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Can local African communities be empowered through participatory budgeting?
No full textJournal articleTanzania used to be one of the poorest countries in Africa. Although the country attained a middle-income status on 1st July 2020, the majority of grassroots communities have not experienced improvement in their standard of living. Participatory budgeting (PB) is one of the variants of public budgeting geared at community empowerment through participation of non-elected citizens in the management of public resources. This article has explored the intent of the participatory public budgeting in the empowerment of local communities in the Tanzanian context. The key question is are marginalized people been empowered to participate in the PB? The study used a qualitative research design. The main unit of analysis was a district council. An administrative ward and a household served as secondary units of analysis. The findings have divulged that there is a framework for the implementation of PB capable of empowering communities in Tanzania. However, the PB structures have been underutilized. If the government commits to effective implementation of the existing set up of the PB process, allowing full participation of local communities at all levels, community empowerment can be attained. Overall, the article adds to a new body of literature on the contribution of PB on community empowerment. The article is useful to practitioners and academicians interested in the implementation of participatory approaches and community empowerment. The study is based on an original research.TGNP mtanda
Evaluation of trap barrier system for rodent management In irrigated rice ecosystem in Mkindo village, Tanzania
No full textMasters ThesisRodents are one of the major factors limiting crop production in Central-eastern Tanzania.
A study was conducted at Mkindo village from July, 2016 to July, 2017 to evaluate the
effectiveness of trap barrier system (TBS) as rodent pest management tool in rice, which
enclosed a crop planted 2 weeks earlier (trap-crop). The trap barrier of 10 m by 10 m was
constructed using poles dug 50 cm into the ground and standing 1.5 m above the ground.
A polythene sheet measuring 45 m in length and 1 m in width was rolled around the
staked poles of wood. Two live-multiple-capture traps were placed at the base of the
polythene on each side of the trap barrier. Damage to tillers and yield loss were assessed
within the trap-crop and at 0, 10, 20 and 30 m on each side of the trap barrier. The effect
of TBS on mean yield increased up to 20 m and 30 m in dry and wet season respectively
from the trap crop. Two crops were monitored: dry season crop when rat densities were
high and wet season crop when rat densities were low. Results show that there were no
significant differences in rodent abundance between seasons and crop growth stage in
farmers managed rice fields where Mastomys natalensis was the most abundant rodent
pest species. Higher yield was recorded during the wet season compared to the dry
season. The cost benefit ratios for using a TBS were 1:1.1 for the dry, 1:6.7 for the wet
season. This showed potential of TBS in rodent management for reducing population
abundance and crop damage in lowland rice in Tanzania. TBS surrounding crops provided
cost-effective protection against pre-harvest rat- caused losses to rice in the dry season
when rodent densities are highest. It is recommended that small scale farmers use TBS to
reduce pre-harvest rat losses of rice in the dry season as opposite to wet season.
This will help them to maximize their profits and improve their living standards.
Further studies are needed to test this new technology in other irrigation schemes in
Tanzania
Soil contamination by Taenia solium egg DNA in rural villages in Kongwa district, Tanzania
No full textJournal articleThe presence ofTaenia solium DNA from eggs in soils around the households in four
Tanzanian villages in Kongwa district were analysed in relation to seasonal fluctuations and
infection risk implications. A total of 192 pooled soil samples from five sampling points per
household were examined by droplet digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR) from 96 pigkeeping
households both during the dry and rainy seasons. The pooled samples were first
processed by a flotation-double sieving technique, followed by screening for worm DNA
employing universal primers targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I
(cox1) gene of human taeniid species and some other helminths. All DNA positive samples
were later confirmed by a specific ddPCR probe assay targeting the mitochondrial cox1 gene
of T. solium. A total of 17.2% (n = 33) samples were positive with the universal ddPCR,
whereas T. solium DNA was confirmed by the specific ddPCR only in 3.1% (n = 3) of the
surveyed households. The detection of T. solium DNA in this study spells out a low risk of
exposure to T. solium eggs from contaminated household soil. Based on our results, ddPCR
seems to be a promising technology for screening T. solium eggs in soil
Status and management of rice blast disease caused by Pyricularia oryzae cav. In upland rice in selected regions in Tanzania
No full textPhD ThesisThis study aimed to enhance effective rice blast disease management by the establishment
of the current status of the disease, its effect on yield of selected upland rice genotypes and
the use of environmentally friendly methods such as bio-agents and hot water seed
treatment. Two surveys were conducted in 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 rice growing seasons
to investigate farmers’ knowledge of rice blast disease and its management and to
establish the incidence and severity of rice blast disease in farmers’ rice fields in
Morogoro and Tanga regions. Data were collected through face to face interviews using
semi structured questionnaire. Rice blast disease assessment in farmers’ fields was
conducted by diagonal transect walk using 1.0 x 1.0 quadrant. Results indicated that
about 46.3% of the farmers interviewed were not aware of the cause and means of spread
of rice blast disease. The majority of farmers (92.3%) planted local upland rice varieties
and about 54.0% did not apply any management method due to lack of knowledge,
inability to afford the cost of buying fungicides and unavailability of effective blast
disease control measures. Results from the surveys indicated that the highest rice blast
disease incidence and severity were recorded in the 2017/2018 rice growing season. In this
season, Mvomero and Korogwe districts had higher blast disease severity of 100% and
98.8%, respectively, than Morogoro Rural (88.1%) and Muheza (87.3%) districts. In vitro
evaluation of microbial agents, indicated that Trichoderma asperellum and Bacillus
subtilis had over 75% inhibition of radial growth of P. oryzae compared to fungicide
Linkimil 72 WP (21 - 23%) and the control (0%). In vivo evaluation showed that rice blast
disease incidence was reduced by 70% in plants treated with T. asperellum followed by
51.5% in B. subtilis treated plants and 26.5% in Linkimil 72 WP treated plants. There was
a decrease in blast disease severity by 35.6% in rice plants treated with T. asperellum and
29.1% in B. subtilis treated rice plants, suggesting that T. asperellum and B. subtilis used
in this study had high antagonistic capacity against P. oryzae. Completely randomized
design (CRD) experiments in the laboratory and screen house were conducted to
investigate the efficacy of T. asperellum, B. subtilis and hot water seed treatments on rice
blast disease. Results indicated significant reduction (P ≥ 0.05) of the percentage of
infected rice seeds when T. asperellum, B. subtilis and hot water treatment were used. Rice
blast disease incidence and severity were significantly reduced (P ≥ 0.05) on rice seeds
treated with B. subtilis. Therefore, the use of microbial agents has the potential for
effective management of rice blast disease. Field experiments were conducted twice in
three locations to determine the effect of rice blast disease on grain yield of upland rice
genotypes. A randomized complete block design experiment (RCBD) was used in a paired
block with P. oryzae naturally inoculated and fungicide sprayed blocks. Results showed
that the effect of rice blast disease on grain yield of upland rice genotypes depended on
disease pressure, which differed across rice genotypes, locations and rice growing seasons.
In general, the disease caused 26.6 to 52.1% grain yield reduction in the two rice growing
seasons. Improved rice genotypes such as NERICA 7 and WAB 450 were also found
susceptible to rice blast disease in the study areas. In general, this study, gives highlights
of the incidence and severity of rice blast disease, its management using bio - agents (T.
asperellum and B. subtilis) and the effects of the disease on grain yield of selected upland
rice genotypes grown under rain-fed conditions in Morogoro and Tanga regions. Such
information is important in designing rice blast disease management options.International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) Grain IPM for East Africa project, Cooperative Agreement No. AIDOAA- L-15-0000
Pest status and management options for plutella xylostella l. (lepidoptera: plutellidae) in Iringa and Morogoro, Tanzania
No full textMasters ThesisPlutella xylostella L. is the pest of economic importance in production of Brassica crop.
This pest can cause up to 90% loss if not controlled. The pest has been reported to exist in
Tanzania but the actual assessment of its abundance and inflicted damages are lacking.
This has made production of brassica to be dependent on a number of pesticide
applications to allow harvesting of marketable heads. Interrupted mating through overhead
irrigation has been reported to minimize pest damage but the exact timing for irrigation has
never been established. The present study aimed at understanding the pest status of P.
xylostella in major production areas and exact the irrigation water based management as
potential alternative to pesticides. Specifically, the study sought to: (1) determine the
spatial distribution of P. xylostella in cabbage growing areas of Iringa and Morogoro
Regions, and (2) determine the effect of timing of overhead irrigation on occurrence and
perpetuation of P. xylostella on cabbage crop.
Methods
A survey was conducted in Iringa and Morogoro Regions from May 2017 to July 2017 to
assess pest status and its distribution in tandem with the first specific objective. A total of
80 respondents’ were interviewed using questionnaires and field visits made for diagnostic
assessments of 80 brassica farms owned by the respondents. Assessments of the abundance
and damages inflicted by P. xylostella were done. Collected data included; respondents’
demographic variables, awareness of the pest and its seasonal occurrence, practiced control
measures against the pests, grown varieties, field incidences of the pests, damage
severities, and general management of the crop. The collected data were descriptively
analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 16.0) software. In
addition, Chi square tests (p = 0.05) were used to test the statistical significances among
variables. Regression (R2) analyses were performed to determine the relationship between
P. xylostella incidence and altitude, cropping system, varieties commonly grown, previous
crop and crop growth stage. Obtained results were presented in tabular form and graphs.
The second objective was accomplished through a field experiment set at SUA
Horticultural Training Farm. The effect of timing of overhead irrigation on occurrence and
perpetuation of P. xylostella on cabbage crop was investigated. The experiment was laid
out in a two factor Split plot arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD)
and replicated thrice. Main-plot consisted of two Brassica spp namely; Chinese cabbage
(Brassica rapa) and Head cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var. capitata) while, Sub-plot
consisted of three time intervals for sprinkler irrigation namely; T1 (5 pm), T2 (6 pm), T3
(7 pm) and Control (plants treated with insecticide-Phosphorothioate and irrigated using
watering can). Data collected on pest incidences, developmental stages and magnitude of
damages was subjected to Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means separated using The
Least Significant Difference Test (LSD; p = 0.05) was also performed as means separation
test. Genstat v.16 Statistical package (VSN International) was used for statistical analyses.
In addition, relationships among test variables and P. xylostella were established through
regression (R2) analysis was performed using MS-Excel v.16 software.
Findings
Results from comparative analyses among surveyed wards in Iringa and Morogoro Regions
suggested no significant differences (χ2 = 12.27, df = 16, p = 0.73). Thus, brassica crop in
almost all fields succumbed equally to P. xylostella. Recorded field incidences were
(67.2%) and (50.2%) in Iringa and Morogoro regions respectively. Detailed analyses of the
four surveyed wards in Iringa indicated that Mangalali had the highest incidence (93.3%)
iv
while Ulanda had the lowest (47.3%). In Morogoro region Mlali had the highest incidence
(79.0%) while Dumila had lowest incidence (37.3%). Up to 66.7% of assessed fields were
infested with P. xylostella in combination with other pests, while 28.9% of the sampled
fields were infested with P. xylostella alone. Further analysis suggested a significant
relationship (R2 = 0.032, p = 0.019) between mono-cropping system and P. xylostella
incidences. The pest incidences increased with the crop growth stage (R2 = 0.031, p =
0.02).
There was a positive significant relationship between larvae counts and damage score for
Head cabbage (R2 = 0.42, p = 2.23 x 10-5) and Chinese cabbage (R2 = 0.43, p = 1.22 x10-5).
Control plots recorded significantly lower larvae count (1.63), adults count (1.46) and
damage score (2.07) than T1 (1.83 larvae, 1.60 adults, 3.01 damage score), T2 (1.81 larvae,
1.64 adults, 3.22 damage score) and T3 (1.80 larvae, 1.64 adults, 3.07 damage score). The
crop type had a significant (LSD = 63, p < 0.013) effect on yield. Chinese cabbage
recorded higher yield (578 kg Ha-1) than Head cabbage (461 kg Ha-1).
Conclusions
The survey established that P. xylostella was abundantly existent in Iringa and Morogoro
regions wherever Brassicas are grown. Brassica production was not without the application
of insecticides in fear of damages inflicted by P. xylostella. Interrupted mating through
irrigation water somehow reduced the pest incidences but no significant variation was
recorded with varied timing of irrigation. Insecticides application significantly minimized
the number of P. xylostella and its effects on brassicas. Thus, the application of insecticides
remained one most effective control strategy against P. xylostella.East Africa Vegetable Crop integrated Pest Management-Innovation La
Pigeon pea protein content and its potential for developing Binder in sausage making
No full textMasters ThesisThe use of non-meat and natural binders like legumes to replace chemical binders in
sausage making (stimulated by the increasing demand for healthy food) has become one of
the common practices in the meat industry. The protein in pigeon pea can be exploited to
improve sausage performance. This study was conducted to assess the potentiality of
pigeon pea protein in developing beef sausage compared to industrial phosphate binder.
Pigeon pea sample varieties, local and improved, were collected and subjected to protein
and anti-nutritional factors analyses. Beef sausages were formulated with eight levels that
included control sausage (CB), phosphate sausage (PB) with 0.5% of phosphate, 2%, 4%
and 6% of pigeon pea binder (PPB1, PPB2 and PPB3 respectively) and 2%, 4% and 6%
pigeon pea flour (PPF1, PPF2 and PPF3 respectively). Sausage performance was assessed
by determining the texture profile (TP) and water solubility index (WSI) of the sausages
and sensory evaluation was performed.
The improved variety had higher protein content hence was used to develop pigeon pea
binder. Anti-nutritional factors were present below the lethal dose hence were not analyzed
in the binder developed. In texture profile, PPB sausages had the significantly (p<0.05)
lowest hardness and the second highest value for springiness, cohesiveness and
adhesiveness after PB sausage. For water solubility index (WSI), PPB3 sausages had
significantly (p<0.05) higher WSI, PB sausage were second highest while other
formulations had lower WSI.
For sensory evaluation, phosphate sausage (PB) had significantly (p<0.05) highest scores
in sensory attributes similar to 6% pigeon pea binder (PPB3) sausage which were also
most preferred.
Therefore, these findings revealed that 6% pigeon pea binder improved sausage
performance with sensory profile similar to the phosphate chemical binder. It is
recommended that, pigeon pea binder at 6% level can be used to replace phosphate in
sausage making.Veg-Leg (Vegetable and Legumes
Factors that predict caregivers intention to feed pearl Millet to rural school aged children in Kongwa District, Tanzania
No full textMasters ThesisIron and zinc deficiencies are among the public health concern in school children in
developing countries. This study investigated factors that predict the intention of
caregivers to feed pearl millet to school children in Kongwa district. A cross-sectional
study was carried whereas 128 caregivers of school children aged 5 – 12 years were
interviewed on the construct based on the combined model of Theory of Planned
Behaviour (TPB) and Health Behaviour (HBM). Correlations and multiple linear
regressions were performed to measure association between constructs and to identify
predictive constructs. Mann-Whitney were used for score comparison. Knowledge about
pearl millet and it’s relation to health (β = 0.536, P = 0.000) was strong predictor of health
behaviour identity. Health behaviour identity (β= 0.336, P = 0.000) was significantly
predicted intention. Cues to action as an external factors seemed to be the best predictor
for intention to feed pearl millet standardized (β = 0.231, P = 0.023). Finally, intention
was significantly predicted behaviour (β = 0.774, p = 0.044). We found that caregivers
had the intention to feed pearl millet to their children and which can be increased by;
increasing knowledge on iron, zinc and pearl millet to caregivers by providing various
community trainings in order to increase influence on the decision of caregivers pearl
millet to their school going children.Africa RISING Projec
A serological and molecular investigation of Treponema pallidum pertenue infection among children with skin ulcers in Tarangire - Manyara ecosystem, northern Tanzania.
No full textMasters Thesi
Integrated assessment of climate change impacts and adaptation in agriculture: the case study of the Wami River Sub-basin, Tanzania
No full textA Book chapter, Climate Variability and Change in Africa, Sustainable
Development Goals Series, 115-136 pp.This study evaluates the impacts of climate
change and an adaptation strategy on agricul-
ture in the Wami River sub-basin in Tanzania.
This study uses the Agricultural Model
Improvement and Inter-comparison Project
(AgMIP) framework that integrates climate,
crops and economic models and data using a
novel multi-model approach for impact assess-
ment of agricultural systems under current and future conditions. This study uses five Global
Circulation Models (GCMs) from the fifth
phase of the Coupled Model Inter-comparison
Project (CMIP5), two crop simulation models,
and one economic impact assessment model. In
this study, a representative agricultural path-
ways (RAP) that characterises future condi-
tions following ‘business-as-usual’ trends was
developed and used to model future agricul-
tural systems in the Wami River sub-basin.
Results show that by mid-century, the maxi-
mum and minimum temperatures will increase
by 1.8–4.1 °C and 1.4–4.6 °C, respectively.
Rainfall is predicted to be variable with some
places projected to increase by 12%, while in
other areas it is projected to decrease by 14–
28%. Maize yields under these conditions are
projected to decrease by 5.3–40.7%. Results
show that under current conditions, 50–60% of
farm households are vulnerable to losses due to
climate change. The impacts of climate change
on poverty and per capita income are also
projected to be negative. Under the current
production system, poverty rates were pro-
jected to increase by 0.8–15.3% and per-capita
income to drop by 1.3–7.5%. Future
socio-economic conditions and prices offset
the negative impacts of climate change. Under
future conditions, the proportion of households
vulnerable to loss is estimated to range from 25
to 50%. Per-capita income and poverty rates are
expected to improve under the future climate
change conditions. Poverty rates would
decrease between 1.9 and 11.2% and income
per-capita would increase between 2.6 and
18.5%. The proposed future adaptation pack-
age will further improve household liveli-
hoods. This integrated assessment of climate
change projections using the improved meth-
ods and tools developed by AgMIP has con-
tributed to a better understanding of climate
change and adaptation impacts in a holistic
manner
Influenza virus infections among outpatients seeking health care at selected hospitals in Morogoro, Mbeya and Zanzibar, Tanzania
No full textMasters ThesisRespiratory infections cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide and are the
second leading causes of death in Tanzania. Several studies involving national sentinel
surveillance for influenza and epidemiology of influenza have been conducted in
Tanzania. However, there is dearth in the information on the aetiology of respiratory
diseases. This study screened for influenza viruses in subject with influenza-like illnesses
in selected areas of Tanzania. A total of 735 subjects were recruited at hospitals in
Morogoro, Mbeya and Zanzibar and the collected sample were screened for influenza
viruses using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Out of the tested
samples, 13% (93/735) were positive for influenza virus. Influenza A accounted for 56%
(52/93) of the detected viruses. Majority of positive cases (19/93; 20%) were from
individuals <9 years and 20 to 35 years old categories. There was a significant difference
in the proportion of influenza positive sample by month (χ2=67.9 p<0.05). Two peaks of
infection were observed from March to May and from November to January. Four
representative influenza isolates were sequenced and genetically characterized. The
BLAST search showed that A/Tanzania/BMH1674/2019 isolate from Zanzibar had
99.86% nucleotide identity with Texas/109/2019 strain from Texas in United States. All
of the three influenza B viruses from Zanzibar and Morogoro were 100% identical and
belong to the influenza B victoria lineage. This study have revealed that influenza A virus
was the most prevalent in 2019 and most of the isolates in our study are not independent
evolution variants, as they shared high nucleotide similarity with characterized reference
strains from the neighbouring countries and other part of the world.Africa Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases
(SACIDS-ACE