Evalution of Water Management/ Irrigation and other major for Food Security Components in Low-Income Food-deficit Countries
| Author | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
LT |
| Date |
|---|
2007 |
Įvertintas lipazių (Lipozyme TL IM, Lipase G „Amano“50, Lipase F-EC, Novozym 435, Lipozyme RM IM), kaip biologinių katalizatorių, efektyvumas oleino rūgšties ir glicerolio esterinimo procese. Pradinis oleino rūgšties ir glicerolio molių santykis 1:1. Nustatyta, kad didžiausiu efektyvumu pasižymi lipazė Novozym 435. Pridėjus 3 % šio fermento 50 °C temperatūroje per 7 val. sureaguoja daugiau kaip 80 % oleino rūgšties. Panašaus efektyvumo buvo ir lipazė Lipozyme RM IM, o kiti tirti fermentai buvo visiškai arba beveik neefektyvūs. Lipozyme RM IM efektyvumą galima didinti keliant glicerolizės reakcijos temperatūrą iki 70 °C, didinant fermento koncentraciją iki 7 % ir į reakcijos terpę pridedant 0,25 % vandens. Šiomis sąlygomis per 4 val. sureaguoja iki 90 % oleino rūgšties.
The demonstration of improved water intake structures, gates and water distribution boxes, compacted earth or, alternatively, concrete lined secondary canals, as opposed to traditional temporary ditches, was widely appreciated and requested by the farmers in most of the case study countries. However, due to very limited project resources, very often, the technologies, even if relatively low-cost, were still beyond the financial capacities of farmers in the absence of credit affordable to them. Most of technologies selected for field testing by SPFS were reasonably appropriate. In most of the case study countries complete technological packages, including land preparation, appropriate water management for irrigation, crop varieties, crop spacing, fertilizers, and pest/disease control measures for the targeted crops, have been adequately introduced and demonstrated. However, the experts got the impression, that there was a general paucity in terms of innovative improved technologies being demonstrated. The conclusion of experts was that SPFS should liaise better not only with extension and other development oriented projects, but also with academic and research institutions within the countries.
The paper presents the findings of author as member of the expert team evaluating the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS), endorsed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and run in Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDC). The results presented in the paper are based on the conclusions of site visits, field and documentation research performed in the selected 12 case study countries representing different regions of the world (Tanzania, Zambia, Eritrea, Niger, Mauritania, Senegal –in East and West Africa, Bangladesh, Cambodia and China- in Asia, and Bolivia, Ecuador and Haiti- in Latin America and Caribean). In assessing the use of major SPFS components it was found, that water management/irrigation and crop intensification were the programme components having the most extensive use. Given the philosophy of the SPFS, it was logical to concentrate on water. Proper use of water resulted in higher yields by 30 to 70 % and enabled multiple cropping, both of which can be important in augmenting food grain production. Further paper presents the findings in assessing the field demonstration activities, including the selection of sites, selection of beneficiaries and evaluation of methods and technologies demonstrated and introduced to farmers. It was found in most of visited countries that the initial focus on quick results in the higher potential areas has obviously influenced the process of selecting SPFS sites within the case study countries. Most of the demonstration farmers were market oriented, generally clearly above average. Women only constituted about 15% of the demonstration farmers.