Richard Culas

Debt and Deforestation A Review of Causes and Empirical Evidence

The debt crisis of developing countries led to the widespread adoption of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) during the 1980s. This article examines the hypothesis that heavy foreign debt causes a high rate of tropical deforestation mainly through the clearing of forestland for agricultural expansion. The article also reviews the possible causal links between debt, agricultural expansion and deforestation. Empirical evidence from tropical developing countries indicates that debt and deforestation are positively linked. The article concludes by suggesting that reducing the debt burden of developing countries can widen the opportunities for better environmental policies.

The Political Economy of Maize Production and Poverty Reduction in Zambia: Analysis of the Last 50 Years

Poverty and food security are endemic issues in much of sub-Saharan Africa. To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger in the region remains a key Millennium Development Goal. Many African governments have pursued economic reforms and agricultural policy interventions in order to accelerate economic growth that reduces poverty faster. Agricultural policy regimes in Zambia in the last 50 years (1964–2008) are examined here to better understand their likely impact on food security and poverty, with an emphasis on the political economy of maize subsidy policies. The empirical work draws on secondary sources and an evaluation of farm household data from three villages in the Kasama District of Zambia from 1986/87 and 1992/93 to estimate a two-period econometric model to examine the impact on household welfare in a pre- and post-reform period. The analysis shows that past interventions had mixed effects on enhancing the production of food crops such as maize. While such reforms were politically popular, it did not necessarily translate into household-level productivity or welfare gains in the short term. The political economy of reforms needs to respond to the inherent diversity among the poor rural and urban households. The potential of agriculture to generate a more pro-poor growth process depends on the creation of new market opportunities that most benefit the rural poor. The state should encourage private sector investments for addressing infrastructure constraints to improve market access and accelerate more pro-poor growth through renewed investments in agriculture, rural infrastructure, gender inclusion, smarter subsidies and regional food trade. However, the financing of such investments poses significant challenges. There is a need to address impediments to the effective participation of public private investors to generate more effective poverty reduction and hunger eradication programmes. This article also explores the opportunities for new public–private investments through South–South cooperation and Asia-driven growth for reducing poverty in Zambia.

Ethnopharmacological values of cassava and its potential for diabetes and dyslipidaemia management: knowledge survey and critical review of report

Background: Beyond nutritional values are the pharmacological potentials of cassava comparative with other staple carbohydrate plant-based foods such as wheat. The knowledge of applicability to diabetes and its cardiovascular complications management seems not just limited but unacknowledged. As a preliminary study, a community’s knowledge of pharmacological value of cassava is investigated. Methods: Descriptive observational study using questionnaire-based “cross-sectional” survey was conducted. 136 Participants completed the survey and 101 respondents were selected for evaluation. Open-ended questions were used qualitatively to generate experience and view cassava values for diabetes and dyslipidemia. While categorical (yes or no) questions were used quantitatively to generate numerical results for diabetes, critical reanalysis of a report data was performed, especially comparing carbohydrate/fiber and fat/fiber ratios of cassava with wheat in view of dyslipidemia. Result: On the positive side, 42% of the participants believe that cassava has medicinal values. This includes 6% (among the 42) who believes that the plant is useful in treating diabetes and 24% who do not know it may be useful in diabetes management. Critical review showed that cassava may contribute up to sixteen times more fiber and four times less digestible sugar, as well as carbohydrate/fiber and fat/fiber ratios being 14 and 55 times less than wheat. Conclusion: There is evidence that relative to wheat flour meal, for instance, cassava contributes less fat and much more fiber. Since fat is pro-obesity, which in turn is pro-diabetic/metabolic syndrome; and fiber is anti-dyslipidemic; cassava has pharmacological values to be appreciated over some carbohydrate plant-based foods.

Rationalising water management policies: tube well development and resource use sustainability in Balochistan region of Pakistan

The groundwater driven agricultural production is increasingly under threat due to rapidly depleting groundwater table in upland Balochistan region of Pakistan. Both government and water users can be blamed for the foreseen disaster. The government’s policy for groundwater development following over estimation of groundwater reserves and the water user’s inefficient usage are the main reasons for declining watertables. To examine the effect of groundwater related policies and other factors on the watertables decline during the past 40 years, time series data analysis technique ARIMA model was used. Results showed that the groundwater decline has been encouraged by government policies for tubewell development and power subsidy. The ratio of tubewell area to total area also showed highly significant effect on the watertable decline. The paper critically reviews groundwater marketing and governance system of advance countries such as USA and Australia to generate relevant findings for sustainable groundwater management in upland Balochistan.