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The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which agricultural farms meet the requirements for sustainable agritourism in Zimbabwe. This study was motivated by the realisation that despite that the country is agro-based and has great potential to become an agritourism destination, the country is still lagging in agritourism development. The conceptual framework for understanding agritourism and the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach was applied. In-depth interviews were conducted with thirty-four (34) farmers who were purposively selected from the Manicaland and Mashonaland provinces of Zimbabwe. Data collection was conducted from October 2020 to June 2021. Thematic content analysis aided by Nvivo 12 software was used to analyse the data. The results revealed that the sampled farms meet at least one of the requirements for sustainable agritourism. However, there is a lack of diversity in both core and peripheral agritourism activities on the farms. The farmers are recommended to increase agritourism activities through sustainable utilization of the existing farm resources. The study provides the relevant stakeholders with information on areas of improvement for agritourism growth in the country and a baseline for future investigations into the prospects of agritourism in Zimbabwe. The main limitation of this study was the use of a framework for understanding agritourism that was developed in a developed world context. Development of a framework for understanding agritourism in a developing world context is recommended for future research.

AbstractBioethanol from abundant and inexpensive agricultural and industrial wastes possesses the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bioethanol as renewable fuel addresses elevated production costs, as well as food security concerns. Although technical advancements in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation have reduced the cost of production, one major drawback of this technology is that the pre-treatment process creates environmental stressors inhibitory to fermentative yeasts subsequently reducing bioethanol productivity. Robust fermentative yeasts with extreme stress tolerance remain limited. This review presents the potential of dung beetles from pristine and unexplored environments as an attractive source of extremophilic bioethanolic yeasts. Dung beetles survive on a recalcitrant lignocellulose-rich diet suggesting the presence of symbiotic yeasts with a cellulolytic potential. Dung beetles inhabiting extreme stress environments have the potential to harbour yeasts with the ability to withstand inhibitory environmental stresses typically associated with bioethanol production. The review further discusses established methods used to isolate bioethanolic yeasts, from dung beetles.

Savanna woodlands make a significant contribution to rural households’ livelihoods, providing a wide range of resources as well as generating income. However, the sustainability of the woodland ecosystem is generally affected by the human harvesting intensities. This study aimed at quantifying the woodland resource extraction rates and its effects on woodland structure and density. Data were collected from households using a semi-structured questionnaire, key informant interviews, and from 128 rectangular plots measuring 30 m × 30 m. Vegetation parameters, such as tree density, tree height, diameter at breast height, species, stump density, and stump diameter, were recorded. The results of the study revealed that a total of 649 woody stumps were recorded, with an average of 56 trees removed per hectare. The findings showed that the intensities of stumps varied widely, with a high number of stumps recorded at a distance of 10–15 km from the settlements, where major land-use activities are fuelwood extraction, cultivation, and livestock farming. The results also showed that the increased commercial fuelwood production led to cutting of large mopane trees, which is an indicator of unsustainable harvesting. Based on the harvest rates provided by the respondents, results showed that large quantities of fuelwood were harvested for trading, which could put pressure on the woodland ecosystem, consequently resulting in woodland degradation. This study provides forest and range resource managers with valuable information on the quantities of stumps as an indication of tree removals and could be useful in developing effective monitoring strategies and promoting sustainable forest and woodland management.

The contribution of savannas to global carbon storage is poorly understood, in part due to lack of knowledge of the amount of belowground biomass. In these ecosystems, the coexistence of woody and herbaceous life forms is often explained on the basis of belowground interactions among roots. However, the distribution of root biomass in savannas has seldom been investigated, and the dependence of root biomass on rainfall regime remains unclear, particularly for woody plants. Here we investigate patterns of belowground woody biomass along a rainfall gradient in the Kalahari of southern Africa, a region with consistent sandy soils. We test the hypotheses that (1) the root depth increases with mean annual precipitation (root optimality and plant hydrotropism hypothesis), and (2) the root-to-shoot ratio increases with decreasing mean annual rainfall (functional equilibrium hypothesis). Both hypotheses have been previously assessed for herbaceous vegetation using global root data sets. Our data do not support these hypotheses for the case of woody plants in savannas. We find that in the Kalahari, the root profiles of woody plants do not become deeper with increasing mean annual precipitation, whereas the root-to-shoot ratios decrease along a gradient of increasing aridity.

Abstract Energy systems are complex dynamic systems that are often associated with uncertain system behavior. System behavior is influenced by several dynamic uncertainties, nonlinear relationships between system variables, time lags, and interactive feedback loops that are inherent in the energy system. In turn, these complexities are a result of the underlying structures of energy systems. Under this climate, it is essential to develop systems analysis approaches that can be used for development and evaluation of energy system policies, both at tactical and strategic levels. The purpose of this research is to present a taxonomic analysis of system dynamics approaches to energy policy modelling and simulation. First, we present an outline of dynamic complexities prevalent in energy systems. Second, we make a taxonomic analysis of energy policy formulation problems, learning from the literature. Third, we provide a causal loop analysis of the generic structures of the identified energy formulation problems. The archetypes presented form a valuable platform for system dynamics simulation of energy policy modelling and simulation.

La culture du riz pluvial domine au Laos, couvrant environ 88 % de la superficie totale. Cette dépendance à l'égard de l'eau de pluie rend toutes les activités de production et de plantation vulnérables aux catastrophes naturelles imprévisibles, telles que les inondations et les sécheresses, qui peuvent frapper à tout moment pendant la saison de croissance. De tels événements peuvent dévaster la production de riz, entraînant des pertes allant jusqu'à 20 % de la production nationale totale. En outre, le changement climatique a encore exacerbé les défis auxquels est confrontée la riziculture pluviale en RDP lao. Pour répondre à ces problématiques, un projet de recherche visant à développer des variétés de riz adaptées à l'évolution des conditions environnementales a été initié en 1993. Le projet a utilisé une approche d'hybridation, en utilisant TDK8 (une variété à haut rendement avec une large adaptabilité environnementale) et RGD10033-77-MAS-22 (une variété aromatique tolérante aux inondations, à la sécheresse et aux explosions). En 2019, une lignée aromatique prometteuse, RGD13300-88-1-1-MAS-5-MAS-TDK-1-B, a émergé des efforts de recherche. Cette lignée présente une tolérance aux inondations pendant 14 à 20 jours et démontre une bonne résistance à la brûlure des feuilles et au souffle du cou. Tout au long de 2021, des tests de production ont été menés dans quatre provinces : Luangnamtha, Vientiane Capital, Savannakhet et Champasak. La nouvelle variété, nommée HTDK17, a fourni des rendements supérieurs par rapport aux lignées parentales et aux variétés locales, atteignant une moyenne de 3 974 kg/ha, ce qui représente une augmentation de 3 %. HTDK17 présente une date d'échéance de 130 à 135 jours et est insensible à la photopériode. Pour faciliter la diffusion de cette nouvelle variété auprès des agriculteurs, les semences de cette variété ont produit 11 000 kg de semences au cours de la saison sèche 2022-2023. Cette graine a été distribuée à 1 100 agriculteurs des quatre provinces susmentionnées. El cultivo de arroz de secano domina en Laos, cubriendo un estimado del 88% del área total. Esta dependencia del agua de lluvia hace que todas las actividades de producción y siembra sean vulnerables a desastres naturales impredecibles, como inundaciones y sequías, que pueden ocurrir en cualquier momento durante la temporada de crecimiento. Tales eventos pueden devastar la producción de arroz, lo que lleva a pérdidas de hasta el 20% de la producción nacional total. Además, el cambio climático ha exacerbado aún más los desafíos que enfrenta el cultivo de arroz de secano en la República Democrática Popular Lao. Para abordar estos problemas, en 1993 se inició un proyecto de investigación destinado a desarrollar variedades de arroz adaptadas a las cambiantes condiciones ambientales. El proyecto empleó un enfoque de hibridación, utilizando TDK8 (una variedad de alto rendimiento con amplia adaptabilidad ambiental) y RGD10033-77-MAS-22 (una variedad aromática tolerante a inundaciones, sequías y enfermedades por explosiones). En 2019, una prometedora línea aromática, RGD13300-88-1-1-MAS-5-MAS-TDK-1-B, surgió de los esfuerzos de investigación. Esta línea muestra tolerancia a las inundaciones durante 14 a 20 días y demuestra una buena resistencia al tizón de las hojas y al estallido del cuello. A lo largo de 2021, se realizaron pruebas de producción en cuatro provincias: Luangnamtha, Vientiane Capital, Savannakhet y Champasak. La nueva variedad, denominada HTDK17, arrojó rendimientos superiores en comparación con las líneas parentales y las variedades locales, logrando una media de 3.974 kg/ha, lo que representa un aumento del 3%. HTDK17 presenta una fecha de vencimiento de 130 a 135 días y es insensible al fotoperiodo. Para facilitar la difusión de esta nueva variedad a los agricultores, las semillas de esta variedad han producido 11.000 kg de semillas durante la temporada seca de 2022-2023. Esta semilla fue distribuida a 1.100 agricultores de las cuatro provincias mencionadas. Rainfed rice cultivation dominates in Laos, covering an estimated 88% of the total area. This reliance on rainwater renders all production and planting activities vulnerable to unpredictable natural disasters, such as floods and droughts, that can strike at any point during the growing season. Such events can devastate rice production, leading to losses of up to 20% of the total domestic output. Moreover, climate change has further exacerbated challenges faced by rainfed rice farming in Lao PDR. To address these issues, a research project aimed at developing rice varieties adapted to changing environmental conditions was initiated in 1993. The project employed a hybridization approach, utilizing TDK8 (a high-yielding variety with broad environmental adaptability) and RGD10033-77-MAS-22 (a aromatic variety tolerant to flooding, drought and blast disease). In 2019, a promising aromatic line, RGD13300-88-1-1-MAS-5-MAS-TDK-1-B, emerged from the research efforts. This line exhibits tolerance to flooding for 14 to 20 days and demonstrates good resistance to leaf blight and neck blast. Throughout 2021, production tests were conducted in four provinces: Luangnamtha, Vientiane Capital, Savannakhet, and Champasak. The new variety, named HTDK17, delivered superior yields compared to both parental lines and local varieties, achieving an average of 3,974 kg/ha, representing a 3% increase. HTDK17 exhibits a maturity date of 130 to 135 days and is insensitive to photoperiod. To facilitate the dissemination of this new variety to farmers, seed of this variety has produced 11,000 kg of seed during the dry season of 2022-2023. This seed was distributed to 1,100 farmers acroses the four aforementioned provinces. تهيمن زراعة الأرز البعلية في لاوس، حيث تغطي ما يقدر بنحو 88 ٪ من المساحة الإجمالية. هذا الاعتماد على مياه الأمطار يجعل جميع أنشطة الإنتاج والزراعة عرضة للكوارث الطبيعية التي لا يمكن التنبؤ بها، مثل الفيضانات والجفاف، والتي يمكن أن تضرب في أي وقت خلال موسم النمو. يمكن لمثل هذه الأحداث أن تدمر إنتاج الأرز، مما يؤدي إلى خسائر تصل إلى 20 ٪ من إجمالي الناتج المحلي. علاوة على ذلك، أدى تغير المناخ إلى تفاقم التحديات التي تواجهها زراعة الأرز البعلية في جمهورية لاو الديمقراطية الشعبية. ولمعالجة هذه القضايا، بدأ في عام 1993 مشروع بحثي يهدف إلى تطوير أصناف الأرز التي تتكيف مع الظروف البيئية المتغيرة. استخدم المشروع نهج التهجين، باستخدام TDK8 (صنف عالي الإنتاجية مع قدرة بيئية واسعة على التكيف) و RGD10033 -77 - MAS -22 (صنف عطري يتحمل الفيضانات والجفاف وأمراض الانفجار). في عام 2019، ظهر خط عطري واعد، RGD13300 -88-1-1 - MAS -5 - MAS - TDK -1 - B، من الجهود البحثية. يُظهر هذا الخط تحملًا للفيضانات لمدة 14 إلى 20 يومًا ويظهر مقاومة جيدة لآفة الأوراق وانفجار الرقبة. طوال عام 2021، أجريت اختبارات الإنتاج في أربع مقاطعات: لوانغنامثا وفيينتيان كابيتال وسافاناخيت وشامباساك. حقق الصنف الجديد، المسمى HTDK17، عوائد أعلى مقارنة بكل من الخطوط الأبوية والأصناف المحلية، حيث حقق متوسطًا قدره 3974 كجم/هكتار، مما يمثل زيادة بنسبة 3 ٪. يُظهر HTDK17 تاريخ استحقاق يتراوح من 130 إلى 135 يومًا وهو غير حساس للفترة الضوئية. لتسهيل نشر هذا الصنف الجديد للمزارعين، أنتجت بذور هذا الصنف 11000 كجم من البذور خلال موسم الجفاف 2022-2023. تم توزيع هذه البذرة على 1100 مزارع في المحافظات الأربع المذكورة أعلاه.