Western Highlands Research Articles

An analysis of power and conviction around land and linked natural resources in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Questions on power exercise by natural resource actors and inherent conflicts have gained traction in scientific and policy circles in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), although there is virtual neglect of harmful convictions embedded in the exercise of power. To bridge this gap, this paper explores power and convictions around land and linked natural resources in Cameroon. Data was generated through focus group discussions (N = 14), key informant (N = 44) and expert interviews (N = 19). The analysis drew from the actor-centered power lens employing thematic and content analysis. The results indicate the following: First, while gender-based and elitism-based harmful convictions significantly shape land and linked natural resource access, region/ethnic-based and religion-based convictions were less significant. Second, actors championing gender-based convictions employ more coercive approaches, while elitist and political actors make use of incentives. This study informs the actor-centered power (ACP) approach, with emphasis on the convictions embedded in the exercise of power during natural resource acquisition.

Propagation of agroforestry tree species by airlayering: a case study of Canarium schweinfurthii Engl. in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Objective: As a contribution to the domestication of Canarium schweinfurthii (Black olive tree), the present study examined its potential for clonal propagation by air-layering. Methodology and Results: Three substrates Topsoil, Sawdust and mixture of Sawdust and Topsoil in a 1:1 (v/v) ratio] and five concentrations (0, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 g/l) of exogenously applied indole butyric acid (IBA) were tested for their effects on the rooting of air-layers. Results showed that the percentage of rooted layers and the mean number of roots per rooted layer were significantly (p ˂ 0.001) influenced by substrate and IBA concentration, whereas the layers’ mortality rate was influenced only by substrate (p ˂ 0.001). The highest percentage of rooted layers (78.57 ± 7.78%) was recorded with the combination of Sawdust substrate and 5 g/l IBA. The same treatment combination resulted in the highest mean number of roots per rooted layer (34.95 ± 0.76). The lowest mortality rate of layers (6 ± 1.94%) was recorded with Sawdust substrate. Conclusion and application of findings: C. schweinfurthii is amenable to vegetative propagation through air-layering technique. For prolific rooting of air-layers, Sawdust substrate and application of 5 g/l IBA are recommended. With the increasing demand for C. schweinfurthii fruits, these study findings would contribute to rapid and mass propagation of this multifunctional indigenous tree species which have suffered neglect in research. Selecting trees with desirable traits and propagating them asexually using simple and inexpensive method as described in this work would improve establishment of this plant whose fruits trade raises the living standard of many populations in Western and Central Africa. Keywords: Canarium schweinfurthii, Domestication, Non-timber forest products, Vegetative propagation, Western Highlands of Cameroon

Resistant genotypes combined with high elevation level provide bacterial wilt control in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the Western Highlands zone of Cameroon

Potato production in Cameroon is constrained by biotic factors including bacterial wilt disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. No single method effectively controls this disease. Breeding for resistance is usually the best option for disease control in crops. Screening the potential parents for resistance under the target environmental conditions is the prerequisite for effective resistance breeding. This study aimed to determine the response to bacterial wilt of selected potato genotypes grown under different elevation levels and to identify suitable parents that can be used to develop resistant cultivars. The study was carried out in three elevations [high (>1800 m above sea level (m.a.s.l)), medium (1400–1800 m.a.s.l) and low (<1400 m.a.s.l)] in the Western Highlands zone of Cameroon. Seven potato genotypes were planted in a field of each elevation using a Complete Randomized Block Design with three replications. Inoculation occurred naturally. Disease parameters collected included days to onset wilting and bacterial wilt incidence (BWI). Yield components such as the total number of tubers per plant, the percentage of unmarketable tubers and the marketable yield were recorded. BWI as well as the percentage of unmarketable tubers decreased with elevation, meanwhile marketable yield increased with elevation. Disease development tended to be lower in all cultivars at higher elevations. The resistance of Dosa, Desiree, and Banso was high in all environments. based on these results, the combination of these two methods can lower the impact of bacterial wilt. Dosa can be grown at higher elevation fields for stable and higher yields.

Genetic diversity of avocado (Persea americana Mill.) germplasm in Vietnam using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers

Avocado is a significant cash crop in Vietnam, while little is known about its genetic diversification. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were performed to investigate the genetic diversity of twenty-eight imported and domestic avocado cultivars being maintained at Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute, Dak Lak, Vietnam. 18 RAPD and 15 ISSR primers produced 3183 and 2807 scorable bands, of which 83.92% and 71.72% were polymorphic, respectively. The RAPD markers exhibited an average PIC of 0.27 and Rp index of 12.63 whereas the mean PIC and Rp values of ISSR primers were 0.21 and 13.37, respectively. The correlation between RAPD and ISSR markers was low (r = 0.338), suggesting that the ability to resolve genetic variation among varieties may relate to the number of detected polymorphisms rather than the marker employed. Nevertheless, the correlation between ISSR and combined data was high (r = 0.791) and the correlation between RAPD and combined matrices was even higher (r = 0.897). This indicates that RAPD markers have slightly higher efficiency over ISSR to resolve genetic variation among 28 avocado cultivars. High genetic diversity among 28 avocado cultivars was revealed with the Jaccard’s similarity coefficient ranging from 0.623 to 0.913 based on combined data analysis. The UPGMA dendrogram generated from combined RAPD and ISSR data grouped Vietnamese domestic and imported avocado cultivars into three different groups at 72% similarity. These results could be applied to the avocado conservation and breeding programs

Enhancing Technical Efficiency and Economic Welfare: A Case Study of Smallholder Potato Farming in the Western Highlands of Guatemala

Smallholder farmers in the Western Highlands of Guatemala grow potatoes for subsistence and as a cash crop but their current productivity is 29% lower than the world average. The objective of this study is to provide policy recommendations for improving potato productivity through enhancing technical efficiency in smallholder potato farming in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. In doing so, this study examines the determinants of potato productivity and identifies the sources of technical inefficiency in smallholder potato farming. In addition, the study evaluates the economic welfare impact of potato farm operations and provides policy recommendations for increasing smallholder potato productivity through enhancing technical efficiency. Stochastic production frontier analysis showed that on average farmers are at 57% efficiency. Hence, there is a considerable room for improving efficiency in potato farming. The sources of inefficiency of the farmers were determined to be caused by higher elevation, smaller farm size, and location of the farms. Welfare gains from reaching potential efficiency is US$ 8.79 million in terms of producer surplus per year in Guatemala. Hence, this study provides valuable information for policy makers and farmers for improving technical efficiency and producer surplus. Likewise, providing better conservation practices by extension will ameliorate the low productivity associated with higher elevation and locations that are lower in technical efficiency.

Impact of Male Out-Migration on Female Empowerment in the Western Highlands of Guatemala

Male out-migration is a highly prevalent social phenomenon in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, but there is limited understanding on how it impacts the women left-behind, in particular with their empowerment. To determine its impact, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with indigenous women in this region. Through thematic analysis and a discussion built on previous research, it was found that male out-migration has a limited impact on female empowerment due to several contextual factors, including in-law influence, gender norms, and limited educational attainment. Future research must be conducted on the impact of male out-migration on those left-behind across Guatemala as well as how education empowers women.

Spatio-Temporal Evaluation of GPM-IMERGV6.0 Final Run Precipitation Product in Capturing Extreme Precipitation Events across Iran

Extreme precipitation events such as floods and droughts have occurred with higher frequency over the recent decades as a result of the climate change and anthropogenic activities. To understand and mitigate such events, it is crucial to investigate their spatio-temporal variations globally or regionally. Global precipitation products provide an alternative way to the in situ observations over such a region. In this study, we have evaluated the performance of the latest version of the Global Precipitation Measurement-Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals (GPM-IMERGV6.0 Final Run (GPM-IMERGF)). To this end, we have employed ten most common extreme precipitation indices, including maximum indices (Rx1day, Rx5day, CDD, and CWD), percentile indices (R95pTOT and R99pTOT), and absolute threshold indices (R10mm, R20mm, SDII, and PRCPTOT). Overall, the spatial distribution results for error metrics showed that the highest and lowest accuracy for GPM-IMERGF were reported for the absolute threshold indices and percentile indices, respectively. Considering the spatial distribution of the results, the highest accuracy of GPM-IMERGF in capturing extreme precipitations was observed over the western highlands, while the worst results were obtained along the Caspian Sea regions. Our analysis can significantly contribute to various hydro-metrological applications for the study region, including identifying drought and flood-prone areas and water resources planning.

Assessment of global reanalysis precipitation for hydrological modelling in data-scarce regions: A case study of Kenya

Study region19 flood prone catchments in Kenya, Eastern Africa Study focusFlooding is a major natural hazard especially in developing countries, and the need for timely, reliable, and actionable hydrological forecasts is paramount. Hydrological modelling is essential to produce forecasts but is a challenging task, especially in poorly gauged catchments, because of the inadequate temporal and spatial coverage of hydro-meteorological observations. Open access global meteorological reanalysis datasets can fill in this gap, however they have significant errors. This study assesses the performance of four reanalysis datasets (ERA5, ERA-Interim, CFSR and JRA55) over Kenya for the period 1981–2016 on daily, monthly, seasonal, and annual timescales. We firstly evaluate the reanalysis datasets by comparing them against observations from the Climate Hazards group Infrared Precipitation with Station. Secondly, we evaluate the ability of these reanalysis datasets to simulate streamflow using GR4J model considering both model performance and parameters sensitivity and identifiability. New hydrological insights for the regionWhile ERA5 is the best performing dataset overall, performance varies by season, and catchment and therefore there are marked differences in the suitability of reanalysis products for forcing hydrological models. Overall, wetland catchments in the western regions and highlands of Kenya obtained relatively better scores compared to those in the semi-arid regions, this can inform future applications of reanalysis products for setting up hydrological models that can be used for flood forecasting, early warning, and early action in data scarce regions, such as Kenya.

Prevalence, Intensity, and Risk Factors for Helminth Infections in Pigs in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon, with Some Data on Protozoa.

Helminthes affect satisfactory pig farming by causing poor growth rate and infertility. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of helminthes in pig production, as well as factors influencing their prevalence in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon. Thus, 597 fecal samples from 100 farms of three production types (farrower, grower, and farrow-to-finish) were collected together with data on farmer and management characteristics. Samples were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Eggs of eight helminthes were identified: Hyostrongylus rubidus (81.10%, 50-550 epg), Strongyloides ransomi (34.5%, 50-150 epg), Trichostrongylus sp. (28.1%, 50-650 epg), Ascaris suum (11.6%, 50-200 epg), Metastrongylus sp. (10.4%, 50-250 epg), Oesophagostomum dentatum (5.7%, 50-150 epg), Trichuris suis (4.0%, 50-150 epg), and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (0.2%, 50-50 epg). The overall prevalence was 89.3% (533 out of 597). Single infestations were 30.2%, while mixed infestations were 59.1%. A. suum, S. ransomi, and strongyles (H. rubidus, Trichostrongylus sp., Metastrongylus sp., and O. dentatum) were found in almost all age groups but the prevalence of A. suum increased with the growing age to drop in older animals. H. rubidus was found in all farm types followed by S. ransomi in farrower and farrow-to-finish farms. The other parasites were present only in farrow-to-finish farms. Coccidia parasites were also found including Isospora suis (26.30%, 50-12500 oocysts per gram of feces (opg)) and Eimeria spp. (1.40%, 100-100 opg). The risk of infestation for some parasites was lower with increasing herd size, high education level of farmers, and in wooden piggeries and semipermanent structures. The infestation risk was higher for all the investigated parasites for pigs escaping the pens. The overall significance of these parasites on growth and reproduction of the naturally infested pigs deserve assessment. Necropsy studies to confirm the worm burden are needed. Risk factors were identified, thus paving the way to design successful helminth control in pig production enterprises.

An exploratory study of client and provider experience and perceptions of facility-based childbirth care in Quich\xe9, Guatemala

IntroductionRespectful maternity care (RMC) is fundamental to women’s and families’ experience of care and their decision about where to give birth. Studies from multiple countries describe the mistreatment of women during facility-based childbirth, though only a small number of studies from Guatemala have been published. Less information is available on women’s negative and positive experiences of childbirth care and health workers’ perceptions and experiences of providing maternity care.MethodsAs part of a program implemented in the Western Highlands of Guatemala to improve quality of reproductive maternal newborn and child health care, a mixed methods assessment was conducted in three hospitals and surrounding areas to understand women’s and health workers’ experience and perceptions of maternity care. The quantitative component included a survey of 31 maternity health workers and 140 women who had recently given birth in these hospitals. The qualitative component included in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with women and maternity health workers and managers.ResultsWomen reported a mix of positive and negative experiences of childbirth care related to interpersonal and health system factors. 81% of surveyed women reported that health workers had treated them with respect while 21.4% of women reported verbal abuse. Fifty-five percent and 12% of women, respectively, reported not having access to a private toilet and bath or shower. During IDIs and FGDs, many women described higher rates of verbal abuse directed at women who do not speak Spanish. A regression analysis of survey results indicated that speaking Ixil or K’iche at home was associated with a higher likelihood of women being treated negatively during childbirth in a facility. Health worker survey results corroborated negative aspects of care described by women and also reported mistreatment of health workers by clients and families (70.9%) and colleagues (48.2%).ConclusionsThis study adds to the literature on women’s experience of institutional childbirth and factors that influence this experience by triangulating experience and perceptions of both women and health workers. This assessment highlights opportunities to address mistreatment of both women and health workers and to build on positive care attributes to strengthen RMC for all women.

Extractivist States: Contesting and Negotiating the “Commodities Consensus” in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Across Latin America

Extractivist States: Contesting and Negotiating the “Commodities Consensus” in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Across Latin America

Woody species diversity and ecological characteristics of the Mawouon forest, in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

This study was conducted to characterize the floristic, structural and ecological diversity of the Mawouon Forest in the Noun division (Western Highlands Cameroon). In total, 14 plots of 30 m x 100 m (3000 m²) were laid out. Within each, all individuals with a diameter ≥ 10 cm at 1.30 m in height were measured. A total of 2324 individuals belonging to 102 species, 78 genera and 35 families have been identified. The richest family was the Fabaceae (15 species) followed by Euphorbiaceae (12 species) and Moraceae (10 species). The most abundant family was the Rubiaceae (26.97%) followed by Euphorbiaceae (17.16%) and Cecropiaceae (12.65%). The Shannon diversity index was 4.51 bits and the Pielou evenness index was 0.67. Alchornea laxiflora with 89.21% of Important Value index was most importance species followed by Myrianthus arboreus (89.03%) and Polyscias fulva (79.12%). The diameter structure shows a predominance of young individuals. The abundance of megaphanerophytes and mesophanerophytes reflects the adaptive plant strategies that correspond to the competitive strategy. The relative abundance of Guinean-Congolese domain species translates a great maturity of this forest that seems little or not disturbed by human activity.

Response of some maize (Zea mays L.) varieties to natural infection of Maize streak virus in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Viruses are a limiting factor in maize production worldwide. Maize streak virus (MSV) significantly reduces maize yield in Africa and causes production losses ranging from 30 to 100%. In Cameroon, the incidence of maize streak disease ranges from 10 to 60% depending on the agro-ecological zone; and this is due to the susceptibility of the varieties used. A natural screening of 12 maize varieties for resistance to MSV was conducted at Institute of Agricultural Research and Development (IRAD) at Foumbot in 2019 and 2020, during the dry and rainy seasons. Prior to the trial, vector abundance was determined in the different localities of the Western Highlands of Cameroon. The incidence and severity of maize streak disease (MSD) was assessed at symptom onset for all varieties. The presence of MSV in leaf samples was confirmed by the Triple Antibody Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (TAS-ELISA). The results showed that leafhoppers were more abundant in the Foumbot locality. MSV infections are higher in the dry season than in the rainy season. The maize varieties KASSAÏ, ACR06, ATP and MADJSYN VAR2 are less susceptible to MSV. These varieties could be used in the control of maize streak disease to limit yield losses.

Geochemical features and petrology of ignimbrite deposits from Bamenda volcano, Western Highlands of the Cameroon Volcanic Line

Geochemical features and petrology of ignimbrite deposits from Bamenda volcano, Western Highlands of the Cameroon Volcanic Line

On Everyday Natures and Enchanted Landscapes: Worldmaking Practices and Rooted Cosmopolitanism in Guatemala’s Western Highlands

ABSTRACT In this article, I explore how different meanings attached to social and natural landscapes in Guatemala’s Western Highlands inspire a sense of cosmopolitan imagination among those who are potentially less mobile and rooted in their own environment. I show how different manifestations of rooted cosmopolitanism in Chicabal and Santa Cruz la Laguna are mediated by residents’ engagements with these landscapes and how diverging human-environment relations shape cosmopolitan worldviews as they intersect with and encounter tourism dynamics. The landscapes in which these processes take form are described as dynamic realms of encounter between both local and global and human and nonhuman actors. By looking into the potentialities of rooted cosmopolitanism mediated by ideas of global connectedness, I seek to extend the notion of cosmopolitanism beyond tourists alone and, instead, examine how such interactions bring worldmaking practices of Maya inhabitants and nonhuman actors into the equation.

Geometrid Moth Species Richness, Distribution and Community Composition in Different Forest Types of Papua New Guinea

As the major group of herbivorous insects, moths are highly significant in natural ecosystems. In collaboration with the Papua New Guinea (PNG) multipurpose National Forest Inventory (NFI) survey, this study investigates the species richness, distribution and community composition of Geometrid moths (Lepidoptera) in PNG’s tropical forests and analyses environmental drivers of the geometrid community structure. By providing a baseline assessment of an important order of insects that can serve as an indicator for broader biodiversity, this study informs how biodiversity assessments can be better integrated into the planning of forest conservation initiatives, particularly those related to REDD+ and forest carbon offset developments. The research was conducted over 3 years at 38 NFI clusters throughout six provinces: Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, Morobe, Madang and West New Britain and Central Province. Moths were collected from dusk to before midnight (18:00 h to 22:00 h) using a manual light trapping method for four nights per site, with a total of 152 light trap samples. Results included a total of 11,830 specimens from 1,108 morphological species from lowland and montane forests in disturbed (degraded and/or logged) and primary forests. Elevation and forest disturbance are the main variables that influence the distribution of species. Species richness was low in montane undisturbed forests compared with lowland (disturbed and primary) forests and montane disturbed forests. Species similarity between light trap samples tends to decrease as elevation increases. Geometrid moth species were arranged into two main orders of community composition according to the forest types: montane (disturbed and/or primary) forests species and lowland (disturbed and/or primary forest) species as per the samples.

Impacts of agricultural taxation in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Insights from agricultural produce cess in Tanzania

AbstractThis article analyses the economic impacts of agricultural produce cess in Tanzania and compares its effectiveness with alternative reform options relying on its removal or reduction. Produce cess is one of the common forms of agricultural taxation in Sub‐Saharan Africa. This analysis is performed using the farm‐household model FSSIM‐Dev, which is applied to a country representative sample of 3134 individual farm households taken from the 2012/2013 Tanzania National Panel Survey. Simulations show that the current produce cess is rather high and its removal or reduction would increase production intensity and boost farm income, ranging between +2% and +21% depending on options and regions. These positive impacts are driven by land productivity improvement rather than area reallocation. The largest impacts are experienced in northern and western highlands. Large farms and farms specialized in cash crops tend to gain more from the abolishment or reduction of produce cess. The increase in both production and income is, however, not sufficient to significantly reduce rural poverty and improve nutrition security. Finally, results show that a uniform cess rate of 1% for all crops seems to be the most appropriate policy option. It gives the best trade‐off between government revenue loss and farmers’ economic gain.

Evaluation of anthelmintic efficacy of Dryopteris kirbi infusion in West African Dwarf Goats, Western highlands of Cameroon

Evaluation of anthelmintic efficacy of Dryopteris kirbi infusion in West African Dwarf Goats, Western highlands of Cameroon

Malaria-Attributable Fraction of Fever Episodes among HIV-Seropositive Patients in the Western Highland Area of Cameroon

Malaria-Attributable Fraction of Fever Episodes among HIV-Seropositive Patients in the Western Highland Area of Cameroon

Agroforestry for Climate Change Adaptation, Resilience Enhancement and Vulnerability Attenuation in Smallholder Farming Systems in Cameroon

The adverse impacts of climate variability and change are felt mostly by smallholder farmers and smallholder farming systems where rainfed agriculture is predominant. Continuous dependence on rain-fed agriculture has led to declining crop productivity and crop failure in most cases as weather patterns shift which is very problematic for crop growth. Agroforestry which is one of the climate-smart, environmentally benign and agroecological practices has been found to mitigate climate change adversities while fostering adaptation, enhancing resilience and attenuating vulnerability especially in smallholder farming systems. However, in Cameroon, limited empirical research has been done to ascertain the role played by agroforestry in climate change adaptation, resilience enhancement and vulnerability attenuation. This paper which is based on an in-depth review of literature was undertaken to uncover what has been done so far in terms of empirical studies tackling the role played by agroforestry in climate change adaptation, resilience and vulnerability attenuation in Cameroon. It was found that most of the empirical studies have been carried out in one agroecological zone – the western highlands of Cameroon, showing that smallholder farmers adopt different agroforestry practices in the face of climate change with the most common being home gardens with livestock, home gardens without livestock, scattered trees on croplands, improved fallows, live fences/hedges and windbreaks, coffeebased agroforestry, cocoa-based agroforestry, apiculture-based agroforestry, fodder banks, and plantation crop-based agroforestry practices. These agroforestry practices provide a plethora of ecosystem services categorized into provisioning, supporting, regulating and cultural which play an important role towards fostering climate change adaptation, enhancing resilience and attenuating vulnerability in smallholder farming systems. From the findings uncovered by this study, it is imperative for more empirical studies to be carried out in the other four agroecological zones of Cameroon where there is a paucity of information regarding the role played by agroforestry towards fostering climate change adaptation, enhancing resilience and attenuating vulnerability in smallholder farming systems.