Rapid assessments of the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the seed sector were conducted by a coalition of partners in Ethiopia, Myanmar, Nigeria, and Uganda in May and June 2020. The method was ...rapid, iterative, inclusive and valuable in revealing threats to the availability and timely access of farmers to quality seed and to food, nutrition and income security, and in advocating for remedial and preventative action. Via mobile application and web survey, and focus group discussions on virtual conferencing platforms a panel of 36 or more local experts operating particularly in formal seed systems in each country identified potential disruptions to activities in the seed sector and recommended immediate practical action to ensure continuity in performance. Recommendations, and the stakeholders best positioned to propel their action, were proposed to and approved by senior leadership in the sector. The entire process from survey to publication of a seed alert in each iteration was completed within two weeks. Due to the highly seasonal nature of agriculture, and recognition that activities are time-bound, quick turnaround on assessments was essential. Dashboards indicated where impact was felt the hardest, also showing how dynamic the situation was. Countries were at different stages in their agricultural seasons, which made the data highly contextual, but also interesting for getting a glimpse into the future. Lessons were offered from one country to another. Reduced mobility was the root cause of many disruptions in supplying seed to farmers. Disruptions caused seed and related industry to operate at reduced capacity. The cost of transactions and doing business during these times may have increased the scarcity and price of inputs beyond what farmers can recover. Sales of quality seed in formal markets were perceived to decline due to delays in distribution, weakened promotion efforts and fewer farmers present. Farmers are less likely to benefit from investments in crop improvement for more seasons to come due to delays in the development and release of new varieties. Social distancing prevents stakeholders from meeting to exchange goods, services and information, but the sector is gradually getting up to speed with information technology. For all concerns, practical options were offered and often implemented. The pandemic has exacerbated structural weaknesses in the organization of the seed sector, for which reforms are not only justified, but overdue.
•Assessments were rapid, inclusive and effective in advocating immediate action.•Reduced mobility was the root cause of disruptions in the supply of quality seed.•Farmers are unlikely to benefit from crop improvement investments for time to come.•The COVID-19 crisis facilitated uptake of digital technologies in service provision.•The crisis exacerbated structural weaknesses in the formal seed sector.
This study was set to examine the relationship between performance management practices and employee productivity in selected public health facilities in Hoima City. The study was guided by three ...objectives namely; to examine the relationship between goal setting and employee productivity in selected public health facilities in Hoima City, to assess the relationship between monitoring and employee productivity in selected public health facilities in Hoima City and to establish the relationship between employee feedback and employee productivity in selected public health facilities in Hoima City. A mixed-methods approach involving both qualitative and quantitative techniques was employed. A population size of 140 people was used and a sample of 103 respondents was drawn from selected public health facilities in the Hoima City. There was a moderate positive correlation (r=0.481) between employee feedback and employee productivity in selected public health facilities in Hoima City. This finding implies that when employees are provided with opportunities to provide feedback, suggestions, and input on their work experiences, it can positively impact their productivity levels. There was a positive correlation between monitoring and employee productivity (r=0.564). This indicates a moderate positive linear relationship between monitoring practices and employee productivity in public health facilities. There was a positive relationship between goal setting and employee productivity (r=0.648). Therefore, employees should ensure that their goals align with the objectives of the public health facility, Senior managers of the health facilities should strengthen supervision on resource utilization, conduct formal performance reviews regularly and ensure that feedback is discussed with employees, health facilities should invest in training and development and the management of health facilities should strengthen collaboration and teamwork by promoting collaboration among team members to align individual goals to foster employee productivity. Further research should delve into exploring different strategies to enhance employee engagement in goal setting, monitoring processes, and feedback mechanisms. Investigating how varying levels of employee engagement influence productivity outcomes could provide valuable insights for organizational practices.
This study was set to examine the relationship between community participation and rural development in Buhanika Sub County, Hoima District, Uganda. The specific objectives were to examine the ...relationship between community involvement in decision making and rural development in Hoima District, to assess the relationship between community communication and rural development in Hoima District and to establish the relationship between community resource mobilization and rural development in Hoima District. A descriptive comparative, correlational, and cross-sectional survey design was employed to collect primary data from 350 household heads in Buhanika Sub County, selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The data collection instruments included questionnaires with sections on demographic characteristics, community participation variables, and rural development outcomes. Data analysis involved Univariate analysis, Pearson's Correlation, and Multiple Regression to explore relationships and predictive factors between community participation and rural development. The correlation between community involvement in decision making and rural development was(r=0.463). This indicates a moderate positive correlation between these two variables. With a positive correlation, it suggests that as community involvement in decision making increases, rural development also tends to increase, and vice versa. The correlation between communications and rural development was (r=0.651). This shows a significant positive relationship between communication and rural development in Hoima City. The correlation was (r= 0.708) between community resource mobilization and rural development. This indicates a strong positive correlation between these variables in Hoima District. This suggests that as community resource mobilization efforts increase, there is a corresponding increase in rural development outcomes within the district. Recommendations were made to strengthen community engagement, enhance communication channels, foster resource mobilization initiatives, build capacity, promote collaborative partnerships, implement sustainable development practices, monitor progress, and advocate for policy changes that support community-driven rural development efforts.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between socioeconomic deprivation and pathological prognostic factors in women with breast cancer as a possible explanation for socioeconomic differences in ...survival. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data from cancer registry and from pathology and biochemistry records. SETTING: Catchment areas of two large teaching hospitals in Glasgow. SUBJECTS: 1361 women aged under 75 who had breast cancer diagnosed between 1980 and 1987. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Tumour size, axillary lymph node status, histological grade, and oestrogen receptor concentration in relation to deprivation category of area of residence. RESULTS: There was no significant relation between socioeconomic deprivation and four pathological prognostic factors: 93 (32%) women in the most affluent group presented with tumours less than 20 mm in size compared with 91 (31%) women in the most deprived group; 152 (48%) of the most affluent group presented with negative nodes compared with 129 (46%) of the most deprived group; 23 (22%) of the most affluent group presented with grade I tumours compared with 12 (17%) of the most deprived group; and 142 (51%) of the most affluent group had a low oestrogen receptor concentration at presentation compared with 148 (52%) of the most deprived group. None of these differences was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Differences in survival from breast cancer by socioeconomic deprivation category could not be accounted for by differences in tumour stage or biology. Other possible explanations, such as differences in treatment or in host response, should be investigated.
PDF
