درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

This study was conducted in the Agogo Traditional Area of the Ashanti region of Ghana where there are numerous cases of conflicts between crop and animal farmers as a result of insufficient pasture for livestock, especially during the dry seasons. This has drawn the attention of various stakeholders in agriculture to the need for supplement feed through pasture establishment. The study used cross-sectional data from 150 farmers selected via a multi-stage sampling technique. Financial viability indicators such as Net Present Value (NPV), Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and perception index based on a five-point Likert scale were used. SWOT analysis was also conducted to assess the feasibility of the pasture business venture. The study found the pasture business as a viable concept with a BCR of 1.18, a positive NPV of GH₵3,160, an IRR of 40.1% and a payback period of 2.61 years. Farmers’ perception on the establishment of pasture for small ruminant production was positive. The SWOT analysis identified the prospects and potential challenges of the concept as follows: availability of land, support to government policy of establishing ‘fodder banks’ for sustainable land use, low technical know-how, and land tenure issues, among others. The study recommends the establishment of pasture as a venture since it is financially viable and has the potency to reduce farmer-herder conflicts to make all stakeholders better off. Farmers should also be empowered by concerned institutions through technical education on pasture establishment.

Purpose- This study examined the effects of non-revenue water (NRW) on organisation running costs and customer satisfaction. The intention was to describe the NRW's effects on the MUWASA's performance as a case study. Specifically, it identified factors prompting non-revenue water; described the NRW effects on organisation running costs; and examined the level of customer satisfaction towards service provision.Design/methodology/approach- A purposive sampling technique was used to pick respondents for the household survey and key informant interview. The study included 100 respondents (70 connected customers and 30 employees of the authority). MUWASA serves 5 zones of the municipality; therefore, the study obtained 70 connected customers from the five zones of the authority. The household survey and the key informant interviews (KII) were the main data collection methods, the survey technique was used to collect data from 100 respondents and seven were involved in key informant interviews.  Descriptive and inferential statistics and content analysis were used in data analysis.Findings- The findings have indicated that NRW affects the water utility revenue collection, and organisation running costs, which jeopardizes customer satisfaction with the organizational service delivery. Originality/value- Based on the National Water Policy of 2002 which aims at achieving sustainable, effective, and efficient development and management of Water Supply and Sanitation one of its objectives is to create an enabling environment and appropriate incentives for the delivery of reliable, sustainable, and affordable water supply and sanitation services. Therefore, the findings of this study are a catalyst for the improvement of the set policy objectives and enhance interventions where necessary.

Purpose- With the physical expansion of cities, some surrounding villages are incorporated into the city as new neighborhoods. These areas, due to their rural backgrounds, differ from newly developed urban neighborhoods in physical, social, economic, and cultural aspects. Social issues, particularly behavioral problems, are one of the challenges in these areas. The neighborhood of Noh-Dareh in Mashhad (with a rural background) faces such a challenge. The Saber Street (located in Noh-Dareh) is the intersection of formal and informal settlements and has a strategic location due to its proximity to the Kuh Park. However, the occurrence of certain inappropriate behaviors has led to a decline in its efficiency and attractiveness for residents. This study aims to propose design recommendations for Saber Street to improve user behavior patterns.Design/methodology/approach- This research is mixed-method (quantitative and qualitative). After collecting library resources (behavior, environment, and perception), user behaviors were identified by using qualitative techniques (observation, behavioral mapping, and interviews). The obtained data were then categorized into conditions, actions, and consequences through qualitative analysis using MaxQDA. Subsequently, based on the typology of existing micro spaces, design recommendations were proposed based on behavioral patterns.Findings- Behaviors in the micro spaces of the mentioned street are often solitary, involving short and unconventional pauses due to the lack of diverse activities, psychological insecurity, inappropriate lighting furniture, and inconvenient climatic conditions. These results are reduced identity and increased insecurity, social damages, and inefficiency of activities.Practical implications- To improve these conditions, it is suggested to enhance urban management control, adopt supervisory policies through the design of frontages, allocate collective activities in the space, organize various events, and provide welfare and comfort infrastructure and equipment.Originality/Value- Considering the presence of social conflicts in neighborhoods with rural backgrounds, such as social damages, activity inefficiency, and ultimately resident dissatisfaction, the innovation of this study lies in identifying the context and causes of inappropriate behavioral patterns in these neighborhoods.

Purpose- Climate change has negative effects on the economic, social, and environmental aspects of rural households. Given the importance of the impact of climate change on the livelihoods of rural people, this study was conducted with the aim of reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience and adaptation to these conditions in Mashhad Township.Design/methodology/approach- The statistical population of the study is 11,706 rural households in Mashhad Township, out of which 372 households were selected proportionally by multistage stratified random sampling based on Cochran’s formula. The main tool of the research was a questionnaire whose validity was examined through content validity, structural validity, and reliability by composite reliability and Cronbach’s alpha (a= 0.9). The data were analyzed using SPSS and LISREL software. To examine the fit of the measurement model of the effects of climate change on sustainable livelihoods, the collected data were analyzed using second-order confirmatory factor analysis with LISREL software.Findings- The results of the study showed that the greatest impact of climate change was on financial capital, including income reduction, increased costs and increased product prices, reduced productivity and employment. In addition, the greatest effects of climate change on social capital include were on reduced sense of belonging and increased dependence on government support; on human capital include a were on reduced health levels and quality of life; and on natural capital include a were on reduced land resources and pressure and occurrence of hazards; and on physical capital were on reduced services and facilities for people. The research findings also showed that the goodness-of-fit indices (AGFI=0.91, GFI=0.91), (NNFI=0.91, CFI= 0.92), and (RMSEA= 0.073, X2/df= 2.97) confirmed an excellent fit of the measurement model of the effects of climate change on sustainable livelihoods with observed data. In addition, the results of structural equation modeling showed that the greatest impacts of climate change among livelihood capitals were respectively related to physical, financial, natural, social and human capitals.

Purpose- The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which emotional intelligence have a psychological impact on the performance of employees in Nigeria health sectorDesign/methodology/approach- A descriptive survey research approach was employed to achieve this goal, and the study's population comprised of 102 nurses and doctors of State Hospital Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria. Since nurses and doctors are recognized as the professionals who provide care services to patients in the organization, they make up the population. The Yamane formula was used to determine the sample size of 81, and the convenience sampling technique was used to select the respondentsFinding- Out of the questionnaire distributed 72 was completed and returned, yielding 89% response rate. The analysis's showed that emotional intelligence has a 52% variance in employee performance, with a R square value of 0.520. Additionally, it was discovered that employee performance was significantly and favorably impacted by the emotional intelligence predictor variables of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management with a βeta values of 0.341, 0.411, 0.217, and 0.381, respectivelyOriginal/value- An organization cannot experience improved performance or a sustained competitive advantage if its human resources are not managed efficiently. This is because human resources are the only resources within the organization that possess thoughts, feelings, and hopes. The study results would help managers in the health sector increase awareness of emotional intelligence's value within their workplaces as doing so would benefit both the employee and the organization.