Impact of positive selection technology on seed yam productivity.

Positive Selection (PS) technique has been shown to reduce virus infection and increase yields, however there is insufficient empirical evidence on how this technology affects seed yam farm productivity. This study employed Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique to evaluate the impact of PS on seed yam yields of 368 farmers randomly selected from Ghana and Nigeria. The findings showed that educational attainment, distance from the farm to the nearest market, cropping patterns, and other factors influenced farmers' adoption of PS. Furthermore, the adoption of PS technology resulted in a 16.98 % boost in farm productivity for PS seed yam farmers compared to their productivity without the technology. It is of the utmost importance that PS adoption be supported by developing tailored training materials for farmers to improve their use of the PS technology.

Compliance with cocoa quality management practices in Ghana; To what extent are cocoa farmers complying?

Despite the fact that adhering to cocoa quality management practices (QMPs) is crucial to satisfy consumer food safety standards and receive premium cocoa pricing, evidence of cocoa farmers' compliance with these recommended QMPs is scanty in Ghana. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent and antecedents of farmers' compliance with six QMPs including pest and disease, harvesting and pod storage, pod breaking and bean removal, fermentation, drying, and bagging and storage practices in Ghana. Data from 200 farmers was solicited and analyzed using a compliance index as well as a seemingly unrelated regression (SURE) model to account for cross-correlation effects among six recommended QMPs. The results show an overall index of 2.46, implying that the cocoa farmers moderately comply with the six QMPs. Specifically, compliance levels for fermentation (index = 2.90) and drying (index = 2.92) practices are high, while farmers showed low compliance with bagging and storage practices (index = 1.33). The SURE model exhibits heterogeneous covariates that influence farmers' compliance across the six QMPs. However, extension access, sex of the farmer, and to some extent awareness of quality management practices, as well as education, are significant determinants of compliance across all six quality management practices. These findings have implications for strengthening the Extension Services Division of COCOBOD and gender mainstreaming of cocoa quality improvement training to address the challenges of women cocoa farmers.

Linkage between working conditions and wellbeing: Insight from migrant and native farmhands on Ghana's cocoa farms.

Working conditions and wellbeing (quality of life) could be linked, and they in turn enhance social and economic development. Nevertheless, working conditions of farmhands have largely been ignored in policy and research. We explored working conditions of migrant and native farmhands on Ghana's cocoa farms, and implications on wellbeing, using primary data from 600 respondents. Multidimensional Poverty Index, Department for International Development sustainable livelihood approach, World Food Programme asset score, Zellner's seemingly unrelated regression and multinomial logistic regression were adopted. Living standards, resilience, health and asset ownership of farmhands were generally low. Natives had higher living standards than migrants. However, migrants had better food security, and were more resilient to shocks than natives. Working and living conditions like years as a farmhand, closeness to social amenities, years migrant had stayed in community, type of migrant, being joined by a household member, working hours and days, type of agreement, category of farmhand, bonuses, satisfaction with working conditions, and income influence living standards, resilience, health and asset ownership. Thus, there is a link between working conditions and wellbeing of cocoa farmhands. Farmhands should be given long-term contracts, bonuses/incentives and personal protective equipment (PPE) by cocoa farmers. Government and private agencies should provide social amenities/infrastructure in cocoa-growing communities. Farmhands should do their own farms and join associations.

Survey of experiences and barriers to dental care post-head and neck cancer in OraRad study participants.

PURPOSE: Dental care after head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment is crucial to maintaining oral health and preventing/treating oral complications. This survey investigated the experiences and barriers to dental care post-radiation therapy (RT). METHODS: Participants of the Clinical Registry of Dental Outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer (OraRad) were surveyed at approximately 4 years post-RT. Participants completed a 20-question survey which assessed perceptions of dental care and education, barriers to receiving care, and ongoing physical symptoms post-RT. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-three of the 505 available OraRad participants completed the survey. Almost all of the respondents (n = 141; 92%) either strongly agreed or agreed that they understand the effects of cancer and its treatment on the teeth, mouth, and jaws. The majority (n = 119; 80%) strongly agreed or agreed that their dentist provided them with information on how to keep teeth, mouth, and jaws healthy after treatment. Most participants reported dry mouth (n = 114; 75%). Other sequelae were problems swallowing (n = 57; 38%), dental caries (n = 33; 22%), and difficulty keeping their mouth open during dental procedures (n = 26; 17%). CONCLUSIONS: The OraRad respondents reported few barriers to dental care post-HNC treatment. Patients continue to suffer oral/maxillofacial side effects of radiation treatment, most notably xerostomia.

Modelling of vertical integration in commercial poultry production of Ghana: A count data model analysis.

Poultry production has significant potential to reduce protein deficiency, food insecurity and poverty in Ghana. However, limited vertical integration and high cost of production in the sector have stifled growth and exposed poultry farms in the country to many risks, leading to poor business performance. This study uses cross-sectional data from 102 commercial poultry farms to assess the determinants of vertical integration in the Ghanaian poultry industry by employing zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) and Zero-inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) models. The results show that one in every four poultry farms in the country are vertically integrated, either partially or fully. The ZINB model, which best fits the data, reveals that the degree of vertical integration in the poultry business is significantly influenced by a set of personal (education, occupation, and farming experience) and farm level (land tenure, flock size, production cost, and farm revenue) characteristics as well as institutional factors (credit access, extension access and membership of association). The paper discusses the implications of these findings and provides appropriate recommendations for strengthening the poultry industry in Ghana.

Reduced bone mineral density in the first year after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT).

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The effect of total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with CP is unknown. We aimed to assess bone health in patients with CP after TPIAT. METHODS: We measured BMD, BMD Z-score, and bone mineral content (BMC) for total body, lumbar spine, right and left hip in 78 patients before and after TPIAT using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, n = 78 pre-TPIAT, n = 65 paired pre- and 12 months post-TPIAT, n = 33 paired 12 and 18 months post-TPIAT), and tested for association with clinical history including age, smoking status, and medications using paired and two-sample t-tests, linear regression, and Fisher's exact test. Laboratory measures related to bone health were also assessed. RESULTS: In the patients with pre-TPIAT DXA, 12% had low BMD (Z-score ≤ -2). BMD, BMD Z-score, and BMC all decreased from pre-to 12 months post-TPIAT. BMD declined by 1.7%-4.1% with the greatest change at the hips. Adjusted for change in lean and fat body mass, DXA changes remained significant for total body and hip. Serum carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks telopeptide and alkaline phosphatase increased at 12 months post-TPIAT, suggesting possible increased bone remodeling. BMD, BMD Z-score, and BMC did not change between 12 months and 18 months in any of the four regions (p > 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: TPIAT is associated with decreases in BMD in the body, lumbar, and hip regions of patients with CP in the first year after TPIAT but these appear to stabilize between 12 and 18 months after TPIAT.