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The role of biopesticides in the management of Thaumatotibia leucotreta in avocado and other widely produced fruits in Africa
No full textThis research article was published in the Journal of Natural Pesticide Research, Volume 12, 2025Biopesticides (BPs) are gaining popularity worldwide as a means of managing crop pests. This is largely driven by
the negative effects associated with synthetic pesticide use on human health, the environment, and the growing
concerns regarding chemical residues in food. This review explored the magnitude of BPs use in managing
T. leucotreta in different fruit host plants from the year 2014–2024. SCOPUS journal papers were retrieved
through Google Scholar and categorized by pesticide type, including nematodes, botanicals, fungi, and viruses.
The information searching was done using related terms and synonyms of the major keywords of interest (“False
codling moth”, “Thaumatotibia leucotreta”, “Biopesticides” and “Management”) together with other terms used in
previous studies concerning the formulated study question. A total of 136 articles were identified in the Scopus
database of which only 13 (10 %) articles specifically lay strong evidence that BPs can effectively manage
T. leucotreta thereby significantly reducing fruits infestation. The findings revealed that among the studied in
terventions, entomopathogenic nematodes were the most extensively researched biopesticide agent, particularly
in citrus. Mean while research on entomopathogenic fungi and viruses received some attention. Drawing on
published datasets no study has been documented on the use of plant-derived pesticides (botanical pesticides)
against T. leucotreta on fruits. Therefore, further research is needed to generate information on use and promote
the popularity of the BPs in managing the T. leucotreta, particularly in fruit production in Africa
Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of Locally Made Solar Powered Cooler for Vaccine Storage.
No full textThis research article was published by Cleaner Environmental Systems, 2025Storing vaccines and perishable food in regions without access to the national grid presents significant challenges. Solar power generation technologies have emerged as a viable alternative solution to address these issues. This study conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost analysis (CA) of the locally developed solar-powered cooler to assess its techno-economic viability and potential environmental impacts. The cooler was designed to preserve vaccines and perishable foods for use, especially in areas with no electricity connectivity, as a cheaper alternative to electricity-powered coolers. The results of LCA show that battery manufacturing was a slightly higher contributor to environmental impacts across various indicators, with terrestrial ecotoxicity identified as the highest impact among other environmental impacts. Cost analysis results further revealed that a solar-powered cooler project demonstrated a positive economic outlook, with the unit manufacturing cost estimated at USD 2682. This quantitative analysis of life cycle and cost will help decision-makers comprehend both the economic aspects and environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of locally manufactured solar-powered coolers. Such insights will be instrumental in enhancing the sustainability of these products
Neem and Gliricidia Plant Leaf Extracts Improve Yield and Quality of Leaf Mustard by Managing Insect Pests’ Abundance Without Harming Beneficial Insects and Some Sensory Attributes
No full textThis research article was published by Insects, Volume 16, 2025Production and consumption of vegetable crops has seen a sharp increase in the recent past owing to an increasing recognition of their nutraceutical benefits. In tandem, there has been unwarranted application of agrochemicals such as insecticides to enhance productivity and vegetable quality, at the cost of human health, and fundamental environmental and ecosystem functions and services. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of neem and gliricidia botanical extracts in managing harmful insect pest populations in leaf mustard. Our results report that neem and gliricidia plant extracts enhance the yield and quality of leaf mustard by reducing the prevalence and feeding activity of harmful insect pests in a manner similar to synthetic insecticides. Some of the key insect pests reduced were Lipaphis erysimi, Pieris oleracea, Phyllotreta Cruciferae, Melanoplus sanguinipes, and Murgantia histrionica. However, compared to synthetic insecticides, neem and gliricidia plant extracts were able to preserve beneficial insects such as the Coccinellidae spp., Trichogramma minutum, Araneae spp., Lepidoptera spp., and Blattodea spp. Furthermore, plant extracts did not significantly alter sensory attributes, especially taste and odor, whereas the visual appearance of leaf mustard was greater in plants sprayed with neem and synthetic insecticides. Physiologically, plant extracts were also able to significantly lower leaf membrane damage as shown through the electrolyte leakage assay. Therefore, these plant extracts represent promising pesticidal plant materials and botanically active substances that can be leveraged to develop environmentally friendly commercial pest management products
How much to cut? Finding an optimal thinning intensity of encroaching woody species for the herbaceous community in an East African savanna
No full textThis research article was published by Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution ,2025Globally, bush encroachment poses a great threat to the conservation of biodiversity and rangeland productivity. However, control methods of encroaching woody species have rarely been experimentally quantified. We assessed the impact of tree thinning intensities on tree mortality, and the herbaceous community in Borana rangelands, an Ethiopian savannah ecosystem. At two 1.4 ha areas of mono-specific Vachellia drepanolobium stands, we set up 20 m x 10 m experimental plots with four tree-thinning treatments (0%, 33%, 67%, and 100% tree removal), with three replications in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) across two sites. The 0% plot was left uncleared and used as control. Over two growing periods, we monitored resulting tree mortality, coppicing, seedling mortality, and recruitment as well as herbaceous layer attributes (diversity, biomass) and the rangeland conditions. Tree thinning intensity significantly increased abundance of the dominant desirable grass species. Total herbaceous and grass species richness, diversity and biomass were significantly improved under high (100%) and moderate (67%) tree removal intensity. We conclude that tree thinning at moderate intensity (67%) was most effective in enhancing mortality of encroached trees, and improving grass diversity, and herbaceous biomass. We stress that effective tree thinning requires post-thinning management and repeated bush control measures. Our findings contribute to development of recommendations on controlling bush encroachment, species restoration, and rangeland productivity in Ethiopian rangelands
Livestock production losses attributable to brucellosis in northern and central Tanzania: Application of an epidemiological-economic modelling framework
No full textThis research article was published by Vaccine PLOS Negleted Tropical Diseases, 2025Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF), caused by alcelaphine herpesvirus-1 (AIHV-1) transmitted from wildebeest, is a lethal cattle disease with significant impacts on East African pastoralists. Development of a live attenuated MCF vaccine has prompted research into its use in communities at risk. This study reports results from the first utilisation of the MCF vaccine in locally-owned cattle under field conditions. The study involved a primary two-dose course vaccination of 1634 cattle, followed a year later, by boost vaccination of 385 of these cattle. It aimed to: (a) evaluate the antibody response to a two-dose AlHV-1 primary vaccination course, including initial response, antibody levels after one year, and clinical events post-vaccination; (b) assess how factors like age, reproductive status, body condition, and breed influence the initial response; and (c) compare antibody responses to single- and two-dose booster protocols one year after primary vaccination. Analyses were carried out using linear mixed-effects models and paired t-tests.
Clinical incidents were reported in 11/1634 cattle vaccinated during the primary course and in 0/385 cattle during the boost regimens. The primary vaccination resulted in a 9-fold increase in comparison to pre-vaccination antibody levels and the response was consistent across animals of different ages, reproductive statuses and body conditions. While antibody levels declined 11 months after primary vaccination, they remained high, and a single-dose booster vaccination was sufficient to elicit a strong immune response, with only marginal increases after a second booster.
The study provides evidence of high immunogenicity and low incidences of clinical events of the vaccine in cattle across individual host factors and immunologically vulnerable groups, under prevailing environmental conditions. It also indicates the utility of a single-dose booster regimen. These findings will support progress towards commercial production and larger-scale adoption which could generate important benefits for the livelihoods, and sustainability of pastoral livestock systems.Livestock brucellosis is an endemic disease in many low-resource settings. Despite its widespread distribution, little is known about the scale of economic impacts caused by the disease. This study aimed to develop an integrated epidemiological-economic modelling framework to estimate production losses attributable to livestock brucellosis, using Tanzania as a case study. Data on livestock production and prevalence of exposure to Brucella spp. were obtained from surveys conducted in northern and central Tanzania between 2013 and 2019. A clustering algorithm was applied to classify households into pastoral and non-pastoral production systems. A Bayesian latent-class analysis model was applied to derive livestock brucellosis prevalence estimates. A herd-growth model was used to estimate production losses attributable to brucellosis. A total of 1,541 households (384 classified as pastoral and 1,157 as non-pastoral) contributed data on livestock production or prevalence of exposure to Brucella spp. The median (95% uncertainty interval, UI) individual-level brucellosis prevalence in cattle, sheep, and goats was 5.1% (3.4–6.9), 1.3% (0.1–3.0), and 2.5% (0.3–4.8) in the pastoral system, and 0.7% (0.1–1.6), 1.6% (0.2–3.8), and 2.5% (0.3–4.9) in the non-pastoral system, respectively. The median (95% UI) annual losses attributable to brucellosis in cattle, sheep, and goats, per infected animal, were 74.4 (26.2–211.7), 9.7 (3.4–23.1) and 10.6 (3.7–25.0) international dollars (int. in the non-pastoral system, respectively. Household-level losses were equivalent to 4.4% (2.1–8.8) and 0.6% (0.2–1.6) of the median (95% UI) livestock-derived income in the pastoral and non-pastoral systems, respectively. This study did not capture the system-wide impacts of brucellosis, including on human health. The estimated losses are only a part of the full societal economic impact of the disease. These results can be used to inform cost-benefit analyses of potential interventions and guide policy development for brucellosis contro
Applications of Natural Rocks as Heat-Storage Materials for Food Drying in Sub-Saharan Africa
No full textThis research article was published by Advances in Science and Technology Volume 160, 2025Natural rocks are emerging as a viable solution for solar heat storage in Sub-Saharan Africa due to their low cost and accessibility, as well as their ability to reduce energy costs and reliance on solar energy. This study review research on applications of natural rocks as heat-storage materials for food drying in Sub-Saharan Africa. Findings of this study indicate that current research on the combination of drying systems with thermal energy storage systems using natural rocks as storage material focuses on indirect solar dryers (66.67%), mixed mode solar dryers (16.67%), and solar-assisted heat pump dryers (16.67%). These dryers perform admirably, particularly in extreme weather conditions and when there is no sunlight. The findings show that using natural rocks as a storage medium can increase the efficiency of dryers by up to 17.48%, reduce drying time by as much as 50%, and extend the drying operation by 2 to 4 hours after sunset. This study also identifies and proposes key areas for further research. In particular, more attention is needed to characterize the thermal properties of the storage materials used, as this aspect is often underexplored in African studies. Understanding these properties is essential for optimizing the performance of solar dryers and making informed choices about which materials to use. In addition, the techno-economic analysis of all these dryers is neglected, making it difficult to assess the economic impacts of these technologies and facilitate their adoption in communities. Exergoeconomic analysis should also be carried out in order to facilitate optimization and understand the actual efficiency of these dryers
Combatting toxic chemical elements pollution for Sub-Saharan Africa's ecological health
Full text linkThis research article was published by Environmental Pollution and Management Volume 2, 2025With its booming mining, processing industries, agriculture, and increasing urbanization, sub-Saharan Africa experiences an alarming rise in accumulation of toxic chemical elements in all environmental matrices threatening entire ecology. Most toxic chemical elements are mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic. These toxic chemical elements are known human carcinogens, systemic toxicants and can induce multiple organ damage. The occurrences of toxic chemical elements in Sub-Saharan Africa are amplified by anthropogenic activities such as mining, industrial discharges, and agricultural practices. This study examined the extent of exposure to toxic chemical elements in surface and underground waters, sediments, soils, effluents, food crops, vegetables, aquatic organisms, industrial products, humans, and other animals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Results indicate occurrences of toxic chemical elements in surface and underground waters, sediments, soils, effluents, food crops, vegetables, aquatic organisms, industrial products, humans, and other animals above the recommended threshold. These findings highlight the persistent pollution of water, soil, sediments, food crops, aquatic organisms, and even industrial products, emphasizing the potential for bioaccumulation and exposure through the food chain. This requires interdisciplinary approaches, including updating and enforcing stricter regulations tailored to regional industrial and agricultural practices. Advanced remediation technologies, such as phytoremediation, and bioremediation, should be prioritized to remove toxic chemical elements from affected environments. Additionally, promoting sustainable practices, such as waste recycling programs, can help reduce anthropogenic contributions, strengthen environmental monitoring systems, nurture community awareness, and essentially encourage regional and international collaboration to protect ecosystems and safeguard human health in Sub-Saharan Africa
Toward an Ideal Framework for Assessing Economic Viability of Micro-Irrigation Technologies: A Systematic Review
Full text linkThis research article was published by Global Academic Journal of Economics and Business Volume 7, 2025Micro irrigation technologies (MITs), such as drip and sprinkler
systems, have been recognized as transformative solutions for enhancing
agricultural productivity, optimizing water use, and promoting environmental
sustainability. However, their adoption among smallholder farmers remains
limited due to a complex interplay of economic, social, technical and
environmental constraints. Traditional frameworks for assessing economic
viability of these technologies often focus narrowly on financial metrics,
neglecting critical factors such as water availability, market dynamics, and the
technical and socioeconomic contexts. A systematic review of the literature from
2014 to 2024 was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles were
sourced from major databases, including Scopus, Taylor and Francis, IEEE
Xplore, and Web of Science, yielding a final dataset of 69 relevant studies from
an initial pool of 719 articles. The analysis of selected studies highlights key
trends, including a growing focus on economic and water management aspects
and the role of institutional and policy support in MIT adoption. A novel
framework is proposed that integrates dimensions such as water availability
and management, market dynamics, socioeconomic factors, and environmental
sustainability. This comprehensive approach addresses limitations in
traditional financial metric-based evaluations, offering actionable insights to
policymakers and stakeholders. The findings aim to advance the adoption of
MITs by aligning technical and market strategies with the needs of smallholder
farmers, contributing to global food security and environmental goals.
Keywords: Micro irrigation technologies, Economic viability model,
Smallholder farmers, Conceptual framework, Systematic revie
Consumption of Mixed Indigenous Vegetables: A solution to low hemoglobin levels among pregnant women in Babati, Tanzania
No full textThis research article was published in the Journal of Current Research in Nutrition and Food SciencePregnancy-related anemia is a critical health issue affecting a larger number of pregnant women in Tanzania affected. The study examined the impact of consuming locally grown indigeneous vegetables on iron intake and anemia prevention. The study utilized a cross-sectional design to investigate the impact of consuming locally grown indigenous vegetables on iron intake and anemia prevention among 340 pregnant women in Babati District, Tanzania. Participants were recruited from antenatal care services at four health facilities within the district. Dietary assessments were conducted to evaluate food consumption patterns and Dietary Diversity Scores (DDS).were calculated to determine the variety of food groups consumed. Indigenous vegetables were analyzed for the iron, vitamin C, and phytate content to assess their nutritional composition. Statistical analyses conducted included Chi2 (χ2) tests and Spearman rank correlations to evaluate the relationships between socio-demographic factors, dietary practices, and anemia prevalence. The prevalence of anemia was 45%, with a significant association between anemia and maternal age (P < 0.04, χ2 = 6.43), as older women (36–49 years) were less likely to be anemic compared to younger women (≤35 years). Marital status also correlated with anemia (P < 0.04, χ2 = 4.1), with married women showing a lower prevalence. Dietary diversity was limited, with only 55.6% of participants consuming five or more food groups (DDS ≥ 5). Indigenous vegetables, such as sweet potato leaves and amaranth combined with lemon juice, showed high vitamin C content (43.2 ± 0.26 mg/g), enhancing iron absorption. Hygiene practices like hand washing after toilet use were associated with reduced anemia risk (P < 0.0022, χ2 = 9.352). This study highlights the importance of indigenous vegetables, dietary diversity, and good hygiene in reducing anemia among pregnant women in rural Tanzania, emphasizing the need for nutrition education and improved access to iron-rich foods
Optimizing dataset diversity for a robust deep-learning model in rice blast disease identification to enhance crop health assessment across diverse conditions
No full textThis research article was published by Smart Agricultural Technology, Volume 10, 2025Magnaporthe oryzae, the pathogen that causes rice blast disease, poses a significant global threat to rice pro
duction. This disease may lead to yield losses exceeding 30 % in susceptible rice varieties. There is an urgent need
for more effective detection solutions, as traditional methods—primarily based on visual inspection—are time-
consuming and prone to errors. Deep-learning models presented effective solutions for disease identification
due to their ability to analyze large datasets. However, the diversity of the training dataset is significant for
optimal performance and generalizability of the model. This study evaluated the impact of dataset diversity on
model performance and generalizability by developing two models, referred to in this study as the High-Diverse
Model and the Low-Diverse Model. The High-Diverse Model was trained on a diverse dataset comprising images
from different geographical regions, rice species, environmental conditions, plant growth stages, and disease
severity levels. In contrast, the Low-Diverse Model was trained on a less diverse dataset with significantly limited
variability. The results showed that the High-Diverse Model significantly outperformed the Low-Diverse Model,
achieving a training accuracy of 95.26 % and a validation accuracy of 94.43 %, indicating effective general
ization. The Low-Diverse Model achieved an accuracy of 98.37 % on the training data but only 35.38 % on the
validation data, indicating a severe overfitting issue associated with limited dataset diversity. This highlights the
importance of dataset diversity in developing effective and scalable deep-learning models for crop health
assessment