SUAIRE (Sokoine Univ. of Agriculture)
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Genetic variation and lack of hybridization in five cichlid fish species in the Malagarasi River basin, Tanzania
No full textJournal ArticleAmong the most widely cultured groups of freshwater fish species are tilapiine cichlids. This has contributed to
introduction of cichlid fish species in area where they were not native. Consequently, has contributed to negative
ecological effects on local species and their habitats through competition, habitat alteration and loss of unique
population genetic structures due to hybridization. This research study aimed to assess the genetic status of five
cichlid fish species red listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as least concerned
species. A mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (COI) gene fragment from 112 individuals collected from
three sampling sites were used to determine the present genetic diversity of the cichlid species inhabit the
Malagarasi River system which discharge water into Lake Tanganyika. The highest nucleotide diversity (0.02 ±
0.01) and haplotype diversity (0.94 ± 0.04) were recorded from Haplochromis pharyngalis. The lowest levels of
nucleotide and haplotype diversity were recorded from Oreochromis leucostictus. The Analysis of Molecular
Variance (AMOVA) resulted into statistically significant genetic differences (Φst: 0.96, P < 0.001) among the
cichlid species studied. The minimum spanning haplotype network and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic an
alyses support the AMOVA findings as no species is sharing any haplotype with other species. The values of
neutrality tests suggested that the studied cichlid fish species are stable and not expanding. These findings
highlight the necessity of conservation interventions in the area especially for the species which displayed low
nucleotide and haplotype diversity
Ecological health assessment of lukosi river using macroinvertebrateandriparian vegetation indicators in Iringa, Tanzania
No full textJournal of Water Resources, Engineering, Management and Policy, pp. 204-222The health of river ecosystems is increasingly threatened by human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, andindustrialization. This study evaluates the ecological status of the Lukosi River Catchment (LRC) in Kilolo District, Iringa, Tanzania, using macroinvertebrates and riparian vegetation as bioindicators. We employed a cross-sectional design, sampling at upstream, midstream, and downstream sites. Macroinvertebrates were collected via the kicking-bottommethodand analyzed using the Shannon–Wiener diversity index and the Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT). Riparian vegetationwas surveyed through belt transects and assessed by species distribution and proportional cover. Fourteenmacroinvertebrate taxa were identified, dominated by water scavenger beetles and snails. Biodiversity was moderate(H′ ≈1.98). ASPT scores declined spatially: upstream (good quality), midstream (moderate), and downstream(poor), indicatingworsening water quality downstream. The riparian zone was heavily modified: about 58% grasses, 28%shrubs, and14%trees, reflecting human disturbance and land-use change. The results reveal progressive ecosystemdegradationalongtheriver, strongest downstream, likely driven by pollution and catchment alteration. These results call for integratedcatchment management policies, stricter land-use regulation, and community-based riparian restoration programstoenhance water quality, biodiversity, and long-term ecological resilience of the LRC.This research was funded by the UNESCO Chair
in Ecohydrology and Transboundary Water
Management at Sokoine University of Agriculture in
Tanzania
Assessment of heavy metal contamination in urban tributaries draining into Lake Victoria at Musoma and Tarime Towns, Tanzania
No full textJournal of Water Resources, Engineering, Management and Policy, pp. 73-89Water contamination by heavy metals poses serious environmental and public health threats, particularly in urban and
agricultural regions where human activities intensify pollution. This study aimed to determine the levels of heavy metal
contamination in urban tributaries along Musoma and Tarime towns to safeguard aquatic ecology and public health. Seventy-
eight water samples were collected from twenty-six strategically selected sites across the two urban areas. Physicochemical
parameters (pH, EC, TDS, turbidity, and temperature) were analyzed on-site using the potentiometric method, while heavy
metals (Hg, As, Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu) were determined using ICP–OES. Results showed wide spatial variations with pH
(7.3–8.94), EC (94–3900 μS/cm), TDS (56–2360 mg/L), turbidity (9.4–2098 NTU), and temperature (22.4–27.8 °C). Metal
concentrations ranged from Pb (0.005–0.082 mg/L), Cd (0.002–0.019 mg/L), Cr (0.004–0.021 mg/L), As (0.0003–0.001
mg/L), Cu (0.006–0.118 mg/L), Zn (0.032–0.264 mg/L), and Hg (0.0001–0.0004 mg/L). Pb and Cd Concentrations exceeded
WHO drinking water limits, suggesting contamination from mining and domestic discharges. Overall, findings reveal
moderate but spatially variable contamination, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring, stricter pollution control,
effective remediation to protect water quality in the Lake Victoria Basin.The present study was supported by the Water
Institute and Sokoine University of Agriculture (Under
Project; Safeguard Water Security Towards
Sustainable Development Goals in Aquatic
Ecosystems
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
Factors influencing farmers’ decision on the choice of maize seed varieties in Kilosa and Mvomero districts, Morogoro,Tanzania
No full textJournal ArticleA study was conducted with a sample size of 208 farmers to assess the factors influencing
their choice of maize seed varieties in the Kilosa and Mvomero districts of the Morogoro region in
Tanzania. The researchers utilised a binary logistic regression model for the analysis. The results
indicated that farmers' decisions were significantly influenced by the expected yield (p = 0.012) and
were marginally influenced by household size (p = 0.061). The study underscored the need for
policymakers to prioritise creating networks that connect farmers to agricultural experts and
extension services as well as addressing barriers to accessibility, such as affordability and availability
of certified maize seeds. The stakeholders, including government and non-governmental
organisations, can design targeted strategies that enhance seed adoption. Comprehensive agricultural
policies that incorporate these insights can lay the base for a more resilient and prosperous
agricultural sector in the region. The study showcases the important role of training and education in
empowering farmers to make informed decisions regarding maize seed selection. The study also points
to the importance of community engagement in the dissemination of information about new seed
varieties and agricultural practices. Establishing farmer groups or cooperatives can create platforms
for knowledge sharing, enabling farmers to learn from each other’s experiences and successes. This
collective approach not only strengthens the farmers' capacity to adapt to changing agricultural
challenges but also fosters a sense of community and shared purpose
Practices of E-Waste management among people living in African Cities: The case of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
No full textEast African Journal of Environment and Natural Resources pp. 73-88Rapid turnover in technology across the cities of the world creates a rapidly
growing e-waste stream. This is the case for the city of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Currently, the city lacks the capacity for handling and recycling
the hazardous materials contained in e-waste. Further, Tanzania has neither a specific policy nor a law on e-waste management. The paper focuses on
e-waste management practices in Dar es Salaam. The key question is what are the practices of stakeholders in e-waste management in the city? This study was conducted in Ilala and Temeke municipalities in the city Participants for the study were purposively selected. The selection ensured the representation of key stakeholders in e-waste generation and
management. The number of participants for key stakeholders was
determined by the data saturation point, a point where no new information
was obtained. To gain an in-depth understanding, several ethnographic
methods were employed. Based, on the study findings, some of the practices
on e-waste management in the city of Dar es Salaam include: storing e-
waste, landfilling, reusing, selling, and recycling. Overall, the practices of
e-waste management in the city of Dar es Salaam remain informal and hence
lack any operational legal framework. Although the existing legal
framework for the management of e-waste has the potential for
operationalization, it has no clear guidelines or procedures. The authors are
aware that the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has developed
operational standards for e-waste management. However, the operational
standards remain inaccessible to other key Government entities, the public
and other key stakeholders. One, including Government agencies, must pay
to access them. The authors strongly recommend that the standards should
be made available free of charge and be operationalized at all levels. The
authors further recommend the development of suitable frameworks to deal with the management of e-waste, recycling, and circular economy
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 role of farmer field and business school (FFBS) in improving access to agricultural extension services to smallholder farmers in iringa rural district, Tanzania
No full textJournal articleInnovative and holistic approaches, such as the Farmers Field and Business School (FFBS), are
essential for advancing agricultural practices and improving smallholder farmer livelihoods. In
Tanzania, while evidence suggests that FFBS enhances access to extension services, its specific
role remains undocumented. This study used an exploratory sequential mixed method to explore
FFBS's role in improving smallholder farmers' access to extension services. The study involved 43 FFBS beneficiaries from CARE International’s FFBS scale-up project, selected through snowball
sampling until data were saturated. This approach was chosen due to the challenges of accessing a
comprehensive list of active participants and of ensuring that diverse perspectives are included.
Data were collected using in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions
(FGD), document review, and observation. Findings suggest that FFBS significantly enhances
access to extension services through capacity-building in agronomy, climate resilience through
sustainable agricultural practices, market linkages, gender empowerment, and information
dissemination. The FFBS programme utilizes innovative experiential learning techniques, including
hands-on training in sustainable agricultural practices, to equip farmers with practical knowledge
and skills. Despite the positive outcomes, FFBS has not fully facilitated the transition of smallholder
farming into large-scale commercial agriculture, highlighting challenges in scaling up production.
The study suggests that all FFBS elements need to be fully applied to realize their innovative
benefits. Policy implications include the need to improve resource access, particularly capital,
technology, and markets for smallholder farmers, integrate FFBS into national extension programs,
and promote gender-inclusive capacity-building to scale up agricultural productivity and
sustainability
Contribution of revenue enhancement plans to fiscal performance: A study of Local Government Authorities in Tanzania
No full textJournal articleThis study investigates the impact of Revenue Enhancement Plans (REPs) on fiscal performance—
primarily revenue collection—within Tanzanian Local Government Authorities (LGAs), focusing on
three representative councils: Mwanza City Council, Manyara Urban Council, and Mbeya City
Council. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates quantitative and qualitative data
collected from 400 respondents using a multistage sampling technique. Quantitative data were
analyzed using a Multivariate Ordered Probit model, which enabled the assessment of four key revenue
performance dimensions: effectiveness, increment, reliability, and efficiency. Findings indicate that
reducing revenue leakage and improving revenue forecasting accuracy significantly enhance revenue
performance. Revenue leakage exhibited a strong negative association with effectiveness (coefficient:
-1.221, p<0.01) and increment (-1.59, p<0.01), while accurate forecasting had a positive impact on
effectiveness (1.390, p<0.01) and increment (0.516, p<0.01). High implementation costs were
negatively associated with revenue growth (-1.634, p<0.05). In contrast, compliance positively
influenced reliability (1.533, p<0.01) and efficiency (1.029, p<0.01), reinforcing the importance of
regulatory adherence. These findings reflect persistent fiscal decentralization challenges in LGAs, such
as weak systems, limited institutional capacity, and inadequate planning. Policy recommendations
include implementing digital revenue management systems to curb leakages, strengthening forecasting
capabilities through staff training and data analytics, and promoting compliance through awareness
programs and enforcement mechanisms. Addressing these areas can improve fiscal performance,
enhance financial sustainability, and strengthen service delivery at the local level