Journal of Environmental Issues and Climate Change

Rural Households’ Livelihood Diversification Activities: A Case Study from Borena District, North Central Ethiopia

Mezid Kassa Abebe — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0700

In Ethiopia, farm households are not adequately engage and pursue diverse livelihood activities to cope with various challenges due to livelihood asset crisis and persistent cultural bottle neck. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to identify the rural households’ livelihood diversification activities in Borena district, north central Ethiopia. The study follows a pragmatism paradigm with a cross sectional study design. The required data were drawn both from primary and secondary sources. The study used multistage sampling procedure, involving a combination of purposive and random sampling techniques to select 358 sample household heads. Household sample surveys, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were the principal means used to acquire primary data. In analyzing and interpreting the primary data, quantitative research techniques was employed. Percentages, mean and standard deviation were employed to analyze the quantitative data while thematic narration techniques were used to analyses the qualitative data. The result indicate that slightly more than one-third (33.8%), one-fourth (26.5%) and nearly half (49.7%) of the respondents were engaged exclusively in on-farm, off-farm and non-farm activities, respectively. Thus, policy makers need to intervene in the highest possible means of livelihood diversification while designing and reforming strategies related to diversification of livelihoods.

An Analysis of the Quality of Dhaka's Potable Water and Sanitation Services

Abdur Razzak Zubaer — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0700

This study evaluates the current state of Dhaka's potable water and sanitation amenities. Moreover, the study addresses 6.1 and 6.2 of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which calls for optimal sanitation services and present conditions regarding water quality in Dhaka. In addition, the DWASA is the sole provider of potable water in the city, and as such, they are having a hard time keeping up with the demand for potable water. In addition, a significant number of private residences lack access to potable water and sanitary sanitation services on their properties. In order to complete this study, primary data were gathered through the use of questionnaire surveys, and informal interviews with experts; and secondary data were analyzed. The result is analyzed in three sections in which the first section shows the analysis regarding the privileged class, another one shows the underprivileged class analysis and the third one shows the combination of both. By breaking down the results, it is observed that the situation is way better than before in terms of consuming water from the improved sources, though the sanitation amenities need to be improved a lot though the progress is impressive. The study reveals that there is discrimination based on gender, economic capacity, and social standing for access to potable water and sanitary sanitation amenities. In addition, private-public partnerships can significantly enhance the current state of affairs. The report also recommends a number of activities to be taken in order to reach the goals attained in Dhaka.

Flood Vulnerability Assessment of A Semi-Arid Region: A Case Study of Dutse in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Nura Umar Kura, S. U. Usman, Muhammad Salisu Khalil — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0700

Floods occur as a consequence of overflowing water over a large area of land that is which is beyond the soils ability to absorbed the water at the receiving rate. In this study, rainfall, slope, soil type, land cover, and drainage network were analyzed as causative factors of flooding. Furthermore, Landsat satellite images was used to assess land use and land cover (LULC). Flood vulnerable areas are were analyzed using the multicriteria evaluation process (MCE). A flood vulnerable areas map was generated after overlaying the maps of the major parameters responsible for flooding in GIS environment. The results show that the vulnerable areas are not confined in one area alone, however, the southmost part, the upper north and some part of the central accounting for about 25% are very vulnerable and high to flooding thanks to accumulations of multiple factors. Similarly, the result indicated that 53 %, 19% and 3% of the area were characterized as moderate, low and very vulnerable areas respectively. This research will help environmental managers and policy makers toward sustainable management of flooding affecting the area. This work will assist policy makers and environmental managers in identifying the major areas that are more at risk of flooding, thus, the little available resources can be allocated to these areas for better management practices and sustainable development.

The The Inhibitory Efficacy of Plants Extracts in the Management of Root Knot Nematode (M. Incognita) Infected Crops

H. Imafidor, S.O. Nzeakwo, E. Ebuete, A. W. Ebuete, D. P. Markmanuel — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0700

The present in vitro study was to ascertain the phytochemicals and the nematicidal potential of organic extract of Datura stramonium and Gongronema latifolium on egg hatch inhibition of M. incognita for the effective control of root knot nematodes. The tested botanical extract are found to possess alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, phenols, terpenoids and glycosides in different composition as shown from the phytochemical analysis of the extracts. The egg hatchability test shows that the extracts were very effective in inhibiting egg hatching in all concentrations as compared to the control and the percentage egg hatch inhibition was related to the level of dilution and time of exposure. Datura stramonium was more effective in inhibiting egg hatching of 98% at 100% concentration compared to 76% inhibitory effect of Gongoronema latifolium which may be due to the presence of terpenoids and higher concentration of alkaloids, flavonoids and phenols in the extracts of D. stramolium. The vast bioactive components present in the tested botanicals make them suitable for bio pesticides and nematicide synthesis for eco-friendly and sustainable agro development.

Impact of Slaughterhouse Effluents on Groundwater Quality: Evidence-Based Assessment in Tudun-Wada and Kawo Residential Suburbs, Kaduna, Nigeria

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0700

Pollution of groundwater by slaughterhouse effluent has been documented to have negative health and environmental consequences. Tudun-Wada and Kawo residential suburbs of Kaduna city are known to house slaughterhouses where effluent is mostly discharged indiscriminately into the environment. Eighteen water samples were obtained from six existing hang dug wells representing six sampling points with varying distances in the study area. Group A (K1 and T1) is located within the slaughterhouses, Group B (K2 and T2) is located 60-130 meters away from the slaughterhouses and Group C (K3 and T3) is 80-200 meters away from the slaughterhouses. Standardized methods were employed to analyze temperature, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), bacterial oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), electrical conductivity (EC), nitrate, sulphate, total coliform and faecal coliform of the sampled water. Results indicated that the mean pH values obtained in T1, T2, T3, and K1 are significantly (p> 0.05) different from each but are significantly (p< 0.05) different from the ones obtained in K2 and K3. Except for T3, which was in line with WHO and NSDWQ requirements, all of the groups had high feacal coliform and total coliform counts. Owing to the results recorded in this study, water drawn from hand-dug wells near slaughterhouses should be subjected to sanitary treatment before drinking and other uses. Again, we advised the state environmental protection agency to actively monitor the activities of the slaughterhouses and ensure compliance with health and safety standards.

GIS-based Spatial Assessment of Post COVID Water Quality Status of Turag River for Water Resource Conservation in Bangladesh

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0700

The COVID-19 pandemic has had enormous effects on human life and the environment, particularly freshwater ecosystems, on a global scale. Despite its numerous effects, the pandemic has improved the quality of the environment, allowing devastated ecosystems to recover. During the COVID lockdown period, many researchers observed positive amendments in environmental quality in various parts of the world. Due to increased industrialization and urbanization over the past several decades, Dhaka's peripheral rivers have grown highly polluted. In this study, an attempt was made to illustrate the post-covid surface water quality scenario of Bangladesh's hihgly contaminated Turag River. Therefore, for the first time, a GIS-based spatial analysis of water quality index was used to endeavor to quantify 16 water quality parameters (pH, EC, temperature, turbidity, salinity, TDS, DO, Na+, K+ Ca2+, Mg2+ Cl-, Cu, Pb, Fe, and Cd) in the river Turag. Thus, it could serve as a reference work for future researches in Bangladesh. After calculating the WQI for the collected samples, it was determined that the water quality status at all sampling stations was extremely poor because each WQI was greater than 100. Using the Kriging method of interpolation, the encroaching WQS were predicted and visually represented using GIS maps. The findings of this study are particularly concerning, as all recorded WQS samples surpassed the standard limits. Based on these findings, we urged for the rapid deployment of proper water management practices and policies in order to safeguard and manage the water resources.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Residues in Soil and Vegetables along Urban-peri-urban gradient of Lagos State Nigeria

Peter Sanjo Adewale, Sunday Clement Olubunmi Makinde, Victor Owolola Kusemiju — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0700

Several studies have been carried out on leafy vegetables but many did not assess the heavy metals in soil and leafy vegetables along urban-peri-urban gradient of Lagos State. The study assessed the concentration of heavy metals in the soil and leaves of three commonly consumed vegetables (Amaranthus hybridus, Celosia argentea and Corchorus olitorius) in Lagos State. Sampling was conducted in 2019 and 2020. Fe, Pb, Cu and Cd residues in the soil and the leafy vegetables samples were digested and determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The collected data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance. The range of values of the mean concentrations of the heavy metals in soil showed that Fe =20.76±0.20mg/kg – 107.83±17.02mg/kg, Pb = 0.13±0.07mg/kg –2.47± 0.45mg /kg, Cd=0.08 ± 0.02mg/kg – 6.07 ± 2.90mg/kg and Cu = 0.24±0.11mg/kg–40.20±4.90mg/kg. The range of values of the mean concentrations of the heavy metals in the leafy vegetables showed that Fe = 113.10±14.05mg/kg – 1.51±0.02mg/kg, Pb=0.51±0.09mg/kg - 0.001±0.001 mg/kg, Cd=0.51±0.01mg/kg-0.001±0.01amg/ kg, Cu=7.54±0.97 mg/kg - 0.36±0.03mg/kg. The Level of heavy metals residues in soil and the three leafy vegetables were at safe levels set by WHO/FAO except for Pb and Cd found in vegetables in Ketu and Yaba study locations.

Impact of Productive Safety Net Program on Rural Household Food Security in Somali Regional State: A Case of Kebri Dehar District, Ethiopia

Abdi Hassen Habib, Mohamed Abdirizak Haji, Abdukerim Ahmed Mumed — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0700

The study specifically evaluated household food security, factors influencing the decision to participate in productive safety net programs and the impact of production safety net programs on rural household food security, as measured by calorie intake of households. Primary data were collected from 334 households in four barbecue samples in Kebri Dehar district using multistage sampling technique. A binary logit model and a propensity score matching model were used to investigate the factors influencing the decision to participate and their impact on food security, respectively. The age of the household head and the size of the family have a positive effect on the decision to join the household. However, extended contact and distance from the property market had a negative impact on the decision to join. In this study, the nearest neighbor match method (5) was used to estimate the mean treatment effect for those treated. The propensity score matching results also show that the production safety net program has a positive and significant impact on household food security. Households participating in the production safety net program have 214.5 Kcal/Adult/Day more than households not participating. The study concluded that there was a significant difference in household kilocalorie intake between participants and nonparticipants.