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Evaporative coolers are technologies highly used as a source of thermal comfort in terms of fresh air provider in areas where weather conditions are harsh and people living standard goes from medium to low earnings. This technology being environmentally friendly still requires a certain minimum maintenance, mostly the change of pads. This paper presents the performance of a cost-effective cooling pad made from the fibers of hyphanene thebaica (wood wool) as an alternative pad to the commercial ones rendering this technology more accessible and affordable for all social classes. The experiment was done in an insulated duct whereby thermodynamic parameters of locally made pad such as temperature, pressure, relative humidity and velocity, were recorded, and effect of physical properties on performances were analyzed. Compared to the commercial pad, the proposed local pad presented the lowest minimum outlet dry bulb temperature (20.00oC), a saturation efficiency of 78.80% with the highest cooling capacity of 0.1867 kW, the highest heat transfer coefficient of 7.3497 kW/m2 oC, the best cost-to-efficiency ratio (CER) and coefficient of performance (COP). By studying and improving the pads thermophysical characteristics, performance could be improved opening ways towards industrial production of such pads for a sustainable development.

Suite a linsecurite grandissante dans la zone de Filingue (a environ 200km au nord-est de Niamey) abritant la station experimentale pastorale de Toukounouss avec ses laboratoires de recherche sur les productions pastorales, des investigations ont ete faites pour trouver au Niger dautres zones plus securisees ou existent des peuplements importants de ligneux fourragers et ou des recherches pourraient être entreprises. Cette etude sinscrit dans la perspective devaluer la diversite floristique dans les enclaves pastorales de la region de Niamey. Des recensements floristiques ont ete effectues suivant des transects dans les 9 enclaves pastorales de la region de Niamey pour faire letat des lieux des herbacees et des ligneux sur les parcours. Vingt-cinq (25) especes ligneuses reparties en 12 familles et 19 genres ont ete recensees dont 21,35% de ligneux fourragers. Les Combretaceae (64,10%) sont representees par les especes Guiera senegalensis, Combretum micranthum et Combretum glutinosum, suivis des Capparidaceae (16,72%), puis des Asclepiadaceae (12,72%). Les herbacees sont representes par 17 especes reparties en 9 familles et 15 genres les Gramineae representent 29,41% des genres (Aristida, Brachiaria, Pennisetum et Schoenefeldia). Les Asclepiadaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Malvaceae et Papilionaceae representent chacune 11,76% de la population et avec chacun 2 genres recenses.La faible presence de diversite floristique au niveau des enclaves pastorales a ete expliquee par le fait que ces zones font lobjet de lotissement urbain, de coupe abusive et selective pour des besoins de service et de fourrage en destination des villages limitrophes et de la ville de Niamey.

Balanites aegyptiaca (Desert date) is one of the pioneer agro-forestry species in the Sahel.The different parts of the tree are used in human and animal food, and the fruits are an important source of revenue for the rural population. This study aims at reducing the research data gapon in the entomofauna associated with B. aegyptiaca in countries like Niger. Tree and fruits samples were taken in the rural area of SansaneHaoussa in the South- western part of Niger to inventory insect species present and assess the level of damage. The germination potential of attacked fruits was also assessed. The plant is attacked by various insect pests belonging mainly to the orders of Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera with a predominance of the first. However the most dangerous ones are the species which cause damage to the fruits, including Ephestiakuehniella Zeller, 1879 (Lepidopèra Pyralidae) which perforates the fruits and damages the grains hindering the germination of seeds of B. aegyptiaca.

Balanites aegyptiaca(Desert date) is one of the pioneer agro-forestry species in the Sahel.The different parts of the tree are used in human and animal food, and the fruits are an important source of revenue for the rural population. This study aims at reducing the research data gapon in the entomofauna associated withB. aegyptiacain countries like Niger. Tree and fruits samples were taken in the rural area of SansaneHaoussa in the South- western part of Niger to inventory insect species present and assess the level of damage. The germination potential of attacked fruits was also assessed. The plant is attacked by various insect pests belonging mainly to the orders of Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera with a predominance of the first. However the most dangerous ones are the species which cause damage to the fruits, includingEphestiakuehniellaZeller, 1879 (Lepidopèra Pyralidae) which perforates the fruits and damages the grains hindering the germination of seeds ofB. aegyptiaca. &nbsp

The paper assesses the existing gender policy document in fourteen (14) selected agricultural faculties and colleges in tertiary institutions in Africa. This paper is an output of research report on Programme of Strengthening Africa’s Strategic Agricultural Capacity for Impact on Development (SASACID) implemented by the African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE). Data for the study were collected from 207 respondents (8 deans of ANAFE SASACID pilot institutions, 36 academic staff/lecturers of SASACID pilot institutions and 163 students of SASACID pilot institutions) through the use of online survey. Data collected were analysed and presented using frequency, percentage and charts. Results of the survey revealed that 25.0% of the institutions studied indicated that they had a formal gender policy document in place in their institutions with regards to staff recruitment and students’ admission, while about 25.0% had an informal gender practices on staff recruitment and students’ admission. Higher proportion (60.0%) of the institution had neither a formal policy document nor informal practices as regards staff recruitment and students admission. Some of the constraints faced by the Institutions with a gender policy were insufficient female applicants in agricultural courses, societal norms and remote location of some of the faculties/colleges of agriculture. To encourage both males and females to study agriculture in higher institutions of learning and to create and sustain a fair and just academic environment where both have equal opportunities, there is a need to have a gender policy document and the need to create awareness.

This paper examines the career trajectories of 66 distinguished African agricultural professionals. Based on in-depth qualitative interviews, the paper explores the answers to two critical questions: How can Africa motivate its youth to consider careers in agriculture and agribusiness? How can agricultural education and training (AET) institutions better prepare youth for productive careers in agribusiness?