SUAIRE (Sokoine Univ. of Agriculture)
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Perceived effects of tree planting in Iringa and Njombe regions Tanzania
No full textThe study investigated the perceived effects of tree planting initiatives at a community level within Southern Highlands of Tanzania, addressing
a critical gap in the literature regarding local responses to economic benefits and the pursuit of sustainability goals. Employing a mixed-method
approach, the study integrated quantitative data with qualitative interviews from local stakeholders. Results indicated enhanced economic
benefits from sustainable tree products, which contributed to improved livelihoods and community resilience against climate impacts. The
implications suggest that small-scale afforestation can be a viable solution to environmental degradation while providing economic and social
benefits to local communities. The findings advocate for policy recommendations that support the integration of tree growing into agricultural
practices, promoting sustainability and resilience in small-holder territories
Returning to learn: an exploration of motivations behind adolescent student mothers’ school re-entry in Tanzania
No full textJournal articleThis paper explored the reasons prompting adolescent student mothers to return to secondary schools in
Tanzania, particularly in the Mbeya region. Employing a single case study approach, the study intentionally
selected 20 adolescent student mothers. Data collection involved focus group discussions and an open-
ended questionnaire to gain comprehensive insights into the factors that influence adolescent mothers'
decisions to resume education after childbirth. The paper is rooted in Lazarus's (1991) Cognitive Motivational
Relational Theory (CMRT), which focuses on how individuals' cognitive evaluations and motivations drive
their choices and actions in facing challenges. The findings highlight four primary motivations for school
reentry: aspirations for career advancement, pursuit of financial independence, setting a positive example
for their children and rectifying past mistakes. These motivations reflect the resilience of adolescent
mothers, who perceive education as a means to overcome difficulties, improve their socio-economic
conditions and enhance their children's future opportunities. The study implies a need for educational
policies and practices that support adolescent student mothers, including adaptable school schedules,
financial assistance and counselling services to help them effectively manage schooling concurrent with
motherhood. Additionally, it recommends that educational institutions and policymakers foster inclusive
environments that cater to the specific needs of adolescent mothers, promoting their commitment to
education
Revisiting chemical and microbiological quality and safety of fish and fish products
No full textJournal ArticleFish and fishery products constitute a primary global food source, providing essential protein and nutrients. Ensuring their
safety and quality throughout the supply chain is paramount. The safety and quality of fish and fish products are paramount
considerations in the global food industry but their quality and safety may be compromised at various stages of transport,
handling, and processing. The major contaminants of fish and fish products are chemical and microbiological in nature.
Chemical contaminants commonly found in fish, including heavy metals, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants which pose
significant risks to consumers. Microbiological contaminants are both pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms such as
Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Vibrio spp which are often implicated in foodborne illnesses associated with seafood
consumption. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the chemical and microbiological contaminants facing the fish
industry while advocating for enhanced regulatory frameworks and sustainable practices to ensure consumer safety as well as
modern methods for detecting these microorganisms, including molecular techniques like PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and
biosensors that enhance detection sensitivity
Revisiting chemical and microbiological quality and safety of fish and fish products
No full textJournal ArticleFish and fishery products constitute a primary global food source, providing essential protein and nutrients. Ensuring their
safety and quality throughout the supply chain is paramount. The safety and quality of fish and fish products are paramount
considerations in the global food industry but their quality and safety may be compromised at various stages of transport,
handling, and processing. The major contaminants of fish and fish products are chemical and microbiological in nature.
Chemical contaminants commonly found in fish, including heavy metals, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants which pose
significant risks to consumers. Microbiological contaminants are both pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms such as
Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Vibrio spp which are often implicated in foodborne illnesses associated with seafood
consumption. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the chemical and microbiological contaminants facing the fish
industry while advocating for enhanced regulatory frameworks and sustainable practices to ensure consumer safety as well as
modern methods for detecting these microorganisms, including molecular techniques like PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and
biosensors that enhance detection sensitivity
The nexus between school environment and pupils’ learning outcomes within the framework of the unlock literacy program in Handeni district, Tanzania
No full textJournal articleThis study employs a quasi-experimental design to examine the influence of the school environment on pupils'
learning outcomes within the Unlock Literacy Program in Handeni District. Data from 200 pupil respondents were collected
through surveys and key informant interviews with teachers. The analysis utilized STATA 17 software for descriptive statistics
to assess educational infrastructure and resources and ordinal regression to evaluate the school environment's impact on pupil
learning outcomes. The findings indicate significant disparities in access to infrastructure and resources between treatment
and control groups. Treatment schools had superior access to toilet facilities, classroom conditions, books, and libraries, with
37.5% having good classroom environments and similar percentages reflecting adequate book and library access. In contrast,
control schools exhibited deficiencies, with 50% reporting inadequate books and 37.5% lacking library facilities. Ordinal
regression revealed that factors like teacher encouragement, peer interaction, homework management, borrowing books, and
engaging in fun activities significantly improved learning outcomes when integrated into a structured program. Conversely,
the absence of such support led to less effective or negative impacts on pupils’ learning. Based on these findings, the study
recommends adopting structured educational programs integrating supportive activities like teacher encouragement and peer
interactions to enhance learning. Emphasizing positive teacher-pupil relationships through targeted training, improving access
to essential resources, and regularly evaluating educational programs are crucial for fostering effective educational
environments and improving pupil success
Health and Nutrition Literacy among Community Health Workers in Rural and Urban Tanzania: A Comparative Study
No full textJournal ArticleIntroduction: Community health workers (CHWs) are vital in primary health care delivery, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the quality of their services is often questioned due to their limited training compared to professional healthcare providers. Despite evidence of CHWs’ contributions to health and nutrition in Tanzania, the country continues to face high levels of malnutrition and preventive diseases. This underscores the need to evaluate CHWs’ literacy in health and nutrition to enhance their role in promoting these areas. This paper aimed to assess health and nutrition literacy among Community Health Workers (CHWs) in rural and urban Tanzania while exploring factors influencing these literacy levels.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted in Pwani and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, involved 194 CHWs, who were obtained using Yamane’s formula for sample size determination. Data was collected via face-to-face interviews using the adapted European Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47) for health literacy and the Short Food Literacy Questionnaire (SFLQ) for nutrition literacy. Pearson correlation analysed the association between nutrition literacy (NL) and health literacy (HL), while multinomial logistic regression identified factors influencing HL and NL among CHWs.
Results: Our study found limited health literacy among CHWs to be higher in rural areas (24.5%) than in urban areas (17.6%), while health literacy rates were higher in urban (31.9%) compared to rural (22.9%). Regression analysis showed limited health literacy was significantly associated with age (P = 0.048, OR = 1.041, 95% CI), area of residence (P = 0.002, OR = 0.318, 95% CI) and supervision frequency (P = 0.01, OR = 5.266, 95% CI). Limited nutrition literacy was significantly associated with weekly time spent on CHW activities (P = 0.006, OR = 0.183, 95% CI), age (P = 0.013, OR = 1.050, 95% CI) and area of residence (P = 0.008, OR = 0.387, 95% CI). The correlation between health literacy and nutrition literacy had a Pearson coefficient of 0.517 (P = 0.000).
Conclusion: Our study shows a higher prevalence of limited health and nutrition literacy among rural CHWs than urban ones, with area of residence being the most decisive associated factor. The area of residence is the strongest associated factor for NL and HL. Policymakers can use the identified factors in areas with similar social demographic characteristics to improve community-based health intervention that will, in turn, improve the health and nutrition outcomes of the community
Impact of logging practices on second-generation stand growth of Pinus patula at Sao hill forest plantation in Tanzania
No full textJournal ArticleLogging is a fundamental component of
forest management, facilitating the
establishment of new stands through the
removal of mature trees. However, logging
operations often induce substantial soil
disturbances, which may adversely affect
the growth of second-generation stands.
This study aimed to assess the impact of
logging on the growth of second-generation
Pinus patula stands at Sao Hill Plantation,
Tanzania (SHFP), specifically focusing on
the impacts of logging on stand growth and
forest soil. Six compartments, three from
each generation, representing stand ages of
1, 3, and 6 years, totaling 180 systematically
sampled plots, each measuring 20 x 20
meters. First- and second-generation stands
were treated as experimental groups. An
independent t-test was used to analyze the
impact of logging on stand growth across
generations. Stand growth parameters
including the number of stems, tree height,
and diameter at breast height (DBH)
decreased by 6.5% to 12.3% in secondgeneration
stands compared to firstgeneration
stands. Soil bulk density in
second-generation stand increased by 25.7%
and 26.2% in the top 10 cm and 20 cm of
soil, respectively, compared to the firstgeneration
stand. The findings emphasize
the critical role of adopting reduced-impact
logging techniques to minimize soil
compaction, thereby supporting the longterm
productivity
Socio-demographic determinants of climate change adaptation practices in agro-ecological zones: A Case study of Chamwino and Igunga districts, Tanzania
No full textJournal ArticleThe global impacts of climate change have led to the development of various adaptation strategies, including Climate Change
Adaptation (CCA) practices. In Tanzania, the introduction of CCA practices through eco-village projects between 2011 and 2019
reflects ongoing efforts to combat climate change effects. However, scientific understanding of the socio-demographic factors
influencing households' decisions to adopt CCA practices remains limited. This study investigates the influence of sociodemographic
factors on the adoption of CCA practices in the agro-ecological zones of Chamwino and Igunga districts, representing
central and western Tanzania. Data were collected from 295 respondents through household surveys, complemented by key
informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). Socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, education level,
land ownership, and training attendance were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Pearson’s Chi-square test was employed to assess
the statistical significance of the association between socio-demographic factors and agro-ecological zones, while a multivariate
probit model was used to analyze the impact of socio-demographic factors on the adoption of CCA practices. The findings reveal
that CCA adoption varies across zones, with the western zone showing a higher adoption rate. Chi-square results indicated significant
associations between CCA adoption and factors such as soil water conservation, farmyard manure, mixed cropping, plant spacing,
and the use of improved seeds and breeds (p<0.05). The multivariate probit model showed that gender, experience, land ownership,
and training attendance significantly influenced adoption, with these factors promoting more practices compared to age, marital
status, and education level. These insights are crucial for policymakers and local agencies to ensure that CCA initiatives ar e inclusive
and address the diverse needs of different demographic groups
Management and governance of African rivers
No full textBook chapter 21, pp. 561-584Over the years, there has been an outcry over the decline in ecosystem services (ES) that watersheds and rivers provide
(Costanza et al., 1997; Kremen, 2005; De Groot et al., 2012; Ferreira et al., 2023; Masese and Dalu, 2024, Chapter 1). This
situation has been witnessed in different parts of the world where dramatic declines in ES have posed serious challenges to
watershed and river basin conservation (Kulindwa, 2005). While the capacity of watersheds and rivers to provide ES has
become erratic, and sometimes increasing arithmetically, watershed and river basin degradation has been increasing
exponentially (Brauman et al., 2014), necessitating the need for effective management and governance structures.
Africa is endowed with extensive river basins that offer a wide variety of ES for inland and coastal communities (Dube
et al., 2024, Chapter 2; O’Brien et al., 2024, Chapter 3; Mwaijengo et al., 2024, Chapter 4; Muvundja et al., 2024, Chapter
5; Dalu et al., 2024a,b, Chapters 6 and 7). The continent has many valuable large rivers, including the Congo, Limpopo,
Niger, Nile, Okavango, Orange, Senegal, Volta, and Zambezi whose waters and catchments are habitats for endemic and
threatened species of aquatic flora and fauna. Most of these river basins have socio-economic and cultural importance not
only at the local, regional and national levels but also at the global scale. They support small-scale and large-scale
agriculture, commercial and artisanal fisheries, livestock production and range management, industrial growth, hydro-
power development and biodiversity.
Unfortunately, the sustainability and well-being of these rivers and their basins face several challenges, including
depletion of water resources through excessive abstractions, land use change, barriers to flow and connectivity caused by
dams and weirs, failure to invest adequately in river protection, restoration and monitoring, and unsustainable financing of
investments in water supply and sanitation (see Mpopetsi et al., 2024, Chapter 25; McClain and Masese, 2024, Chapter
28). The management and governance structures already in place also seem to be inadequate and ineffective. These threats
and inadequacies impinge on the sustainable management of rivers, escalating competing demands for basic water supply
and sanitation, food security, economic development and river-related ES.
In this chapter, we provide an overview of the status of African river basins, existing policy and legal frameworks, and
institutional structures established to facilitate their management and governance. The chapter also explores the challenges
that have been experienced in the management and governance of river basins in Africa and we propose strategies for their
effective management and governanc
Influence of familiarity on consumer acceptance of value-added products from Justicia heterocarpa leaves
No full textJournal ArticleThis study investigated the sensory perception and consumer acceptability of value-added products derived from Justicia heterocarpa, an underutilized indigenous leafy vegetable with potential nutritional benefits. A total of 110 participants, comprising 80 semi-trained students unfamiliar with J. heterocarpa and 30 untrained university workers familiar with J. heterocarpa in term of consumption and utilization. Four samples (freshly harvested, blanched dried, unblanched dried, and fermented) were tested for consumer acceptability using a 9-point hedonic scale. The results revealed a significant influence of the panelists on flavor (p < 0.001) and overall acceptability (p = 0.003) among familiar and unfamiliar panelists. Unfamiliar panelists rated the flavor and general acceptability of the fermented vegetables higher. There were significant differences in color (p < 0.0001), flavor (p = 0.0002), and general acceptability (p = 0.0235) between the familiar and unfamiliar groups. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between general acceptability of flavor (r = 0.81) and texture (r = 0.65). Principal component analysis identified flavor and texture as the primary drivers of overall acceptance. These findings offer valuable insights into the development of palatable processed J. heterocarpa. These findings underscore the importance of carefully considering the effects of different processing methods when formulating product development strategies to enhance consumer acceptance