Backyard Farming Research Articles

Generating wildlife density data across Europe in the framework of the European Observatory of Wildlife (EOW)

Abstract The European Observatory of Wildlife EOW, as part of the ENETWILD project, represents a collaborative network that has been operating since 2021 to develop and implement standardized protocols to obtain harmonized data on distribution and density of target mammal species. In so doing, the EOW aims at contributing to improving the quality of data that are available for wildlife management and risk assessment on a European scale. This report describes the activities carried out during the 2023 EOW campaign, which was joined by a total of 30 organizations who committed to collect data in 44 sites across 22 different countries. We present data on the distribution and density of three species – wild boar (Sus scrofa), European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) – obtained by implementing a camera trapping protocol and by fitting the random encounter model (REM) for density estimation. Camera‐trap images were processed using the Agouti platform and some of its tools specifically designed for the management of camera trapping projects. This includes the use of photogrammetry to obtain parameters for the REM directly from the sequences of images. A total of 24 EOW sites were monitored in past years as well, providing multiannual density estimates and population trends and highlighting an improvement in the precision of the estimates, related to the improved study design and protocol implementation. We also describe the activities of the 2024 campaign, carried out as part of ENETWILD 2.0, where big efforts were made to expand the network, focusing on sites at risk of African Swine Fever, with wild boar/pig interactions and containing wetlands, as potential hubs for Avian Influenza. This effort resulted in the engagement of 40 participants monitoring 64 study sites (27 countries), including 28 study sites located either in infected areas or < 100km from the ASF frontline, and 25 sites with wetland habitats. Furthermore, in at least 20 sites pig farming is practised either intensively, extensively or as backyard farming. Finally, synergies were established with other international initiatives related to wildlife monitoring and disease prevention, with the aim of sharing experiences and sustaining a transnational data collection and harmonization.

Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and genomic comparison of non-typhoidal salmonella isolated from pig farms with different levels of intensification in Yangon Region, Myanmar

In Myanmar, where backyard, semi-intensive, and intensive pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) farming coexist, there is limited understanding of the zoonotic risks and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) associated with these farming practices. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence, AMR and genomic features of Salmonella in pig farms in the Yangon region and the impact of farm intensification to provide evidence to support risk-based future management approaches. Twenty-three farms with different production scales were sampled for two periods with three sampling-visit each. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests and whole-genome sequencing were performed on the isolates. The prevalence of Salmonella was 44.5% in samples collected from backyard farms, followed by intensive (39.5%) and semi-intensive farms (19.5%). The prevalence of multi-drug resistant isolates from intensive farms (45/84, 53.6%) was higher than those from backyard (32/171, 18.7%) and semi-intensive farms (25/161, 15.5%). Among 28 different serovars identified, S. Weltevreden (40; 14.5%), S. Kentucky (38; 13.8%), S. Stanley (35, 12.7%), S. Typhimurium (22; 8.0%) and S. Brancaster (20; 7.3%) were the most prevalent serovars and accounted for 56.3% of the genome sequenced strains. The diversity of Salmonella serovars was highest in semi-intensive and backyard farms (21 and 19 different serovars, respectively). The high prevalence of globally emerging S. Kentucky ST198 was detected on backyard farms. The invasive-infection linked typhoid-toxin gene (cdtB) was found in the backyard farm isolated S. Typhimurium, relatively enriched in virulence and AMR genes, presented an important target for future surveillance. While intensification, in terms of semi-intensive versus backyard production, maybe a mitigator for zoonotic risk through a lower prevalence of Salmonella, intensive production appears to enhance AMR-associated risks. Therefore, it remains crucial to closely monitor the AMR and virulence potential of this pathogen at all scales of production. The results underscored the complex relationship between intensification of animal production and the prevalence, diversity and AMR of Salmonella from pig farms in Myanmar.

Dumpsites farmers' awareness of physicochemical properties of dumpsites soil in two agro-ecological zones, Ghana.

In Ghana, widespread backyard farming on arable land with refuse waste is driven by the enriched physicochemical properties of dumpsite soils, supporting crop growth. However, the enhanced levels of heavy metals have raised concerns among policymakers focusing on the environmental challenges posed by dumpsites soil. The purpose of the study was to assess the awareness of dumpsites farmers on soil physicochemical properties and dangers posed by accumulated toxic heavy metals. A total of 100 vegetable farmers were interviewed in three communities to gauge their awareness of dumpsite soil properties and potential contamination. A semi-structured questionnaire was purposively used to solicit for information from farmers. Chi-square (χ2) test of homogeneity was used to ascertain if there was any uniformity among respondents in the different communities studied. The findings showed that the level of education of the famers had no relationship (p = 0.21) with farmers' educational level. Dumpsites farmers' knowledge on soil physicochemical properties had a significant (p = 0.02) relationship with farmers' awareness of toxic elements in dumpsites. Farmers' soil physicochemical knowledge further had a significant (p = 0.03) relationship with their awareness that, plants on dumpsites absorb toxic elements. Furthermore, ailments commonly associated with heavy metals as reported by farmers included skin rashes, cough, diarrhoea, and cholera. It can be concluded that although dumpsite farmers exhibit some awareness about the physicochemical properties of their soil and the risks associated with toxic heavy metals, there is still room for improvement. Despite education levels not significantly impacting awareness, targeted intervention programs are necessary to enhance understanding and address this pressing issue effectively. We recommend an implementation of a tailored educational programs for dumpsite farmers to enhance understanding of soil properties and heavy metal risks. There should be improved access to soil testing and interpretation to enable informed decision-making among farmers. Foster collaborations among stakeholders for sustainable waste management, soil remediation, and health monitoring to mitigate heavy metal contamination are also recommended.

Artificial Insemination: A New Horizon for Scientific Goat Breeding in Kashmir’s Backyard Farming Sector

Background: Artificial insemination a well-established technique in cattle and buffalo farming, now increasingly adopted in goat farming involves collecting semen from male animals and transferring it to female animals, to disseminate valuable genetic material to bring genetic upgradation, increases milk production, and enhances breeding efficiency of flocks. Methods: Artificial insemination (AI) was performed on 266 goats using fresh and frozen semen from 2021 to 2024 on experimental basis. The data obtained were analyzed on percentage basis. Result: The overall kidding percentage of 30.08% was observed in the present study. Notably, fresh semen yielded a higher kidding percentage (32.69%) compared to frozen semen (29.44%). This study demonstrates the potential of AI in enhancing the genetic quality of backyard goat farming in Kashmir, where quality bucks are often sold at a young age for meat production. By leveraging AI, farmers can improve the genetic makeup of their goat flocks, leading to better productivity and sustainability.

AZ ÚJRAKEZDÉS KÖVETE: BENCSIK ISTVÁN (1953-1970) /DEBRECENI AGRÁRFELSŐOKTATÁS/ (1910-1998)

Agriculture played a significant role in consolidating the domestic political system after 1956. The rapid development of the Hungarian agricultural sector's performance contributed significantly to the country's relations with the economically developed regions of the world, with the so-called Hungarian model incorporating backyard farming into large-scale agriculture. However, this progress was achieved through an arduous road to development, resulting in internationally recognised vocational training standards in agriculture, particularly in higher agricultural education. Since the second half of the 1960s, there has been a noticeable development in the agricultural sector in Hungary. It has managed to preserve the creative traditions of its historical peasantry to a certain extent. The Debrecen agricultural higher education had a decisive role in the ambitious development of Hungarian agriculture. István Bencsik was an outstanding player in this process, actively contributing to the material and intellectual foundation of higher education in Debrecen. His work later impacted the agriculture of Tiszántúl and the wider region.

Molecular epidemiology, phenotypic and genomic characterization of antibiotic-resistant enterococcal isolates from diverse farm animals in Xinjiang, China

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in farm environments can be transferred to humans through the food chain and occupational exposure. Enterococcus infections caused by linezolid resistant enterococci (LRE) are becoming more challenging to treat as their resistance to antibiotics intensifies. Therefore, this study investigated the molecular epidemiology, phenotypic and genomic characterization of enterococci in seven species of farm animals (sheep, chicken, swine, camel, cattle, equine, pigeon) anal swab from Xinjiang, China by agar dilution method, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics analysis. A total of 771 samples were collected, 599 (78 %) were contaminated with Enterococcus spp., among which Enterococcus faecalis (350/599) was dominant. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that high resistance was observed in rifampicin (80 %), tetracycline (71 %), doxycycline (71 %), and erythromycin (69 %). The results of PCR showed the highest prevalent antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were aac(6′)-aph(2″) (85 %), followed by tet(M) (73 %), erm(B) (62 %), and aph(3′)-IIIa (61 %). Besides, 29 optrA-carrying E. faecalis isolates belonging to 13 STs (including 3 new alleles) were detected, with ST714 (31 %, 9/29) being the dominant ST type. The phylogenetic tree showed that optrA-carrying E. faecalis prevalent in the intensive swine farm is mainly caused by clonal transmission. Notably, optrA gene in Enterococcus spp. isolate from camel was first characterized here. WGS of E. faecalis F109 isolate from camel confirmed the colocalization of optrA with other five ARGs in the same plasmid (pAFL-109F). The optrA-harboring genetic context is IS1216E-fexA-optrA-erm(A)-IS1216E. This study highlights the prevalence of MDR Enterococcus (≥88 %) and four ARGs (≥75 %) in swine (intensive farming), cattle (commercial farming), and chickens (backyard farming) are high and also highlights that optrA-carrying E. faecalis of farm animals incur a transmission risk to humans through environment, food consumption and others. Therefore, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) monitoring and effective control measures should be strengthened and implemented in diverse animals.

Comparative Analysis of Soil Health in Backyard Farms on Multiple Islands of The Bahamas

Food insecurity is a major concern in The Bahamas due to our inadequate food and agricultural infrastructure and heavy reliance on imports. To mitigate this threat, the Bahamian government has been encouraging homeowners to engage in backyard farming. However, the success of backyard farming relies on the presence of healthy soils. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of soil health in backyard farms across several islands in The Bahamas. Our analysis focused on key indicators such as nutrient availability, pH, salinity, water-holding capacity, and organic carbon. Our results revealed that none of the 38 soil samples analysed fell within the optimal range for all of the selected indicators. Our results suggested that soil treated with synthetic fertilizer did not exhibit higher nutrient availability compared to naturally fertilized or unfertilized samples. Additionally, through correlation analysis, we found a positive relationship between organic carbon and water-holding capacity. Conversely, negative correlations were observed between pH and nitrogen, as well as organic carbon and pH. These correlations imply that optimizing pH levels and enhancing water holding capacity may play a crucial role in improving soil health in The Bahamas, with particular attention to increasing organic carbon content.

Improving the nutritional and livelihood security of landless laborer through the Backyard Farming System

IntroductionIndia is home to around 140 million landless laborers who live below the poverty line and are the most vulnerable group in terms of food and nutritional security. The three critical problems faced by the poor laborer families are poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. To address these problems, a backyard farming system was conceptualized and evaluated with an aim to ensure the nutritional security of landless laborers. The main objective of this work was to utilize the homestead area of 100-150 m2 for ensuring year-round food availability.MethodsIntegration of vegetables, pulses, fruits, spices, fishes, and ducks was done in the available area. Technological interventions with the integration of ducks (Khaki campbell), fish (carps and Self-recruiting species), pulses, and leafy vegetables can help in improving nutrient consumption.Result and discussionA total of 1400 kg of vegetables (including root vegetables and leafy vegetables) can be produced annually from an area of 150 m2 that can fulfil 30-70% of the vitamins (RDA of 70 % of B1 and 30% of B3) and mineral requirements (RDA of 45% of Iron and 30% of Ca) of the average family, as well as providing an annual saving of INR 25,000/annum and an extra income of INR 10,000/annum that can be earned from selling the extra produce. Herbs (Coriander, Mint, and Fenugreek) and spices (Ginger, Turmeric, and Chilli) with antioxidants ranging from 2-13 millimol/100 gm can help in developing a good immune status. Integration with ducks, pond dyke utilization with cucurbits, spices and herbs, and the introduction of self-recruiting species in a composite fish culture system can further enhance the income by INR 14,000/annum after family consumption. Year-round cultivation made the optimum use of the available resources. A net return of INR 30,000 from 300 m2 could be obtained with a B:C ratio of 2.98 as well as generating an employment of 136 mandays. The food produced from the system can contribute to the nutritive requirements throughout the year and lead to a greater diversity in the food consumption pattern of the family.

Performance of Kadaknath and Local Non Descript Birds in Backyard Farming System for Tribal Women Empowerment

Performance of Kadaknath and Local Non Descript Birds in Backyard Farming System for Tribal Women Empowerment

Stressors and Resilience within the Cassava Value Chain in Nigeria: Preferred Cassava Variety Traits and Response Strategies of Men and Women to Inform Breeding

This study investigated the trait preferences for cassava in the context of climate change and conflict stressors among value-chain actors in Nigeria to strengthen social inclusion and the community-resilience outcomes from breeding programs. Multi-stage sampling procedures were used to select and interview male and female value-chain participants in the Osun, Benue and Abia States. The results indicated that farmers preferred cassava traits such as drought tolerance, early bulking, multiple-product use and in-ground storability to strengthen resilience. Climate change and challenges related to social change shaped the response strategies from both genders, and influenced trait preferences, including the early re-emergence of cassava leaves, stems that had ratooning potential, and especially the root milking that was important among female respondents. The major response strategies employed by men included frequent farm visits to prevent theft and engaging in non-agricultural livelihoods. Those employed by women included backyard farming, early harvesting, having preferences for food with fewer processing steps, and depending on remittances. The resilience capacity was higher for men than for women due to their better access to assets, as well as their abilities to relocate their farms and out-migrate in search of other livelihoods. Considering gendered cassava traits, and enhancing their resilience and response strategies, can complement efforts to make breeding more socially inclusive, resilient, and anticipatory to future challenges created by climate and related social changes.

Assessment of ethnobotanical uses, household, and regional genetic diversity of aroid species grown in northeastern India.

Aroids are an important group of indigenous tuber crops, grown widely for their leaves, petioles, stolons, corms, and cormels. A total of 53 genotypes were evaluated for their genetic diversity in northeastern region of India. At household level, a total of 16 landraces of Aroids were recorded having different ethnobotanical uses. Based on the population study under Jhum/Shifting farming, landrace Rengama was dominant in area with 47% of the total population followed by Tamachongkham and Tasakrek. However, Pugarkusu and Chigi occupied 33.0 and 24.0% of the population, respectively under backyard farming, and were considered as major landraces. Tamachongkham, high in acridity and total oxalate content (0.82%), was used for cooking with meat, while Tasakrek was used as a baby food due to high total sugar (>3.0%), low in acridity, and total oxalate content (<0.12%). The Simpson's diversity index of the backyards was higher (0.80) as compared to Jhum field (0.63). The genotypes showed wider variability in growth and yield attributes like; plant height (89.4-206.1 cm), number of side shoots (1.84-5.92), corm weight (38.0-683.3 g), cormel weight (14.0-348.3 g), yield (0.24-1.83 kg plant-1). Similarly, wide variations were also observed for quality traits like total sugar (1.93-4.94%); starch (15.32-32.49%), total oxalate (0.10-0.82%), and dry matter (16.75-27.08%) content. Except for total oxalate, all the growth and yield attributes have shown high heritability and moderate to high genetic advance. Molecular analysis (33 polymorphic SSR markers) detected a total of 136 alleles, ranged 3 to 8 alleles per marker. The observed heterozygosity (0.24) was less than expected heterozygosity (0.69). The group-wise maximum genetic divergence was observed between Colocasia fallax (cv. Chigi) to C. esculenta var. aquatilis (cv. Tharsing); C. fallax (cv. Chigi) to C. gigantea (cv. Ganima) and C. gigantea (cv. Ganima) to Xanthosoma spp., while it was least between eddo and dasheen. The findings indicated, a wider diversity and distinct ethnobotanical uses of Aroid landraces at the house hold levels, which should be conserved and popularized to ensure nutritional security.

Optimization of hatchability and survivability traits of indigenous duck managed under backyard farming system

ABSTRACT An extensive field study was made in subtropical hot humid climate of north-east India to identify the most influencing climatic and human-made environmental factors and their effects on hatchability of eggs and survivability of indigenous ducklings hatched through indigenous broody hen (chicken) managed under a backyard farming system. Hatchability and survivability ratio was estimated from 858 batches duck eggs recorded from 220 marginal/landless duck farmers over a period of 24 months. Statistical analysis by fitting fixed effect general linear models revealed that the ambient temperature and relative humidity were the most critical climatic factors that affect the hatchability ratio of duck eggs and survivability ratio of ducklings. Besides, the human-made factor was also found to be associated with variations of the hatchability and survivability performances of duck under broody hen incubation. Thus identification of these factors and their effects on the studied traits would be helpful to provide appropriate season-based management strategies for economic and sustainable duck production in rural backyard farming systems. The present finding could be a valuable insight for duck farmers not only in north-east India but also in other developing countries with a subtropical hot humid climate with prevailing backyard duck production systems.

Understanding networks in rural Cambodian farming communities and how they influence antibiotic use: A mixed methods study.

Biosecurity and preventive animal health services in Cambodian smallholder backyard farming systems are often limited, leading to an over-reliance on antibiotics. However, data on factors influencing antibiotic use in these settings are lacking. We conducted a study in two rural Cambodian farming communities to investigate how social and contextual influences affect both human and animal antibiotic use behaviours. Data were collected in three phases: a baseline household census to enumerate village residents, a social network survey to understand village-level social ties, and in-depth interviews to elicit information about the influence of social ties on their decision-making processes. Primary outcome measures included knowledge, attitudes and practices surrounding antibiotic use, and awareness of issues relating to antibiotic resistance. Participants commonly accessed antibiotics or learned animal antibiotic use practices through village-level informal sources such as pharmacies or animal health workers. While most participants reported not using antibiotics for animal growth promotion or illness prevention, misconceptions surrounding both antibiotic effectiveness and resistance were common. Social networks capturing informal, work-related and health-related social ties showed that familial connections and geographic proximity were of primary importance for information sharing. Using exponential random graph models, we demonstrated that familial ties, and closer geographic and geodesic distance, were associated with similarity in overall antibiotic knowledge and attitudes. The informal private sector plays a major role in provision of antibiotics and antibiotic-related information in backyard farming communities, but such information is maintained within close social groups. This demonstrates the importance of engaging village-level informal sources in the provision of antibiotic-related information for both human and animal health, as well as in potential interventions to encourage appropriate antibiotic behaviours in lower-resourced settings.

Influx of Backyard Farming with Limited Biosecurity Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Carries an Increased Risk of Zoonotic Spillover in Cambodia.

Backyard farming with limited biosecurity creates a massive potential for zoonotic spillover. Cambodia, a developing nation in Southeast Asia, is a hub for emerging and endemic infectious diseases. Due to pandemic-induced job losses in the tourism sector, rumors suggest that many former Cambodian tour guides have turned to backyard farming as a source of income and food security. A cross-sectional study including 331 tour guides and 69 poultry farmers in Cambodia before and during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was conducted. Participants were administered a survey to assess food security, income, and general farming practices. Survey data were collected to evaluate the risk perceptions for avian influenza virus (AIV), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and general biosecurity management implemented on these poultry farms. Overall, food security decreased for 80.1% of the tour guides during the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 21% of the tour guides interviewed used backyard poultry farming to supplement losses of income and food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a significantly higher risk than for traditional poultry farmers. Agricultural intensification in Cambodia due to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an influx of makeshift farms with limited biosecurity. Inadequate biosecurity measures in animal farms can facilitate spillover and contribute to future pandemics. Improved biosecurity and robust viral surveillance systems are critical for reducing the risk of spillover from backyard farms. IMPORTANCE While this study highlights COVID-19-associated changes in poultry production at a small scale in Cambodia, poultry production is expected to expand due to an increase in the global demand for poultry protein during the pandemic, changes in urbanization, and the reduction of the global pork supply caused by African swine fever (ASF). The global demand and surge in poultry products, combined with inadequate biosecurity methods, can lead to an increased risk of domestic animal and human spillovers of zoonotic pathogens such as avian influenza. Countries in regions of endemicity are often plagued by complex emergency situations (i.e., food insecurity and economic fallouts) that hinder efforts to effectively address the emergence (or reemergence) of zoonotic diseases. Thus, novel surveillance strategies for endemic and emerging infectious diseases require robust surveillance systems and biosecurity training programs to prevent future global pandemics.

Kadaknath Chicken Meat Scope and Source of Animal Origin Nutrients for High Altitude Regions

Leh-Ladakh falls in the category of a high-altitude region with low oxygen, low atmospheric pressure and lack of moisture in the air, thus rendering the climate harsh. Therefore, humans staying in this region need different diets, nutrient levels, and other health supplements compared to low-lander people to thrive under these stressful conditions. Chicken meat and eggs have high biological value proteins that play an important role in nutrient supply in human diets. Among them, Kadaknath chicken meat is very famous for its nutritious brown and greyish-black flesh. Its meat contains more protein, less cholesterol and less fat. Its flesh is also known for its various medicinal properties, so it is very popular among health-conscious people. However, fresh chicken production at high-altitude is very limited due to stressful conditions, making poultry rearing very difficult and uneconomical. Kadaknath is an Indian breed of chicken from the Jhabua region of Madhya Pradesh known for its hardy nature to thrive in any harsh environment. Therefore, the Kadaknath breed can be a good choice for high-altitude due to its hardy nature and disease-resistant ability. Hence, Kadaknath chicken meat can prove to be a superfood in high-altitude and such remote regions, especially during the acclimatization period. We have recently started working on the propagation of Kadaknath chicken among the farmers of Ladakh and evaluating their meat quality and medicinal value. The present review focuses on the scope of Kadaknath chicken at Leh-Ladakh under backyard farming, its acceptance, and the advantage of its meat in providing complete nutrition to human consumers.

Technology Dissemination of Backyard Farming for Supporting Food Security in Palu Central Sulawesi

The optimally of the backyard provide enormous benefits to support the nutritional needs of the family. It is one of strategies in gaining food security in the household and supporting the environment sustainability. The study was conducted in Palu Central Sulawesi in October 2021 as an evaluation survey of the technology dissemination for backyard optimization. The data were analyzed by Expected Food Pattern and scoring method for transferred technologies. The result shown that the technology dissemination increase the Food Pattern Expectation score from 74.2 to 78.0 and increase the family income up to 23%. The technologies’s implementation score consist of 20% in vertical farming, 27% in soil block nursery, 27% in the composition of planting media, 33% in nature pesticide, 27% in MOL production, and 20% in household waste composting. To increase the technology adoption, an assistance for the groups as a model and deployment for larger target are needed.

Molecular survey of Zika virus in the animal-human interface in traditional farming.

Backyard animal husbandry is common in rural communities in developing countries and, given the conditions in which it occurs, it can increase the risk of disease transmission, such as arboviruses. To determine the presence of the Zika virus (ZIKV) and abundance of its arthropod vectors we evaluated the socioeconomic implications involved in its transmission in two highly vulnerable Mayan communities in the state of Yucatan that practice backyard farming. An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out throughout 2016 to understand socioeconomic variables and seasonal patterns in mosquito populations. We selected 20 households from each community. Social exclusion indicators were analyzed, human and domestic animals were sampled, and mosquitoes were collected and identified. Four out of eight indicators of social exclusion were higher than the reported national averages. We captured 5,825 mosquitoes from 16 species being Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti the most abundant. The presence of chickens and human overcrowding in dwellings were the most significant factors (P = 0.026) associated with the presence of Ae. aegypti. Septic tanks (odds ratio = 6.64) and chickens (odds ratio = 27.41) in backyards were the main risk factors associated with the presence of immature states of Ae. aegypti in both communities. Molecular analysis to detect ZIKV was performed in blood samples from 416 humans, 1,068 backyard animals and 381 mosquito pools. Eighteen humans and 10 pig pools tested positive for ZIKV. Forty-three mosquito pools tested positive for flavivirus. Ten of the 43 pools of positive mosquitoes were sequenced, corresponding 3/10 to ZIKV and 1/10 to Dengue virus type 2. The findings obtained indicate the continuous circulation of Flavivirus (including ZIKV) in backyard environments in vulnerable communities, highlighting the importance of studying their transmission and maintenance in these systems, due that backyard animal husbandry is a common practice in these vulnerable communities with limited access to health services.

Isolation and Molecular Detection of Marek's Disease Virus from Outbreak Cases in Chicken in South Western Ethiopia.

BackgroundMarek’s disease virus is a devastating infection, causing high morbidity and mortality in chickens in Ethiopia.MethodsThe current study was conducted from March to November, 2021 with the general objective of performing antemortem and postmortem, isolation, and molecular detection of Marek’s disease virus from outbreak cases in southwestern Ethiopia. Accordingly, based on outbreak information reported from the study sites namely, Bedelle, Yayo, and Bonga towns in southwestern Ethiopia, 50 sick chickens were sampled. The backyard and intensive farming systems of chickens were included in the sampling and priorities were given for chickens that showed clinical signs that are characteristics of Marek’s disease.ResultsBy clinical examinations, paralysis of legs and wings, gray eye, loss of weight, difficulty in breathing, and depression were recorded on all chickens sampled for this study and death of diseased chickens was observed. In addition, enlargement of the spleen and gross lesions of the liver and heart were recorded during postmortem examination. The death of infected chickens was observed in both vaccinated and non-vaccinated flocks. Out of 50 pooled feather follicle samples, Marek’s disease virus was isolated from 14/50 (28%) by cell culture method and out of six tissue samples, the virus was isolated from 5/6(83.30%). By Real time polymerization chain reaction technique, which was targeted to detect the Meq gene, Marek’s disease virus was detected from 18/50 feather follicles which accounts for 36% of sampled chickens.ConclusionIn general, current study showed that the circulating Marek’s disease virus in southwestern Ethiopia was caused by the oncogenic Gallid herpesvirus-2 (Serotype-1). Further research on molecular characterization of revolving virus in current and other regions is recommended for effective control of the disease through vaccination.

Technical efficiency of beef cattle production in the regency of Minahasa Tenggara, province of North Sulawesi, Indonesia

A fattening cultivation of beef cattle in the Province of North Sulawesi is managed by the backyard farming, characterized by a lower productivity, small-scaled business, and traditional management. This type of business has become priority to satisfy the need of beef consumption. Then, the objective of this research is to analyze the extent of technical efficiency of beef cattle fattening. In detail, data collection was conducted in both Districts of Belang and Tombatu Timur, Regency of Minahasa Tenggara on January-February 2022. Two villages of the respective District were selected purposively as the sampling village. Additionally, the research used primary data, obtained from 60 farmers and selected by purposive sampling method. The data, then, was analyzed using the production function of the Stochastic frontier. In sum up, the results of analysis demonstrate that the fattening industry of beef cattle was feasible to perform, but the output of technical efficiency of beef cattle industry was still low, by its average of efficiency index value of 0.670. Meanwhile, the determining factors of beef cattle production were labor, green feed, and weight of feeder cattle. The access, therefore, to information sources, such as technical training and access to the improvement of total beef by capital increasing, is necessary to be developed.

Adaptive Responses to Water, Energy, and Food Challenges and Implications on the Environment: An Exploratory Study of Harare

Urban water, energy, and food (WEF) challenges are among the main barriers to poverty reduction and are some of the central targets of sustainable development goals (SDGs). SDGs seek to improve livelihoods in a sustainable manner through adequate and equitable distribution of the resources. In southern Africa, the scarcity of the resources has escalated due to increased pressure from urbanisation and climate change. This paper focuses on problems of the adaptive strategies that the communities are using in response to WEF challenges as well as the environmental implication of these choices. This article is based on qualitative research methods constituting interview guides administered to 6 city council officials, 2 NGO representatives, 35 households, and 1 Harare residents’ association. Observations were undertaken, and review of secondary data was also done to collect information. Data were collated into a narrative, which was then exposed to qualitative content analysis. Findings reveal the use of underground water in both low- and high-income areas. Firewood and charcoal are preferred for cooking in the low-income suburbs, with gas dominating in the high-income areas. Mobile tuckshops, extensive backyard farming, and open-space agriculture were the prevalent sources of food. Inaccessibility and lack of affordability are some of the identified WEF challenges. Overdependence on underground water lowers the water table, increasing the ecological footprint. Uncontrolled urban agriculture exposes available water sources to pollution.