Digital Knowledge Collection:

Agricultural exports and economic growth in South Africa: a cointegration and error correction analysis

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Agricultural exports and economic growth in South Africa: a cointegration and error correction analysis Authors: Seti, Thembalethu M.; Mazwane, Sukoluhle Abstract: This study investigates the role of agricultural exports as a potential engine of economic growth in South Africa, employing a cointegration and error correction model (ECM) framework on time series data from 1980 to 2023. The results confirm a long-run equilibrium relationship between agricultural exports and economic growth, with lagged total exports and employment significantly influencing GDP growth in the short run. However, other factors like foreign direct investment, gross capital formation, and population growth did not exhibit a statistically significant impact. These findings underscore the importance of agricultural exports in driving South Africa’s economic growth. To further enhance this potential, the study recommends establishing a consistent and transparent policy environment to foster investor confidence and long-term planning in the agricultural sector, expanding the range of agricultural exports to reduce vulnerability to external shocks and enhance overall economic resilience and streamlining customs procedures, reducing trade barriers, and improving logistics to enhance the competitiveness of South African agricultural exports in the global market. These policy recommendations, grounded in empirical evidence, offer a roadmap for harnessing the full potential of agricultural exports to drive sustainable economic growth in South Africa.

Dietary intake and nutrients adequacy among young adults with sickle cell disease in Ile-Ife, Southwest Nigeria

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Dietary intake and nutrients adequacy among young adults with sickle cell disease in Ile-Ife, Southwest Nigeria Authors: Aboderin, Florence Ifechukwude; Alagbo, Patience Kehinde; Davison, Glenda Mary; Oguntibeju, Oluwafemi Omoniyi Abstract: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic and genetically mutated disease seen among the African descent, of which the need to study the nutritional status and the socio-demographic characteristics is a challenge. The aim of the study was to determine the dietary intake, level of nutritional status, and sociodemographic characteristics of people with sickle cell disease in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The study involved 100 participants, 50 in the test group (Hb SS patients) and 50 control (other genotypes/non-Hb SS patients) in the control group, recruited at the Obafemi Awolowo University’s health centre in Ile- Ife. A questionnaire was issued to gather information on participants. Dietary data were obtained by the socio-demographic using 24-hour dietary recall, food frequency questionnaire was distributed to the participants. Characteristics, including their body mass index (BMS) height and weight were measured. From the study, about 76.3% of the respondents did not meet the total calorie needed while 23.7% met the expectation of total calorie needed daily. Proteins and carbohydrate as a major micronutrient met the requirement 54.6% and 93.8% respectively. Fibre intake was grossly inadequate with 80.4%, mineral salts and vitamins showed inadequate intake, most especially, folate, retinol, beta carotene and vitamin D. It is evident that nutritional management should go with medical care provided to patients with sickle cell disease. The nutritional management should also focus on conscious selection of food to ensure adequacy of both macronutrients and micronutrients necessary for maximum functioning of the body and maintaining good nutritional status.

Enhanced microalgal hydrogen production subsisting on visible light TiO2 nanotubes photocatalyst pre-treated palm kernel expeller

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Enhanced microalgal hydrogen production subsisting on visible light TiO2 nanotubes photocatalyst pre-treated palm kernel expeller Authors: Sahrin, Nurul Tasnim; Ardo, Fatima Musa; Suparmaniam, Uganeeswary; Ramli, Anita; Sin, Jin Chung; Lam, Sze Mun; Oh, Wen Da; Chidi, Boredi Silas; Ng, Huisuan; Shahid, Muhammad Kashif; Tawfeek, Ahmed M.; Khoo, Kuan Shiong; Lim, Jun Wei Abstract: The present study investigated the application of photocatalytic process using TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) photocatalyst as an effective pre-treatment method for palm kernel expeller (PKE) in increasing its biodegradability to enhance the microalgal hydrogen production via dark fermentation. A series of TiO2 NTs photocatalysts were synthesized via employing electrochemical anodization of Ti foil at various voltages each in different types of electrolytes (choline chloride-ethylene glycol (ChCl-EG), choline chloride-urea (ChCl-U), choline chloride-glycerol (ChCl-Gly)). Increasing trend of average NTs diameters at 26.14 ± 1.30, 73.01 ± 1.94 and 122.00 ± 13.32 nm was observed for 25, 30 and 35 V in synthesizing TiO2 NTs using suitable ChCl-EG electrolyte, respectively. The high 35 V had resulted in noticeable pore ruptures within this TiO2 NTs photocatalyst. The PKE pre-treated by TiO2 NTs photocatalyst anodized at optimum 30 V in ChCl-EG electrolyte had demonstrated the highest releases of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) concentrations at 594 and 607 mg/L, respectively. Moreover, the microalgal efficiency of BOD5 conversion and hydrogen yield were also consistently maintained from third cycle of TiO2 NTs photocatalyst's reutilizations, signifying the stability of TiO2 NTs photocatalyst.

Implications of ecological drivers on roan antelope populations in Mokala National Park, South Africa

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Implications of ecological drivers on roan antelope populations in Mokala National Park, South Africa Authors: Maruping-Mzileni, Nkabeng Thato; Bezuidenhout, Hugo; Ferreira, Sam M.; Ramoelo, Abel; Mapuru, Morena; Munyai, Lufuno; Erusan, Roxanne Abstract: Climate change has massive global impacts and affects a wide range of species. Threatened species such as the roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) are particularly vulnerable to these changes because of their ecological requirements. Attempts to address concerns about the roan’s vulnerability have not been well documented in South African protected areas. This study identifies the landscape use and distribution of the roan as well as habitat and forage suitability changes to help inform management decisions for the conservation of roan. We used fine- and broad-scale data from Mokala National Park, South Africa that includes roan occurrence data, vegetation condition indices, vegetation (structure and plant species composition), elevation and temperature differences, and precipitation strata to construct a suitability framework using the Maximum Entropy (Maxent) and Random Forest statistical package. In Mokala National Park, roan occurred in the Schmidtia pappophoroides–Vachellia erioloba sparse woodland, Senegalia mellifera–Vachellia erioloba closed woodland, Senegalia mellifera–Vachellia tortilis open shrubland, Vachellia erioloba–V. tortilis closed woodland and Rhigozum obovatum–Senegalia mellifera open shrubland. The veld (vegetation) condition index (VCI) improved from 2019 (VCI < 50%) to 2021 (VCI > 60%), with the proportion of palatable grass species (Schmidtia pappophoroides and Eragrostis lehmanniana) also increasing. This study identified four key climatic conditions affecting roan distribution, namely annual mean daily temperature range, temperature seasonality, minimum temperatures of the coldest month, and precipitation of the wettest month. These results suggest that the conservation of roan antelope should consider these key variables that affect their survival in preferred habitats and foraging areas in anticipation of changing ecological conditions.