This document summarizes a journal article about agro-processing and environmental protection in Ghana. It discusses how agro-processing activities can both positively and negatively impact the environment through waste production, resource use, and emissions. While agro-processing supports economic development, it can also lead to problems like water pollution, air pollution, and improper waste disposal if not properly managed. The document then examines strategies that shea butter processors in northern Ghana employ to promote environmental sustainability, such as waste recycling and reducing resource depletion. It argues that supporting these environmental protection practices is important for balancing economic growth and environmental stewardship.
Human Wildlife Conflict: Emmanuel Akampurira (Researcher, ITFC): HWC impacts us negatively because it is a negative cycle – if it affects the community, they cannot harvest and provide food for themselves and they reply more on the national park. When defining HWC, it is important to consider the negative impacts between humans and wildlife both ways. The main cause is competition for resources.
Human-wildlife conflict in Asia: implications for orangutan conservationCIFOR-ICRAF
CIFOR scientist Linda Yuliani gives an overview of human-wildlife conflict in Asia, focusing on orangutan conservation to explore reasons for the continuing conflict and ways to avoid it in conservation. She gave this presentation at the ‘Linking Great Ape Conservation with Poverty Alleviation’ workshop hosted by CIFOR in January 2012.
Intersections between Poverty, Environment and Inclusive Growth: A Global Per...UNDP Policy Centre
Presentation by Ms. Leisa Perch from the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG) at the II National Development Conference (CODE/IPEA). This presentation is based on largely on IPC-IG's Poverty in Focus magazine #23 and speaks to four key areas/messages: (i) Intersections of environmental risk and poverty and social risk and the environment are fundamental to the inclusiveness of growth; (ii) Both structural and situational in nature, they require solutions that focus on both participation and benefit-sharing; (iii)
Relevant policy innovations exist and need to be up-scaled; (iv) A focus on the quality of growth will be key in sustaining progress.
The Impact of Development Interventions on Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment...AI Publications
The study investigated women led income generating projects in Mafutseni and Dvokodvweni both constituencies in the Kingdom of ESwatini. The aim was to gain some understanding on ways in which women transform their livelihoods taking into consideration household income, skills training, and access to finance and empowerment. The objectives of the study were to determine development intervention’s influence on rural women’s livelihoods, determining the extent to which these development interventions influence rural women’s livelihoods and how education and training impact their livelihood strategies. The study established that there are an increasing number of women entrepreneurs who are becoming active players in sustainable development. Rural women in these constituencies were found to be playing an important role in economic development and poverty alleviation in their communities. Most income generating activitieshowever, did not increase household’s welfare for women who lack education and training, access to credit and management skills. It was concluded that there is a greater need to empower women for sustainable development if the country is to meet its vision 2022 developmental agenda.
Human Wildlife Conflict: Emmanuel Akampurira (Researcher, ITFC): HWC impacts us negatively because it is a negative cycle – if it affects the community, they cannot harvest and provide food for themselves and they reply more on the national park. When defining HWC, it is important to consider the negative impacts between humans and wildlife both ways. The main cause is competition for resources.
Human-wildlife conflict in Asia: implications for orangutan conservationCIFOR-ICRAF
CIFOR scientist Linda Yuliani gives an overview of human-wildlife conflict in Asia, focusing on orangutan conservation to explore reasons for the continuing conflict and ways to avoid it in conservation. She gave this presentation at the ‘Linking Great Ape Conservation with Poverty Alleviation’ workshop hosted by CIFOR in January 2012.
Intersections between Poverty, Environment and Inclusive Growth: A Global Per...UNDP Policy Centre
Presentation by Ms. Leisa Perch from the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG) at the II National Development Conference (CODE/IPEA). This presentation is based on largely on IPC-IG's Poverty in Focus magazine #23 and speaks to four key areas/messages: (i) Intersections of environmental risk and poverty and social risk and the environment are fundamental to the inclusiveness of growth; (ii) Both structural and situational in nature, they require solutions that focus on both participation and benefit-sharing; (iii)
Relevant policy innovations exist and need to be up-scaled; (iv) A focus on the quality of growth will be key in sustaining progress.
The Impact of Development Interventions on Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment...AI Publications
The study investigated women led income generating projects in Mafutseni and Dvokodvweni both constituencies in the Kingdom of ESwatini. The aim was to gain some understanding on ways in which women transform their livelihoods taking into consideration household income, skills training, and access to finance and empowerment. The objectives of the study were to determine development intervention’s influence on rural women’s livelihoods, determining the extent to which these development interventions influence rural women’s livelihoods and how education and training impact their livelihood strategies. The study established that there are an increasing number of women entrepreneurs who are becoming active players in sustainable development. Rural women in these constituencies were found to be playing an important role in economic development and poverty alleviation in their communities. Most income generating activitieshowever, did not increase household’s welfare for women who lack education and training, access to credit and management skills. It was concluded that there is a greater need to empower women for sustainable development if the country is to meet its vision 2022 developmental agenda.
Strategy to Increase Public Participation in Forest Management Based On Inter...inventionjournals
Baluran National Park as a conservation area has a wide variety of flora and fauna. But this time Baluran National Park to experience a variety of threats, interruptions and damage to ecosystems. Based on information from the Baluran office (2014) damage incurred includes: (i) Forest fires reached ± 946.75 ha, or about 4% of the total land area is due in large part caused by the irresponsible and not because of natural factors; (Ii) Activities ± 400 ha of land clearing for agriculture plants business; (Iii) timber theft, especially in resort Labuhan Peacock; (Iv) Pastoral wild is a problem that is quite prominent, especially in the area Karangtekok, Labuhan Merak, and Balanan with an area of 3,450 ha. Cattle grazing types, namely cows and goats with an average of 1,447 head of cattle per day; (Iv) Local Trasmigrasi Settlements (Translok) since 1976, covering an area of 57 ha in Pandean area, Wonorejo village; (V) illegal encroachment and the tilling of the soil; and (vi) hunting of wildlife by people with firearms, snares, poison and sap that often occur during the dry season. This study is a non-laboratory scale with the purpose of: (i) to analyze and explain the effect of each variable system of institutions, incentives, social capital ,, the socio-demographic, and social learning to the level of community participation; (Ii) to analyze and explain whether the public welfare mediates the effect of variable incentives on the level of community participation; (Iii) to analyze and explain whether the public welfare mediates the influence of social capital on the level of community participation. The study population includes: (i) the entire village communities buffer consisting of: public Randu Agung, Wonorejo, Bajulmati, Bimorejo, Kalianyar, Watu Kebo and Resources Waru; (Ii) the people occupying forest land TNB illegally consisting of: (a) SPTNW 1 Bekol include: block Balanan, Kakapa, Simacan and Mesigit, and (b) SPTNW II Karangtekok include: block Merak, Shell, Lempuyang, and Sirondo. By using cluster sampling based group / region relating to the location of the existing research in Baluran National Park 60 respondents. It is based on a number of variables used in this study were 6 to 39 indicator variables by using Equation Model Sructural analysis.
Policy Background Paper: A Viable Framework for a Green Economy in Caribbean ...UNDP Policy Centre
Key findings of IPC-IG researcher Leisa Perch's paper entitled "A Viable Framework for a Green Economy in Caribbean Member States: Considerations for Inclusive and Green Growth"
Global Environmental Governance and Politics of Ecotourism: Case Study of Cam...Euforic Services
Presentation by Baromey Neth, Sam Ol Rith & Béatrice Knerr on the EADI Environment and Development Working Group session during the EADI General Conference. Geneva, 25 June 2008
The extractives industry is a major sector in the economies
of the region as it makes a significant contribution to GDP
and constitutes a large portion of exports. However, the
sector's impact on the livelihoods of citizens has not been as
positive. To the contrary, some argue that the industry has
worsened the state of things in many nations, weakening
effective governance by engendering corruption.
This issue explores trends in sustainable development and
the extractives industry. The first article surveys emerging
trends, the second article examines trends in local content,
and the third article is a case study of the community-level
impact of the mining sector in Sierra Leone.
Poverty, Environmental Degradation, and Human Rights: Exploring the NexusJosh Gellers
In this guest lecture at UC Irvine, I explored the complex relationship between poverty, environmental degradation, and human rights by examining recent literature and discussing two potential mechanisms for poverty alleviation- property rights and environmental rights.
Gender and climate change introduction (Elizabeth Bryan)IFPRI Gender
Overview of IFPRI projects, research questions, and conceptual framework (Elizabeth Bryan)
Webcast of full recording: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd5uw8llltv0vrv/2016-01-14%2010.01%20Gender%20and%20Climate%20Change.mp4?dl=0
Presentation by Michael Trop, Conservation Education Specialist for the John Marshall Soil & Water Conservation District -- at PEC's Sustainable Landscaping Workshop in Warrenton, VA on September 7, 2013.
Strategy to Increase Public Participation in Forest Management Based On Inter...inventionjournals
Baluran National Park as a conservation area has a wide variety of flora and fauna. But this time Baluran National Park to experience a variety of threats, interruptions and damage to ecosystems. Based on information from the Baluran office (2014) damage incurred includes: (i) Forest fires reached ± 946.75 ha, or about 4% of the total land area is due in large part caused by the irresponsible and not because of natural factors; (Ii) Activities ± 400 ha of land clearing for agriculture plants business; (Iii) timber theft, especially in resort Labuhan Peacock; (Iv) Pastoral wild is a problem that is quite prominent, especially in the area Karangtekok, Labuhan Merak, and Balanan with an area of 3,450 ha. Cattle grazing types, namely cows and goats with an average of 1,447 head of cattle per day; (Iv) Local Trasmigrasi Settlements (Translok) since 1976, covering an area of 57 ha in Pandean area, Wonorejo village; (V) illegal encroachment and the tilling of the soil; and (vi) hunting of wildlife by people with firearms, snares, poison and sap that often occur during the dry season. This study is a non-laboratory scale with the purpose of: (i) to analyze and explain the effect of each variable system of institutions, incentives, social capital ,, the socio-demographic, and social learning to the level of community participation; (Ii) to analyze and explain whether the public welfare mediates the effect of variable incentives on the level of community participation; (Iii) to analyze and explain whether the public welfare mediates the influence of social capital on the level of community participation. The study population includes: (i) the entire village communities buffer consisting of: public Randu Agung, Wonorejo, Bajulmati, Bimorejo, Kalianyar, Watu Kebo and Resources Waru; (Ii) the people occupying forest land TNB illegally consisting of: (a) SPTNW 1 Bekol include: block Balanan, Kakapa, Simacan and Mesigit, and (b) SPTNW II Karangtekok include: block Merak, Shell, Lempuyang, and Sirondo. By using cluster sampling based group / region relating to the location of the existing research in Baluran National Park 60 respondents. It is based on a number of variables used in this study were 6 to 39 indicator variables by using Equation Model Sructural analysis.
Policy Background Paper: A Viable Framework for a Green Economy in Caribbean ...UNDP Policy Centre
Key findings of IPC-IG researcher Leisa Perch's paper entitled "A Viable Framework for a Green Economy in Caribbean Member States: Considerations for Inclusive and Green Growth"
Global Environmental Governance and Politics of Ecotourism: Case Study of Cam...Euforic Services
Presentation by Baromey Neth, Sam Ol Rith & Béatrice Knerr on the EADI Environment and Development Working Group session during the EADI General Conference. Geneva, 25 June 2008
The extractives industry is a major sector in the economies
of the region as it makes a significant contribution to GDP
and constitutes a large portion of exports. However, the
sector's impact on the livelihoods of citizens has not been as
positive. To the contrary, some argue that the industry has
worsened the state of things in many nations, weakening
effective governance by engendering corruption.
This issue explores trends in sustainable development and
the extractives industry. The first article surveys emerging
trends, the second article examines trends in local content,
and the third article is a case study of the community-level
impact of the mining sector in Sierra Leone.
Poverty, Environmental Degradation, and Human Rights: Exploring the NexusJosh Gellers
In this guest lecture at UC Irvine, I explored the complex relationship between poverty, environmental degradation, and human rights by examining recent literature and discussing two potential mechanisms for poverty alleviation- property rights and environmental rights.
Gender and climate change introduction (Elizabeth Bryan)IFPRI Gender
Overview of IFPRI projects, research questions, and conceptual framework (Elizabeth Bryan)
Webcast of full recording: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd5uw8llltv0vrv/2016-01-14%2010.01%20Gender%20and%20Climate%20Change.mp4?dl=0
Presentation by Michael Trop, Conservation Education Specialist for the John Marshall Soil & Water Conservation District -- at PEC's Sustainable Landscaping Workshop in Warrenton, VA on September 7, 2013.
Environmental Education for Sustainable Development - DENR-EMB-VIIRehne Gibb Larena
Rachelle Ybañez of DENR EMB 7 discussed the agency’s efforts for Environmental Education for Sustainable Development which is outlined in RA 9512. RA 9512, the Environmental Education and Awareness Act is intended to impose the value of conservation, protection, and the rehabilitation of natural resources to the general public. The goal is to develop sustainable communities in schools, cities, and companies and provide education to both the formal and informal sectors. An important aspect of the program is to integrate climate change in LGU’s CLUPs and other plans with the involvement of the academe and the private sector.
it is a presentation containing all of the problems well known such as global warming, ozone layer depletion, air pollution and many more. see to find out more....
Natural resources and Man-Made resources
Effect of water
Watershed
Some factors that will affect the amount of water in watersheds
Main function of watershed
Some watershed that can be found in the Philippines
The adverse impact of ecosystem degradation and poor governance on marginaliz...NAAR Journal
Bangladesh has been achieving remarkable success in economic growth in the last two decades. Does this economic success bring a sustainable and positive result for marginalized people? This study aims to investigate whether the local economic activity positively changes their socioeconomic position. The study reveals that cropland lost on an average of 0.2636 Bigha per household and disappeared 2.59 local fish species in local water bodies. Moreover, more than three-fourth respondents perceived that their access to local ecosystem services is decreasing and the services are degraded. However, more than half of the respondents paid $6.82 each time as a bribe in accessing to local ecosystem services. Combine of these issues is negatively influencing their income, employment opportunity, and household expenditure so that the marginal community becomes more marginalized and wealthier become wealthier. This study may help to find out a new trajectory of sustainable economic activity in the coastal areas with reducing ecosystem services degradation and vulnerability of marginalized people.
YOUR COLOUR IS GREEN - PAPER OF LUISA VINCIGUERRA ITALYLuisa Vinciguerra
WOMEN IN THE GREEN ECONOMY. ROLE AND PROMOTION STRATEGIES OF INNER WHEEL, is the title of the Paper of Luisa Vinciguerra, connected with the Power Point Presentation.
The Challenges of Microfinance Institutions in Empowering Micro and Small Ent...Mercu Buana University
This study aims to examine the challenges of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in empowering micro and small entrepreneur to concern and care not only for the business growth but also the environmental sustainability in their surroundings. Indonesia as developing countries also faces the environmental degradation that contributes by micro and small entrepreneurs. Moreover MFIs have substantial relationships in term to preserve the environment because of the objectives are not only achieve the profit but also balancing with the social (people) and environment (planet) achievement and MFIs clients also micro and small entrepreneur who as the majority contributor of environment degradation in developing countries. The discussion of the paper is determined by three research questions (i) What’s the role of MFIs in preserving the environment? (ii) How the role of corporate governance in MFIs? (iii) How the implementation of corporate governance in MFIs in empowering micro to implementing green activity (Indonesia evidence)? In addition, to ensure the commitment of MFIs should exist corporate governance, which supervise the compliance with Act No.1 2013 related to the sustainability concern from MFIs because until now the impact of the act has not given the significant impact yet because of the importance is not only the existence of regulation but also the consciousness all stakeholders related to comply and implementing of green activity.
The paper arises many questions related to issues covered under the concept of sustainable development. Sustainable development mainly focuses on quality of life which is highly dependent upon use of natural resources and thus these resources must be sustained. The present concept of sustainable global enterprise will help to achieve three basic goals known as corporate responsibility, environmental protection and social responsiveness. The concept of sustainable development also focuses on issues related to women as they play a significant role in policy of sustainable development. Women issues are basically linked with population and fertility. The development process worldwide has contributed to increase in economic and social inequalities, environment degradation and has also led to growth in poverty.
Vulnerabilityin the Face of Climate Change and Variability: Perceptions and O...inventionjournals
Rural population in West Africa represents one of the largest vulnerable groups in the world and this vulnerability emanates from the change and variability of the climate over the years. Agriculture in Northern Ghana is rain-fed and the rural population lack adequate resources to adapt to the changing climate. This paper focuses on farm households’ perception of their vulnerability to climate change and copping strategies. Four farming communities in the Wa-West District were purposively selected for the study. The study was basically qualitative which employed Participatory Rural Appraisal methods including interview and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) in the data collection. A total of 20 farmers were interviewed and 8 FGDs were conducted. The data was analyzed through transcription, detailed description and paraphrasing. Results of the study indicates that farmers generally agreed that there is a change in climate marked by increasing temperatures, shortened rainy season, prolonged dry season, erratic rainfall pattern and high incidence of drought. Farmers attribute the occurrence of these climatic conditions to illicit activities such as incessant armed robbery, killing of innocent people, adultery and people having sex in the bush which made the gods and ancestors of the land angry and therefore changes in climatic elements are punishment from the gods and ancestors. Farm households adopted varied copping strategies to reduce their vulnerability to climate change including sale of their casual labour, charcoal making, petty trading, pito brewing, shea nut collection, shea butter extraction and temporary out-migration to seek for “greener pastures”. It is recommended that the Ghana Meteorological Service Department should collaborate with the local radio stations to broadcast weather forecast in the local languages targeted at rural farmers so that they could properly plan their farming activities during the rainy season. Keywords: Vulnerability, Climate C
Do Investments in Agricultural Extension Deliver Positive Benefits to Health,...Premier Publishers
The study provides an overview of the state of Agricultural Extension with the major aim of identifying gaps and areas of advocacy in the laws and policies that govern extension service delivery in Uganda, document the linkages and analytical trends between agricultural extension and performance of Health, Trade and Industry and Water and Environment sectors, as well as establish the value of each shilling or dollar invested in agricultural extension. Using secondary sources of data and Statistical Based Costing methods, the results revealed that the state of agricultural extension services in Uganda is wanting. Adoption of improved technologies was very low and technology misuse was very rampant. In livestock, the quality of veterinary services and their use were particularly very low. Our results showed that the unit cost of providing agricultural extension services that result in increased productivity, better nutrition as well as higher incomes to farmers is UGX 66,290 per visit. The total cost of not providing agricultural extension is extremely high and the country stands to lose greatly due to the multiplier effect and spillover effect of agricultural extension in other productive sectors. There is certainly need to invest in agricultural extension both in crop and livestock sectors.
Integrating Environmental Accounting in Agro-Allied and Manufacturing Indust...IJMER
ONLY WHEN THE LAST TREE IS CUT, ONLY WHEN THE LAST RIVER IS POLLUTED, ONLY WHEN THE LAST FISH IS CAUGHT, ONLY THEN WILL THEY REALIZE THAT YOU CANNOT EAT MONEY’ American proverb
Due to growing awareness and concern on the impact of human activity on the ecosystem, there is an
increasing trend to judge organizations in relation to the community in which it operates. The impact of the activities on the environment with regard to pollution of water, air, land and abuse of natural resources are coming under scrutiny of governments, stakeholders and citizens. Education is considered the key to effective development strategies and TVET institutions then must be the master
key that can alleviate poverty, promote peace, conserve the environment, improve the quality of life
for all and help achieve sustainable development. Unless proper accounting work is done, it cannot be determined that both have been fulfilling their responsibilities. The aim of the study was to explore whether distinctive processes of environmental accounting are possible in agro-allied and
manufacturing industries with a view to enhancing sustainability. To accomplish this aim, this research explores environmental accountability practices in TVET institutions. This paper is in part of an exploratory research project and it is limited in that it attempts to be illuminative and theoretically driven. The paper aims to prove that environmental reporting and disclosure will
enable in agro-allied and manufacturing industries undertake a major transformation that includes
approaches that harmonize economic prosperity, environmental conservation and social well-being.
However, while strategies for achieving this goal are not widespread, a range of international experiences is beginning to suggest ways forward. These initiatives include national TVET policy reforms, green campus, green curriculum, green community, green research and green culture. The paper includes suggested templates that can be useful in agro-allied and manufacturing industries
Integrating Environmental Accounting in Agro-Allied and Manufacturing Industr...IJMER
‘ONLY WHEN THE LAST TREE IS CUT, ONLY WHEN THE LAST RIVER IS
POLLUTED, ONLY WHEN THE LAST FISH IS CAUGHT, ONLY THEN WILL THEY REALIZE
THAT YOU CANNOT EAT MONEY’ American proverb
Due to growing awareness and concern on the impact of human activity on the ecosystem, there is an
increasing trend to judge organizations in relation to the community in which it operates. The
impact of the activities on the environment with regard to pollution of water, air, land and abuse of
natural resources are coming under scrutiny of governments, stakeholders and citizens. Education is
considered the key to effective development strategies and TVET institutions then must be the master
key that can alleviate poverty, promote peace, conserve the environment, improve the quality of life
for all and help achieve sustainable development. Unless proper accounting work is done, it cannot
be determined that both have been fulfilling their responsibilities. The aim of the study was to explore
whether distinctive processes of environmental accounting are possible in agro-allied and
manufacturing industries with a view to enhancing sustainability. To accomplish this aim, this
research explores environmental accountability practices in TVET institutions. This paper is in part
of an exploratory research project and it is limited in that it attempts to be illuminative and
theoretically driven. The paper aims to prove that environmental reporting and disclosure will
enable in agro-allied and manufacturing industries undertake a major transformation that includes
approaches that harmonize economic prosperity, environmental conservation and social well-being.
However, while strategies for achieving this goal are not widespread, a range of international
experiences is beginning to suggest ways forward. These initiatives include national TVET policy
reforms, green campus, green curriculum, green community, green research and green culture. The
paper includes suggested templates that can be useful in agro-allied and manufacturing industries
GENDER MAINSTREAMING: STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN, 2014-2017, presented to the WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT FORUM, 4 March 2014, at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey 2024 by 91mobiles.pdf91mobiles
91mobiles recently conducted a Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey in which we asked over 3,000 respondents about the TV they own, aspects they look at on a new TV, and their TV buying preferences.
Builder.ai Founder Sachin Dev Duggal's Strategic Approach to Create an Innova...Ramesh Iyer
In today's fast-changing business world, Companies that adapt and embrace new ideas often need help to keep up with the competition. However, fostering a culture of innovation takes much work. It takes vision, leadership and willingness to take risks in the right proportion. Sachin Dev Duggal, co-founder of Builder.ai, has perfected the art of this balance, creating a company culture where creativity and growth are nurtured at each stage.
Software Delivery At the Speed of AI: Inflectra Invests In AI-Powered QualityInflectra
In this insightful webinar, Inflectra explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming software development and testing. Discover how AI-powered tools are revolutionizing every stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), from design and prototyping to testing, deployment, and monitoring.
Learn about:
• The Future of Testing: How AI is shifting testing towards verification, analysis, and higher-level skills, while reducing repetitive tasks.
• Test Automation: How AI-powered test case generation, optimization, and self-healing tests are making testing more efficient and effective.
• Visual Testing: Explore the emerging capabilities of AI in visual testing and how it's set to revolutionize UI verification.
• Inflectra's AI Solutions: See demonstrations of Inflectra's cutting-edge AI tools like the ChatGPT plugin and Azure Open AI platform, designed to streamline your testing process.
Whether you're a developer, tester, or QA professional, this webinar will give you valuable insights into how AI is shaping the future of software delivery.
LF Energy Webinar: Electrical Grid Modelling and Simulation Through PowSyBl -...DanBrown980551
Do you want to learn how to model and simulate an electrical network from scratch in under an hour?
Then welcome to this PowSyBl workshop, hosted by Rte, the French Transmission System Operator (TSO)!
During the webinar, you will discover the PowSyBl ecosystem as well as handle and study an electrical network through an interactive Python notebook.
PowSyBl is an open source project hosted by LF Energy, which offers a comprehensive set of features for electrical grid modelling and simulation. Among other advanced features, PowSyBl provides:
- A fully editable and extendable library for grid component modelling;
- Visualization tools to display your network;
- Grid simulation tools, such as power flows, security analyses (with or without remedial actions) and sensitivity analyses;
The framework is mostly written in Java, with a Python binding so that Python developers can access PowSyBl functionalities as well.
What you will learn during the webinar:
- For beginners: discover PowSyBl's functionalities through a quick general presentation and the notebook, without needing any expert coding skills;
- For advanced developers: master the skills to efficiently apply PowSyBl functionalities to your real-world scenarios.
Elevating Tactical DDD Patterns Through Object CalisthenicsDorra BARTAGUIZ
After immersing yourself in the blue book and its red counterpart, attending DDD-focused conferences, and applying tactical patterns, you're left with a crucial question: How do I ensure my design is effective? Tactical patterns within Domain-Driven Design (DDD) serve as guiding principles for creating clear and manageable domain models. However, achieving success with these patterns requires additional guidance. Interestingly, we've observed that a set of constraints initially designed for training purposes remarkably aligns with effective pattern implementation, offering a more ‘mechanical’ approach. Let's explore together how Object Calisthenics can elevate the design of your tactical DDD patterns, offering concrete help for those venturing into DDD for the first time!
The Art of the Pitch: WordPress Relationships and SalesLaura Byrne
Clients don’t know what they don’t know. What web solutions are right for them? How does WordPress come into the picture? How do you make sure you understand scope and timeline? What do you do if sometime changes?
All these questions and more will be explored as we talk about matching clients’ needs with what your agency offers without pulling teeth or pulling your hair out. Practical tips, and strategies for successful relationship building that leads to closing the deal.
Slack (or Teams) Automation for Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Soluti...Jeffrey Haguewood
Sidekick Solutions uses Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Solutions Apricot) and automation solutions to integrate data for business workflows.
We believe integration and automation are essential to user experience and the promise of efficient work through technology. Automation is the critical ingredient to realizing that full vision. We develop integration products and services for Bonterra Case Management software to support the deployment of automations for a variety of use cases.
This video focuses on the notifications, alerts, and approval requests using Slack for Bonterra Impact Management. The solutions covered in this webinar can also be deployed for Microsoft Teams.
Interested in deploying notification automations for Bonterra Impact Management? Contact us at sales@sidekicksolutionsllc.com to discuss next steps.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 3DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 3. In this session, we will cover desktop automation along with UI automation.
Topics covered:
UI automation Introduction,
UI automation Sample
Desktop automation flow
Pradeep Chinnala, Senior Consultant Automation Developer @WonderBotz and UiPath MVP
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
Kubernetes & AI - Beauty and the Beast !?! @KCD Istanbul 2024Tobias Schneck
As AI technology is pushing into IT I was wondering myself, as an “infrastructure container kubernetes guy”, how get this fancy AI technology get managed from an infrastructure operational view? Is it possible to apply our lovely cloud native principals as well? What benefit’s both technologies could bring to each other?
Let me take this questions and provide you a short journey through existing deployment models and use cases for AI software. On practical examples, we discuss what cloud/on-premise strategy we may need for applying it to our own infrastructure to get it to work from an enterprise perspective. I want to give an overview about infrastructure requirements and technologies, what could be beneficial or limiting your AI use cases in an enterprise environment. An interactive Demo will give you some insides, what approaches I got already working for real.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 4DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 4. In this session, we will cover Test Manager overview along with SAP heatmap.
The UiPath Test Manager overview with SAP heatmap webinar offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the role of a Test Manager within SAP environments, coupled with the utilization of heatmaps for effective testing strategies.
Participants will gain insights into the responsibilities, challenges, and best practices associated with test management in SAP projects. Additionally, the webinar delves into the significance of heatmaps as a visual aid for identifying testing priorities, areas of risk, and resource allocation within SAP landscapes. Through this session, attendees can expect to enhance their understanding of test management principles while learning practical approaches to optimize testing processes in SAP environments using heatmap visualization techniques
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into SAP testing best practices
2. Heatmap utilization for testing
3. Optimization of testing processes
4. Demo
Topics covered:
Execution from the test manager
Orchestrator execution result
Defect reporting
SAP heatmap example with demo
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
Dev Dives: Train smarter, not harder – active learning and UiPath LLMs for do...UiPathCommunity
💥 Speed, accuracy, and scaling – discover the superpowers of GenAI in action with UiPath Document Understanding and Communications Mining™:
See how to accelerate model training and optimize model performance with active learning
Learn about the latest enhancements to out-of-the-box document processing – with little to no training required
Get an exclusive demo of the new family of UiPath LLMs – GenAI models specialized for processing different types of documents and messages
This is a hands-on session specifically designed for automation developers and AI enthusiasts seeking to enhance their knowledge in leveraging the latest intelligent document processing capabilities offered by UiPath.
Speakers:
👨🏫 Andras Palfi, Senior Product Manager, UiPath
👩🏫 Lenka Dulovicova, Product Program Manager, UiPath
Dev Dives: Train smarter, not harder – active learning and UiPath LLMs for do...
New ways of protecting the environment the case of agro processors in ghana
1. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development www.iiste.org
ISSN 2222-1700 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2855 (Online)
Vol.4, No.7, 2013
83
New Ways of Protecting the Environment: The Case of
Agro-Processors in Ghana
Seidu Al-hassan
Institute for Continuing Education and Interdisciplinary Research
University for Development Studies, P O Box TL 1350, Tamale
Tel: 0244-217888; Email: zodaseidu@yahoo.com
Abdul-Rauf Yussif1
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Tolon/Kumbungu District, Ghana
Tel: 233 242612003; Email: labista2003@yahoo.com
Fadilah Mohammed
Department of Innovation and Communication, University for Development Studies, P O Box TL 1350, Tamale
Tel: 0249690686; Email: mohammed.fadilahgh@yahoo.com
Abstract
Microfinance programmes generally involve granting of small loans to the poor, particularly women, with the
aim of increasing their income levels. Results of most microfinance impact evaluations (Al-hassan, 2011 and
Egyir, 2008) have revealed that small loan schemes have impacted positively on the lives of micro entrepreneurs
(improved incomes, savings, health, education) and have ensured financial sustainability. It is well known that
small loan beneficiaries highly depend on the environment to run their microenterprises leading to overutilization
and sometimes depletion of natural resources and degrading the environment. Unfortunately, the relationship
between microfinance activities and sustainable land management, agricultural development and natural resource
protection has received little attention in most impact evaluations suggesting that microcredit impact evaluations
over estimate the gains from such schemes. Again, positivists argue that microfinance institutions have played
significant role in influencing environmental policy through advocacy and empowerment of rural micro
entrepreneurs but the extent to which local people, particularly women entrepreneurs participate in environmental
protection has received little empirical evidence. This paper analyses the practices adapted by women
agro-processors to protect the environment using the sustainable livelihoods (SL) approach.
Key words: Environment, gender, Agro-processing, microfinance
The research is funded by African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), Nairobi, Kenya.
1. Introduction
Microfinance programmes generally aim at rural poverty reduction. It is the provision of financial services (credit
and savings) to small and medium entrepreneurs, the productive but resource poor in a cost-effective and
sustainable manner. The programmes aim at increasing the incomes of rural dwellers who are mostly micro and
small enterprise owners, particularly women entrepreneurs. There have been several microfinance impact studies
to unearth the impact of microfinance in developing countries but these studies have often focused on the gains of
the loans, loan recovery or repayment rates and financial sustainability2
.
The relationship between microfinance and sustainability of land, agricultural and natural resources has received
little attention in microcredit impact evaluation leading to over estimation of the gains3
. Loan beneficiaries over
depend on the environment to run their microenterprises thereby depleting natural resources and degrading the
environment as a result of wastes produced from these activities. Hall and others (2008) have argued that
because poor people are more dependent on the environment for their livelihood sustenance the depletion of
natural resources as inputs for production can affect an MFI’s profitability in terms of business sustainability.
Glazyrina (2012) have warned that in order to construct microeconomic quality of growth indicators, there is the
need to determine the environmental damage of economic activities, taking into account that polluting
substances often accumulate within the natural environment. This is important because undervaluing natural
resources and ecological damage distorts the indicators of economic progress and development (Mekush, 2012).
1
Corresponding author.
2
‘Sustainability’ refers to financial sustainability in the microfinance world, and environmental sustainability in the
eco-sector (See USAID, www.greenMicrofinance.org).
3
Not all microenterprise activity is harmful to the environment, and some cases it can actually be environmentally healthy
(See Hall, Collins, Israel and Wenner, 2008 for details).
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More so, whether livelihoods can be sustainable or not, depends on the way the environment is managed
(UNDP-UNEP, 2009) and thus, improving the ways in which environmental resources, such as forests, are
managed increases the resilience of poor people and their livelihoods to environmental risks.
Environmental degradation is not pro-poor because it contributes to an increased burden on women and children
(UNDP-UNEP, 2009). As such environmental degradation has caused policy makers or leaders in Ghana to sign
treaties and protocols in the past few years to save the environment and natural resources from further
contamination. Although the efforts of policy makers in Ghana have brought positive changes at the macro-level,
environment protection at the grass-root level continues to pose a greater threat to the environment. The experience
of Ghana shows that environmental degradation has not only had negative effects on the economy of Ghana but it
has also affected the poor and vulnerable in many ways. Overall, soil degradation is estimated to cause
productivity losses of 2.9% per year in all forms of agriculture (Alfsen et al, 1997) cited in Ghana Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) (2004). Bojo 1996 quoted in EPA (2002) estimated that the gross annual economic loss
due to soil erosion to be between 2% and 5% of Ghana’s agricultural gross domestic product. Reduced agricultural
output and deteriorating conditions in rural areas, increased poverty and child mortality, increased out-migration of
the youth, increased number of disasters (drought, floods, etc) and hunger and malnutrition due to low production
and access to environmental resources have been identified as effects of environmental degradation. For instance,
in 2002 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that malnutrition among children under five in
Ghanaian communities with severely degraded soils increased from about 50% in 1986 to 70% in 1990. A whole
range of forest products has become scarce. Rural people must devote more of their productive time and effort to
extract fuel wood, harvest charcoal and make building materials, medicinal plants, honey and bush meat.
Dokum (1998) has observed that ‘environmental degradation translates into a spiral of declining production,
increasing poverty and diminished potential productivity. It exacerbates poverty which, in turn, exacerbates
environmental degradation because, as the pressure increases, people are forced to exploit their land to survive. In
doing so, they further diminish its productivity and the cycle continues’. Mueller (2006) has advised that in order
to address the problems of sustainable rural development and poverty alleviation, donors must take account of the
realities that both affect and characterise the daily lives of the rural poor. The explanation is that rather than being
separated, international agencies need to integrate the micro and the macro as well as the economic, political and
social realities of the rural poor before devising untenable solutions for people whose lives are not separated into
discrete parts. The role of rural poor, particularly those engaged in agro-processing in protecting the environment
is critical. Recently, donors have promoted civil society organisations as a means of circumventing and developing
an antidote to states that are extracting more from their rural populations than they contribute to sustainable rural
development. Recently, the United Nations Secretary General has called for global and national Post-2015
consultations aimed at ensuring that all people, especially the poor and the vulnerable, have an opportunity to
contribute directly to the formulation of a development agenda for the next generation. Four interdependent
dimensions have been highlighted to guide consultations. These include inclusive social development, inclusive
economic development, peace and security and environmental sustainability.
2. Statement of the Research Problem
The Northern Region of Ghana harbours numerous MFIs because of the perceived role that they can play in
reducing poverty1
. These credit institutions lend mostly to women engaged in agro-processing involving shea
butter industry, groundnut oil processing, and other petty trading activities. The location of MFIs in the region
may be attributed to the fact that micro-entrepreneurship rather than industrialisation is seen as a key way to
overcoming poverty and to promote rural development (Mueller, 2006). Egyir (2008) has demonstrated that micro
loans have had a positive impact on the livelihoods of rural women in Ghana because the loans have brought
about increased working capital, increased household food supply, improved quality of child education,
improved household assets, improved participation in group activities and increased disposable income. Aside,
microfinance institutions have been well noted for the role they can play in achieving environmental sustainability.
It has been argued that microfinance institutions (MFIs) can be instrumental in spreading awareness about the
poverty-environment linkage, educating poor people about environmentally friendly practices and managing
their natural resources so as to get maximum return from them while maintaining them. MFIs can collect data
about cause and effect, propose policy changes, instigate a revolution in the way the poor thinks, enforce
environment management and set the path for a sustainable growth. MFIs are in a position to influence and
enforce environmentally friendly decisions by the poor. They can make environmental management a
prerequisite for their clients to meet a minimum environmental criteria and most importantly, involve the poor in
environmental planning by coming up with innovative projects that provide employment in this area.
1
See The Ghana Microfinance Directory 2009-2010 prepared by GHAMFIN for details.
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In agricultural domain, MFIs can spread awareness and make experts available to the farmers to educate them
about soil-nitrogen cycles, importance of soil biodiversity, use of natural manures, crop rotation to increase soil
fertility and methods to check soil erosion. They can also help instill environmentally friendly practices for small
industries like tanneries, pesticides manufacturers, aquaculture businesses, which need to balance degradation
caused by them. MFIs can also collect data on the environment-poverty linkages and how it affects the poor as well
as the environment. This data can be fed to research organizations to make a case on this, to advocate policy
changes at higher levels and can also be used to formulate innovative projects that generate employment
opportunities in environment management. Governments and research organizations can make policies and plans,
by spreading the awareness about them, involving the poor and finally, helping with the implementations of such
policies can be done best by MFIs. MFIs can be the pioneers and the drivers of these plans, policies and actions.
Despite the above role of MFIs, the small loan schemes are usually designed without incorporating environmental
issues such as land, agricultural and natural resource management issues into project impact monitoring and
evaluation process. The activities of owners of microenterprises who are mostly the beneficiaries of microcredit
schemes and who engage in unsustainable use of these resources are not properly captured. Microenterprise
owners do not make conscious efforts to plant trees, manage water sheds and the soil as well as the solid and
liquid wastes resulting from their activities. As a result, there is high rate of environmental degradation
manifesting itself in many ways including disappearance of water bodies (water scarcity), soil erosion,
deforestation and solid and liquid wastes problems.
EPA (2003) and Kyambadde (2005) as cited in Karoli et al. (2011) argued that “rapid expansion of
agro-processing industries in Eastern Africa can be viewed as an indicator of economic progress because they are
associated with environmental degradation, notably the discharge of untreated or partially treated wastewater and
greenhouse gas emissions, and consequently climate change. Karoli et al. (2011) found that integration of
agro-processing, energy recovery and water reuse for economic activities especially agricultural sector is among
the prominently neglected aspect in development activities. The absence of sustainable land, agricultural and
natural resource management issues in the impact studies suggests that the gains of microcredit have been
over-estimated. Thus, it is possible that the overdependence on natural resources such as trees, water and soil by
small business development might have greatly overestimated the gains of microcredit, especially when the
argument is taken one step further to include sustainability of land, agricultural and natural resource management.
Perhaps, that is why Adams and von Pischke (1992) argued that debt is not an effective tool for helping most
poor people to enhance their economic condition. According to the UN Human Development Report in 1998
environmental damage almost always hits those living in poverty the earliest and hardest. Tandoh-Offin (2010)
has stressed the need for both the state and NGOs to engage in programmes to raise awareness about activities of
individual environmental entrepreneurs especially the women innovators and their activities. This paper outlines
the options available to MFIs to implement environmental management techniques with focus on women shea
butter processors who use the loans. The paper identifies and analyses the new ways micro shea butter
processors and rice potboilers are adapting to promote environment sustainability. The rest of the paper deals
with available literature, study methodology, findings, conclusions and recommendations.
3. Agro-Processing and Environment
Industrial activities as it were are inextricably linked to natural environment in one way or the other. Aside
facilitating productivity of industrial outfits is the ability to attract maximizing demand for such industrial
products with ultimate goal of favouble returns on production scale. Meanwhile, another useful feature of
industrial outfits is the linkage effect (i.e. industries capacities to effect derive demand for products of other
industries and/or sub-sectors in an economy. Most industries concentrate on forward and backward linkages. The
capacity of agro-industry to create derive demand and/or facilitate activities of other industries has a recognized
potential for activating "sideway linkages"; that is, linkages that are derive from the use of by-products or waste
products of the main industrial activity (FAO, 1997). Findings of FAO reveal that;
“animal feed industries can utilize several agro-industrial by-products, such as whey, oilseed presscakes and
blood, carcass and bone meal. In addition, many industries using agricultural raw materials produce waste that
can be used as fuel, paper pulp or fertilizer. Recycling and biological agriculture are two activities that go
together to respond to the idea of a sustainable form of exploitation of natural resources within an efficient
industrial context (FAO, 1997)”.
Relatively overlooked linkage in this respect is the side-ways derived environmental effects that results from
growing employment and livelihood demand that is mostly necessitated by increasing populations relative to fast
degrading environment. Quiet significant empirical exploration on forward and backward linkages in shea butter
industrial activities has over the years received relatively progressive attention from researchers and
development stakeholders in Ghana and beyond. The least explored is sideway linkages that are derived from the
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use of by-products or waste products of the main industrial activity vis-à-vis Sustainable Environmental Coping
Strategies and Implications in Northern Region of Ghana. The study assesses the various sustainable
environmental coping strategies that are used by shea butter processors in northern region of Ghana.
Empirical study in three villages near Hanoi and Vietnam revealed that agro-processing activities of Cassava and
Canna Starch generates wastes of about 1.45million cubic meters during 1999-2000 processing season. These
wastes levels exceeded the critical values set by government in terms of management of organic matter that is
contained in waste water. Same was the solid wastes that were generated by processors totaling 51,750t dumped
by the road sides and/or ponds. Meanwhile local residents perceived these waste as environmentally unhealthy
and hazardous to health (Peters et al., 2000). FAO (1997) also found that agro-processing activities contribute to
overall development of nations across continents. But agro-processing activities can equally produce adverse
environmental effects such as; discharge of organic and/or hazardous wastes that pollute water sources, emission
of dust, and emission of gases that could affect air quality. Despite these, many countries are still characterized
with the lack of policy framework that adequately addresses institutional, legal and monitoring structures to
implement environmental mitigation strategies and measures effectively. Ogbonnaya (2008) also found that
agro-food processing industrial activities have both positive and negative impacts on the environments in Nigeria
and hence the need for tentative interventions towards mitigation and conservation of adverse environmental
impacts.
George (2009) documents that conservation practices in Africa have been the traditional responsibility of all
members of society. According to the author traditional approach to conservation activities especially in the
southwest of Kenya shows a complex social behavior and rules. The conservation systems and approaches
acknowledge the role and responsibility each category of persons in society are supposed to exhibit towards
ensuring conservation of which environmental conservation is no exception. As part of the practice, inspection
and monitoring of conservation activities generate useful information for sound decision making and judgments
in the face of changing social, cultural, economic and environmental conservation in African societies. George
(2009) explains that a typical instance in the study regarding the monitoring and evaluation is the monitoring of
traditional labour arrangements such as the saga system created efficient and adequate ways of tackling
conservation problems. Although labour depended on the loyalty of the subjects to the leadership, more often
than not, cooperative action and togetherness compelled people to make themselves available for community
work, even in the absence of recognized leaders. This strongly impacted positively on the traditional role of
society in conservation of the environment. Francesca (2011) documented that rural areas of Northern Ghana
depend heavily on the natural resources to meet their subsistence needs. He warned that this livelihood option of
the rural households are threatened by increasing desertification and rate of extreme weather changes that has
high tendency of gradually worsening the plight to the rural households in Northern Ghana. The author indicated
the various forms and strategies of adaptation to the environmental changes determined by the types of assets
people have.
4. Conceptual framework and Methodology
Environmental sustainability has become an issue because of the need to attain a better balance between
economic, environmental and social goals, and great fairness in distributing the gains from growth among people
and countries (OECD, 2006). Environmental sustainability is one of the pillars of sustainable development.
However, measuring and implementing sustainable development has remained a tough task (OECD, 2006) for
development agents and researchers. The concept of sustainable development includes a time element because it
deals with the present and the future. As such, any measure of progress towards it must also include evaluating
the longer-term implications of current decisions and behavior. In the environmental sphere, decoupling
indicators show how economic growth can be accomplished without environmental damage. Materials flow
indicators track the production, use and reuse of materials in an economy and the implications for resource
productivity. In the social sphere, indicators of social capital are being developed to couple with measures of
economic and environmental capital.
People’s assets and external environment are continuously changing and for that matter the set of livelihood
strategies also changes (Albu and Scott, 2001). However, the extent to which people’s assets can be used to
achieve desired livelihood outcomes is determined in large part by people’s capability to re-combine their assets
in response to change. This paper analyses the understanding and practice of women micro-entrepreneurs of
environmental sustainability by using the sustainable livelihoods (SL) approach. SL approaches recognise the
diverse dimensions to poverty, and the multiple strategies that poor people adopt to secure their livelihoods
(Albu and Scott, 2001). The sustainable livelihoods approach is intended to guide researchers, practitioners and
policymakers in gaining an understanding of people’s strengths (their skills, status and possessions) and how
they use these assets to improve the quality of their lives. It aims at showing peoples’ ability to respond to shocks,
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trends and other changes in their dynamic environment, by adjusting or –re-configuring the way they use their
assets to pursue new or adapted strategies. SL approach regards assets not only as things that allow survival,
adaptation and poverty alleviation, but also as the basis of individuals’ capability to act and to change the rules
that govern the control, use and transformation of resources (Bebbington, 1999). The study approach emphasised
participation by informants, and prioritised insiders’ knowledge. It also sought as far as possible to keep the
analysis in the hands of the principal stakeholders (women microentrepreneurs). Information was verified where
possible by triangulation between different sources.
The approach involved a combination of institutional analysis aided by relevant participatory rural appraisal
(PRA) techniques (e.g., discussions, probing, interviews, observations, etc). The case study approach was
employed. The techniques were designed in such a way that wider issues relating to the impact of
microenterprises activities on natural resource, channel of transmission and nature of business owners response
to environmental difficulties in terms of sustainability were considered. Specifically, the approach paid attention
to the extent to which microfinance affects natural resource use through small and medium scale business
development, particularly those engaged in agro-processing (shea butter, rice parboiling and groundnut oil
extraction). The study involved data collection through institutional analysis, field visits, in-depth interviews and
observation.
The object of the research is those who have benefited from microfinance and are engaged in shea butter
processing for both local and international markets. In total, five community-women shea butter groups (1 in
each district) were selected purposively for the study. The districts included Tamale Metropolis, Gushegu,
Tolon-Kumbungu, West Mamprusi and Savelugu-Nanton. These districts are selected because they contribute to
over 70% of shea butter output and also hosts offices of almost all the MFIs operating small loans in the region.
Five communities, Jisonaayili, Kpaatili, Mbanaayili, Walewale and Savelugu were respectively selected from the
districts because they are popular shea butter processing communities.
Data covered channels of transmission of the impact of microfinance on the environment and the nature and
direction of response by SMEs to environmental difficulties. Data editing involved checking of data collected
from each district. The editing aimed at checking the accuracy and consistency of data in relation to the study
objective. The data analysis approach combined qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques. Data
analysis involved a careful matching of study objective and expected outcomes. Presented below is the
conceptual framework of climate change adaptation processes of shea butter processors. The framework
emphasises the climate change adaptation responsibility relative to environmental sustainability as in Figure 1
below.
Figure 1: Climate Change Adaptation Process
Source: Authors’ Construct 2013
Figure 1 above present climate change adaptation processes in the agro-processing sector in Ghana. The focus of
this framework is an explanation of climate change adaptation in shea butter processing activities in Ghana.
Climate change adaptation is a collective responsibility of different stakeholders at the individual and/or
household levels to international levels. The task of environmental protection in shea butter industry starts from
the individual shea butter processors at the household levels. The shea butter entrepreneurs at group levels,
CBOs, NGOs, other stakeholders at national and international levels all have roles to play in adapting
environmentally friendly practices that ensures environmental protection and sustainability. Environmentally
sensitive practices, support from CBOs and NGOs, direct and policy interventions of governments, other
national and international stakeholders collectively facilitate climate change adaptation processes in the
agro-processing sector in Ghana. When each stakeholder adapt good practices, it goes to complement the efforts
of other stakeholders thereby building a collective effort in ensuring environmental protection towards mitigating
climate change in the long-run. Presented below is the shea butter processors and environmental sustainability.
Individual
Entrepreneur
Shea Butter
Entrepreneur
Groups at
Community
Level
CBOs
&
NGOs
Stakeholders
@
National
Level
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5. Shea Butter Processors and Environmental Sustainability
Protection of Shea Resources
The findings show that women shea butter processors in different communities have become key advocates for
improved care for shea trees and are succeeding in getting their male counterparts to support1
. The women
showed improved lobbying skills as well as ways of protecting shea trees and other resources. As a result of
advocacy the women groups have won the support of policy makers who are key actors in the shea industry to
pass bye-laws that help to protect the shea tree. The bye-laws are mainly meant to deter people from cutting shea
trees indiscriminately and from burning them or using them for the production of charcoal. The Mbanaayili
Tungteeiya and Kpaatili Tungteeiya Groups have been able to protect shea trees covering about 4 acres piece of
land at different locations in their communities. The group has erected bill boards to deter people from cutting or
burning shea trees. The groups have been able to lobby their community chiefs and elders to give their fullest
support to group activities manifesting itself in the community’s ability to make bye laws to protect the shea
trees. Although the trees are accessible to all community members of the shea processing groups play key role in
driving the process in terms of sensitisation of other community members and clearing bush around the trees.
Recycling of Shea Butter Wastes
Previously women shea butter processors used to dump both solid and liquid wastes indiscriminately causing
damage to the environment. The results show that shea butter processors have adapted sustainable ways of
managing wastes (slurry). Owners of microenterprises explained that they use the wastes as a source of energy.
This finding is similar to the conclusions of Basit (2010) that 68% of shea butter processors use the wastes as
source of energy for processing and other household use. Evidence from field visits indicates that the wastes are
being recycled in the form of energy source. The liquid wastes are moulded into balls which are then dried for a
certain period and used as source of energy (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Shea Butter Wastes turned to balls to be used as source of energy at Mbanaayili Community
Sustainable Agricultural Practices
As a result of improved farming technology most women use shea butter wastes as a form of organic fertilizer
(compost). The women apply the compost to their farms which is improving agricultural productivity in a
sustainable manner (Figure 3). Compost application increases and maintains crop yield, it improves soil ability to
hold water and nutrients, it keeps the soil healthy for sustainable production and also prevents soil erosion and
1
The men help the women to make fire belts around densely populated areas of shea trees in all beneficiary
communities.
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soil degradation. This finding is similar to the conclusion of Greenland et al., (1975) that organic manure plays a
major role in the maintenance of the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. It acts as a source
and sinks to plant nutrients. Research has also shown that organic manure maintains continuous higher yield on
tropical soil than inorganic fertilizers.
Figure 3: Shea waste used in the preparation of compost
6. Conclusion
Rural poverty reduction has often been targeted through the use of microfinance whereby financial services
(credit and savings) are packaged for small and medium enterprise owners, mostly women. Results of most
microfinance studies are often biased to gains from the loans, loan recovery or repayment rates and financial
sustainability without paying attention to the relationship between microfinance and sustainability of land,
agricultural and natural resources. Meanwhile small loan beneficiaries over depend on the environment to run their
microenterprises thereby depleting natural resources and degrading the environment as a result of wastes produced
from these activities. The implication is that the gains that are claimed to emanate from credit schemes could be
highly over estimated.
Environmental degradation is not pro-poor because it exacerbates the already deplorable condition of the
vulnerable, particularly women entrepreneurs. In Ghana environmental degradation has not only had negative
effects on the economy but it has also affected the poor and vulnerable in many ways. Reduced agricultural output
and deteriorating conditions in rural areas, increased poverty and child mortality, increased out-migration of the
youth, increased number of disasters (drought, floods, etc) and hunger and malnutrition due to low production and
access to environmental resources have been identified as effects of environmental degradation. Eenvironmental
degradation translates into a spiral of declining production, increasing poverty and diminished potential
productivity. The conclusion is that in order to address the problems of sustainable rural development and poverty
alleviation, stakeholders especially donors must take account of the realities that both affect and characterise the
daily lives of the rural poor. The fight against environmental degradation must be seen as a collective effort
whereby all key stakeholders (individuals, community based organizations, NGOs, government and donors) are
involved. This is similar to the conclusion of George (2009) that conservation practices in Africa have been the
traditional responsibility of all members of society.
Women shea butter processors have realised that improvements in their livelihoods highly depends on how well
the environment is managed. Women mircroenterprise owners have developed ways of protecting natural
resources (such as the shea tree), recycle wastes from microfinance activities and adapt sustainable agricultural
practices. Thus, recycling of shea butter bi-product into usable energy resource, discovery of numerous uses of
shea butter bi-product and enforcement of bye-laws are the major sustainable coping strategies that are being
adopted by shea butter processors in Northern Region of Ghana. Though these strategies are still at its primary
stage they have the potential for ensuring environmentally sustainable shea butter processing in Ghana.
It is recommended that gender be mainstreamed into microfinance schemes as well as national
poverty-environment policies and community-based climate change adaptation processes. This can be achieved
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