The orientalist discourse is characterized by the discursive conceptualization of an uncivilized and sexualized east. Eastern women are portrayed as sexual objects and fantasies whose purpose is the satisfaction and obedience of the brown men. This discursive representation has affected the Westerner’s perception of migrant women as the novels suggest. This article probes the sexualizing and objectifying of Arab migrant women as a result of their ideological representation by the orientalists in the context of diaspora. Faten in Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits as a Moroccan female migrant in Spain and Reema in The Inheritance of Exile as an American of Arab descent are perceived by the Spanish customer and American boyfriend respectively as harem and sexual objects who can fulfill their fantasies. The agency Lalami and Darraj associate with their female protagonists does however dismantle the fixed representation of orientalism as Faten and Reema are given voice to rewrite the discursive narratives and to present alternative representations of Arab female migrants as being heterogeneous and independent individuals with freedom and control over their choices and decisions. The two studied novels as postcolonial diasporic literature disrupt and debunk the discursive orientalist discourse on Arab women.

The present study aims to understand the availability and distribution of public water supply in Aizawl city of Mizoram state (India) among 15 out of 83 local councils. About 50 sample households selected from each of the sampled local councils are fifty households, thus data gathered via questionnaire administered to 750 respondents mainly female household heads. Most of the households depend on multiple water sources because their principal source is not fully reliable. A domestic water source for households was determined by the availability of water sources in their respective area and households’ economic. The water consumption in the study area is well below the standards set by the Indian Bureau of Standards.

Financial investments in apple cultivation in Kashmir valley are increasingly recognized as key drivers of economic growth and employment creation. This paper presents a comprehensive economic analysis across physiographic divisions using precise economic indices that include cost-benefit analysis, project evaluation method and other socio-economic determinants. It relies on a primary survey of 866 farm-households selected across four physiographic divisions of the Kashmir valley viz- valley floor, karewas, foothills and side valleys. Results reveal that the karewas fetch the highest returns from an investment owing to its ideal geographical conditions. On contrary, the non-karewas belt was found to be trailing in one or more economic indices although the financial feasibility of investment in apple cultivation was still found satisfactory. The study affirms that agricultural land-use decisions at the micro-scale should be determined by the site-specific attributes and that economic indices are largely dictated by physical characteristics of land itself. While demonstrating the utility of land-use decisions in light of geographical factors, our results can assist both farmers and policy-makers to design a more adapted land use strategy for fostering financial investments in apple cultivation in the valley.

This study assessed the losses in agricultural lands and enrichment of other land usages in agricultural area in Minna and environs in the state capital of Niger state, Nigeria. Data captured using Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) (1990), Thematic Mapper (TM) (2000-2010) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) (2000, 2010 and 2020) used to quantify LULC changes. A post-classification matrix prepared to assess the modification and conversion in LULC from 1990 to 2020. The significant modification in LULC observed as agricultural lands and vegetation underwent noticeable decline by 714.39km² and 578.94km², respectively whereas built up area increased substantially to a value of 96.91km². About 12.29km² agricultural land lost to barren land and 12.83km² converted to water bodies. Finally, the encroachments of vegetation and built up area in agricultural area caused substantial decreased the available land for agricultural activities. Remote sensing data provide useful for estimations of agricultural land loss on a regional scale.