Characteristics Of Major Agro Ecological Zones Environmental Sciences Essay

Characteristics Of Major Agro Ecological Zones Environmental Sciences Essay Africa is a very large continent with extremely wide range of soils (Bationo et al., 2006). The soils range from shallow with meager life-sustaining capacities to deeply weathered profiles that recycle and support large biomass. In many parts of Africa, inappropriate land use, poor management and lack of inputs have led to soil erosion, salinization and loss of vegetation resulting in a decline of agricultural productivity (Bationo et al., 2006). In Africa and particularly Southern Africa, the most limiting factor to agricultural productivity is soil fertility (Ramaru et al., 2000). Soil fertility is defined as a condition of the soil that enables it to provide nutrients in adequate amounts and in proper balance for the growth of specified plants when other growth factors, such as light, water, temperature, and physical, chemical and biological conditions of soil, are favorable (van der Watt and van Rooyen, 1995). Large areas of sub-Saharan African (SSA) soils, in particular, are af fected by various types of degradation, including fertility decline (FAO, 2001). Soil fertility decline is a deterioration of chemical, physical and biological soil properties. The main contributing processes, besides soil erosion, are: decline in organic matter and soil biological activity; degradation of soil structure and loss of other soil physical qualities; reduction in availability of major nutrients (N, P, K) and micro-nutrients; and increase in toxicity, due to acidification or pollution (FAO, 2001). Soils in most of SSA have inherently low fertility and do not receive adequate nutrient replenishment (FAO, 2001). The SSA has the lowest mineral fertilizer consumption, about 10 kg nutrients (N, P2O5, K2O)/ha per year, compared to the world average of 90 kg, 60 kg in the Near East and 130 kg/ha per year in Asia (Stoorvogel and Smaling, 1990). Agricultural growth in sub-Saharan African countries slightly increased over the past three decades, although not in line with the high population growth rate (FAO, 2001). Food production per capita in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has declined since the 1970s, in contrast with the increase in Asia and South America (Figure 1.1). Soil productivity in SSA is also constrained by aridity (low rainfall) and acidity (FAO, 2001) (Table 1.1). South Africa has to face high population growth, poverty, accelerated soil degradation and increasing pressure on land (FAO, 1999b) (Table 1.1). Depletion of soil fertility, along with the related problems of weeds, pests, and diseases, is a major biophysical cause of low per capita food production in Africa. This is the result of the breakdown of traditional practices and the low priority given by governments to the rural sector (Sanchez, 1997). The 1996 World Food Summit highlighted sub-Saharan Africa as the remaining region in the world with decreasing food production per capita (Figure 1.1). The worst levels of poverty and malnutrition in the world exist in this region (Sanchez et al., 1997). A team of scientists has identified declining soil fertility as the fundamental agronomic cause for declining food productivity in Africa. A â€Å"Soil Fertility Initiative for Africa† has been created by a group of international organizations including the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Center for Research on Agroforestry (ICRAF), International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), International Fertilizer Association (IFA), and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

Marketing research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing - Research Paper Example Today, over half of the 500,000 cars that are sold by Hyundai in USA each year are manufactured within the country itself. The company employs over 20,000 US citizens directly and generates indirect jobs for 6,000 more through its vendors. The company has a marked presence in the states of Alabama, Michigan and California, which house our manufacturing facility, engineering facility, proving grounds and design and research center respectively (Hyundai Motors, 2011). Hyundai’s association with USA goes deeper than just selling cars in the country. Since 1998, Hyundai Motor America, along with Hyundai dealers has been striving to help find a cure to childhood cancer by funding the CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation. The company has hitherto raised $13 million for the cause. Marketing Brief Market Hyundai Motor America, being an automobile manufacturer, is obviously engaged in the automobile manufacturing market in USA. The company manufactures vehicles across variou s categories including, but not limited to compacts, family sedans, crossovers as well as premium vehicles. It also positions its products in various segments based on price starting from prices as low as $9,985 and going as high as $58,000. Main Competitors The competitive landscape of Hyundai Motor America comprises five main competitors viz. Ford Motor, General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Toyota. Hyundai Motors currently holds a 5.3% market share in the US market, but is seen to be steadily catching up to its competitors, recording its three best monthly sales volumes in the country after August 2010 as well as its best ever worldwide sales figure in the same year (PR Newswire). It is currently among the top four foreign car manufacturers in the country. However, the company is also threatened by the rapid progress of global rival Suzuki Motors as well as upcoming names such as Tata Motors and Fiat who are looking to gain a strong foothold in the US market after faring well in the Asian and European markets in identical vehicle segments. The Hyundai premium segment model ‘Genesis’ has also been touted as a competitor to luxury cars like the BMW and the Lexus. Main Customers The main customers of Hyundai Motor America comprise the end user of the automobiles manufactured by them. Like any other automobile manufacturer, Hyundai has an established distribution chain in the country to sell its products directly to the buyer. In other words, it is primarily a B2C company and focuses its marketing on the end consumer. All intermediaries in the sale of Hyundai products are either affiliated with or subsidiaries of the company. Core Competencies Hyundai Motor America, as well as its global contemporaries have a competitive advantage over their opponents through their constant innovations in new technology available at affordable costs to their customers. Features synonymous with any Hyundai car include power, handling, safety, comfort, stability, good cu stomer service and economy in their cars. Every car rolled out by Hyundai motors in the US is expected to have adequate powers, safety measures, simple and responsive controls, comfortable interiors and provide good mileage for that segment. These features are the main reason that Hyundai’

Robert Rauschenbergs work - Windward Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Robert Rauschenbergs work - Windward - Essay Example Robert Rauschenberg gathered the images and their details from various sources whereby he over painted certain parts of the using his hand by an energetic speed so that he allied the gestural painting of expressionism and the aesthetic value in the style (Joseph, et al, 2002). In Windward, some of his photographs of the statue of liberty with the images of houses so as to confront the politics in the nomination of the pope in the Sistine Chapel. Moreover, his composition is mostly dominated with the pictorial of an eagle so as to stand-in a mysterious and the richly allied discourse between the very many contrasted graphics of the worlds which confront any effort at aesthetic categorization. Robert Rauschenberg collective artwork, symbolizes his spirit of extensiveness, encompassing a reflective overview of his most separate periods, including painting, textile collage, sculptural workings prepared from cardboard and scrap iron, as well as a diversity of pictorials transmission and p rinting approaches. Robert Rauschenberg work embodies certain themes as can be found in many artistic works such as novels, short stories, and the novella. For instance, in the case of Scarlet Letter by Mariama Ba has drawn a very vivid picture in explaining the role of religion to determine the fate of women in the society. Similarly, In Windward, some of his photographs of the statue of liberty with the images of houses so as to confront the politics in the nomination of the pope in the Sistine Chapel.