Mapping crop and livestock value chain actors in Mbire and Murehwa districts in Zimbabwe

Hambulo Ngoma Moti Jaleta Frédéric Baudron (2023, [Documento de trabajo])

We conducted a preliminary value chain actors mapping for major crops grown and livestock kept by smallholder farmers in Mbire and Murehwa districts of Zimbabwe. Accordingly, in this report we mapped value chain actors for 11 crops and livestock commodities: namely, sorghum, cotton, sesame, maize, groundnut, sweet-potato, vegetables (tomato and onion), cattle, goats, poultry, and honey/beekeeping. Except sesame from Mbire, most of the crop and livestock commodities are channeled to the main markets in Harare and Marondera for Murehwa. Sesame is smuggled to Mozambique and the market is mainly dependent on middlemen. The Grain Market Board (GMB) is the major actor in sorghum and maize marketing in both districts. Groundnut is sold to both rural and urban consumers after processing it to peanut butter locally within the production zones. Goats and cattle are mostly supplied to the Harare market by middlemen collecting these livestock from village markets and moving door-to-door to buy enough quantity to transport to Harare. Honey production and marketing is still at its initial stage through the support of HELP from Germany and the Zimbabwe Apiculture Trust projects. Long dry season is a challenge in honey production. The Pfumvudza program supported by the Presidential free input scheme helped in introducing and scaling conservation agriculture practices in Zimbabwe. Though there is strong integration of crop-livestock systems at both districts, the level of manure use is gradually decreasing because farmers receive chemical fertilizer support from the Pfumvudza program and applying manure to crop fields is labor-intensive. The input supply system is more competitive in Murehwa district where there are quite several input suppliers in town. The possible interventions that favor agroecological transitions are: (1) honey processing plants and supply of beehives to potential areas, (2) encouraging manure use in crop production, possibly linking it to the basins preparation requirement to be eligible for the presidential input subsidy scheme, (3) support the organic vegetable production initiatives and explore market segments in Harare paying premium prices for certified organic products, (4) Expedite payment systems in sorghum and maize marketing with GMB, and (5) sesame production with agroecologically friendly agronomy and improve markets.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA VALUE CHAINS CROPS LIVESTOCK SMALLHOLDERS SUPPLY CHAINS

Agricultural lime value chain efficiency for reducing soil acidity in Ethiopia

Moti Jaleta (2023, [Artículo])

Soil acidity is challenging agricultural production in Ethiopia. Above 43% of the farmland is under soil acidity problem and it leads to low crop yields and production losses. Ag-lime is widely considered as an effective remedy for amending soil acidity. This study assesses the current structure of ag-lime value chain and its functionality focusing on central parts of Ethiopia where lime is produced and channeled to acidity affected areas. The study uses Ethiopia as a case study and applies qualitative methods such as key informant interviews and focus group discussions to collect data from different actors in the ag-lime value chain. Key findings indicate that both public and private ag-lime producing factories are operating below their capacity. Due to limited enabling environments, the engagement of private sector in ag-lime value chain is minimal. In addition, farmers have a good awareness of soil acidity problem on their farms, and its causes and mitigation strategies in all regions. However, the adoption of ag-lime by smallholders was minimal. Overall, the current structure of the ag-lime value chain appears fragmented and needs improvement. Addressing soil acidity challenge through efficient ag-lime value chain could narrow lime supply-demand mismatches and increase widespread adoption by farmers to enhance crop productivity and food security in acidity-prone areas of the country.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA LIMES PRODUCTION COSTS VALUE CHAINS SOIL PH

A pre-pandemic study about recreational uses in the Mexico Park located at Mexico City (year 2017)

Ramiro Flores-Xolocotzi Sergio Ceballos (2022, [Artículo, Artículo])

A recreational study was carried out through surveys in the Parque México in Mexico City. For this, the relationship between visit patterns with socioeconomic information, uses and perceptions of visitors with 18 years old or older was analyzed. This research uses descriptive statistics and a non-linear canonical correlation analysis to analyze relationships between variables. An ordered probit regression was also performed to determine the variables that explain the frequency of recreational use. It was obtained that the Park mainly receives visitors with at least bachelor's degree (78.6%) and high incomes (more than 50% have a monthly family income higher than $10,000.00 pesos and 27.6% receive more than $30,000.00 per month). Considering the results, the conclusions are that although the highest percentage of the studied population comes from neighborhoods outside the Roma-Condesa Corridor: then the visitors who live in the Corridor and who have higher incomes, have weight in the description of the model. The results allow to conclude too, that higher income increases the frequency of use. It is also observed that the park is used during the Monday to Friday by more than 50% of the population of visitors and with a high percentage of use in the mornings.

urban forestry urban planning leisure green areas correlación canónica no lineal parque urbano probit recreación CIENCIAS SOCIALES CIENCIAS SOCIALES

Oportunidad de aplicación de la metodología FRONT END LOADING en la expansión de gasoductos en el sureste mexicano: una evaluación

Opportunity to apply the front end loading methodology in the expansion of gas pipelines in the mexican southeast: an evaluation

Raúl Enrique Trejo Alvarado Luis Rolando Méndez Miguel (2023, [Artículo])

Con la finalidad de impulsar el desarrollo de la región sureste de México, la actual administración del gobierno federal se ha propuesto la ampliación de la red nacional de gasoductos hacia esa zona del país, con el fin de suministrar energía a los megaproyectos de la región. No obstante, estas obras presentan actualmente retrasos, evidenciando la necesidad de metodologías de gestión que permitan solucionar este problema de raíz. Una de las metodologías más prometedoras en esta materia es la front-end loading (FEL), ampliamente aplicada en el sector extractivo y energético. El propósito del articulo estriba en evaluar la posibilidad de aplicar la metodología FEL a los proyectos de expansión del Sistema Nacional de Gasoductos en el sureste mexicano.

To boost the development of the southeast region of Mexico, the current federal government administration has proposed the expansion of the national gas pipeline network to this area of the country, to supply energy to the region's mega-projects. However, these projects are currently experiencing delays, demonstrating the need for management methodologies to solve this problem at its root. One of the most promising methodologies in this area is front-end loading (FEL), which has been widely applied in the extractive and energy sector. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the possibility of applying the FEL methodology to the expansion projects of the National Gas Pipeline System in the southeastern México.

Gas natural Sector energético Front end loading (FEL) Evaluación de proyectos Sureste mexicano Natural gas Energy sector Project evaluation Mexican southeast INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS ESPECIALIDADES TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS OTRAS

The social responsibility of tobacco production in Nayarit. Who pays the price?

Dagoberto De Dios Hernández Jesús Antonio Madera Pacheco (2023, [Artículo, Artículo])

In Nayarit, Mexico, there is an Integrated System of Tobacco Production (SIPT) which operates mainly with the participation of campesino families. However, for some preparatory work and to guarantee the harvest, local jornaleros and indigenous migrant families from the mountainous regions of Nayarit, Jalisco, Durango, and Zacatecas are hired, manly on a temporarily basis. They live for several months in precarious conditions in the houses and yards of the growers and on the agricultural plots. Since the Marco’s Convention and the General Law on Tobacco Control, the companies that control the SIPT have adopted new narratives and strategies for managing and sustaining their businesses, mainly emphasizing the so-called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The objective of this article is to analyze the CSR actions of the tobacco companies from an approach of accumulation by dispossession, understanding CSR as a capitalist tool for the extraction of surplus value. With the support of a qualitative methodology, based on bibliographic and hemerographic review, direct observation, field diaries and interviews, also corporate actions comprised between 2018 and 2023 have also been documented. British American Tobacco and Tabacos del Pacífico Norte have "sponsored" the operation of the Florece centers and the Sustenta program in the tobacco fields of Nayarit, even though, in the tobacco reality of the tobacco industry the operation of such programs and their costs are assumed and absorbed by the growers, while the companies disseminate an image of sustainable business management.

Tobacco Social Responsibility Tobacco companies Indigenous families CMCT Tabaco Responsabilidad social Empresas tabacaleras Familias indígenas CIENCIAS SOCIALESCIENCIAS SOCIALES CIENCIAS SOCIALES

The social responsibility of tobacco production in Nayarit. Who pays the price?

Dagoberto De Dios Hernández Jesús Antonio Madera Pacheco (2023, [Artículo, Artículo])

In Nayarit, Mexico, there is an Integrated System of Tobacco Production (SIPT) which operates mainly with the participation of campesino families. However, for some preparatory work and to guarantee the harvest, local jornaleros and indigenous migrant families from the mountainous regions of Nayarit, Jalisco, Durango, and Zacatecas are hired, manly on a temporarily basis. They live for several months in precarious conditions in the houses and yards of the growers and on the agricultural plots. Since the Marco’s Convention and the General Law on Tobacco Control, the companies that control the SIPT have adopted new narratives and strategies for managing and sustaining their businesses, mainly emphasizing the so-called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The objective of this article is to analyze the CSR actions of the tobacco companies from an approach of accumulation by dispossession, understanding CSR as a capitalist tool for the extraction of surplus value. With the support of a qualitative methodology, based on bibliographic and hemerographic review, direct observation, field diaries and interviews, also corporate actions comprised between 2018 and 2023 have also been documented. British American Tobacco and Tabacos del Pacífico Norte have "sponsored" the operation of the Florece centers and the Sustenta program in the tobacco fields of Nayarit, even though, in the tobacco reality of the tobacco industry the operation of such programs and their costs are assumed and absorbed by the growers, while the companies disseminate an image of sustainable business management.

Tobacco Social Responsibility Tobacco companies Indigenous families CMCT Tabaco Responsabilidad social Empresas tabacaleras Familias indígenas CIENCIAS SOCIALESCIENCIAS SOCIALES CIENCIAS SOCIALES

Optimization of the alkali-silane treatment of agave lechuguilla fibers (ixtle) for potential reinforcement in polymeric composites

NOEMI JARDON MAXIMINO MARIAMNE DEHONOR GOMEZ Rolando Villa Moreno MARIA DOLORES BAEZA ALVARADO Luis Edmundo Lugo Uribe (2023, [Artículo])

Reinforced polymeric composites with natural fibers have garnered significant interest in recent years due to the need for biomass utilization and the requirements of various industries, such as automotive and construction. Among these natural fibers, Agave lechuguilla fiber, commonly known as ixtle (FIx) or Tampico fiber, exhibits important characteristics such as length, high strength, and durability. However, there is limited literature on its conditioning, functionalization, and utilization as a reinforcing material in polymeric composites (CP). This study presents the optimization of the alkali-silane treatment of FIx, identifying the most suitable reaction conditions to enhance their thermal stability, tensile strength, and silane coupling agent (ACSi) grafting on the fiber surface. The chemical treatment with ACSi proved highly effective, resulting in a significant grafting content, which was confirmed through FTIR and SEM–EDS analyses. The high level of functionalization did not compromise the mechanical performance of the fibers, suggesting that functionalized FIx holds great potential as a reinforcing material in CP. These findings open new paths for the sustainable use of Agave lechuguilla fibers, contributing to the development of environmentally friendly and high-performance polymeric composites in various industrial applications.

This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Fibers for Advanced Materials: Addressing Challenges).

Supplementary materials: The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/fib11100086/s1, Figure S1: Optical microscope image of ixtle fibers at a magnification of 50 (a) untreated and (b) alkaline treated (FIx-5); Table S1: FTIR signal assignment for alkaline treated FIx; Table S2: FTIR Signal assignment for silane treated FIx.

Author contributions: Conceptualization, N.J.-M. and L.E.L.U.; methodology, N.J.-M., M.D.G., R.V.M., M.D.B.-A. and L.E.L.U.; validation, N.J.-M. and L.E.L.U.; formal analysis, N.J.-M., M.D.G. and L.E.L.U.; investigation, N.J.-M. and L.E.L.U.; data curation, N.J.-M., M.D.G., R.V.M. and M.D.B.-A.; writing—original draft preparation, N.J.-M. and L.E.L.U.; writing—review and editing, N.J.-M., M.D.G., R.V.M., M.D.B.-A. and L.E.L.U.; visualization, N.J.-M., M.D.G. and L.E.L.U.; supervision, L.E.L.U.; project administration, N.J.-M. and L.E.L.U.; funding acquisition, N.J.-M. and L.E.L.U. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding: This research was funded by CONAHCYT, “Estancias postdoctorales por México”, grant umber CVU425480.

Data availability statement: Data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and upon request from the corresponding author.

Acknowledgments: The authors express their gratitude towards Rene Diaz Rebollar and Jazmin Gomez Sara for their technical assistance in conducting the chemical reactions presented in this current study. Additionally, the assistance provided by Luis Alberto Caceres Diaz in the execution of XRD analyses is also acknowledged. Furthermore, N.J.M. extends sincere recognition to CIATEQ A.C. for their provision of essential resources and infrastructure crucial to the advancement of this research. The support rendered by CONAHCYT through the “Estancias postdoctorales por México” program is also gratefully acknowledged, as it has contributed financial backing to the project. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Agave lechuguilla Natural fiber Silane coupling agent INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS ESPECIALIDADES TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS OTRAS

Variabilidad estacional de la productividad primaria y su relación con la estratificación vertical en la bahía de La Paz, BCS

Seasonal variability of primary productivity and its relation to the vertical stratification in La Paz, BCS

RAFAEL CERVANTES DUARTE RUBEN ANTELMO MORALES PEREZ JOSE EDUARDO VALDEZ HOLGUIN (2003, [Artículo])

Se estimó la productividad primaria (pp) vía fluorescencia natural en la bahía de La Paz durante octubre de 1996, marzo, abril, mayo, junio, julio, septiembre, noviembre de 1997, y enero de 1998. simultáneamente a los registros de pp se realizaron perfiles verticales de temperatura (CTD) para determinar la estructura de la columna de agua, y de los cuales se estimó el índice de estratificación (_) de 0 a 100 m de profundidad. Durante primavera se observaron los valores promedio más altos de pp (16 mg C m-3 h-1) y valores bajos de _ (50 J m-3) que corresponden a una columna de agua casi homogénea. En contraste, en las subsecuentes estaciones (verano y otoño), la pp decreció a valores mínimos (2 y 5 mg C m-3 h-1), mientras que _ se incrementó significativamente (249 y 347 J m-3). Los resultados indican que existe una dependencia lineal de la pp y la mezcla en la columna de agua (r2 = 0.62, p<0.05) durante los meses de verano. Periodos con una alta estratificación tienden posiblemente a inhibir la fertilización de la capa superficial, mientras que una columna de agua bien mezclada facilita el proceso de fertilización. Por lo tanto, es evidente que en la Bahía de La Paz la estratificación asume un papel importante como mecanismo que controla la pp y explica parcialmente la variabilidad estacional observada en la bahía.

Materia orgánica Producción primaria La Paz Fluorescencia natural BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA

Análisis de los escurrimientos de la cuenca del río Verde

MARIA DE LOS ANGELES SUAREZ MEDINA ERNESTO AGUILAR GARDUÑO (2016, [Libro])

México se compone de 37 regiones hidrológicas que, a su vez, se dividen en 731 cuencas. El escurrimiento disponible en una cuenca hidrológica se calcula con base en el principio de continuidad. El escurrimiento natural por cuenca propia es el componente hidrológico más importante que determina el potencial del escurrimiento generado en una cuenca determinada. Este volumen se calcula con base en los métodos señalados en la NOM-011-Conagua-2015: uno es el “método directo”, basado en el volumen aforado y, el otro, es el “método indirecto”, el más usado cuando no se tiene escurrimiento medido (relación lluvia-escurrimiento). En este libro se presenta el análisis de los escurrimientos de la cuenca del río Verde, la cual se ubica en porciones territoriales de los estados de Zacatecas, Aguascalientes y Jalisco.

Escurrimiento natural Cuencas CIENCIAS FÍSICO MATEMÁTICAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA

Estimación hídrica teórica de plantas en zonas urbanas: estudio de caso "Vertical Farm"

Jorge Flores Velazquez JUAN MANUEL ANGELES HERNANDEZ (2018, [Ítem publicado en memoria de congreso])

La gestión integrada de recursos hídricos es un proceso que promueve la gestión y el desarrollo coordinados del agua, el suelo” y demás recursos para potenciar su uso “sin comprometer la sostenibilidad de los ecosistemas vitales”. En la zona metropolitana de la ciudad de México habitan más de 22 millones de una población apostada en aproximadamente 8000 km2, lo que implica una densidad de habitantes de las más altas del mundo que ha ido absorbiendo la zona rural por la urbana. Frente a ello, se han puesto en marcha tecnologías disruptivas con el fin de atender la transformación del sector. Pero, además, implica gestión del recurso mediante tratamiento de aguas residuales, reciclaje del agua, cosecha de lluvia y de gestión de la demanda. En este trabajo se expone la viabilidad en la implantación de estas tecnologías, sus ventajas y requerimientos desde el punto de vista hídrico.

Agricultura urbana Riego Áreas verdes Gestión integrada de recursos hídricos INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA