The Role of ICTs in Climate Change Adaptation: A Case of Small Scale Farmers in Chinsali District
Kashale Chimanga,
Kennedy Kanja
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 6, November 2020
Pages:
103-109
Received:
3 July 2020
Accepted:
27 July 2020
Published:
11 December 2020
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the role of ICT in climate change adaptation by the small scale farmers in Chinsali district of Muchinga province. To this effect, a descriptive survey was conducted on a sample of 278 randomly selected small scale farmers, out of an estimated population of 1000 in Chinsali main farming block. Out of the 278 questionnaires, 267 were successfully filled and returned. The results were tested for reliability and normality. According to the results, small scale farmers in this area lack information about climate change and this make it difficult for them to adapt to its effects. The study also establish that, using ICTs to create awareness, provide access to climate change information as well as capacity building in the use of various ICTs to identify the effects of climate change can help these farmers to adapt to its effects. Based on this, the study recommended that deliberate policies should be put in place to ensure that ICT services such as the internet, mobile networks and SMS are widely used in disseminating information about climate adaption to small scale farmers in the district. It was also recommended that handheld device such as mobile phones and PDAs which most of these farmers have access to should be used to sensitize them about the effect of climate change and how to adapt to it. The study further recommended that building adaptive capacity, such as on ICT-enabled interventions in the agriculture sector, should be spearheaded to enhance adaptation to climate change. It was further recommended that government should build adaptive capacity, such as on ICT-enabled interventions in the water and agriculture sectors, on weather prospects and water hazards, land management and adaptive capacity of small scale farmers among other recommendations.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the role of ICT in climate change adaptation by the small scale farmers in Chinsali district of Muchinga province. To this effect, a descriptive survey was conducted on a sample of 278 randomly selected small scale farmers, out of an estimated population of 1000 in Chinsali main farming block. Out of the 2...
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Mathematical Model for Lassa Fever Transmission and Control
Anorue Onyinyechi Favour,
Okeke Anthony Anya
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 6, November 2020
Pages:
110-118
Received:
15 October 2020
Accepted:
28 October 2020
Published:
16 December 2020
Abstract: Lassa fever is an acute hemorrhagic zoonotic illness (possible transmission from infected animals to humans), caused by Lassa virus whose reservoir host is the Mastomys natalensis (Rodent). It is a disease with a duration of 2-21 days that strives more in African nations and countries with poor water and environmental sanitation. In this paper, a deterministic model for Lassa fever is formulated buttressing the various stages of infection of the disease. We studied the existence and uniqueness of the solutions. The steady states of the model are determined and the basic reproduction number is analyzed with a threshold parameter R_0 which shows persistence of the disease if and only if R_0>1 using the next generation matrix. The treatment strategies considered amidst others are the use of antiviral drug and to quarantine infected individuals on early diagnosis of the infection on the asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals respectively. Numerically, it was evidential that the quarantine system has a great positive effect on the rate of recovery of the infected individuals and also in curbing the risk of infection in the environment which can help safeguard the population. A relapse on this method will lead to reinfection of the disease thereby bringing the population to a point of danger.
Abstract: Lassa fever is an acute hemorrhagic zoonotic illness (possible transmission from infected animals to humans), caused by Lassa virus whose reservoir host is the Mastomys natalensis (Rodent). It is a disease with a duration of 2-21 days that strives more in African nations and countries with poor water and environmental sanitation. In this paper, a d...
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