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Nutrient intake of women of child bearing age from two Agro-climatic zones of Rural Areas in Tanzania
No full textTanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences (2020) Vol. 19 No. 2, 92-106Nutrient deficiencies impose significant public health problems in many developing countries
affecting especially women of child bearing age and children. A household cross-sectional survey
involving a sample of 351 households was conducted in four villages of Morogoro and Dodoma
regions, representing two different agro-climatic regions, to examine nutrient intake from food
in rural women of childbearing age. The respondent was the mother/caregiver in the household.
Dietary intake data were collected by using a quantitative 24 hour dietary recall questionnaire.
Nutrient intake was analyzed using NutriSurvey program. Nutrients consumed was classified into
energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamin A, vitamin B 1 , vitamin B 2 , vitamin B 6 , vitamin B 12 , folic
acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, and zinc. The mean daily intake of energy was 1976 Kcal (95%
CI: 1886.1-2066.5) for Morogoro and 1651 Kcal (95% CI: 1553.0-1747.0) for Dodoma. Daily
mean intake of protein was 61.2g (95% CI: 56.9-65.4) for Morogoro and 36.7g (95% CI: 32.3-
41.1) for Dodoma. Mean fat intake was 33.0g (95% CI: 30.1-35.9) for Morogoro and 23.9g (95%
CI: 20.8-27.0) for Dodoma. Vitamin A (retinol equivalents) intake in Dodoma was higher than
the recommended amounts at 823.4g (95% CI: 710.1-916.1) but lower than the recommended
intake in Morogoro at 335.3g (95% CI: 271.0-400.0). Even though both districts did not meet the
recommended nutrient intake for vitamin B12, Dodoma had the lowest intake at 0.6mg (95% CI:
0.31, 0.83) compared to Morogoro 1.5 mg (95% CI: 1.13, 1.84). The results of this study suggest
different nutrient consumption patterns between Dodoma and Morogoro based on the agro-
climatic condition of the districts which also influence the type of foods produced in particular
areas. This calls for support for education on food and dietary intake that purposely accentuate
increasing production and consumption of a diversity of foods preferred in a certain agro-climatic
environment. This should include consumption of animal source foods to increase the intake of
nutrients
Determinants of urban and peri-urban youth employment in agribusiness in Malawi
No full textMasters ThesisAgribusiness has been recognized to provide employment opportunities for youth in
Malawi. However, little is known on factors that drive urban and peri-urban youth into
agribusiness employment. This study examined the determinants of urban and peri-urban
youth employment in agribusiness in Malawi. A cross-sectional study design was adopted.
Sample size was 9680 youth for quantitative data while a sample of 135 for qualitative
data. Quantitative data was obtained from nationally representative Living Standards
Measurement Surveys - Integrated Household Survey (LSMS- IHS) data for Malawi and
Regression analysis was used with the aid of STATA 14.0. Qualitative data was generated
from focus group discussions and key informant interviews and the data was analysed
using thematic analysis. The study found that 44.5% of youth were employed in
agribusiness with 35.7% of them working in farming. Furthermore, the study found that
age, access to credit, extension services and livestock ownership positively and
significantly influenced youth employment in agribusiness (p < 0.05). Whereas, marital
status, education level, household size, dependency ratio, wealth, and distance to the
market negatively and significantly influenced youth employment in agribusiness (p <
0.01 and p < 0.05). However, in the multinomial logit factors that influence youth
employment into specific agribusiness categories vary. Thematic analysis confirm that the
above factors influence youth to be in agribusiness. Moreover, findings revealed that
despite opportunities in agribusiness, youth face challenges such as lack of access to
credit, extension services, limited agribusiness education (training), lack of improved
agricultural inputs and lack of access to land and markets among other things.
Furthermore, results from Ordinary Least Square (Multiple Linear) Regression found a
negative significant relationship between being employed in farming and per capita
consumption expenditure at p < 0.01. Whereas, there was a positive significant
relationship between being employed in a mix of farming and non-agricultural business as
well as being employed in off-farm agricultural activities with per capita consumption
expenditure at p < 0.01. Generally, it can be concluded that youth employment in
agribusiness is influenced more by push factors, which highlights the lack of government
investment and support towards youth in agribusiness and the sector itself. The study
recommends that implementation of policy pathways should be potentially geared
towards improving access to credit, agricultural extension services, and education in
agribusiness, improved agricultural inputs, land and markets among other things. This
will promote youth employment in agribusiness and thus, improve well-being of youth.Prof. Mark Mwandosy
Increasing maize yields with soil testing and subsides in Tanzania
No full textThough the use of fertilizers can enhance productivity and increase profits
for small-scale farming families, two barriers to their adoption have proved
critical. First, many farmers often cannot afford to buy fertilizers; second,
use recommendations from government sources may not be appropriate
for specific farms. In Tanzania, 1 our multi-disciplinary team used low-cost
soil testing to pair field-specific recommendations with subsidy vouchers
to help cover the cost of fertilizer purchase. Our results show that farmers
benefitted significantly in both yields and profits when (1) fertilizer
recommendations were calibrated to the needs of individual farms and (2)
a subsidy made the recommended fertilizers affordable
Optimization of in-vitro regeneration of pineapple (ananas comosus (l) merr)
No full textMaster ThesisThe objectives of this study were to determine the optimum concentrations of 6-
Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) and Murashige and
Skoog (MS) media state on in vitro multiplication of local pineapple cv. “Smooth
Cayenne”. Experiments were carried out at Mikocheni Agricultural Research
Institute from September 2016 to July 2017. In the first experiment, crown and
ratoon derived explants were cultured in MS medium supplemented with BAP at 0,
2, 3, 4, 5, 5.5mg/L in combination with NAA at 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 2mg/L while in
the second experiment, ratoon and crown derived explants were cultured in MS
semi-solid, solid and liquid media. MS semi-solid and solid media were prepared by
adding 1.25 and 2.5g/L of phytagel as gelling agent. The pineapple explant were
divided into four portions, planted in MS media with different BAP and NAA
combinations and then incubated in a growth room at temperature of 26` ± 2 °C and
photoperiod of 16h dark and 8h light per day. Data on number of plantlets per quarter
explant and weight of plantlets at 16th week from the date of culture initiation were
collected. Data were analyzed using Gen Stat Computer Software version 12th based
on split plot in a completely randomized design, and treatment separation was
performed based on Duncan Multiple Range Test at p ≤ 0.05. Crown derived
explants cultured in BAP at 5mg/L and NAA at 2mg/L produced the highest number
of 16 plantlets per quarter explant each weighing 1.979g. Moreover, crown derived
explants cultured in semi-solid MS media produced the largest number of plantlets of
16.33 plantlets per quarter explant each weighing 1.966g. It is recommended that
tissue culture propagators should improve in vitro propagation of pineapple by
culturing crown-derived explants in MS semi-solid media supplemented with BAP at
5mg/L and NAA at 2mg/L. Further studies are required to determine the effect of
crown and ratoon-derived seedlings on field performance of pineapple.Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH
Comparison of body length-weight relationship and condition factor for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in two different climatic conditions in Tanzania
No full textThis study compared length-weight relationship and condition factor of male Nile tilapia raised in two districts experiencing different climatic conditions in Tanzania, Mbarali and Mufindi. Fish were raised for six (6) months and measurements were done biweekly. The results suggests negative allometric growth pattern (b 99%) between length and weight of the fish. The condition factor (K) ranged from 2.74 to 3.50 in Mbarali and 1.96 to 2.40 in Mufindi, throughout the experimental period. Significantly higher condition factor was observed for fish grown in Mbarali (3.168 ± 0.056) than those in Mufindi (2.166 ± 0.056). It is concluded that, the climate of Mbarali provides better conditions for growth of fish than that of Mufindi
Functional disabilities and associated factors among elderly people in Misungwi District, Mwanza
No full textPartial Dissertation MSc. In Human NutritionThe older population is increasing worldwide and in many countries older people will
outnumber younger people in the twenty first century. Change in age structure among the
elderly is associated with functional disabilities by limiting performance of daily
activities. . Functional disabilities increase dependency and institutionalization, also they
are associated with higher mortality among elderly people. This study was carried out to
assess functional disabilities in activities of daily living and associated factors among
institutionalized and free living elderly in Misungwi district, Mwanza Tanzania. A cross-
sectional research design was adopted involving a total of 120 elderly people in which 60
respondents were from Bukumbi elderly centre, 30 were randomly selected from Igokelo
ward and 30 from Mabuki ward. A questionnaire-based survey was used to collect
information and data were analysed using SPSS version 20, descriptive statistics was
computed, independent t-test was performed to test median score difference and chi-
square test was performed to determine association and for comparison between two
groups. The study found a significant difference (p=0.0489) on the most leading
functional disability since about a half (51.7%) of institutionalized elderly revealed
mobility as their leading disability while in non-institutionalized respondents the leading
disability was toileting (48.3%). In terms of gender, findings revealed that toileting
disability was more common among males from both institutionalized and non-
institutionalized respondents with 46.3% and 55.5% respectively while mobility disability
was common among female respondents from both institutionalized and non-
institutionalized with 56.2% and 66.7% respectively.
Results of daily energy intake
estimated from 3 food record was significantly higher (p=0.03) among institutionalized
elderly (1632.3g) than non-institutionalized elderly (1317.0g).
Also results showed
significant difference (p=0.0182 ) in terms of nutritional status since more than a half
(58.1%) of institutionalized respondents showed high prevalence of normal status while in non-institutionalized elderly, about a half (53.7%) showed high prevalence in
underweight. In terms of chronic diseases, majority of institutionalized respondents
reported leprosy (40%) as their main chronic diseases while majority of non-
institutionalized respondents reported arthritis (43.8%) as their main chronic diseases. In conclusion, institutionalised elderly appeared to be better off than their counterparts in terms of daily energy intake, nutritional status reflected by their BMI levels and access to health services and chronic diseases were more prevalent in females than males
Arbovirus infections in aedes mosquitoes at the interface of human-livestock-wildlife ecosystem in Kilosa district, Tanzania
No full textMasters ThesisArboviruses refer to a group of viruses, which are transmitted by arthropods including
mosquitoes and ticks. The objective of this study was to determine mosquito transmission
potential of arboviruses at the interface of human-livestock-wildlife ecosystem in Kilosa
district, Tanzania. Adult mosquitoes were collected using Mosquito Magnet® Liberty
Plus traps. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay was performed on
pooled adult Aedes mosquitoes to detect the presence of Dengue virus (DENV),
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) and Yellow fever virus
(YFV). A total of 1340 mosquitoes belonging to four genera (Aedes, Anopheles, Culex
and Mansonia) and 6 species were collected. Culex accounted for the largest (48.06%;
n= 644) proportion of the mosquitoes while Anopheles for the lowest proportion
(2.54%; n=34). Of the total mosquitoes collected, Aedes aegypti accounted for the
majority of mosquito species (46%; n=613), followed by Culex quinquefasciatus
(44.1%; n=591). Of the 36 Ae. aegypti pools tested for arbovirus 10 (28%) pools were
positive. Dengue virus was detected in 3% (1/ 36) pools and CHIKV in 25% (9/ 36)
pools. One pool that was positive for DENV also tested positive for CHIKV indicating
the possibility of co-infection whereby, individuals may become infected by more than
one arbovirus at a time thus risk of co-transmission to human and livestock. Nucleotide
sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of the structural polyprotein
region of DENV produced 511 bp fragment. Basic Local Alignment Search tool for
nucleotides (BLASTn) and phylogenetic analysis showed that the
(DENV3/TAN/Mikumi/2020 strain) (Accession number MW133786) obtained from this
study clustered with DENV-3 strains reported in China and Kenya. This information is
important as it gives knowledge on areas at high risk for arboviral disease outbreaks.
The findings indicate that the presence of various mosquito vectors and detection of
arboviruses in wild-caught Aedes mosquitoes leave the population of Kilosa district at a
higher risk of transmission of DENV and CHIKVSACID
From pests to tests: training rats to diagnose tuberculosis
No full textJournal of Eur Respir J 2020; 55: 19022432020 is the year of the rat. The rat is the first of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, and represents spirit,
alertness, flexibility and vitality. In respiratory medicine, we may think of rats as vectors for diseases, such
as pulmonary forms of hantavirus disease or leptospirosis, and pneumonic plague. Rodent control is thus
part of hygiene guidelines and the International Health Regulations. And yet, the rat’s keen sense of smell
has led to its incredible career as a living tuberculosis (TB) detector.
The TB detection rat journey began with an idea in Tanzania in 2001, roughly 120 years after the
TB-causing Mycobacterium tuberculosis was discovered by microscopy and bacterial culture. African giant
pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei) had already been successfully trained using positive reinforcement to
find explosives [1]. So, the question arose if they could do more for humanity by helping to also combat
disease. But how would the rats use their noses to find bacteria or otherwise sniff out TB patients? For
centuries, olfaction had already informed diagnostics in medical practices, e.g. in detecting metabolic issues
such as ketoacidosis or tissue decay such as gangrene [2]. In the Flemish common language, the word
tering, which etymologically refers to the smell of tar, is used for TB. The advent of chromatographic
techniques allows characterisation of the organic compounds causing odours
The Coverage of Biodiversity Conservation Issues in Local Newspapers and Its Role in Enhancing Conservation Awareness in Tanzania: An Analysis of Two News Outlets
No full textnoneReview on the coverage of biodiversity issues in local newspapers
was conducted between 2004 and 2013 to understand the importance
given to the conservation news by two local newspapers.
Twelve biodiversity issues were covered at varying scales, both from
rural and urban areas. Reports on biodiversity issues showed a fluctuating
but with increasing trend. The reporting of biodiversity issues
was overall higher than the coverage of socio-political issues during
the studied period. However, both newspapers reported very few research-
based news (<5% of all reports) and some news were incorrectly
presented, suggesting inadequate knowledge on conservation
issues among the journalists and a limited interaction between the
media and scientists. Conservation education to journalists and improved
interaction and information sharing between scientists and
journalists are critical factors in improving the quality of biodiversity
conservation news flowing to the general public and policy makers.privat
Validation of the Perceived Self-efficacy Scale (PSE) Among Cassava Farmers in Tanzania
No full textJournal of Education, Humanities and Sciences, Volume 9 No. 1 , 2020: pp. 18–34This paper validated the Perceived Self-Efficacy (PSE) scale as a measurement tool for
farmers’ self-efficacy. From the social cognitive theory, self-efficacy is the key determinant
of many social-cognitive behaviours, including the adoption of farming technologies. In
this paper, PSE was adopted and tested in a two-stage study among cassava farmers in
Mara, Mwanza, and Kagera regions of Tanzania. In the first stage, 200 respondents in
Serengeti District of Mara region were exposed to the 13 items of PSE scale, while in the
second the adopted tool with 11 items was administered to a total of 360 participants in
Mara, Mwanza, and Kagera regions. The Principle Component Analysis (PCA) was
performed, which was later followed by the Monte Carlo Parallel analysis. Results indicate
that the 11 items of the PSE were relevant in measuring farmers’ self-efficacy. Further, the
moderate discriminant validity (r = 0.48), and good internal consistency (α = 0.85) of the
adopted PSE were found. It was concluded that PSE is an effective instrument in assessing
individual differences in perceived self-efficacy. The study recommends the adoption of
PSE as an effective tool for measuring farmers’ self-efficacy