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“He Who Relies on His Brother's Property Dies Poor”: The Complex Narratives of Livestock Care in Northern Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by Frontiers in Veterinary Science in 2021Background: Endemic zoonoses have important impacts for livestock-dependent households in East Africa. In these communities, people's health and livelihoods are severely affected by livestock disease losses. Understanding how livestock keepers undertake remedial actions for livestock illness has the potential for widespread benefits such as improving health interventions. Yet, studies about livestock and human health behaviours in the global south tend to focus on individual health choices. In reality, health behaviours are complex, and not solely about individualised health experiences. Rather, they are mediated by a range of “upstream” factors (such as unequal provision of services), which are beyond the control of the individual.
Methods: This paper presents qualitative research conducted from 2014 to 2019 for a study focused on the Social, Economic, and Environmental Drivers of Zoonoses in Tanzania (SEEDZ). Qualitative data were collected via focus group discussions, community meetings, informal interviews, formal in-depth interviews, observations and surveys that addressed issues of health, disease, zoonotic disease risks, and routes for treatment across 21 villages. Thematic analysis was carried out on in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Conceptual analyses and observations were made through application of social science theories of health.
Findings: Livestock keepers undertake a range of health seeking strategies loosely categorised around self and formal treatment. Two key themes emerged that are central to why people make the decisions they do: access to resources and trust in health care providers. These two issues affect individual sense of agency which impacts their ability to act to improve livestock health outcomes. We suggest that individual choice and agency in veterinary health seeking decisions are only beneficial if health systems can offer adequate care and health equity is addressed.
Significance: This study demonstrates the value of in-depth qualitative research which reveals the nuance and complexity of people's decisions around livestock health. Most importantly, it explains why “better” knowledge does not always translate into “better” practise. The paper suggests that acknowledging and addressing these aspects of veterinary health seeking will lead to more effective provision
Analysis of spatio-temporal climate variability of a shallow lake catchment in Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by Water and Climate change 2021This study analyzed the trends and spatio-temporal variability in rainfall and temperature, and the length of the rainy season (LRS) in the Lake Manyara catchment, Tanzania, covering a period between 1988 and 2018 using stations and satellite climate product. The Mann-Kendall statistical test, Sen's slope estimator, and inverse distance weighting interpolation techniques were used to detect the trends, magnitude of trends and spatial distribution of rainfall and temperature. A modified Stern's method and water balance concept were used for rainfall onset, cessation and LRS analysis, while a standardized precipitation index (SPI) was used to investigate the wetness or dryness of the area. The results showed high variability and decreasing trend (4 mm/y) in annual rainfall, and non-significant increasing trend for minimum and maximum temperature. Rainfall increased from the western to the northern part of the catchment whereas a reversal pattern was noticed for temperature. The SPI shows a signal of normal condition (about 65%) for all stations – with few years showing evidence of wetter and drier conditions. The LRS showed a decreasing trend indicating a potential negative influence on rain-dependent activities. There is a need, therefore, for adaptation measures such as improving water productivity and irrigation at the farm and catchment level
A survey of irrigation water and soil quality that likely impacts paddy rice yields in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article published by Springer Nature Switzerland AG., 2021In this study, the impacts of irrigation water quality and soil characteristics on paddy rice yields were investigated.
Standard spectroscopy and spectrometry methods were used to analyze irrigation water and irrigated soil samples. The
irrigation water had sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) values ranging from 0 to 3. The corresponding electrical conductivity
(EC) values were between 0.2 and 0.7 dS/m and accounted for 14% of all samples—posing slight to moderate infltration
problem. Neither Na+ nor Cl− levels were high enough to cause toxicity problems in the irrigation water. For B, 54% of the
samples were found to have moderate toxicity whereas~14% of the samples indicated severe B toxicity in the irrigation
water. For bicarbonate, about 86 and 14% of the irrigation water indicated slight-to-moderate and severe potential det rimental efect to plant growth, respectively. All trace elements in the irrigation water were too low to cause any harmful
efect. Although soil EC, organic carbon (OC), and pH indicated favorable level, there were high standard deviation (SD)
values in soil Fe and Zn. The mean value of Fe in soils was 19.8 mg/kg, indicating signs of Fe-defciency. High SD values
were also found in the total N (TN) content of the studied soils. Furthermore, a low soil K content was observed in the
analyzed soil samples. Appropriate fertilizer application for improving nutrient defciencies in the study area is highly
recommended. Furthermore, on-farm management practices need to be guided by scientifc fndings from the present
as well as other studies
Potential of Mobile-Based Apps Online Platforms in Fast-Tracking Access of Agriculture Information
Get PDFThis research article published by Indian Society for Education and Environment, 2021Objectives: This paper report the potential of online mobile phone-based
platforms in fast-tracking access of agricultural information to farmers, with
a case study of Arusha, Tanzania. Method: We used the questionnaire-based
and focus group discussion methods and a total of 156 respondents were
randomly selected for data collection. Findings: The results showed that
77.6% of respondents possess smartphones and 32.7% of them use internet based platforms to search for agriculture information which usually is not
applicable or specific in their local Arusha context. Such finding raised a need
for developing internet-based platform for accessing agricultural information
by farmers for use in their local context. Thus, the same respondents
were assessed for their readiness to use a mobile-based agricultural app if
developed. The results indicated that 80% of the respondents were willing and
would use the app. Novelty: The paper demonstrated how mobile phone based apps can be used to quicken accessibility of agricultural information in
a local-based, context-specific location
Importance of common bean genetic zinc biofortification in alleviating human zinc deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa
Get PDFThis research article published by Taylor & Francis Online, 2021Zinc deficiency is among the leading risks to human health in sub-Saharan
Africa, its adverse exposure leads to diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria. Furthermore,
it is the leading cause of stunting in children and negatively influences the human
immune system, body iron, and vitamin A and D. High zinc deficiency in sub-Saharan
Africa is due to the consumption of staple foods with low zinc contents. Genetic zinc
biofortification of common bean among staple food crops is the best approach for
alleviating zinc deficiency, as it is cost-effective and can easily reach low-income
households. Genetic zinc biofortification by conventional breeding coupled with marker-assisted selection is the best strategy for sub-Saharan Africa, as the selection of
crosses is precise and takes short time to develop high zinc-containing varieties.
Zinc content increase in common bean seeds has a high impact on alleviating zinc
deficiency as it is consumed whole compared to cereal grains which undergo
milling, the process that removes zinc-rich parts before being consumed. This review
explains the current status of zinc deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa, conventional
methods for alleviating the problem, current and potential of modern genetic
approaches for zinc biofortification of common bean in alleviating zinc deficiency in
the region
Anthropogenic Pressure on Tree Species Diversity, Composition, and Growth of in Dinder Biosphere Reserve, Sudan.
Get PDFThis research article published by MDPI, 2021Anthropogenic disturbances, such as illegal harvesting and livestock browsing, often affect natural forests. However, the resulting tree species diversity, composition, and population structure have rarely been quantified. We assessed tree species diversity and importance value indices and, in particular, (L.) Del. population structure, across 100 sample plots of 25 m × 40 m in disturbed and non-disturbed sites at the Dinder Biosphere Reserve, Sudan, from April 2019 to April 2020. We found that the tree species diversity in non-disturbed sites was more than double that of disturbed sites ( < 0.001, = 32.6), and seedlings and saplings comprised more than 72% of the entire tree population ( = 116.4, = 0.034; = 163.2, = 0.021, respectively). The tree density of in the disturbed site was less than half that of the non-disturbed site ( = 0.018, = 2.6). was seven times more aggregated in disturbed sites compared to more regularly spaced trees in non-disturbed sites ( = 39.3 and < 0.001). The poor population status of the disturbed site shows that the conservation of this vulnerable species is essential for a sustainable management and utilization scheme
Application of the Kilimanjaro Concept in Reversing Seawater Intrusion and Securing Water Supply in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article published by MDPI, 2021There is escalating salinity levels on small islands due to uncontrolled groundwater extraction. Conventionally, this challenge is addressed by adopting optimal groundwater pumping
strategies. Currently, on Unguja Island (Zanzibar), urban freshwater is supplied by desalination,
which is expensive and energy-intensive. Hence, desalinization cannot be afforded by rural communities. This study demonstrates that the innovative Kilimanjaro Concept (KC), based on rainwater
harvesting (RWH) can remediate seawater intrusion in Unguja, while enabling a universal safe drinking water supply. The reasoning is rooted in the water balance of the whole island. It is shown that if
rainwater is systematically harvested, quantitatively stored, and partly infiltrated, seawater intrusion
will be reversed, and a universal safe drinking water supply will be secured. Water treatment with
affordable technologies (e.g., filtration and adsorption) is suggested. The universality of KC and its
suitability for small islands is demonstrated. Future research should focus on pilot testing of this
concept on Unguja Island and other island nations
Biological properties and safety profile of extracts from locally grown banana leaves in Arusha, Tanzania
Get PDFA Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master’s in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and
TechnologyThe current study assessed the biological properties and safety profile of extracts from locally
grown banana leaves in Arusha (Tanzania) to affirm their possible use for wound dressing.
Phytoconstituents screening from studied banana plant species, ijihu inkundu (IJ), mlelembo
(ML), and kimalindi (KIM), revealed the presence of secondary metabolites: anthraquinones,
alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, phenols, phytosterol, and saponins. Susceptibility
of microorganisms to studied banana varieties were in the order of KIM > ML > IJ. One-way
analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a statistical difference of mean among all extracts (p
< 0.05). Moreover, results also revealed that all tested organisms were susceptible to the studied
banana extracts, and their susceptibility was in the order of C. albicans > C. neoformans > S.
aureus > S. typhi >E. coli > P. aeruginosa. These results suggest that the studied leaves,
especially kimalindi, may be used to dress wounds involving fungal infections (C. albicans and
C. neoformans) and bacterial infections (S. aureus), all of which are common wound infections.
Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the ability of extracts to scavenge the 2, 2-
diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. Results revealed that the scavenging of DPPH
free radical was in the order of kimalindi> ijihu inkundu> mlelembo, these results also affirming
that kimalindi extract had better scavenging of DPPH radical, and hence presents better
antioxidant activity. Brine shrimp results for toxicity showed that almost all banana leaves
extracts were practically non-toxic to the shrimps, exhibiting mild toxicity by giving the LC50
values higher than 100 µg/mL
Performance of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland integrated with floating wetland and anaerobic baffled reactor in treating seed production wastewater
Get PDFA Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree
Master’s in Environmental Science and Engineering of the Nelson Mandela African
Institution of Science and TechnologyDischarge of untreated or partially treated industrial wastewater is the major contributor to aquatic
environmental pollution. Seed producing industrial wastewater is composed of high organic
matter, nutrient, and suspended solids. Discharging inadequately treated seed production
wastewater can cause severe environmental pollution because of high nutrients and organic matter
in the wastewater. The performance of integrated wastewater treatment system composed of
anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HSSFCW), and
floating constructed wetland (FCW) for removal of pollutants from seed production industrial
wastewater was studied. In HSSFCW, Cyperus alternifolius were planted with four rhizomes in
each square meter, and the FCW had four floating mats made from polyethylene foam planted
with Vetiver grass. The wetlands were continuously fed from ABR receiving 25 m
3
/day
wastewater from wastewater reservoir. The raw wastewater average organic loading rate was 0.208
kg COD/day. Wastewater samples from the inlet and outlet of each treatment unit were collected
twice a week for three months. The performance of the system in removal of biochemical oxygen
demand (BOD
5
), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, nitrate,
phosphate, and ammonium were studied. The results showed that the system achieved an average
removal efficiency of 95.52%, 94.57%, 86.23%, 76.56%, 82.35%, 76%, and 32.91% for BOD
5
,
COD, TSS, turbidity, nitrate, phosphate, and ammonium respectively. Based on the results
obtained the integrated system composed of ABR, HSSFCW, and FCW is a promising low-cost
technology for treating wastewater from seed producing industries, and the treated wastewater can
be used for irrigation
Breeding potential of lablab [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet]: a review on characterization and bruchid studies towards improved production and utilization in Africa
Get PDFThis research article published by Springer Nature Switzerland AG., 2021Lablab (Lablab purpureus) [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet] is termed a lost, underutilized and neglected crop in Africa. Despite the multipurpose use, production, consumption and research are still limited. Wide genetic diversity of lablab germplasm exists in Africa. Diversity studies provide significant information for subsequent research programs and improvement. The advent of genotyping and sequencing technologies has enabled the identification of unique and agronomically important traits. Application of next-generation sequencing on lablab as a pioneer orphan crop is currently underway. This has enabled description of the whole genome, generation of reference genome and resequencing that provide information on variation within the entire genome. Information from these technological advances helps in identifying potential traits for biotic and abiotic stress for further breeding programs. Storage pests specifically bruchids (Callosobruchus spp.), are considered a major obstacle in lablab production. Screening of available genotypes for bruchid resistance and studies on the physical and biochemical factors that confer resistance in lablab is required. Applying advanced technologies provides precise and reliable identification of the novel markers responsible for bruchid resistance allowing for introgression of important genes to breeding programs. This review provides a detailed analysis on the characterization of lablab and the information on bruchid resistance vital for breeding farmer-preferred varieties that possess agronomically beneficial traits. Concerted efforts and research on this neglected crop will enhance its production, utilization and consumption