Search

Abstract In Mexico, maize forms of production range from industrial scale with hybrid maize, to smallholder farmers who mainly grow local varieties, contributing significantly to the national provision for human consumption. The objective of this study was to describe the local value chains of native maize in a peri-urban community in the east of the Valley of Mexico, exploring its contribution to the livelihoods of the families living within 50 km of Mexico City. Through a mixed quantitative (320 surveys) and qualitative (53 interviews) analysis, we found that more than 60% (250 tons) of the annual production of native maize in San Juan is locally consumed as tortillas: firstly, manually transformed by the women of the village for auto-consumption and local sale, and secondly, mixed by tortillerias with hybrid maize from other regions. More than 400 families in this locality (approximately one third) are directly involved in the production-transformation-consumption chain of native maize. Of the maize producing families, half consume their own product. There are 70 women involved in transformation that thereby obtain 75% more value for the native maize grain. More than a quarter of the tortillas consumed by the population originate in this local production and transformation. Based on this study, in the national current context of food supply and agricultural development, the development of these local markets that are economically equitable is a viable economic model that limits the number of intermediaries and favors diversity of the raw materials, products and actors involved in transformation and distribution. Highlights • Local value chains of native maize in a peri-urban zone, its contribution to local livelihoods. • One third families are directly involved in the production-transformation-consumption chain of native maize. • The local native maize markets offer economic opportunities in a context of a precarious local labor market. • Native maize is resurgent in Mexican urban culture providing opportunities to support this type of small-scale production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Traditional storage practices in developing countries cannot guarantee protection against major storage pests of staple food crops like maize, leading to 20–30% grain losses, particularly due to post-harvest insect pests and grain pathogens. As a result, smallholder farmers end up selling their grain soon after harvest, only to buy it back at an expensive price just a few months after harvest, falling in a poverty trap. The potential impact on poverty reduction and greater livelihood security will not be realized, however, if farmers are unable to store grains and sell surplus production at attractive prices. Apart from causing quantitative losses, pests in stored grain are also linked to aflatoxin contamination and poisoning. To address this problem, a metal silo was developed as a valid option and proven effective in protecting stored grains from attack by storage insect pests. A metal silo is a cylindrical structure, constructed from a galvanized iron sheet and hermetically sealed, killing any insect pests that may be present. The impact of metal silo technology in Africa, Asia and Latin America includes, improving food security, empowering smallholder farmers, enhancing income opportunities and job creation, and safeguarding the agro-ecosystems. The metal silo can be fabricated in different sizes, 100 kg–3000 kg holding capacity by trained local artisans, with the corresponding prices of $35 to $375. The use of metal silo, therefore, should be encouraged in order to prevent storage losses and enhance food security in developing countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Headwaters are the zero-to-first-order catchments that form the upstream margins of all river basins. Environmental changes in headwaters, not least deforestation, can affect the quantity and quality of the water resources downstream. Headwater control is a philosophy that strives to link the perspectives of the applied scientist with the practitioner and policy maker. It emphasises practical, field scale, action research and integrated environmental management strategies that work within nature and with local communities. In Slovakia, Central Europe, where economic transition has affected forest management, measurements of sediments in 27 small headwater reservoirs showed a negative correlation with the degree of forest cover. In Honduras, Central America, where forest conversion is caused by the agricultural colonisation of very steep slopes, accelerated sediment production is not constrained by conventional cross-slope barriers of Vetiveria zizanioides (vetiver grass). Assailed by Hurricane Mitch, the steepest (65–75%) slopes became source areas for landslides that removed around 600 times more sediment than that removed annually by surface wash, producing sediments that buried fields and choked water courses down-slope. The grass barriers did little to prevent landslide generation, but deep-rooted trees might have been more effective. Achieving sustainability in such environments will require a longer term perspective on the significance of environmental extremes and the dangers of building reliance on structures that halt only smaller range events. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Septoria tritici blotch (STB) caused by the heterothallic ascomycete Zymoseptoria tritici is currently one of the most devastating diseases of wheat worldwide. The extent of sexual reproduction of this pathogen is well documented on bread wheat, but not on durum wheat. The objective of the present study was to quantify the occurrence of Z. tritici sexual reproduction on durum wheat in the Tunisian environment. The assessment was undertaken using a triple approach combining fruiting body assessment, ascospore trapping and population genetic analyses. The results highlighted the formation of pseudothecia on leaves and stubble from the autumn until the end of the growing season. Likewise, qPCR monitoring highlighted a constant release of Z. tritici airborne inoculum during the wheat-growing season, with a peak of production at the end of the season. Genetic investigations using microsatellites revealed high levels of gene and genotypic diversities, an equal distribution of mating types, and a lack of genetic clustering within and between growing seasons. Taken together, these findings indicate that Z. tritici undergoes sexual reproduction on durum wheat in Tunisia at least to the same extent than on bread wheat in Western Europe, and that the dry and warm climate does not affect the mating process of the fungus. Frequent occurrence of sexual reproduction is a valuable knowledge to take into account in STB control strategies on durum wheat. • Sexual reproduction of Zymoseptoria tritici was quantified in a durum wheat field in Tunisia. • A multi-faceted approach combining fruiting body identification, spore trapping and population genetic analyses was used. • All results confirmed the role of sexual reproduction under these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]