Additional Value Research Articles

The Addition of New Payment Method and Shareholder Value: Evidence From Cryptocurrency Adoption

ABSTRACT Despite the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies as a payment method, the literature lacks a comprehensive exploration of its performance outcome. To address this gap, authors examine the impact of firms’ adoption of cryptocurrencies as a payment method on shareholder value. Employing event study methodology, authors analyze the effect of cryptocurrency adoption announcements made by 27 U.S. firms between 2013 and 2020 on shareholder value. The results indicate that cryptocurrency adoption leads to positive abnormal returns, with an average of 0.65% on the announcement day. Further analysis reveals that firms’ advertising intensity amplifies the positive impact of cryptocurrency adoption on shareholder value. Additionally, non-retail firms tend to receive greater benefits from cryptocurrency adoption compared to retail firms.

Total quality management practices among women shea processors: Implication for job performance and household expenditure

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a strategic framework for the continuous improvement of an organisation's practices to achieve overall performance. In the food industry, TQM practices remain inevitable as far as quality remains a benchmark for sustained competition and customer satisfaction. Small businesses like shea processing require continuous improvement, value addition and quality assurance to guarantee access to lucrative and international markets. This could be realised through TQM implementation. However, there is a dearth of studies on the relevance of TQM practices on the performance of shea processors in the literature particularly in the Ghanaian context. Therefore, this study explored TQM implementation and its impact on small-scale women shea processors which is rare in the literature but of utmost importance. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 120 shea processors using a multi-stage sampling. The Seemingly Unrelated regression and Structural Equation Modelling were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that socioeconomic characteristics (age, education, experience, off-farm job, paid labour), sources of shea nut characteristics (self-collect, value of shea nut collected/purchased) and sales outlet characteristics (big processors) had heterogenous effect on the implementation of various TQM practices. Positively, all the TQM practices had covariance relationships. Further, the implementation of TQM practices such as training and development, innovation and customer focus had diverse positive effects on the number of customers and workers employed, while the number of customers per production had a positive effect on the household expenditure of processors.

Assessing the Effect of Strategic Alliances on Organizational Performance of Commercial Banks in Nigeria

This study was carried out to examine the effect of Strategic Alliances on Organizational performance of commercial banks in Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design with primary data generated through self-administered questionnaire. The population for this study was five (5) commercial banks in South-South, Nigeria. The study however focused mainly on their regional offices located in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Six regional managers for each bank were used as the study respondents giving a total of 30 respondents. Census sampling was adopted since the study sample was small. The reliability of the instrument was achieved by the use of the Cronbach Alpha with all the items scoring alpha coefficient above 0.70. The hypotheses were tested using the spearman rankorder correlation co-efficient with the aid ofstatistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The tests were carried out at a 95% confidence interval and a 0.05 level of significance. The study findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between strategic alliances on revenue performance, cost efficiency performance and on the profitability of commercial banks in South-South, Nigeria. The study recommends that commercial banks should invest in modern technologies to effectively integrate all the banks functions and activities to minimize operational costs. The top management team should invest more on financial innovations so that customers will have a wide scope of banking products to choose from leading to customer satisfaction and improve value addition which in turn enhances financial performance.

Post Harvest Management Techniques of Few Selected Crops in Assam, India

Reducing agricultural loss or waste is the ultimate goal of post-harvest management techniques. Post-harvest management has become crucial in the present environment of growing population and declining agricultural land and other resources. Ensuring food security in a manner that is safe for both humans and the environment is currently the world's top priority. The FAO estimates that in order to feed the nine billion people on the planet by 2050, food production would need to rise by seventy percent. Therefore, a deep comprehension of the roles played by agro-ecosystems is necessary. A vast number of agricultural products has been produced in recent years, yet there has been a lack of advancement and uptake of post-harvest technologies, leading to significant post-harvest losses. Agricultural crops have 16–36% post-harvest losses each year due to microbiological, physiological, and mechanical losses. Because most products are highly perishable, they require much more care and strategies to ensure that value addition and processing are encouraged. The value chain for processing has become essential to enhancing national food security and promoting food safety. The value chain in agriculture crops post-harvest management includes pre-harvest variables, harvesting, market preparation (pre-cooling, sorting, grading, packaging, and on-farm storage), transportation, storage, value addition/processing, and by-product waste management. The chapter focuses mostly on few selected fruit, vegetable, and cereal crops while discussing current advancements in post-harvest technology and food crop value addition.

Prediction of shear capacity of RC columns and discussion on shear contribution via the explainable machine learning

The research goal of this paper is to establish a machine learning (ML) model of shear capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) columns that can reflect the shear mechanism. The main work includes building database, training ML model, and interpretability analysis of optimal model. Aiming at the core problem of interpretability of ML methods, this paper proposes an interpretability method for the shear mechanism of RC columns. An experimental database including 427 sets of results of tests on RC columns is established, and eight salient input features are discerned through both mechanical mechanism assessment and Pearson correlation analysis. Twelve models, consisting of six basic ML models and six ensemble ML models, are verified against the database. The assessment reviews that the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) model was demonstrated to be superior to other models, achieving R2 values of 0.999 and 0.987 in training and test sets respectively. Additionally, compared to five semi-empirical models, the results from the LightGBM model also provides more accurate predictions and adeptly considered the influence of parameters. The Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) method and the explainable method based on the RC column shear mechanism proposed by this paper are used to explain the working mechanism of the LightGBM model. The proposed explanatory method of shear contribution rate is combine the additivity of SHAP value with the additivity of shear component contribution, the proposed explanatory method of shear contribution rate. An evaluation of SHAP feature Importance and SHAP feature dependence revealed that LightGBM aligns closely with the inherent shearing mechanism of the RC column. The shear contribution ratios of the concrete, stirrup, and axial loading in RC columns for the LightGBM model are similar to those predicted based on the semi-empirical models.

Determinants of net value added to produced and processed paddy rice in South East, Nigeria

The study principally examined the determinants of net value added to produced and processed paddy rice in South east Nigeria It specifically, identified the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, analyzed the determinants of net value added to produced and processed paddy rice as well as ascertained the constraints to processed and produced paddy rice. Multi-stage sampling technique involving purposive and random sampling methods was used to select 240 respondents. Primary data were collected on rain-fed production season using structured questionnaires administered to the respondents by personal interview. Descriptive statistics,, multiple regression and principal component analysis were used to analyze the data. Results obtained showed that gender distribution of the respondents was 63%males and 38% females. More respondents are between the ages of 41-50 and31-40 respectively and house hold size of 4-6 .Farming experience showed that 136 respondents representing 57% had engaged in the business between 11-20yrs.The results also showed that 67% of the respondents accessed farm credit while 25% did not.66% of the respondents belonged to farmers association while 75% were not visited by extension agents. Variables (age, gender, years in school, household size, years of experience, training/extension visits, costs incurred, value addition technique and market price) significantly influenced the net value added while marital status, membership of cooperative, and access to credit did not. Constraints to paddy producers and processors were accessibility to farm machine, poor infrastructure and scarcity/high cost of labor, low access to credit/grant; low proactive measures to flood and drought control; insufficient knowledge of agro-chemicals, and late provision of essential training and services; and processors: use of outdated rice milling machines, high cost of modern rice processing machines, low access to modern rice processing machineries and low acceptability of local rice. Recommendations include; establishment of farm machinery hiring centers for producers and supply of modern rice milling machines to rice processing clusters, development of dams and irrigable lands, training and re-training on access to fund, utilization of biodegradable wastes from paddy rice, proactive measures of flood and drainage control, adequate use of agro-chemicals, use of modem techniques, and involvement of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control in quality control. Keywords: Agriculture, Paddy Rice, Value Addition, Nigeria.

The Effects of Industrial Value Addition and Energy Consumption on Environmental Deterioration: New Evidence from Islamic Countries

The current research is aimed at finding out the effects of energy consumption and industrial value addition on environmental deterioration. Panel data for the years 2000-2017 was employed to explore the long- and short-term association of variables for the selected Islamic countries. Panel Unit Root Test was used to check the stationarity of the data. Moreover, Fisher panel Co-integration tests, PMG, Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Square method (DOLS) were also applied to find out relationship between the variables. The study suggested that economic growth, industrial value addition and energy consumption positively affect the CO2 emission. Moreover, high-energy consumption to meet the demands of energy in transportation and production sectors leads to increased environmental pollution. The coefficient of industrial value addition shows significant effect on environmental deterioration in long term. Our study suggests the use of cleaner technology in production system and replacing renewable energy by non-renewable energy sources.

Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Recent Progress in the use of Bio-Waste-Derived Adsorbents for Organic Dye Removal

There are serious health and environmental hazards associated with the growing amount of organic dyes in wastewater from sectors like food processing, leather, and textiles. These pollutants are frequently ineffectively removed by traditional wastewater treatment techniques. Adsorbents made from bio-waste have become a viable substitute because of their high removal efficiency, affordability, and sustainability. The adsorption of organic dyes is facilitated by the distinct surface chemistries of these adsorbents, which are made from a variety of biomass sources. Through synthesis and modification approaches, recent research has concentrated on enhancing these materials' adsorption capacity, selectivity, and overall performance. Adsorbents made from bio-waste have potential uses in pollutant degradation, nutrient recovery, and value addition in addition to dye removal. But issues like leaching and long-term stability need to be carefully thought out. This review highlights the recent advancements in the application of bio-waste-derived adsorbents for organic dye removal from wastewater, emphasizing their potential contributions to sustainable wastewater treatment and resource recovery.

Transforming Locust Bean Processing: A Path to Profit for Elderly Women's Microbusiness in Sokoto, Nigeria

This study investigates the value addition potential of African locust beans (Parkia biglobosa) in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria, emphasizing the socio-economic characteristics of processors, cost-benefit analysis, and strategies for enhancing the value chain. Despite the nutritional and economic significance of locust beans, their market utilization remains constrained by traditional processing methods, inadequate packaging, and a lack of modern branding. Utilizing a multi-stage sampling technique, data was collected from 60 respondents, revealing that the locust bean processing industry is predominantly elderly female-driven, with limited modern educational and high family sizes. The total variable costs for processing were computed at ₦1,6888.49 revenue of ₦2,473 thus realizing a gross margin of ₦873.2. However, upon value addition of grinding and branded packaging, the variable cost rose to ₦7,220, with revenue from packaged Daddawa reaching ₦12,000, resulting in a Gross margin of ₦4,780. This underscores the financial viability of value addition through improved packaging and branding. The study further identifies key constraints including market disorganization and the need for better processing technologies. The findings advocate for strategic interventions to enhance the economic value of locust beans, promoting broader consumer acceptance and contributing to food security and economic development in the region.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND INTERNAL AUDIT STAFFING PRACTICES: NECESSITATING A DIFFERENT SKILL SET FROM AUDITORS

A decade ago, no machine matched human skills in many areas, but now AI surpasses humans in at least some skill sets. Internal auditors' effectiveness and value addition to organizations hinges critically on their possession of essential skills like risk management, independence, and deep knowledge of internal controls, along with their professional training and ability to align audit plans with organizational goals. Thus, it is important in the literature to highlight the need to understand the relative importance of internal auditor skills, their practical application in the selection, hiring, training, and promotion processes, and the consideration of additional skills or factors that may impact the application of these skills. However, the necessity for auditors to adapt and acquire new skills to meet the evolving requirements of technology, particularly AI, has not been discussed before. There are two main skill sets that are important for internal auditors: perceived behavioral, sometimes called soft, and cognitive, sometimes called hard, skills. Consequently, this text will discuss the changing skill sets and sub-categories of competent internal auditors according to AI. The study’s findings contribute to professional practice and literature by understanding and improving internal auditors’ skills, elevating performance, and streamlining risk assessment processes.

Key attributes for effective knowledge brokering at the interface of environmental science and management

AbstractSpanning the boundaries between research and decision-making is critical for supporting environmental management. One way to do so is through knowledge brokers who, among other things, work to build social networks among decision-makers and researchers, facilitating their interaction and exchange of knowledge. While knowledge brokering has received increasing attention in the literature, critical gaps in our knowledge limit their effective recruitment and implementation, which demands for a better understanding of the personal attributes needed for their success. Such an understanding is also necessary to support the evaluation of knowledge brokering activities. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the question ‘what are the most important attributes for being a knowledge broker at the interface of environmental research and management’, and how is knowledge brokering evaluated. We do so through the study of Australia’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP) which employs a range of professional knowledge brokers, 14 of whom participated in this study. Specifically, we performed a quantitative ranking exercise (Q-methodology) and an online survey. Results show that the most important attributes to knowledge brokering were interpersonal social competencies of a unifying nature. As such, Being good at seeing opportunities for collaboration, Being able to tailor communication to different audiences, and Being able to ask questions were the most highly ranked attributes. In the dimension of evaluation, survey results show that NESP knowledge brokers are mainly evaluated through metrics relating to immediate delivery and engagement (mostly quantitative measures) and medium-term impact on end-users (qualitative measures). However, participants envisioned better options to capture the impact/value of knowledge brokering by evaluating long-term impacts and efforts throughout the full brokering process to better capture value addition in line with their goals, strategies, and required attributes. The new knowledge generated through our findings offers an applied contribution to the practice of knowledge brokering, suggesting that knowledge brokering is a distinct and complex career whereby different knowledge brokers with complementary skill sets appear relevant to perform all tasks along a knowledge brokering timeline. As such, our results also emphasize the need for bespoke approaches to evaluation that are tailored towards the diverse goals, strategies, and personal contributions of knowledge brokers to support their career progression and maximise outcomes.

Promising Strategies to Enhance the Sustainability of Community Seed Banks

Community seed banks are farmer-managed organizations that conserve and sustainably manage local crop and tree diversity. They are found in many countries of the Global South and increasingly in the Global North. Altogether, they maintain hundreds of crop and tree species and thousands of mostly local varieties and distribute tons of quality seed per year. Through their activities, they share and safeguard the world’s agrobiodiversity, contribute to seed security, and allow farming households in local communities to produce and consume more affordable, secure, diverse, and nutritious foods. However, community seed banks are knowledge-, resource-, and time-intensive organizations that operate through their members’ voluntary contributions. The purpose of this article is to analyze the sustainability challenge of community seed banks and identify strategies that address it. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used, complemented by secondary data analysis of research reports and other deliverables, resulting in five case study countries in Africa and Asia. Five promising sustainability strategies can support viable community seed bank development: value addition; nature-positive agriculture; enabling environment and national genebank partnership; networking and digitalization; and modern, low-cost seed quality technologies. Sustainable community seed banks can make important contributions to national seed sector development but they need stronger policy and legal support to maintain their sustainability.

Insights into Cheese Marketing in Bangladesh: Marketing Cost, Margin, and Efficiency

Cheese though not native to Bangladesh has seen an increased surge in popularity in recent years. Even though there have been several studies that focus on the economic aspects of cheese production, there is a dearth of studies tackling the marketing aspects of cheese in Bangladesh. This study is an attempt to examine the marketing channels, the cost associated, the marketing margin, and the marketing efficiency of cheese in Bangladesh. This study is mainly based on primary data, collected from purposively selected participants from the districts of Kishoreganj, Thakurgaon, and Manikganj. The respondents consisted of 50 cheese producers and 20 market intermediaries. Simple descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data. Traditional and modern types of channels were associated with the marketing of cheese. Marketing cost analysis identified, transportation, facility rent, and outlet maintenance to be the primary cost components. The value additions of per kg cheese by wholesaler-cum-retailers, retailers, and supermarkets were calculated at BDT 232.40, BDT 97.12 and BDT 250, respectively. Significant net margins were observed across all the channels. Though producers mostly used Channel I, Channel III (Producers → Consumers) and Channel IV (Producers → Retailers → Consumers) were identified to be the most efficient among the different channels examined in the study. Channel II had the lowest price spread, on the contrary, Channel V had the highest one. Just after direct marketing, cheese producers received higher percentage of consumers price (74%) using Channel II. Given the current potential of the cheese industry, the government should focus on this sector to address and overcome existing challenges in cheese marketing.

Application of a Machine Learning Predictive Model for Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis is the main cause of hospitalization for pancreatic disease. Some patients tend to have recurrent episodes after experiencing an episode of acute pancreatitis. This study aimed to construct predictive models for recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP). A total of 531 patients who were hospitalized for the first episode of acute pancreatitis at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2018 to December 2019 were enrolled in the study. We confirmed whether the patients had a second episode until December 31, 2021, through an electronic medical record system and telephone or WeChat follow-up. Clinical and follow-up data of patients were collected and randomly allocated to the training and test sets at a ratio of 7:3. The training set was used to select the best model, and the selected model was tested with the test set. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, decision curve, and calibration plots were used to assess the efficacy of the models. Shapley additive explanation values were used to explain the model. Considering multiple indices, XGBoost was the best model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the XGBoost model in the test set were 0.779, 0.763, 0.883, 0.647, 0.341, and 0.922, respectively. According to the Shapley additive explanation values, drinking, smoking, higher levels of triglyceride, and the occurrence of ANC are associated with RAP. The XGBoost model shows good performance in predicting RAP, which may help identify high-risk patients.

Ghanaian Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs') Readiness for African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation

This paper seeks to assess Ghanaian Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs') readiness for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation. The research instrument used to collect data was questionnaires and the study employed descriptive research design. The study randomly selected 250 SMEs from a population of 480 SMEs that were registered members of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cape Coast Branch and operating within manufacturing, pharmaceutical, herbal, tourism, hospitality, food and beverage, agribusiness, garment, leather, and textiles. Data collected from the SMEs was analysed using SPSS, version 28. The findings from the study shows that, there is a significant gap between Ghanaian SMEs' readiness for AfCFTA implementation. The study finds out that although majority of SMEs are capable of innovation and developing new products, they also have limited knowledge of export documentation, trade information and infrastructure, trade finance, and funding for expansion. They also have low knowledge and lack a basic understanding of the benefits of AfCFTA, its advantages, components, protocols, and Rules of Origin. The study again revealed that the obstacles facing Ghanaian SMEs exportation are high cost of production, border delays, poor infrastructure, high inflation, difficulty in accessing credit, and language problems. Based on these findings, the study recommended that SMEs needs to be retooled particularly in the area of AfCFTA Rules of Origin, its objectives, components, and Ghana’s trade policy to improve their readiness for AfCFTA implementation. Again, businesses should concentrate more on value addition, and be dedicated to looking for ways to enhance their current or existing products to outperform comparable products from other African nations.

Capture Fish Value Chain Study in Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria: A panacea for sustainable development

The study examined fish value chain in Yobe state Northeast Nigeria. Value addition, profitability, efficiency in marketing and structure of the fish markets were assessed using data elicited in 2023 from 640 respondents. Four Local Government Areas in the state (Bade, Geidam, Jakusko and Nguru) prominent in capture fish production were purposively selected for the study. Six major value chain actors were identified and value added per Kg of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was higher for fish processors (319.3/Kg) while, processed fish marketers had highest marketing efficiency (321.8%). Similarly, raw fish marketers received the highest marketing margin (20.63%) and the gross margin for artisanal fishermen was 272.5/Kg and on average a total 22,891.8 per day. The study revealed that, products flow was less complex from fishing points to consumption and that the values of Gini Coefficient indicated a monopolistic completion in both fresh/raw fish and processor markets. Based on the above findings, it was concluded that fisheries sub sector in Yobe state had the potential of creating more employment opportunities, increase per capital income/GDP and sustained economic development. It was therefore recommended that, more effort should be intensified by relevant stakeholders to enhance the value addition at every node of the chain and there should be policy to maintain the existing fishing sites (rivers) and to also explore other potential areas

Government Expenditure On Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Agriculture Components, And The Level Of Economic Growth In Kenya 1985-2021

There is often contention and discussion regarding the optimal way to allocate public funds to different expenditure components and how they promote economic growth. Government spending has several importance; it raises aggregate demand, and increases employment levels. This eventually spurs a country's economic growth. Public expenditure also helps provide public goods due to market failures and economic exploitation. Public goods such as infrastructure (roads, bridges, airports), education, healthcare, and security are essential for economic growth. Public expenditure also improves the macroeconomy supply side, enhancing economic growth. In addition, the government can offer subsidies to sectors that might require financial assistance for their operations or expansion, which stimulates investment, promotes innovation, increases capital expenditure, and then job creation, which leads to economic growth. It also helps to redistribute income and promote social welfare. The study's main objective was to establish the effect of various public expenditure components on Kenya's economic growth. The specific objectives were to scrutinize the effect of the manufacturing component of government spending on Kenyan economic growth, assess the effect of the infrastructure component of government spending on Kenyan economic growth, and scrutinize the effect of the agricultural component of government spending on Kenyan economic growth. The study adopted a nonexperimental longitudinal research design. Secondary time series data between 1985 and 2021 from Economic Surveys, Statistical Abstracts, Economic reports, and public expenditure reports of the government of Kenya was sed. The study conducted the stationary test, cointegration, and causality test on the data and employed the Vector Error Correction Model in data analysis. The results showed that public expenditure's manufacturing and agricultural components had a positive impact on Kenyan economic growth, while infrastructure had a negative impact in the long run. Manufacturing drives industrialization, which leads to economies of scale, technological advancements, and more efficient production methods. This conforms to endogenous growth theory. Agricultural investment helps sustain economic growth by supporting rural development, reducing poverty, and improving food security. The structural transformation theory suggests that as agricultural productivity improves, resources (e.g., labor and capital) are freed up to be employed in other, more productive sectors. The results of infrastructure negatively impacting economic growth align with fiscal sustainability theory, which states that infrastructure spending may eventually become unsustainable if it leads to persistent fiscal deficits. Governments might need to increase taxes or cut spending in other productive areas (e.g., social services and education), which could dampen economic growth in the long term. Overall, the outcome showed that government spending and potential Kenyan economic expansion are correlated through a sustained relationship. This is evidenced by the R squared, which is at 0.8975. This implies that public expenditure explains 89.75% of the variations in GDP. The study recommends that the government choose the critical area of infrastructure component to invest in. In the long run, the findings showed that infrastructure spending negatively impacts economic growth, which could suggest inefficiencies or corruption in the allocation or execution of infrastructure projects. However, poor infrastructure planning, corruption, cost overruns, or investments in non-productive or underutilized projects could explain the negative long-term impact. The Kenyan government should invest more in the manufacturing sector in areas like agro-processing, the textile industry, pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, automotive assembly, and parts manufacturing, which helps to reduce imports that tend to be high in Kenya. With the agricultural component having a positive effect on Kenyan economic expansion, the state could invest in agriculture sector's areas like Irrigation and Water Management, Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Resilience crops, Agricultural Research and Extension Services, High-Value Crops, agro-processing, and Value Addition

Assessment of Garcinia kola Heckl value chain and its contribution to the livelihoods of local populations in Eastern Cameroon

The value chain analyses of a product can provide vital information for improving the production, value addition, market organization and boost the contribution of the product to the income of the stakeholders involved. Hence, this study was carried out on the Garcinia kola value chain in Belabo, Cameroon. Twenty-three focus group discussions were held, and semi-structured surveys were administered to 135 stakeholders engaged in the G. kola value chain in the Belabo municipality. The results reveal that nuts, barks, and roots are the main parts collected. The nuts are marketed without processing while the barks and roots are consumed directly, marketed or processed into powder before consumption and marketing. G. kola value chain in Belabo has two levels of structuring, rural and urban. Nuts are sold by the unit or in buckets corresponding to the kilogram, with the price per nut ranging from 0.4 to 1.70 USD, depending on whether you're in the rural or urban market. It also varies according to production season and nut size. Barks and roots are sold all year round, generally in piled strips weighing approximately 100 g, with prices ranging from 0.17 to 1.75 USD on the rural and urban markets, respectively. The main stakeholders involved in the value chain are collectors/harvesters, local traders, retailers and wholesalers. Marketing provides more income to wholesalers and retailers, contributing over 35 % and 20 % to their annual income and less than 30 % and 15 %, respectively, to those of collectors and local traders. The major problems the G. kola value chain in this locality is facing are the attack of the product by weevils (24 % of citation), poor storage facilities and deforestation (14 %), price fluctuation, and lack of market (13.33 and 11.85 %). In Belabo, the marketing of G. kola is not profitable for the collectors, who are the main actors in the production chain characterized by rudimentary processing, poor storage and preservation techniques high marketing. The organization of the different stakeholder into association would help to better structuring the G. kola value in Belabo are the two main opportunities for improving the G. kola value chain with the potential of increase its contribution to the livelihoods of the different main stakeholders involved. In addition, policymakers should consider initiating innovations to boost production, support conservation, processing and price regulation to scale up economic and environmental benefits from G. kola.

Democracy, elections and citizen participation: the South African experience

The discourse on the reversal of democratic dividends, which has gained momentum in the past decade and a half, focuses on the erstwhile discussion on electoral governance and the relationship between elections and democracy. In this article, I emphasise the pivotal role of citizens and the value addition of elections in a democracy. Elections, as a cornerstone of democracy, provide a platform for citizens to express their will and shape the future of their nation. The article asserts a symbiotic relationship between democracy, elections, and citizen participation. A preliminary conclusion is that democracy is about improving citizens’ circumstances, and regular elections provide the citizens with an opportunity to elect leaders who will ensure that they realise the democratic dividends. Therefore, there is a need for strengthened human rights-centred and inclusive electoral processes with meaningful opportunities and arrangements for citizens’ participation beyond voting.

Inter-comparison of GNSS- IPWV with ERA-5 IPWV and monitoring of convective events over the Indian region

The present study deals with (i) An Inter-comparison study of ground based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) derived Integrated Precipitable Water Vapour (IPWV) with 5th generation global climate reanalysis data of European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast (ERA-5) (ii) IPWV thresholds of GNSS data (iii) case studies of IPWV analysis. It is found that both the datasets (GNSS and ERA-5) are strongly correlated & the correlation coefficient ranging between 0.97 and 0.99. Monthly Thresholds of IPWV (MTI) are generated with 2017 -2020 data sets from Indian GNSS station having continuous data and found very useful input as value addition to know the possibility of building up /decaying of convection in day to day daily forecast issued to the public. Case studies shows an increase of IPWV, 3 to 4 hour prior to the occurrence of convective event around the GNSS station and found very useful for nowcasting. Therefore, utilization of IPWV (model as wells GNSS based) have incremented value in enriching the understanding about the weather event and its forecasting. This supplement information along with other analysis products (model, surface, upper air, satellite or radar etc) can support further in appropriate decision making to the forecasters, decision makers and the end users of the society.