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Creating an Enabling Environment for Youth Small and Medium Enterprise Startups: A Comparative Study of Tanzania and India
Get PDFThis research article published by Eastern Africa Social Science Research, Volume 37, Number 1, January 2021Small and medium enterprise (SMEs) sector is central to youth employment generation and contribution to national GDPs globally. This paper aimed at comparing the enabling environment for youth SMEs startups between India and Tanzania countries. This paper employed systematic literature review method where critical review of secondary data was made. The analysis noted that the two countries differ in three critical aspects of enabling environment for SMEs start up. These aspects are financial support, training support and material support. India has various grants, free and low interest rates schemes unlike Tanzania. The training system in India has been linked with some financial schemes, the component that you can hardly find in Tanzania. Also, India has various non-financial support for SMEs startup such as machines provision, workshop attendance support and spaces/accommodation support for small businesses. Tanzania has tried for the material support such as space support, yet it charges the SMEs owners some rents similar to established SMEs. Generally, SMEs startup environment in India is better compared to Tanzania. Tanzania can generate some lessons from India so as to improve its enabling environment for youth SMEs start up
Life cycle environmental assessment of electric and internal combustion engine vehicles in China
Get PDFThis research article published by Elsevier Ltd., 2021Promoting electric vehicles (EVs) is an important measure to ensure energy security, improve air quality, and mitigate global climate change. However, the emission reduction impacts of EVs in China have been widely debated and the conclusions of existing studies are still controversial. In this study, we adopted the life cycle assessment (LCA) method to evaluate the carbon dioxide (CO2) and air pollutant emissions from the stage of vehicle production, vehicle use and vehicle end-of-life. We further compared the emissions of three types of passenger vehicles in China, including internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and battery electric vehicle (BEV). Compared with ICEV, BEV and PHEV were found to reduce the emissions of CO2, VOCs, and NOX, but increase the emissions of PM2.5 and SO2. These differences were primarily caused by EV’s high fuel efficiency and high fuel consumption of ICEV. Additional findings indicate that the emissions of PM2.5 and SO2 of BEV were 2.6 and 2.1 times that of ICEV, respectively; and the emissions of PM2.5 and SO2 of PHEV were 1.8 and 1.5 times that of ICEV, respectively. Moreover, we found the emissions of PM2.5 and SO2 of EV will be higher than that of ICEV in high renewable energy scenario with higher biomass share if keeping the emission factor of electricity constant
In vivo evaluation of Spirulina platensis for nutrient bioavailability in mice
Get PDFThis research article published by Indian Journal, 2021Spirulina, a photosynthetic blue-green alga (cyanobacterium), has drawn attention as a viable food supplement due to its suitable nutrient content. Despite its suitable nutrient composition, the bioavailability of nutrients Present in Spirulina is not well reported. In this study, the bioavailability of nutrients present in locally cultivated Spirulina platensis was evaluated by using in vivo method. A total of 54 mice, 5-8 weeks age were used. The mice were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (n = 18) served as a control and received a basal diet. Group 2 (n = 20) served as a test and received Spirulina blended with a basal diet. Group 3 (n = 16) serves as a standard and received a basal diet supplemented with nutritional supplements. The study revealed that test diet had apparent absorption of protein 67%, calcium 50.6%, iron 43.8%, zinc 42%, and vitamin A 56.5%, which was higher (p 0.05) with standard diet. Given the higher bioavailability of nutritional supplements mixed into the standard diet, the resemblance in nutrient absorption between test and standard diets illustrated that Spirulina mixed into the test diet also has higher nutrient absorption
Toxic metals in East African agro-ecosystems: Key risks for sustainable food production.
Get PDFThis research article published by Elsevier Ltd., 2021The dramatic increase in world population underpins current escalating food demand, which requires increased productivity in the available arable land through agricultural intensification. Agricultural intensification involves increased agrochemicals use to increase land productivity. Increased uses of agrochemicals pose environmental and ecological risks such as contamination and water eutrophication. Consequently, toxic metals accumulate in plant products, thus entering the food chain leading to health concerns. To achieve this study, secondary data from peer-reviewed papers, universities, and government authorities were collected from a public database using Tanzania as a case study. Data from Science Direct, Web of Science, and other internet sources were gathered using specific keywords such as nutrient saturation and losses, water eutrophication, potentially toxic metal (PTEs), and impact of toxic metals on soils, water, and food safety. The reported toxic metal concentrations in agro-ecosystem worldwide are linked to agricultural intensification, mining, and urbanization. Statistical analysis of secondary data collected from East African agro-ecosystem had wide range of toxic metals concentration such as; mercury (0.001-11.0 mg Hg/kg), copper (0.14-312 mg Cu/kg), cadmium (0.02-13.8 mg Cd/kg), zinc (0.27-19.30 mg Zn/kg), lead (0.75-51.7 mg Pb/kg) and chromium (19.14-34.9 mg Cr/kg). In some cases, metal concentrations were above the FAO/WHO maximum permissible limits for soil health. To achieve high agricultural productivity and environmental safety, key research-informed policy needs are proposed: (i) development of regulatory guidelines for agrochemicals uses, (ii) establishment of agro-environmental quality indicators for soils and water assessment to monitor agro-ecosystem quality changes, and (iii) adoption of best farming practices such as split fertilization, cover cropping, reduced tillage, drip irrigation to ensure crop productivity and agro-ecosystem sustainability. Therefore, robust and representative evaluation of current soil contamination status, sources, and processes leading to pollution are paramount. To achieve safe and sustainable food production, management of potential toxic metal in agro-ecosystems is vital
Mycobactericidal Effects of Different Regimens Measured by Molecular Bacterial Load Assay among People Treated for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published American Society for Microbiology, 2021Rifampin or multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (RR/MDR-TB) treatment has largely transitioned to regimens free of the injectable aminoglycoside component, despite the drug class’ purported bactericidal activity early in treatment. We tested whether Mycobacterium tuberculosis killing rates measured by tuberculosis molecular bacterial load assay (TB-MBLA) in sputa correlate with composition of the RR/MDR-TB regimen. Serial sputa were collected from patients with RR/MDR- and drug-sensitive TB at days 0, 3, 7, and 14, and then monthly for 4 months of anti-TB treatment. TB-MBLA was used to quantify viable M. tuberculosis 16S rRNA in sputum for estimation of colony forming units per ml (eCFU/ml). M. tuberculosis killing rates were compared among regimens using nonlinear-mixed-effects modeling of repeated measures. Thirty-seven patients produced 296 serial sputa and received treatment as follows: 13 patients received an injectable bedaquiline-free reference regimen, 9 received an injectable bedaquiline-containing regimen, 8 received an all-oral bedaquiline-based regimen, and 7 patients were treated for drug-sensitive TB with conventional rifampin/isoniazid/pyrazinamide/ethambutol (RHZE). Compared to the adjusted M. tuberculosis killing of −0.17 (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.23 to −0.12) for the injectable bedaquiline-free reference regimen, the killing rates were −0.62 (95% CI −1.05 to −0.20) log10 eCFU/ml for the injectable bedaquiline-containing regimen (P = 0.019), −0.35 (95% CI −0.65 to −0.13) log10 eCFU/ml for the all-oral bedaquiline-based regimen (P = 0.054), and −0.29 (95% CI −0.78 to +0.22) log10 eCFU/ml for the RHZE regimen (P = 0.332). Thus, M. tuberculosis killing rates from sputa were higher among patients who received bedaquiline but were further improved with the addition of an injectable aminoglycoside
A comparative analysis of determinants of low birth weight and stunting among under five children of adolescent and non-adolescent mothers using 2015/16 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS
Get PDFThis research article was published by BMC Nutrition, 2021Background: Tanzania is one of the Sub-Saharan African country with nearly 12 out of 60 million people being
adolescent. The prevalence of child marriage is higher with one out of every three girls being married before
reaching their 18th birthday, 5 % being married by the age of 15, and 31% by the age of 18 years. Literature shows
early pregnancy is associated with Low Birth Weight (LBW) and stunting among children under 5 years. This paper
explores variation and factors associated with low birth weight and stunting among children born by adolescent
and non-adolescent mothers.
Methods: Data from 13,266 women with children under 5 years collected as part of the 2015/2016 TDHS was re analyzed using STATA version 14 software while accounting for survey design. A total of 6385 women (of which
7.2% were adolescent) and 8852 women (of which 6.7% were adolescent) were involved in the analysis of child
birth weight and stunting respectively. Descriptive statistics stratified by maternal age was conducted with LBW and
stunting as outcome variables followed by logistic regressions models controlling for confounding variables.
Results: The proportion of obese or overweight adolescent and non-adolescent mothers was 11.8 and 36.5%
respectively. Antenatal care (ANC) attendance, areas of residence and social economic status were very similar in
the two maternal age groups. Non- adolescent mothers had reduced odds of giving birth to LBW babies compared
to adolescent mothers (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.22–0.50). Maternal undernutrition (AOR = 2.29;
95% CI: 1.43–3.67), being divorced, separated or widowed (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.24–2.50) and having at least four
ANC visits (AOR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.49–0.83) were significantly associated with reduced odds of having a LBW. Child
stunting was not associated with maternal age. Maternal high socioeconomic status (AOR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.57–0.84)
and maternal obesity or overweight (AOR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.64–0.92) were negatively associated with stunting. Child
birth weight, sex, and age were significantly associated with stunting
Genome Scan for Variable Genes Involved in Environmental Adaptations of Nubian Ibex
Get PDFThis research article was published by Springer Nature Switzerland AG., 2021The Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) is a wild goat species that inhabits the Sahara and Arabian deserts and is adapted to extreme
ambient temperatures, intense solar radiation, and scarcity of food and water resources. To investigate desert adaptation,
we explored the possible role of copy number variations (CNVs) in the evolution of Capra species with a specifc focus on
the environment of Capra nubiana. CNVs are structural genomic variations that have been implicated in phenotypic dif ferences between species and could play a role in species adaptation. CNVs were inferred from Capra nubiana sequence
data relative to the domestic goat reference genome using read-depth approach. We identifed 191 CNVs overlapping with
protein-coding genes mainly involved in biological processes such as innate immune response, xenobiotic metabolisms,
and energy metabolisms. We found copy number variable genes involved in defense response to viral infections (Cluster of
Diferentiation 48, UL16 binding protein 3, Natural Killer Group 2D ligand 1-like, and Interferon-induced transmembrane
protein 3), possibly suggesting their roles in Nubian ibex adaptations to viral infections. Additionally, we found copy num ber variable xenobiotic metabolism genes (carboxylesterase 1, Cytochrome P450 2D6, Glutathione S-transferase Mu 4, and
UDP Glucuronosyltransferase-2B7), which are probably an adaptation of Nubian ibex to desert diets that are rich in plant
secondary metabolites. Collectively, this study’s results advance our understanding of CNVs and their possible roles in the
adaptation of Nubian ibex to its environment. The copy number variable genes identifed in Nubian ibex could be considered
as subjects for further functional characterizations
Barriers and facilitators to health insurance enrolment among people working in the informal sector in Morogoro, Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by AAS Open Research,2021Background: Health insurance is a crucial pathway towards the achievement of universal health coverage. In Tanzania, health-financing reforms are underway to speed up universal health coverage in the informal sector. Despite improved Community Health Fund (iCHF) rollout, iCHF enrolment remains a challenge in the informal sector. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of local women food vendors (LWFV) and Bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) drivers on factors that challenge and facilitate their enrolment in iCHF.
Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Morogoro Municipality through in-depth interviews with LWFV (n=24) and Bodaboda drivers (n=26), and two focus group discussions with LWFV (n=8) and Bodaboda drivers (n=8). Theory of planned behaviour (TPB) constructs (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived control) provided a framework for the study and informed a thematic analysis focusing on the barriers and facilitators of iCHF enrolment.
Results: The views of LWFV and Bodaboda drivers on factors that influence iCHF enrolment converged. Three main barriers emerged: lack of knowledge about the iCHF (attitude); negative views from friends and families (subjective norms); and inability to overcome challenges, such as the quality and range of health services available to iCHF members and iCHF not being accepted at non-government facilities (perceived control). A number of facilitators were identified, including opinions that enrolling to iCHF made good financial sense (attitude), encouragement from already-enrolled friends and relatives (subjective norms) and the belief that enrolment payment is affordable (perceived control).
Conclusions: Results suggest that positive attitudes supported by perceived control and encouragement from significant others could potentially motivate LWFV and Bodaboda drivers to enroll in iCHF. However, more targeted information about the scheme is needed for individuals in the informal sector. There is also a need to ensure that quality health services are available, including coverage for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and that non-government facilities accept iCHF
Assessment of fluoride removal in a batch electrocoagulation process: A case study in the Mount Meru Enclave.
Get PDFThis research article was published by Elsevier in 2021The presence of excessive amounts of fluoride than prescribed standards has been reported
in various sources of domestic water supply around the slopes of Mount Meru and other
parts in Tanzania. Efforts to remove the excessive fluoride have been carried out using
various technologies. In this study, electrocoagulation experiments were carried out to as-
sess its efficiency on fluoride removal. The fluoride concentration tested ranged from 1.37
to 48 mg/L in both synthetic and natural waters. The voltage applied in the electrocoag-
ulation (EC) process ranged from 0 to 50 V while maintaining pH values of 4 to 9. The
representative experimental results for the Ngarenanyuki river water with initial fluoride
concentration of 29.5 mg/L accomplished a removal efficiency of 90% at an optimal elec-
trolysis time of 30 min, an applied voltage of 30 V and an optimal pH of 6. The method
showed efficient fluoride removal in water to allowable limits by World Health Organiza-
tion (WHO) and Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) (1.5 mg/L). Despite the voltage applied
(30 V), the pH at neutrality remained unchanged thus making the process more efficient.
At this voltage (30 V) the process has been reported previously also to have the capability
of disinfecting the water and hence rendering such water safe for use
Community-based Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR): Determinants and policy implications in Tanzania
Get PDFA research article was published in Land Use Policy Volume 109, October 2021Forest landscape restoration (FLR) has gained global scientific and political attention in recent times, with many sub-Saharan African countries committing to restoration targets. Despite the commitments, there is a dearth of information on the factors shaping community participation in FLR in the context of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To close this gap, this study explored Babati District in Tanzania to investigate determinants, choices and policy implications of community-based FLR. A total of 98 households were surveyed in two villages, complemented by four experts’ interviews. We employed a hybrid analytical lens; the socio-ecological co-evolution, and the livelihoods framework for the study. The logistic regression analyses revealed that: (i) while both perceived monetary and non-monetary benefits shape households’ interest in FLR, asset-poor households are more interested in the monetary benefits than their rich counterparts, (ii) households FLR choices are largely shaped by the effectiveness of community-based institutions, (iii) natural, financial and social capital positively shaped households’ choices in FLR while a negative link was established for physical capital, and (iv) crop farmers choose to participate in FLR activities by growing a mixture of fruit and native timber tree species while those in other professions participated by planting only fruit trees species. Policy interventions which valorise community-based institutions should be prioritized to ensure equitable land access and tenure security, and promote the growing of native species. This would increase trust on land tenure and would invariably enhance participation in FLR activities. Moreover, policy incentives (e.g., training, micro-credit and market access) should be introduced to foster agro-based restoration approaches – involving the deliberate combination of tree-planting with crop-farming (agroforestry). Finally, policy support for alternative livelihood strategies such as bee keeping, butterfly gardening, snail and mushroom farming should be promoted to reduce monetary expectations from FLR interventions