Browsing by Author "Diouf, Ndongo"

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Assessment of the Contribution of Home Gardens to Plant Diversity Conservation in Thies Region, Senegal
(Springer Link, 2021-08-10) Naigaga, Hellen; Ssekandi, Joseph; Ngom, Ablaye; Diouf, Ndongo; Diouf, Jules; Dieng, Birane; Mbaye, Mame Samba; Noba, Kandioura
Home gardens are reservoirs of biological diversity. This study assessed plant diversity conservation in home gardens of Thies region (Senegal) with the aim of documenting species composition and diversity in the home gardens. A sample of 30 home gardens was selected from the three main departments of the region and was used to collect plant species data. Data were collected from home gardens which were selected based on recommendations from the village leaders. Techniques used were plant inventory, participatory observations and individual interviews. Species classifcation and nomenclature were based on Angiosperm Phylogeny Group IV botanical classifcation system, Senegal analytical fora and the world plant list. Microsoft Ofce excel was used for some calculations, tabulation and drawing graphs. Comparison of efect between diferent variables was analysed in analytical software R using simple linear regression, and plant diversity was calculated using the Shannon diversity index. A total of 96 plant species belonging to 86 genera, and 43 families were identifed. Out of these, 34 were trees, 33 were shrubs, and 29 were herbs. 95 were angiosperms with 79 dicotyledonous and 16 monocotyledonous, and only one (1) was a gymnosperm. Species from Fabaceae family were the highest in number (9 species) whereas Citrus limon was the most frequent (80%) species in the home gardens. The results of the Shannon index indicate that there is high species diversity in the home gardens of Thies region (H1=3.9365) with moderate equitability (E=0.5968). The gardeners were 73% men and 27% women. At department level, 66 species (38 families) were recorded in Mbour, 54 species (33 families) in Tivaoune and 50 species (26 families) in Thies department. The study indicates that home gardens are agriculture systems ecologically important for plant diversity conservation, they have a higher potential for ex-situ conservation of plants in the agro ecosystem.
Evaluating the Impact of Weather and Climate Information Utilization on Adoption of Climate-Smart Technologies Among Smallholder Farmers in Tambacounda and Kolda Regions, (Senegal)
(International Knowledge Sharing Platform, 2021-02-28) Nantongo, Beckie; Ssekand, Joseph; Ngom, Ablaye; Dieng, Birane; Diouf, Ndongo; Diouf, Jules; Noba, Kandioura
Senegal is subjected to climate change and unstable weather conditions of the Sahel zone causing adverse negative effects on the agricultural sector and biodiversity. Weather and climate information is one of the requirements for effective adoption of climate-smart agriculture in Senegal, where Agriculture employs approximately 65% of the total population. This study evaluated the impact of weather information utilization on adoption of climate-smart technologies among smallholder farmers using a case study of Tambacounda and Kolda regions in Senegal. The study aimed at establishing the level of accessibility, understandability, usability of weather information and examined the extent to which utilization of weather information impacts the adoption of Climate-smart agriculture technologies among smallholder farmers in Tambacounda and Kolda. For this study, questionnaires were administered to 341 purposively sampled households with the help of department extension workers and local leaders. The study findings show that while smallholder farmers accessed weather information through traditional and modern media sources like radio, television, and telephone, understandability and usability of the weather and climate information received were low. Overall utilization of weather and climate information was low. Also, the overall adoption rate of climate-smart agriculture technologies was low. Utilization of weather and climate information was constrained by language problems, failure to comprehend the information, difficulty in understanding forecast terminology, inability to respond to weather and climate information in terms of farming equipment and other inputs, poor packaging of information, and user unfriendliness of weather and climate information in the study area. The regression model results (F = 22.203, P=.028) were within the significant level (p<0.05), which means that accessibility, understandability, and usability of weather forecasts were appropriate predictors of adoption of climate smart technologies among smallholder farmers. A new and effective weather information delivery system is proposed and provision of weather-based advisory services to the farming communities.
Meteorological information utilization and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices; modifying factors and mediating effect
(Science Direct - Elsevier, 2023-04-14) Nantongo, Beckie; Ssekandi, Joseph; Ngom, Ablaye; Dieng, Birane; Diouf, Ndongo; Diouf, Jules; Noba, Kandioura
There is increasing attention towards understanding the modifying factors influencing the relationship between meteorological information utilization and adopting climate-smart agricultural practices. Much as several studies have established that meteorological information is vital for adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, not much research has been conducted to contextualize the influence of modifying factors in that relationship. The study is derived from a sample of 341 households. Adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and modifying effects were understood through a series of univariate, bivariant, and linear regression analyses. Findings from the study indicate that the climate-smart agriculture practices adopted most are; intercropping (71.8%), cover cropping (71%), and crop rotation (69.5%), while the least adopted are mulching (2.3%) and minimum tillage (4.1%). The relationship between meteorological information utilization and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices is influenced by peers’ or community influence, indigenous knowledge or cultural beliefs, and trust. Trust in weather forecasts scored highest in the relationship between meteorological information utilization and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices (x2=0.01, P = 0.002**). After accounting for the mediating role of trust, meteorological information utilization positively impacted the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices (B = 0.376, t = 2.045, p < 0.05). The Sobel test results indicate that the mediation effect was also significant (Z = 6.45369270, p < 0.000001). Therefore, trust in meteorological information partially accounts for the relationship between meteorological information utilization and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices. It can be recommended that there is a need for integration of indigenous knowledge in the scientific meteorological information and provision of finer grain forecasts that can be trusted by the end-users in a timely fashion. This will promote meteorological information utilization in the climate-smart agricultural practices adoption decision.