Staple Varieties Research Articles

The Curse of Plenty: The Green Revolution and the Rise in Chronic Disease

The rising rate of chronic disease is a leading driver of the global disease burden. Yet, its determinants are not fully understood. Exploiting the Green Revolution and its expansion in historically groundwater-rich Indian districts, we examine the unanticipated contribution of agricultural productivity growth to the rise in chronic, diet-related diseases. We find that areas with greater adoption of new staple varieties saw an increase in diabetes in men born after the introduction of high-yield crops. We find suggestive evidence that diet is an important mechanism, such as heterogeneous impacts with respect to dietary habits and increases in household calorie consumption. (JEL I12, O13, O15, O31, Q12, Q16)

Growth, Instability and Competitiveness in Exports of Sugar and Cotton from India

The study examines the growth rate and instability and the comparative advantage of sugar and cotton exports and imports of India during 2001-02 to 2019-20. Findings of the study show that sugar and cotton export from India to the world increased at the rate of 13.54 and 26.93 percent per annum, with high instability index of 48.66 and 47.80 percent during the study periods. In the case of cotton exports, all destinations were found to have positive and significant growth. India’s total sugar imports, Brazil supplied around 80 percent during the study period, which registered the highest and most significant growth of 62.89 percent with the highest instability of 75.74 percent. Our cotton imports are of extra long staple variety, which is not produced in sufficient quantity in India. The value of revealed comparative advantage for Brazil and Thailand were greater than India so they were major competitors for India in sugar exports during the study period. In contrast, Exports competitiveness of Indian cotton was increased from 2007 because of the value of RCA registered greater than unity.

Production of Fine Count Yarns from Some Extra-long Egyptian Cottons on Different Spinning Systems

The current research was carried out to produce fine count yarns from extra-long Egyptian cotton varieties using compact and ring spinning systems.in addition, to compare between compact yarns and ring yarns in terms of their physical and mechanical properties. Three commercial extra-long staple Egyptian cottons Giza92, Giza93 and Giza 96 were used to produce four linear densities of 80, 100, 120 and 140 at 3.6 twist multiplier. Results obtained showed that Giza 92 was surpassed significantly other extra -long staple varieties. It recorded the highest mean values of yarn strength and yarn evenness While, the same variety recorded the lowest mean values of yarn hairiness and imperfections. Compact yarns were much better than yarns spun on the ring spinning in yarn strength, yarn elongation, evenness, yarn imperfections and yarn hairiness. Yarn count 80,s gave higher single yarn strength (20.89cN/tex), yarn elongation (5.03%) and yarn evenness (17.49%) and lower yarn hairiness (2.04) and imperfections than yarn count 140s. Single yarn strength, yarn elongation and yarn evenness were decreased with increasing yarn count. While the number of neps, hairiness, the number of thin and thick places were increased with increasing yarn count. Concerning, the effect of interaction between cotton varieties × yarn counts × spinning systems on yarn quality properties. Yarn count 80s recorded the highest mean values of yarn strength (23.14, 21.1 and 20.2 cN/tex) and yarn evenness (17.72, 16.53 and 16.79%) for varieties Giza92, Giza93 and Giza96, respectively for compact spinning system. Yarn strength at count 80, 100, 120 and 140 correlated negatively and highly significant with micronaire value and maturity ratio.

An Efficiency of Standard Procedures for Moisture Analysis Tests Used in The Egyptian Cotton Trade.

This investigation was carried out at Plant Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture (Saba-Basha), Alexandria University, Egypt and Cotton Arbitration and Testing General Organization (CATGO), Egypt, on some Egyptian cotton varieties, and some drying instruments, during 2018/2019 season. Six commercial Egyptian cotton varieties, G. barbadense representing the two categories of Egyptian cotton were used. The first group represents the Extra-long staple, extra fine (ELS) category these varieties were Giza 87 and Giza 96 (over 1 3/8-inch fiber length = > 35 mm). The second group represented the long staple (LS) category (1 1/4 -1 3/8-inch fiber length =30:34 mm) included long staple white i.e., Giza 86, Giza 94 and Long staple creamy i.e., Giza 95 and Giza 90. The Aqua Lab, Good Brand Jefferys(NEW), Good Brand (Developed), and H.V.I classing 1000 were used to determine the moisture, physical and mechanical properties. The Extra-long cotton varieties had a highly significant effect on fiber properties the highest mean value of fiber length (UHML) (35.60 mm), uniformity index (88.09%) were recorded for the Egyptian cotton variety Giza 87. The highest mean value of fiber strength (44.33 g/tex), spinning consistency index (SCI) (223.75) were shown by the Egyptian cotton variety Giza 96. The long staple varieties had a highly significant effect on the fiber properties the maximum value of micronaire reading (4.56), short fiber index (7.02%), maturity index (0.87) were recorded by the Egyptian cotton variety Giza 95. The highest mean value of fiber elongation (7.62%) was shown by the Egyptian cotton variety Giza 90. The maximum value reflectance degree (RD) (78.52%). The drying instruments differed significantly for five properties i.e., fiber strength, short fiber index, spinning consistency index, reflectance degree and yellowness degree. The maximum value of the short fiber index (6.32%) was shown after Good Brand (New). The highest mean value of fiber strength (40.57g/tex), spinning consistency index(SCI) (192.88) were recorded after Aqua Lab. The maximum value of reflectance degree (RD) (73.85%) was shown before drying treatment. The highest mean value of yellowness degree (+b) (10.84) was recorded after Good Brand (Developed). The Egyptian cotton varieties(V) revealed highly significant differences for all moisture properties i.e., moisture regains (MR) and moisture content (MC). The highest mean value of moisture regain (MR) (8.32%), moisture content (MC) (7.68%) were shown by the Egyptian cotton variety Giza 87. Concerning the drying instruments(I) revealed highly significant differences for moisture properties. The highest mean value of moisture regain(MR) (7.75%), moisture content (MC) (7.68%) were recorded by Good Brand (dev.).

Near Real-Time Biophysical Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Yield Estimation to Support Crop Insurance Implementation in India

Immediate yield loss information is required to trigger crop insurance payouts, which are important to secure agricultural income stability for millions of smallholder farmers. Techniques for monitoring crop growth in real-time and at 5 km spatial resolution may also aid in designing price interventions or storage strategies for domestic production. In India, the current government-backed PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana) insurance scheme is seeking such technologies to enable cost-efficient insurance premiums for Indian farmers. In this study, we used the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) to estimate yield and yield anomalies at 5 km spatial resolution for Kharif rice (Oryza sativa L.) over India between 2001 and 2017. We calibrated the model using publicly available data: namely, gridded weather data, nutrient applications, sowing dates, crop mask, irrigation information, and genetic coefficients of staple varieties. The model performance over the model calibration years (2001–2015) was exceptionally good, with 13 of 15 years achieving more than 0.7 correlation coefficient (r), and more than half of the years with above 0.75 correlation with observed yields. Around 52% (67%) of the districts obtained a relative Root Mean Square Error (rRMSE) of less than 20% (25%) after calibration in the major rice-growing districts (>25% area under cultivation). An out-of-sample validation of the calibrated model in Kharif seasons 2016 and 2017 resulted in differences between state-wise observed and simulated yield anomalies from –16% to 20%. Overall, the good ability of the model in the simulations of rice yield indicates that the model is applicable in selected states of India, and its outputs are useful as a yield loss assessment index for the crop insurance scheme PMFBY.

Rape of the lock: note on nineteenth-century hair fetishists.

The ostensibly bizarre crime of braid-cutting invited occasional alienist inferences from the late 1850s onwards, until it entered mid-1880s police profiles and forensic-psychiatric taxonomies as a corollary of perversion, specifically sadism and fetishism. Cases were rare, but were reported as late as the mid-1930s and enduringly cited as encompassing a staple variety of fetishism. This note briefly reconstructs entries in German, French and English forensic psychiatry, sexual psychopathology and psychoanalysis.

Inevitable Decay: Debates over Climate, Food Security, and Plant Heredity in Nineteenth-Century Britain

Climate change and the failure of crops are significant but overlooked events in the history of heredity. Bad weather and dangerously low harvests provided momentum and urgency for answers to questions about how best to improve and acclimatize staple varieties. In the 1790s, a series of crop failures in Britain led to the popularization of and widespread debate over Thomas Andrew Knight’s suggestion that poor weather was in fact largely unconnected to the bad harvests. Rather, Knight argued, Britain’s older varieties—particularly its fruit trees—were coming to the natural end of their lifespans. At a period when Britain was trying to maximize its agricultural land usage, Knight campaigned that his fellow farmers ought to set aside land and resources in order to cultivate new varieties—an expensive and time-consuming procedure—in order to avoid disaster. In this paper, I argue that Knight’s lifelong commitment to his position demonstrates the role played by changes in climate and weather on popular understandings of plant heredity. Further, drawing upon the historiography of Britain’s climate and agriculture, I show that despite reliable weather and good harvests, Knight’s campaign survived for several decades before the continued health of Britain’s trees was finally treated as sufficient evidence to dispense with Knight’s warnings. This case provides a means of thinking about the history of heredity as it is shaped and impacted by changes in climate and local conditions.

Response of Fiber Quality to Temperature Degree and Lint Cotton Grade in Two Long Staple Varieties

Response of Fiber Quality to Temperature Degree and Lint Cotton Grade in Two Long Staple Varieties

The relationship between fiber properties and neps formation in yarn for some Egyptian cotton varieties.

The present study was undertaken in Technology, Division, Cotton Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center Giza, seven Egyptian cotton varieties, were taken in the study, three extra-long staple varieties (Giza 45, Giza 88 and Giza 93), two delta long- staple varieties (Giza 86 and Giza 94), and two upper Egypt long- staple varieties (Giza 80 and Giza 90), grown in 2014-2015 season. To study the effect of the factor, the relative importance and the contribution of spain length at 2.5% (SL 2.5% mm (X1), spain length at 50% (SL 50% mm (X2), uniformity ratio (UR% (X3), short fiber Content (SFC% (X4), mean length (ML mm (X5), upper half mean length (UHM mm (X6), uniformity index (UI% (X7), spain length at 66.7% (SL 66.7% mm (X8), coefficient of variation length (C.v% (X9), micronaire reading (Mic (X10), fiber strength in gram/Tex (Str. g/tex (X11), fiber elongation (Elon.% (X12), maturity ratio (MR% (X13), and neps formation (neps cnt./g). in cotton yarns. From the path coefficient analysis, it was concluded that Micronaire reading was the most important causative factor inducing neps in cotton yarns. In fact, Micronaire reading exerted influence both directly and indirectly upon neps count. Fiber length showed a moderate effect, while fiber stiffness revealed the lowest effect on yarn neps count compared with the other two factors.

Antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and bioactive constituents of the Indian medicinal rice Njavara yellow compared with staple varieties

Polar and non-polar extracts of Njavara yellow rice (NYr) and bran (NYb) were investigated for antioxidant activity, chemical indices, anti-inflammatory effects, and bioactive compounds, of which the results were compared between the 2 staple varieties Uma and Jaya. Methanol extracts of NYb showed significantly (p<0.05) higher antioxidant activity than other varieties with the IC50 values of 97 μg/mL (DPPH·) and 48 μg/mL (ABTS·+). NYb showed a higher anti-inflammatory effect and higher chemical indices (6.36 mg, phenolic content; 1.44 mg, flavonoid content; 3.06 mg, proanthocyanidin content; and 15.5 mg, phytate content per gram of dry weight of bran) than NYr and staple varieties. The content of bioactive compounds, oryzanols (659 μg/mL) and tricin (24.58 mg/100 g bran), were higher in NYb than in other varieties. Evaluation of biological activities and quantification of bioactive compounds of Njavara yellow are first pursued herein to corroborate Njavara Ayurveda medicinal use.

Consumer Attitude to New Products in Banks N Nigeria In Post-Consolidation Period

In 2004, Nigeria undertook a reform in the banking cub-sector for consolidation and merger of banks as some developing countries have done in the past. In the process, enhanced profitability and market power motive led the banks to float large staple variety new and sophisticated products, especially electronic products mid services. The patronage of these new products initially experienced upsurge but later had a decline. The objective of‟ this study is to investigate and confirm the subsequent decline in patronage of some of the new products and the reasons for the negative attitude of consumers to the new products of banks at this period. After an opinion survey analysis, the major findings are that there were subsequent negative changes in the patronage of new product, especially electronic products after their introduction. This has been attributed to lack of perceived value by customers, excessive and multiple bank charges, the discrimination in granting credits and untoward activities of internet fraudsters. It is recommended that the bank management should ensure; that they research into how products introduced by bank will add value to customer‟s .satisfaction and an minimum costs, especially in this time of global economic recession. In addition, banks should adhere strictly to the apex banks regulations and „arm “themselves properly to prevent fraudulent activities of internet fraudsters. The Apex bank should formulate policies that will restore confidence in the commercial banking system.

Molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory action of the flavonoid, tricin from Njavara rice (Oryza sativa L.) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells: Possible role in the inflammatory signaling

Flavonoids are a group of natural substances that are located in sources of vegetal origin and are able to regulate acute and chronic inflammatory responses. The anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects corroborate with the preferential use of Njavara, a rice variety in indigenous medicine and the phytochemical investigations revealed the occurrence of a flavonoid, tricin at significantly higher levels compared to staple varieties. This study describes the new aspects of inflammatory suppression by the Njavara rice by evaluating the role of active constituent, tricin in the regulation of production of various pro‐inflammatory markers by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Treatment with tricin resulted in significant down‐regulation of LPS-elicited production of TNF-α, IL-6, PGE2 and NO. Tricin was found to be a potential blocker of the expression of isoforms of nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase and matrix metalloproteinases. Modulation of the cascade of molecular events in lipopolysaccharide signaling also includes inhibition of transcription factor NF-κB evidenced by the detection of enhanced p65 subunit in the nuclear extracts on tricin supplementation. The present study summarizes the role of the flavonoid, tricin in the modulation of the expression of different inflammatory mediators and revealed that the inhibitory effects on cell signaling pathways are responsible for its anti-inflammatory activity.

CHEMICAL INDICES, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF EXTRACTS OF THE MEDICINAL RICE “NJAVARA” AND STAPLE VARIETIES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Chemical indices, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of extracts of bran of medicinal rice – Njavara “black glumed” type (NBb) and its rice (NBr), were studied in comparison with bran and rice of staple varieties: Sujatha and Palakkadan Matta. Total oryzanol, phenolic, flavonoid, proanthocyanidin and phytate contents of NBb (1.84 mg/g, 27.16 mg of gallic acid/g, 4.50 mg of quercetin/g, 0.98 mg of catechin/g and 8.77 mg/g dry weight of bran, respectively) were higher compared with NBr and staple varieties. NBb showed greater reducing power and significantly higher scavenging activity with 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl radical, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide with values of concentration of NBb required to scavenge 50% of respective radicals (IC50): 84.66, 203.16 and 73.55 µg/mL, respectively. The anti-inflammatory effect (in vivo) of NBb was 83.3%, whereas NBr and staple varieties showed activity in the range 16–66%. The higher oryzanol content, chemical indices, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity for Njavara compared with staple varieties corroborates with its medicinal use in Ayurveda. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Medicinal plants are a source of antioxidants and bioactive compounds responsible for the prevention of oxidative stress that leads to many degenerative diseases and conditions. The present study indicates that the extracts of “Njavara” (black glumed), a medicinal rice variety, contains significant amounts of oryzanols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and phytic acid compared with staple varieties. These extracts are potential free radical scavengers and have anti-inflammatory effect compared with staple varieties. Njavara, identified as a source of bioactive compounds, can be consumed as a health food in addition to its medicinal uses; thus, benefiting consumers. Higher oryzanol content in Njavara is beneficial for lowering plasma cholesterol, reducing platelet aggregation, nerve imbalances and aortic fatty streak formation. Higher antioxidants in Njavara are also beneficial against the diseases initiated by free radicals. These promising results also open up newer areas of research for developing improved varieties of rice containing more bioactive compounds.

Re-use of explanted osteosynthesis devices: A reliable and inexpensive reprocessing protocol

Introduction Orthopaedic surgical treatments emphasizing immobilization using open reduction and internal fixation with osteosynthesis devices are widely accepted for their efficacy in treating complex fractures and reducing permanent musculoskeletal deformity. However, such treatments are profoundly underutilized in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), partially due to inadequate availability of the costly osteosynthesis devices. Orthopaedic surgeons in some LMIC regularly re-use osteosynthesis devices in an effort to meet treatment demands, even though such devices typically are regulated for single-use only. The purpose of this study is to report a reprocessing protocol applied to explanted osteosynthesis devices obtained at a leading trauma care hospital. Methods Explanted osteosynthesis devices were identified through a Register of Explanted Orthopaedic Prostheses. Guidelines to handle ethical issues were approved by the local Ethical Committee and informed patient consent was obtained at the time of explant surgery. Primary acceptance criteria were established and applied to osteosynthesis devices explanted between 2005 and 2008. A rigorous protocol for conducting decontamination and visual inspection based on specific screening criteria was implemented using simple equipment that is readily available in LMIC. Results A total of 2050 osteosynthesis devices, including a large variety of plates, screws and staples, were reprocessed using the decontamination and inspection protocols. The acceptance rate was 66%. Estimated labour time and implementation time of the protocol to reprocess a typical osteosynthesis unit (1 plate and 5 screws) was 25 min, with an estimated fixed cost (in Italy) of €10 per unit for implementing the protocol, plus an additional €5 for final sterilization at the end-user hospital site. Discussion This study was motivated by the treatment demands encountered by orthopaedic surgeons providing medical treatment in several different LMIC and their need for access to basic osteosynthesis devices. The rigorous decontamination protocol and generalized inspection criteria proved useful for efficiently screening a large volume of devices. Given that re-used osteosynthesis devices can yield satisfactory results, this study addresses potential complications of re-used devices and valid concerns that relate to patient safety. Implementing this defined reprocessing protocol into existing re-use practises in LMIC helps to limit the risks of inadequate sterilization and structural failure without adding additional risks to patients receiving re-used devices.

Isolation, Characterization and Quantification of Tricin and Flavonolignans in the Medicinal Rice Njavara (Oryza sativa L.), as Compared to Staple Varieties

Njavara is an important medicinal rice variety of Kerala, India, widely used in Ayurveda as a 'health food' and in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, paralysis, neurodegenerative diseases and in rejuvenation therapy. Phytochemical investigations and spectroscopic studies of the diethyl ether fraction of methanolic extract of Njavara Black (NB) rice bran gave three important compounds namely, tricin and two rare flavonolignans- tricin 4'-O-(erythro-β-guaiacylglyceryl) ether and tricin 4'-O-(threo-β-guaiacylglyceryl) ether. The EC(50) values of these compounds in DPPH system were 90.39, 352.04 and 208.1 μg/ml, respectively. Quantification of the compounds by HPLC in NB and staple, non-medicinal rice varieties Sujatha (SJ) and Palakkadan Matta (PM) showed that tricin is present 39.64 and 16.12 fold higher in NB, compared to SJ and PM, respectively. This is the first report on the occurrence of tricin at significantly higher levels in Njavara and occurrence of the two flavonolignans in Oryza sativa species. Of the three compounds, tricin and the threo- form of flavonolignan showed anti-inflammatory effect of >65% after 5 h, at 2 mg/kg, in carrageenan-induced, paw edema experiments in rats. The results of the study corroborate with the preferential use of Njavara in indigenous medicine, over staple varieties.

Mechanical characteristics of three staples commonly used in foot surgery

BackgroundBone staples are an accepted method of fixation in foot surgery. They reduce operating time and trauma in surgical procedures. A variety of memory staples are available but their properties compared to standard staples are not known. We carried out a study comparing two popular types of memory staples and a standard stainless steel staple.MethodsStandardized bone models of metatarsals made from Tufnol tubes were osteotomized and stabilised using one of three types of bone staples, two types of memory staple (Memory staple and heat-activated Memoclip) or a standard stainless steel staple (Richards). Constructs were loaded in bending and torsion on a material testing machine. The moment and torque to achieve 10 degree of bending or torsion and permanent angulation of the osteotomized bones were assessed.ResultsThe Richards staple was found to provide a four times larger resistance to bending and torsion than the two memory staples. However, it was permanently deformed after bending. The Memory and Memoclip staples were equal in their stiffness. In addition, angulation of bones fixed with the Memoclip was elastic, preventing any permanent deformation.ConclusionThe Richards staple was stiffer, although the permanent deformation of this staple is a disadvantage. Memoclip staples exhibit lower but adequate stiffnesss when compared to the standard Richards staple and are not permanently deformed after bending. The Memoclip staples were easier to handle. The results will enable surgeons to determine the optimal staple for foot and ankle procedures.

THE IMPACT OF NEW SPINNING TECHNOLOGIES ON THE EGYPTIAN COTTONS

The yarns spun on the compact spinning system are characterized by higher tenacity, higher elongation at break, smaller mass irregularity measured at short segments, and significantly lower hairiness in comparison with yarns spun on the conventional ring spinning frame. For the Long Staple Egyptian cotton varieties, the breaking force or single yarn strength of the compact yarn (with a nominal linear density of 15tex spun from Long-Staple cottons) was 17.63% higher than the conventional ring spun yarn, while for the Extra-fine carded yarns spun from Extra-Long Staple varieties (it was around 7.0%). This means that, the compact spinning system is more useful for Long Staple cottons and coarse and medium counts than for the Extra Long Staple cottons and finer counts.

Applying Quantile Regression to Analysis of AFIS Cotton Fiber Distribution

Varying fiber length distributions of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., impacts its spinning performance. Advanced Fiber Information System (AFIS) facilitates the analysis of the length distribution of individual fibers in cotton. Quantile regression is a variant of standard regression with which conditional quantile values can be calculated by minimizing weighted sums of absolute deviations across the entire distribution. Quantile regression was used to analyze AFIS fiber length distribution among five genotypes of upland cotton grown at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Farm near College Station, TX during 2001 and 2002. The shape of the distribution of ‘CAMD‐E’, a short‐staple variety, was actually similar to ‘Acala 1517‐99’, a long staple variety with good spinning quality, even though CAMD‐E had consistently lower fiber lengths. ‘FM 832’, and ‘TAM 94L‐25’ had similar mean fiber lengths to Acala 1517‐99, but their distribution shape was less skewed. ‘TTU 202’ had high cross entropy values, but little difference was detected in distribution shape by quantile regression. Year had a significant impact on distribution of fiber lengths, affecting distribution scale and location, which may be due to lower fiber fineness and maturity in 2001. Quantile regression was found to be an effective method for analyzing AFIS fiber length distributions, although further testing with a larger set of genotypes and environments with spinning data is needed.

COMPARISON BETWEEN RING AND COMPACT SPUN FROM LONG STAPLE EGYPTIAN COTTON VARIETIES

This study has been done to compare ring and compact yarns spun from Egyptian long staple varieties .six long staple cotton varieties were used as Giza 80, Giza 83, Giza 90, Giza 85, Giza 86 and Giza 89 ,chosen to produce 40's count yarn spun at three different twist multiplier;3.2, 3.6 and 4.0. The obtain data cleared that:- The compact spun yarns at low twist level had better yarn property values - thin and thick places, nep values, yarn hairiness, yarn evenness, yarn strength and elongation at break (%) - than the conventional ring spun yarns for long staple Egyptian cotton varieties in the same twist level .i.e. yarn strength of the compact yarn was 11%higher than the conventional ring spun yarn. In addition, Compact yarns reached maximum strength at a lower twist multiplier than conventional ring yarns. Increasing twist caused a reduction in the number of thin and thick places and yarn hairiness in both compact and ring yarns While Elongation at break and Strength values increased with higher twist for both spinning systems. The data revealed that, Giza 86 variety was superior in fiber strength (cN/tex) and Giza 90 variety was superior in yarn evenness and hairiness values than other varieties.

Trends in pesticide use and drivers for safer pest management in four African countries

Patterns in pesticide practice were studied among smallholder farmers in Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana and Senegal, growing cotton, vegetables, pineapple, cowpea, and mixed cereals and legumes, for export and local markets. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to examine pesticide use and handling, costs and access and health, welfare and sustainability issues. Drivers encouraging pesticides as the dominant form of pest management include food staple varieties highly susceptible to insect attack; increased pest incidence; lack of advice on alternative methods; a growing informal market in ‘discount’ and often unauthorised pesticides; subsidy; and poor attention to the economics of pest control. The paper contrasts the situation of food crops for African consumers with the increasing attention to food safety and pesticide restrictions in export horticulture to Europe and the growing demand for organic cotton, and discusses challenges for implementation of IPM and safer practice.