Ce travail porte l’étude des innovations autour d’activités agricoles, notamment la valorisation de la culture du sésame considérée comme une culture de femmes dans l’Ouest du Niger. Pour appréhender les dynamiques en cours, l’étude procède d’une analyse des rapports de genre à travers les pratiques sociales et culturelles au sein du milieu concerné. L’analyse des processus d’émergence des initiatives collectives des femmes a permis de mettre en évidence des positions sociales mais aussi des capacités d’action ayant favorisé des reconnaissances institutionnelles. Les groupements constitués dans le cadre des activités maraîchères et de celles de la mise en valeur du sésame offrent un cadre d’apprentissage associatif favorable à la construction d’une identité collective. La mise en œuvre d’innovations techniques et les interactions qu’elles nécessitent permettent aux femmes l’acquisition de compétences contribuant à l’émergence d’une identité socioprofessionnelle. / This study is based on innovations in agricultural activities, notably the valorization of sesame cultivation which is considered as women’s activity in Western Niger. To understand the current dynamisms, this study proceeds by analyzing gender relationship through social and cultural practices within the study region. The analyses of the emergence of women’s collective initiatives permitted us to bring to light their social positions and their capacity to act has greatly favored their institutional recognition. The groupings involved in horticultural activities and those valorizing sesame offer a favorable learning framework for the construction of collective identity. The implementation of technical innovations and the necessary interactions as a result let women acquire the competence that contributes to the emergence of their socioprofessional identity.

Pucciniomycotina is a subphylum with a high diversity in terms of habitat and life history strategies that include plant parasites, animal associates (including opportunistic human pathogens), saprobes and antagonists of other fungi. The class Cystobasidiomycetes within this subphylum is a representative of such diversity and remains understudied. Their role in nature and the associations they establish with their hosts for most of the species is still unknown. In this study we used taxonomic and phylogenetic methods to present an inventory of strains in this class collected for more than 20 years from all over the world and preserved in the Aime Lab Culture Collection. Molecular and morphological data for six new species in the genera <i>Bannoa, Buckleyzyma</i>, <i>Halobasidium</i> and <i>Sakaguchia </i>were also presented. Additionally, mating experiments were performed by pairing strains of <i>Bannoa</i>; this is the second time in the genus that clamp connections and basidia are observed. We also found that newly described species of <i>Bannoa</i> can be co-inhabitants of sori of rust fungi. In general, antagonistic interactions can occur through: 1) direct physical contact between two fungi, i.e., mycoparasitism; or, 2) the production of antimicrobial compounds. In the Cystobasidiomycetes, direct physical antagonistic interaction which is associated with sexual states has been reported in species of Cystobasidium, Naohidea, Cyphobasidium and Occultifur. On the other hand, the production of antimicrobial compounds which mainly occurs between the yeast stage of the fungi and other organisms has only been reported in Cystobasidium pallidumand Hasegawazyma lactosa. We also hypothesize that the common ancestor to Cystobasidiomycetes is a mycoparasite due to the fact that this life strategy is present in most of the lineages in the class. To test this hypothesis, we grouped into five categories the host association or substrate from which strains of extant species in the Cystobasidiomycetes were isolated, i.e.,animals, plants, fungi, aquatic or decaying organic matter. We constructed a resolved phylogeny for the class based on seven locito study the evolutionary origins of mycoparasitism through ancestral character reconstruction with representation of all described species. Our analysis suggests that the most likely hypothesis is that the most recent common ancestor of the Cystobasidiomycetes was associated to fungi.<br>

Thesis (MBA) -- University of Limpopo, 2008 / Land reform is divided into three sub-programmes, which are redistribution programmes, restitution and tenure reform. The redistribution programme consists of Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development settlement and non-agricultural enterprises. Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development programme was established to redress the imbalances of land owners aroused from the previous government and its policies. A person who qualifies to purchase farms through the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development programme is a previously disadvantaged person, that is, an African, Coloured and Indian. If a person belongs to a previously disadvantaged group and that particular person works for the government he/she does not qualify to be funded by the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development programme. The National Department of Agriculture introduced a new programme called the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme. The primary aim of the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme is to make provision for agricultural support to targeted beneficiaries of the land reform and agrarian reform programme. This dissertation proposed an investigation of the success factors of Comprehensive agricultural Support programme on the farms allocated under the Land redistribution for Agricultural Development in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province. The objectives of study were: i. To determine factors influencing the success of the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme projects on farms allocated under the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development farms ii. To suggest recommendations for the improvement of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme. iv A case study approach was used to investigate the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme funded projects. Personal interview questions were posed to participants who were the farmers who receiving the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme grant and managers who were managing the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development farms. Open-ended questionnaires were used to collect data and four farms allocated under Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development funded by the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme and four municipal managers in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province were interviewed. The qualitative approach was used to process the data The chapter layouts of this research are as follows: Chapter 1: Problem Statement, Aims and Objectives of the Study, Chapter 2: Literature Survey, Chapter 3: Research Design, Chapter 4: Analysis of Data and Interpretation, and Chapter 5: Recommendations and Conclusion. The analysis of the data revealed that Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme is a success on the farms allocated under the Land redistribution for Agricultural Development in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province.

Neo-liberalism has become the dominant approach to economic development since the 1980s. Based on the economic principle of “efficiency”, the Washington Consensus and its supporters have avidly promoted the neoliberal orthodoxy as the ideal blueprint for the economic development of all countries in every region. However, as this thesis has discovered, the efficiency of public policy is weighed not by its conformity to an ideology but on how effective it responds to the economic and social problems of the population in question. In recent years Tonga has endured severe economic shocks which have pushed its low growth economy to the brink of economic crisis. In response to this crisis, the Government has chosen greater economic liberalisation and private sector – led growth to lead the economy to recovery. The Washington Consensus and its international supporters claim that this is the best policy response for Tonga due to the belief that greater liberalisation leads to greater efficiency. This thesis however believes that at the current dire state of the economy, it is not enough for Tongan public policy to just conform to international views on efficient economic development but to ensure that its economic development policies address the economic and social needs of the general Tongan population. With this in mind, this thesis investigated the role of agriculture in economic development. It identified that for an agriculture-based country such as Tonga, at low levels of growth, agricultural development is fundamental to long term economic growth. This research also revealed that agricultural growth is maximised through trade hence suggesting increased focus on agricultural export development. Based on these findings, this research project set out to verify the efficiency of Government agricultural policies by identifying the views of agricultural exporters and comparing these with Government approaches to agricultural export development in Tonga.

<p>Inequalities among different power groups are getting obvious in Kiru Valley, Tanzania mainly due to water scarcity. This paper aims to examine, by a case study, the increasing competition over irrigation water among Kiru Valley farmers in relation to socio-economic stratification. It is possible to divide the examined parts of Kiru Valley farmers into three dif-ferent power groups corresponding to their access to irrigation water. First, large-scale sugar cane farmers owned by Tanzanians with Indian origin located on strategic positions near the main rivers. Second, upstream small-scale rice cultivators receiving water from the IFAD (International Found for Agricultural Development) irrigation system and, third, downstream small-scale farmers cultivating rice in the Mapea wetland. To achieve the objectives in this study, Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) techniques have been used and especially wealth rank-ings to measure the socio-economic stratification.</p><p>The wealth rankings demonstrate differences among Kiru Valley farmers. Those farmers connected to the IFAD irrigation system and the large-scale farmers have in higher amount a steady access to irrigation water than farmers cultivating the Mapea wetland. Consequently Mapea farmers are forced to rely on left over water from upstream IFAD farmers and sur-rounding large-scale farmers, leading to unfair distribution patterns and tensions among Kiru Valley farmers.  Finally, it has further been found that access to irrigation water is reflected in household economy. Mapea farmers have less capital goods and households properties com-pared to both IFAD-irrigators and large-scale farmers.</p>

International agricultural development institutions previously hired employees based on their technical expertise, and, with little to no formal training in development, were sent to live abroad with one goal: implement the project. Since the development of the Millennium Development Goals in 2000, a spotlight has been placed on the development industry as a whole, and calls for world-wide accountability. The purpose of this study was to identify the desired competencies of project employees on international agricultural development projects as determined by experienced project managers. The population (N=8) for this study were all current or past project managers of international agricultural development projects. The participants engaged in an interview with the researcher, or chose to complete a questionnaire via email or standard mail. The same questions were presented in both situations. The researcher analyzed the data using the constant comparative qualitative method. The finding of this study identified competencies and categorized them into the following domains: cultural awareness, technical training, communication and interpersonal skills, attitudes and behaviors, experience, and organizational skills. The implications this study affect the curriculum development and content of higher education institutions, the hiring and evaluation process of international agricultural development institutions, and self-competency evaluation of potential employees of international agricultural development projects. It is the recommendation of the researcher that further studies be conducted to determine if the value of these competencies differ as per the location of the development project. It is also recommended that institutions of higher education, development institutions, and beneficiaries collaborate to provide opportunities for practical application of knowledge to future and current employees of international agricultural development.

Magistrantūros studijų baigiamasis darbas, 65 puslapiai, 16 paveikslų, 14 lentelių, 67 literatūros šaltiniai, 1 priedas, lietuvių kalba. PRASMINIAI ŽODŽIAI: visuomenės gerovė, žemės ūkis, darnus žemės ūkio vystymasis, žemės ūkio daugiafunkciškumas. Tyrimo objektas – žemės ūkio reikšmė visuomenės gerovei. Tyrimo tikslas – atskleidus žemės ūkio reikšmės ir poveikio visuomenės gerovei vertinimo problematiką, įvertinti žemės ūkio reikšmę visuomenės gerovei. Uždaviniai: 1) atskleisti žemės ūkio poveikio visuomenės gerovei vertinimo galimybes, remiantis žemės ūkio daugiafunkciškumo ir darnaus žemės ūkio vystymosi koncepcijomis; 2) pagrįsti žemės ūkio vaidmens ir jo reikšmės visuomenės gerovei vertinimą per ekonominę, socialinę ir aplinkosauginę dimensijas; 3) įvertinti žemės ūkio reikšmę visuomenės gerovei Lietuvoje per socialinę, ekonominę ir aplinkosauginę dimensijas. Tyrimo metodai: mokslinės literatūros loginės analizės ir sintezės, statistinių duomenų analizės, grafinis vaizdavimo būdas. Tyrimo rezultatai: • pirmojoje darbo dalyje pateikti žemės ūkio reikšmės visuomenės gerovei socialiniai, ekonominiai, aplinkosaugos aspektai. Pateiktas įvairių organizacijų ir mokslininkų, tyrėjų požiūris į žemės ūkio reikšmę visuomenės gerovei; • antrojoje darbo dalyje identifikuoti rodikliai, naudojami vertinant žemės ūkio reikšmę visuomenės gerovei; • trečiojoje darbo dalyje įvertinta Lietuvos žemės ūkio reikšmė visuomenės gerovei per ekonominę, socialinę ir aplinkosauginę dimensijas... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The final work of University Postgraduate studies, 65 pages, 16 pictures, 14 tables, 67 referencies, 1 annex, Lithuanian language. KEY WORDS: public welfare, agriculture, sustainable agricultural development, multifunctionality of agriculture. Research object: agricultural value to public welfare. Research aim: assess agricultural value to public welfare. Objectives: 1) to reveal assessment possibilities of the effects of agriculture on public welfare based on multifunctionality of agriculture and sustainable agriculture development; 2) to reason the assessment of agriculture and its importance to public welfare through the economic, social and environmental dimensions; 3) to asssess the significance of the agricultural value to public welfare in Lithuania by social, economic and environmental dimensions. Research methods: logical analysis and synthesis of scientific literature, visualization, statistical data analysis. Study results: • The first part presents social, economic and environmental aspects of the agricultural value, describes the approach of organizations, scientists and researchers to agricultural value to the public welfare; • The second part of the paper presents indicators that are used to assess the agricultural value to public welfare; • The third part assess Lithuanian value of the agriculture to public welfare through economic, social and environmental dimensions. Due to the multiplicity of the public welfare and abudance of agricultural functions... [to full text]

The central argument that I advance in this dissertation is that the influence of the Rockefeller Foundation (RF) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) in the governance of global health and agricultural development has been derived from their ability to advance knowledge structures crafted to accommodate the preferences of the dominant states operating within the contexts where they have sought to catalyze change. Consequently, this dissertation provides a new way of conceptualizing knowledge power broadly conceived as well as private governance as it relates to the provision of public goods. In the first half of the twentieth-century, RF funds drove scientific research that produced tangible solutions, such as vaccines and high-yielding seed varieties, to longstanding problems undermining the health and wealth of developing countries emerging from the clutches of colonialism. At the country-level, the Foundation provided advanced training to a generation of agricultural scientists and health practitioners, and RF expertise was also pivotal to the creation of specialized International Organizations (IOs) for health (e.g. the League of Nations Health Organization) and agriculture (e.g. the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) as well as many informal international networks of experts working to solve common problems. Finally in the neo-liberal era, RF effectively demonstrated how the public-private partnership paradigm could provide public goods in the face of externally imposed austerity constraining public sector capacity and the failure of the free-market to meet the needs of populations with limited purchasing power. Since its inception, the BMGF has demonstrated a similar commitment to underwriting innovation through science oriented towards reducing global health disparities and increasing agricultural productivity in poor countries, and has greatly expanded the application of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach in both health and agriculture. Unlike its intellectual forebear, BMGF has been far more focused on end-points and silver bullets than investing directly in the training of human resources. Moreover whereas RF has for most of its history decentralized its staff, those of BMGF have been concentrated mainly at its headquarters in Seattle. With no operational programs of its own, BMGF has instead relied heavily on external consultants to inform its programs and remains dependent on intermediary organizations to implement its grants. Despite these and other differences, both RF and BMGF have exhibited a common capacity to catalyse institutional innovation that has benefited historically marginalized populations in the absence of structural changes to the dominant global power structure. A preference for compromise over contestation, coupled with a capacity for enabling innovation in science and governance, has resulted in broad acceptance for RF and BMGF knowledge structures within both state and international policy arenas. This acceptance has translated into both Foundations having direct influence over (i) how major challenges related to disease and agriculture facing the global south are understood (i.e. the determinants and viable solutions); (ii) what types of knowledge matters for solving said problems (i.e. who leads); and (iii) how collective action focused on addressing these problems is structured (i.e. the institutional frameworks).

This study is a policy network analysis of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) in Ethiopia. The CAADP is a NEPAD initiative aimed at promoting policy interventions that will address the agricultural crisis in Africa. This dissertation argues that policy networks are regarded as a tool for and a structure of public policy making and implementation, and assume such attributes as exchanges of resources, interdependence among stakeholders that can be formal or informal. Its formation arises from a realisation that single bureaucratic governments are ineffective hence the need to seek mutually beneficial solutions, share information, gain support and legitimacy through association with other agencies. A policy network analysis of the CAADP has revealed that relationships among the CAADP policy network partners are typically collaborative, complex, reciprocal, and trust based. Therefore, the implementation of the CAADP take place through what would be termed „networked governance‟ – where stakeholders share common policy objectives aimed at reducing hunger and starvation as well as increasing economic development through a range of collaborative efforts among government, private and civic organisations. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2003. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.