smallholder farmers were interviewed across six agroecological zones (AEZs) of Nigeria using a structured questionnaire. The results revealed that most farmers know that deforestation and land clearance by bush burning contributes to climate change. However, many farmers did not know that methane emissions from livestock (enteric fermentation) can cause climate change. Our results further show that the farmers’ perception of climate change is associated with climate change knowledge. Factors affecting the climate change knowledge of farmers include information received from government extension services, environmental NGOs, and radio, as well as experiencing extreme weather events. Farmers of dry AEZs were more aware and knowledgeable of the agricultural practices contributing to the changing environment. Increased exposure to climate change events thus appears to elevate the knowledge on the topic. Using government services, environmental NGOs, and radio to disseminate climate change information will help further in guiding and shaping farmers’ perceptions towards scientific findings for appropriate actions. KW - - KW - causes of climate change KW - climate change perception and knowledge KW - climate change mitigation KW - farm practices KW - knowledge gap theory KW - agroecological zones KW - Nigeria Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6306 SN - 2225-1154 VL - 11 IS - 6 PB - MDPI ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Barnabas, Bulus A1 - Bavorova, Miroslava A1 - Madaki, Mustapha Yakubu A1 - Kächele, Harald T1 - Food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food vendors participating in Nigeria’s school feeding program JF - Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety N2 - Abstract This study aimed to measure the food safety knowledge, attitude, and practices among food vendors engaged in Nigeria’s ongoing Home-grown School Feeding Program. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in face-to-face interviews with 240 food vendors from 3 states in northeast Nigeria involved in the school feeding program using a structured questionnaire. Multiple linear regression results revealed that increased education and access to information through radio, television, and food inspection institutions increased food safety knowledge. Food safety attitudes score increased with more years of vending experience and accessing food safety information via radio, food inspection institutions, and the Internet. An increase in household size and food safety information from friends and colleagues negatively affected food safety attitude scores. As a result, we emphasize the need for dissemination of improved food safety information via radio, television and food safety inspection institutes. Food vendors in the SFP should be selected after passing a food safety training and gaining food handling experience. Higher education should be a priority criterion in the hiring process. KW - - KW - School feeding program KW - Food safety knowledge KW - Food safety attitude and practices KW - Food vendors KW - Nigeria Y1 - 2024 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-9064 SN - 1661-5751 SN - 1661-5867 VL - 19 IS - 2 SP - 199 EP - 212 PB - Springer International Publishing CY - Cham ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Barnabas, Bulus A1 - Bavorova, Miroslava A1 - Madaki, Mustapha Yakubu A1 - Kächele, Harald T1 - Food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food vendors participating in Nigeria’s school feeding program JF - Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety N2 - Abstract This study aimed to measure the food safety knowledge, attitude, and practices among food vendors engaged in Nigeria’s ongoing Home-grown School Feeding Program. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in face-to-face interviews with 240 food vendors from 3 states in northeast Nigeria involved in the school feeding program using a structured questionnaire. Multiple linear regression results revealed that increased education and access to information through radio, television, and food inspection institutions increased food safety knowledge. Food safety attitudes score increased with more years of vending experience and accessing food safety information via radio, food inspection institutions, and the Internet. An increase in household size and food safety information from friends and colleagues negatively affected food safety attitude scores. As a result, we emphasize the need for dissemination of improved food safety information via radio, television and food safety inspection institutes. Food vendors in the SFP should be selected after passing a food safety training and gaining food handling experience. Higher education should be a priority criterion in the hiring process. KW - - KW - School feeding program KW - Food safety knowledge KW - Food safety attitude and practices KW - Food vendors KW - Nigeria Y1 - 2024 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-9078 SN - 1661-5751 SN - 1661-5867 VL - 19 IS - 2 SP - 199 EP - 212 PB - Springer International Publishing CY - Cham ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Madaki, Mustapha Yakubu A1 - Lehberger, Mira A1 - Bavorova, Miroslava A1 - Igbasan, Boluwatife Teniola A1 - Kächele, Harald T1 - Effectiveness of pesticide stakeholders’ information on pesticide handling knowledge and behaviour of smallholder farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria BT - Effectiveness of pesticide stakeholders’ information on pesticide… JF - Environment, Development and Sustainability N2 - Abstract Although pesticides ensure the quality and quantity of agricultural produce, they have adverse effects on farmers, their families, and consumers. Therefore, in order to reduce the unpleasant effects of pesticide use, stakeholders would be well advised to extend guidance and precautions to end users. The objective of this study was to determine the pesticide handling behaviour and the effectiveness of pesticide information on pesticide handling knowledge and personal protective equipment (PPE) use among farmers in southwest Nigeria. One hundred and fifty-six farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire in December 2019 and January 2020. The results revealed that a one-third of the farmers dispose their pesticide residues on the field, only 3% of the farmers dispose the hazardous pesticide waste at a collection point, and 65% of them dispose the empty containers indiscriminately. The majority of farmers never use respirators (79%), hats (60%), and boots (57%) when applying pesticides. Knowledge of pesticide application and waste management is low (58% of respondents scored less than 10 on a knowledge scale of 0–14). The result of the regression model shows that information from pesticide labels and farmer-to-farmer exchanges significantly increase farmers’ knowledge of pesticide handling and PPE use. Our results suggest that the effectiveness of current information provision to smallholder farmers on the correct use of pesticides is not sufficient. Therefore, we highlight the need for pesticide companies, distributors, and government agencies to intensify and further develop their efforts to empower smallholder farmers to improve their knowledge and use of pesticides. KW - - KW - Pesticide handling KW - Personal protective equipment KW - Pesticide information sources KW - Pesticide labels Y1 - 2024 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-9621 SN - 1573-2975 VL - 26 IS - 7 SP - 17185 EP - 17204 PB - Springer Netherlands CY - Dordrecht ER -