Mejor nutrición no significa necesariamente más comida": educación alimentaria y fomento agrícola en Argentina (1960-1970) / Better nutrition does not necessarily mean more food": food education and agricultural promotion in Argentina (1960­1970) / Melhor nutrição não significa necessariamente mais comida": educação alimentar e promoção agrícola na Argentina (1960-1970)

Introducción: el artículo analiza los lineamientos en educación alimentaria y de fomento agrícola que circularon en la Revista Educador Sanitario, publicación oficial de la repartición nacional de educación sanitaria de Argentina durante la década de 1960. Desarrollo: el trabajo explora las adaptaciones discursivas de los sanitaristas argentinos a las directrices internacionales de desarrollo para promover la campaña mundial contra el "hambre oculta", definida como aquellos patrones culturales alimentarios de baja calidad nutricional. Luego, examina las prescripciones dietéticas para las familias populares que pretendían estimular como hábitos, calidad, variedad y austeridad. Por último, revisa las tensiones y las contradicciones inmanentes a las referencias eruditas en torno al fomento agrícola y a las reglas del libre comercio, al evidenciar las inequidades alimentarias y la falta de infraestructura federal para lograr la ansiada modernización agroalimentaria. Conclusiones: el discurso de los desarrollistas sobre alimentación nutritiva apropiadas por la revista fueron funcionales al clima de proscripción peronista. Los consejos dietéticos y en economía doméstica apuntaron a sustituir el consumo cárnico por otras fuentes proteicas, como legumbres y lácteos, y los hidratos de carbono simples, por complejos, como las hortalizas. No obstante, sus vinculaciones con el fomento a las agroeconomías de subsistencia refutaron la pre- valencia del "hambre oculta" como problema alimentario en Argentina, pues, en sintonía con los parámetros internacionales, de esta manera se propiciaría una dinámica de redistribución alimenticia, capaz de reponer las vacancias del mercado interno y de estimular las exportaciones netas al prevenir la erosión de los saldos exportables

Introduction: This article analyzes the guidelines on food education and agricultural promotion that circulated in the Revista Educador Sanitario, the official publication of the national health education department of Argentina during the 1960s. Development: The study explores the discursive adaptations by Argentinean sanitarians to the international development guidelines toward promoting the global campaign against "hidden hunger," which referred to the cultural eating patterns of low nutritional quality food. Then, the study examines the dietary prescriptions for popular families that were intended to stimulate quality, variety, and austerity as healthy habits. Finally, it reviews the tensions and contradictions immanent in the scholarly references to agricultural promotion and free trade rules, highlighting food inequities and the lack of infrastructure at the federal level to successfully achieve the desired agri-food modern- ization. Conclusions: The developmentalist disourse on nutritious food appropriated by the Revista were found to be functional to the climate of peronist prescription. Dietary and home economics suggestions attempted to substitute meat consumption for other protein sources such as legumes and dairy products and that of simple carbohydrates for complex ones such as vegetables. However, their links with the promotion of subsistence agro-economies refuted the prevalence of "hidden hunger" as a food problem in Argentina. In line with the international parameters, this approach would promote a dynamic of food redistribution to replenish the gaps in the domestic market and stimulate net exports by preventing the erosion of exportable balances.

Introdução: o artigo analisa as orientações sobre educação alimentar e promoção agrícola que circularam na Revista Educador Sanitário, publicação oficial do departamento nacional de educação sanitária da Argentina durante a década de 1960. Desenvolvimento: o trabalho explora as adaptações discursivas que foram feitas por sanitaristas argentinos às diretrizes de desenvolvimento internacional para promover a campanha global contra a "fome oculta", definida como aqueles padrões alimentares culturais de baixa qualidade nutricional. Em seguida, examina as prescrições alimentares para famílias populares que visavam estimular a qualidade, a variedade e a austeridade como hábitos. Por fim, revisa as tensões e contradições inerentes aos referenciais acadêmicos sobre desenvolvimento agrícola e regras de livre comércio, evidenciando as iniquidades alimentares e a falta de infraestrutura no nível federal para alcançar a tão esperada modernização agroalimentar. Conclusões: os discursos desenvolvimentistas sobre alimentação nutritiva apropriados pela Revista foram funcionais ao clima de proscrição pero- nista. Aconselhamento dietético e de economia doméstica visando a substituição do consumo de carne por outras fontes de proteína, como leguminosas e laticínios; e carboidratos simples para os complexos, como vegetais. No entanto, seus vínculos com a promoção de agroeconomias de subsistência refutaram a prevalência da "fome oculta" como problema alimentar na Argentina. Pois bem, em sintonia com os parâmetros internacionais, isso promoveria uma dinâmica de redistribuição de alimentos, capaz de repor as vagas no mercado interno e estimular as exportações líquidas ao evitar a erosão dos saldos exportáveis

A latent growth curve modelling approach to seasonal and spatial dynamics of food security heterogeneities in rural Lake Naivasha Basin, Kenya.

The increasing complexity of food insecurity, malnutrition, and chronic poverty faced by Sub-Saharan Africa warrants urgent categorisation and tracking of household food security along both temporal and spatial dimensions. This will help to effectively target, monitor and evaluate population-level programs and specific interventions aimed at addressing food insecurity. Traditional longitudinal analysis does not address the dynamics of inter- and intrahousehold heterogeneities within the seasonal and spatial context of household-level food security. This study is the first to overcome such limitations by adopting a multi-group piecewise latent growth curve model in the analysis of the food security situation in a statistically representative sample of 601 households involved in subsistence and cut-flower commercial agriculture, around Lake Naivasha. We considered food security as a latent concept, which manifests as food security outcomes in our primary longitudinal dataset from March 2018 to January 2019. Our analysis highlights the temporal and spatial dynamics of food security and advances new evidence on inter- and intrahousehold heterogeneities in food security across different seasons for the subsistence and commercial farming clusters. These heterogeneities were demonstrated primarily during the hunger season from March to June, and persisted in both the clusters and across months, albeit with different intensities. Moreover, our results indicate the importance of commercial agriculture in achieving food security in the hunger season. Our study suggests the need of a multidisciplinary approach to food security and the introduction of well-coordinated interventions for the development of subsistence and commercial agriculture considering the seasonal and cluster-level specificities.

Community-based tourism, peasant agriculture and resilience in the face of COVID-19 in Peru.

In the Andes, the diversification of economic activities among the peasant population is common practice. However, it is not a uniform strategy: as new employment and economic possibilities have emerged, the disparity of pluriactive strategies has multiplied. Based on a particular case study (Amantaní Island, Lake Titicaca), where community-based tourism has developed strongly, we will compare the resilience of these strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic, which paralysed economic activities, highlighted that the least vulnerable pluriactive strategies were those that included subsistence agriculture. In fact, this is something that the peasant population itself perceives: although the role of this type of agriculture in the family economy is decreasing, most households still invest time and capital to increase their family's agricultural resources.

Agricultores Tradicionales Produciendo para el Mercado Agroexportador: Causas y Consecuencias de Dicho Cambio Productivo / Traditional Farmers Producing for the Agro-Export Market: Causes and Consequences of Such Productive Change / Agricultores Tradicionais Produzindo para o Mercado Agroexportador: Causas e Consequências De Dita Mudança Produtiva

Resumen Introducción. En el municipio de El Peñol, Antioquia, la incursión de pequeños y medianos productores al mercado agroexportador de la gulupa (Passifflora edulis Sims) es hoy una realidad reconocida, que, asumida como caso de estudio, permite aportar a la comprensión de un fenómeno particular: el tránsito de agricultores tradicionales-locales hacia la producción para el mercado internacional, asunto sobre del que versa el presente estudio. Objetivo. Identificar y analizar las causas y consecuencias de la incursión de pequeños y medianos productores de El Peñol, Antioquia, al mercado agroexportador de la gulupa. Materiales y métodos. La investigación, de índole cualitativa, se centró en analizar las múltiples narrativas expuestas por los propios actores localmente asociados al cultivo de gulupa sobre las causas y consecuencias del fenómeno estudiado. La información se recolectó mediante entrevistas a profundidad, posteriormente analizadas en su contenido. Resultados. Entre las causas de la incursión al mercado global destacan las ventajas ofrecidas por el cultivo ante la inestabilidad de los precios de los productos tradicionales, el conocimiento previo de la especie y la oportunidad de tránsito hacia una agricultura más limpia. Entre las consecuencias, el mejoramiento de las condiciones socioeconómicas familiares, la reafirmación de la vocación agrícola de pequeños y medianos productores y la alta dependencia de la intermediación realizada por las empresas agroexportadoras. Conclusiones. Las causas y consecuencias del cambio productivo presentan un carácter multidimensional y ambivalente, situación que induce a explorar el fenómeno más allá de su dimensión económica, dando cuenta, simultáneamente, de sus bondades y riesgos.

Abstract Introduction. In the municipality of El Peñol, Antioquia, the incursion of small and medium producers to the agricultural export market of gulupa (Passifflora edulis Sims) is currently a recognized reality. Subject which, assumed as a case study, contributes to the understanding of a particular phenomenon: the movement of traditional-local farmers towards production for the international market, an issue addressed by this research. Objective. Identify and analyze the causes and consequences of the incursion of small and medium producers from El Peñol, Antioquia, to the agricultural export market of the gulupa. Materials and methods. The research was qualitative and focused on analyzing the multiple narratives presented by the local actors, associated with the gulupa crops about the causes and consequences of the phenomenon studied. The information was collected through in-depth interviews, subsequently analyzing its content. Results. Among the causes of the global market incursion, the advantages offered by the crop are highlighted due to the instability of the prices of traditional products, the prior knowledge of the gulupa and the opportunity to move towards a cleaner agriculture. Among the consequences are the improvement of family socioeconomic conditions, the reaffirmation of the agricultural vocation of small and medium producers and the high dependence on intermediation carried out by agro-exporting companies. Conclusions. The causes and consequences of productive change have a multidimensional and ambivalent character, a situation that leads to explore the phenomenon beyond its economic dimension, while simultaneously presenting simultaneously its benefits and risks.

Resumo Introdução. No município de El Peñol, Antioquia, a incursão de pequenos e médios produtores no mercado agrícola de exportação da gulupa (Passifflora edulis Sims) é uma realidade hoje reconhecida, que, assumida como estudo de caso, permite contribuir para a compreensão de um fenômeno particular: o trânsito de agricultores tradicionais locais para a produção para o mercado internacional, assunto sobre o qual o estudo trata. Objetivo. Identificar e analisar as causas e consequências da incursão de pequenos e médios produtores de El Peñol, Antioquia, no mercado de exportação agrícola da gulupa. Materiais e métodos. A pesquisa, de ordem qualitativa, teve como objetivo analisar as múltiplas narrativas apresentadas pelos próprios atores associados ao cultivo da gulupa sobre as causas e consequências do fenômeno estudado. As informações foram coletadas por meio de entrevistas em profundidade, posteriormente analisadas em seu conteúdo. Resultados. Entre as causas da incursão no mercado global, destacam-se as vantagens oferecidas pela gulupa, dada a instabilidade dos preços dos produtos tradicionais, o conhecimento prévio da espécie e a oportunidade de avançar para uma agricultura mais limpa. Entre as consequências, estão a melhoria das condições socioeconômicas da família, a reafirmação da vocação agrícola dos pequenos e médios produtores e a alta dependência de intermediação realizada pelas empresas agroexportadoras. Conclusões. As causas e consequências da mudança produtiva têm um caráter multidimensional e ambivalente, situação que leva a explorar o fenômeno além de sua dimensão econômica, percebido, ao mesmo tempo, seus benefícios e riscos.

Demonstration gardens improve agricultural production, food security and preschool child diets in subsistence farming communities in Panama.

OBJECTIVES: To explore impacts of a demonstration garden-based agricultural intervention on agricultural knowledge, practices and production, food security and preschool child diet diversity of subsistence farming households. DESIGN: Observational study of households new to the intervention or participating for 1 or 5 years. Variables measured were agricultural techniques learned from the intervention and used, agricultural production, household food insecurity (FIS) and child diet diversity (DDS), over one agricultural cycle (during land preparation, growing and harvest months). SETTING: Fifteen rural subsistence farming communities in Panama. PARTICIPANTS: Households participating in intervention (n 237) with minimum one preschool child. RESULTS: After 1 year, participants had more learned and applied techniques, more staple crops produced and lower FIS and higher DDS during land preparation and growing months compared with those new to the intervention. After 5 years, participants grew more maize, chickens and types of crops and had higher DDS during growing months and, where demonstration gardens persisted, used more learned techniques and children ate more vitamin A-rich foods. Variables associated with DDS varied seasonally: during land preparation, higher DDS was associated with higher household durable asset-based wealth; during growing months, with greater diversity of vegetables planted and lower FIS; during harvest, with older caregivers, caregivers working less in agriculture, more diverse crops and receiving food from demonstration gardens. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention improved food production, food security and diets. Sustained demonstration gardens were important for continued use of new agricultural techniques and improved diets.

Factors Associated with Seasonal Food Insecurity among Small-Scale Subsistence Farming Households in Rural Honduras.

In the context of climate change, a nutritional transition, and increased pressures to migrate internally and internationally, this study examined the relationship between seasonal food insecurity and demographic, socioeconomic, and agricultural production factors among small-scale subsistence farmers in rural northern Honduras. Anchored by a partnership with the Fundación para la Investigación Participativa con Agricultores de Honduras (FIPAH) and the Yorito Municipal Health Centre, a cross-sectional household survey was administered in Yorito, Honduras, in July 2014. The study population included 1263 individuals from 248 households across 22 rural communities. A multivariate mixed effects negative binomial regression model was built to investigate the relationship between the self-reported number of months without food availability and access from subsistence agriculture in the previous year (August 2013-July 2014) and demographic, socioeconomic, and agricultural production variables. This study found a lengthier 'lean season' among surveyed household than previously documented in Honduras. Overall, 62.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): [59.52, 64.87]) of individuals experienced at least four months of insufficient food in the previous year. Individuals from poorer and larger households were more likely to experience insufficient food compared to individuals from wealthier and smaller households. Additionally, individuals from households that produced both maize and beans were less likely to have insufficient food compared to individuals from households that did not grow these staple crops (prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.83; 95% CI: [0.69, 0.99]). Receiving remittances from a migrant family member did not significantly reduce the prevalence of having insufficient food. As unpredictable crop yields linked to climate change and extreme weather events are projected to negatively influence the food security and nutrition outcomes of rural populations, it is important to understand how demographic, socioeconomic, and agricultural production factors may modify the ability of individuals and households engaged in small-scale subsistence agriculture to respond to adverse shocks.

Global Dimensions of Plant Virus Diseases: Current Status and Future Perspectives.

Viral diseases provide a major challenge to twenty-first century agriculture worldwide. Climate change and human population pressures are driving rapid alterations in agricultural practices and cropping systems that favor destructive viral disease outbreaks. Such outbreaks are strikingly apparent in subsistence agriculture in food-insecure regions. Agricultural globalization and international trade are spreading viruses and their vectors to new geographical regions with unexpected consequences for food production and natural ecosystems. Due to the varying epidemiological characteristics of diverent viral pathosystems, there is no one-size-fits-all approach toward mitigating negative viral disease impacts on diverse agroecological production systems. Advances in scientific understanding of virus pathosystems, rapid technological innovation, innovative communication strategies, and global scientific networks provide opportunities to build epidemiologic intelligence of virus threats to crop production and global food security. A paradigm shift toward deploying integrated, smart, and eco-friendly strategies is required to advance virus disease management in diverse agricultural cropping systems.

Sebacinoids within rhizospheric fungal communities associated with subsistence farming in the Congo Basin: a needle in each haystack.

The unique ecosystem of the Congolese rainforest has only scarcely been explored for its plant-fungal interactions. Here, we characterized the root fungal communities of field-grown maize and of Panicum from adjacent borders in the Congo Basin and assessed parameters that could shape them. The soil properties indicated that comparable poor soil conditions prevailed in fields and borders, illustrating the low input character of local subsistence farming. The rhizosphere fungal communities, dominated by ascomycetous members, were structured by plant species, slash-and-burn practices and soil P, pH and C/N ratio. Examining fungi with potential plant growth-promoting abilities, the glomeromycotan communities appeared to be affected by the same parameters, whereas the inconspicuous symbionts of the order Sebacinales seemed less susceptible to environmental and anthropogenic factors. Notwithstanding the low abundances at which they were detected, sebacinoids occurred in 87% of the field samples, implying that they represent a consistent taxon within indigenous fungal populations across smallholder farm sites. Pending further insight into their ecosystem functionality, these data suggest that Sebacinales are robust root inhabitants that might be relevant for on-farm inoculum development within sustainable soil fertility management in the Sub-Saharan region.

Household food insecurity in Panamanian subsistence farming communities is associated with indicators of household wealth and constraints on food production.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if constraints on agricultural production were a novel construct in the Panama Food Security Questionnaire (FSQ) and to characterize agricultural and economic determinants of food insecurity during the planting, growing and harvesting time periods in subsistence farming communities. DESIGN: This longitudinal study followed households during land preparation, growing and harvest periods in one agricultural cycle. Agricultural production and economic variables were recorded and the Panama FSQ was administered. Exploratory factor analysis was used to verify construct validity of the FSQ. A food insecurity score (FIS), ranging from 0 to 42, was derived. Multiple regression analyses of FIS were conducted for each agricultural period. SETTING: Fifteen rural villages in Panama. PARTICIPANTS: Subsistence farming households (n 237). RESULTS: The FSQ contained four constructs: (i) ability to buy food; (ii) decreased amount/number of meals; (iii) feeling hungry; and (iv) lower agricultural production because of weather or lack of resources. Although most households were mildly food insecure in all time periods, determinants of food insecurity differed in each. Higher FIS was associated during land preparation with less rice and legumes planted and lower asset-based wealth; during growing months with less rice, more maize and pigeon peas planted and not selling produce; and during harvest with less rice planted, fewer chickens and lower income. CONCLUSIONS: Constraints on agriculture was a novel construct of the Panama FSQ. Different income-related variables emerged in each agricultural period. Planting staple foods and raising chickens were associated with food security, but some crop choices were associated with food insecurity.

Testosterone, fathers as providers and caregivers, and child health: Evidence from fisher-farmers in the Republic of the Congo.

Males in vertebrate species with biparental care commonly face a life history trade-off between investing in mating versus parenting effort. Among these males, testosterone is frequently elevated during mating and competition and reduced when males help raise offspring. These physiological patterns may be adaptive, increasing males' fitness through investments in young. However, for some species, including humans, indirect parenting often benefits young but can also involve male competition and risk-taking behavior and may be facilitated by elevated testosterone. Despite potential adaptive functions of biological responses to invested fatherhood, few if any mammalian studies have linked fathers' testosterone to offspring outcomes; no studies in humans have. Using data from a small-scale society of fisher-farmers from the Republic of the Congo, we find that fathers who were rated as better providers by their peers had higher testosterone, compared to other fathers in their community. However, children whose fathers had middle-range T compared to fathers with higher or lower levels had better energetic status (higher BMI; greater triceps skinfold thickness). Fathers' indirect and direct care helped to account for these associations between paternal T and children's energetic profiles. Given that human paternal direct and, especially, indirect care are thought to have been important evolutionarily and remain so in many contemporary societies, these findings help to shed light on the facultative nature of human biological responses to fatherhood and the relevance of these factors to children's well-being.

Using soundscapes to detect variable degrees of human influence on tropical forests in Papua New Guinea.

There is global concern about tropical forest degradation, in part, because of the associated loss of biodiversity. Communities and indigenous people play a fundamental role in tropical forest management and are often efficient at preventing forest degradation. However, monitoring changes in biodiversity due to degradation, especially at a scale appropriate to local tropical forest management, is plagued by difficulties, including the need for expert training, inconsistencies across observers, and lack of baseline or reference data. We used a new biodiversity remote-sensing technology, the recording of soundscapes, to test whether the acoustic saturation of a tropical forest in Papua New Guinea decreases as land-use intensity by the communities that manage the forest increases. We sampled soundscapes continuously for 24 hours at 34 sites in different land-use zones of 3 communities. Land-use zones where forest cover was fully retained had significantly higher soundscape saturation during peak acoustic activity times (i.e., dawn and dusk chorus) compared with land-use types with fragmented forest cover. We conclude that, in Papua New Guinea, the relatively simple measure of soundscape saturation may provide a cheap, objective, reproducible, and effective tool for monitoring tropical forest deviation from an intact state, particularly if it is used to detect the presence of intact dawn and dusk choruses.

Household resources and seasonal patterns of child growth in rural Timor-Leste.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine through detailed contextual investigation the effects of seasonal resource shortages, and household and individual level differences, on child growth in rural Timor-Leste. We compared trends in growth across two rural Timorese villages with different ecologies. METHODS: Heads of 104 households in Natarbora, Timor-Leste, were interviewed and resource levels assessed during the food shortage season. In these households, 337 children were measured for height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference. World Health Organization standardized measures were calculated and compared with dry season measurements. Using hierarchical linear models, child growth was related to household resource levels. Results were then compared to data from rural mountainous Ossu, Timor-Leste. RESULTS: z BMI declined over the wet season when food resources were scarce compared with the dry season (P < .001). Both age and sex were strong predictors of child growth, with older children having worse z height-for-age (P = .001) and z weight-for-age (P < .001) and boys shorter for age than girls (P = .049). Children were taller in households with modern flushable toilets (P = .005). Agricultural strategies such as crop diversity and land cultivation were linked to child growth. Results parallel findings from Ossu on the effects of season, child age and sex, but not household level socioeconomic differences. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the importance of subsistence-based resource stabilization and of early intervention to prevent growth faltering. Predicting growth using ecological models requires small-scale investigation, as variation exists among rural areas within an ecologically and culturally diverse country.

Ascaris and hookworm transmission in preschool children in rural Panama: role of subsistence agricultural activities.

This longitudinal study explored whether aspects of subsistence agriculture were associated with presence and intensity of Ascaris and hookworm in preschool children in rural Panama. Questionnaires were used to collect data on household socio-demographics, child exposure to agriculture and household agricultural practices. Stool samples were collected from children (6 months-5 years) at 3 time points, with albendazole administered after each to clear infections, resulting in 1 baseline and 2 reinfection measures. A novel Agricultural Activity Index (AAI) was developed using principal components analysis to measure the intensity of household agricultural practices. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression models revealed baseline hookworm egg counts were higher if children went to the agricultural plot and if the plot was smaller. Baseline and reinfection Ascaris egg counts were higher if children went to the plot and households had higher AAI, and higher at baseline if the plot was smaller. Caregiver time in the plot was negatively associated with baseline Ascaris egg counts, but positively associated with baseline hookworm and Ascaris reinfection egg counts. Children who spent more time playing around the home were less likely to be infected with Ascaris at baseline. We conclude that preschool child exposure to subsistence agriculture increased Ascaris and hookworm intensity.

Integrated Assessment of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana - Part 3: Social Sciences and Economics.

This article is one of three synthesis reports resulting from an integrated assessment (IA) of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Ghana. Given the complexities that involve multiple drivers and diverse disciplines influencing ASGM, an IA framework was used to analyze economic, social, health, and environmental data and to co-develop evidence-based responses in collaboration with pertinent stakeholders. We look at both micro- and macro-economic processes surrounding ASGM, including causes, challenges, and consequences. At the micro-level, social and economic evidence suggests that the principal reasons whereby most people engage in ASGM involve "push" factors aimed at meeting livelihood goals. ASGM provides an important source of income for both proximate and distant communities, representing a means of survival for impoverished farmers as well as an engine for small business growth. However, miners and their families often end up in a "poverty trap" of low productivity and indebtedness, which reduce even further their economic options. At a macro level, Ghana's ASGM activities contribute significantly to the national economy even though they are sometimes operating illegally and at a disadvantage compared to large-scale industrial mining companies. Nevertheless, complex issues of land tenure, social stability, mining regulation and taxation, and environmental degradation undermine the viability and sustainability of ASGM as a livelihood strategy. Although more research is needed to understand these complex relationships, we point to key findings and insights from social science and economics research that can guide policies and actions aimed to address the unique challenges of ASGM in Ghana and elsewhere.

Chiapas' Delayed Entry into the International Labour Market: A Story of Peasant Isolation, Exploitation, and Coercion.

This manuscript presents a synthetic view of Chiapas' migration history over the last century through a thorough examination of relevant English and Spanish-language literature sources. Unlike most Mexican states, Chiapas did not heavily rely upon migration, especially international migration, as an economic strategy until very recently. The reasons that underlie Chiapas' late adoption of economic migration include socio-political and economic structural factors that shaped rural and agrarian policy and demographic trends. This paper evaluates these structural factors with regards to several migration theories to assist our understanding of how and why Chiapans were prevented or discouraged from leaving their native communities. The paper concludes by detailing the perfect cascade of climatic, demographic, economic and political factors that ultimately forced Chiapans to resort to international migration as a major economic diversification strategy.

Evidence that rodent control strategies ought to be improved to enhance food security and reduce the risk of rodent-borne illnesses within subsistence farming villages in the plague-endemic West Nile region, Uganda.

Rodents pose serious threats to human health and economics, particularly in developing countries where the animals play a dual role as pests: they are reservoirs of human pathogens, and they inflict damage levels to stored products sufficient to cause food shortages. To assess the magnitude of the damage caused by rodents to crops, their level of contact with humans, and to better understand current food storage and rodent control practices, we conducted a survey of 37 households from 17 subsistence farming villages within the West Nile region of Uganda. Our survey revealed that rodents cause both pre- and post-harvest damage to crops. Evidence of rodent access to stored foods was reported in conjunction with each of the reported storage practices. Approximately half of the respondents reported that at least one family member had been bitten by a rat within the previous three months. Approximately two-thirds of respondents practiced some form of rodent control in their homes. The abundance of rodents was similar within homes that practiced or did not practice rodent control. Together, our results show that current efforts are inadequate for effectively reducing rodent abundance in homes.