SUAIRE (Sokoine Univ. of Agriculture)
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Dynamics of adjusted net National income per Capital and its determinants application of ARDL and vector error correction models to Sub-Saharan Africa
journal ,articleOver the past few decades, the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region has experienced a myriad
of economic challenges, including highly dynamic trade trends, fluctuating commodity prices,
stagnating capital accumulation trends, varying levels of foreign investment, and rapid population
growth. These, coupled with the region's unique socio-economic landscape, necessitate a
comprehensive understanding of how different variables interact to shape income outcomes. This
paper employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Vector Correction Models (VECM)
to analyse the dynamics of Adjusted Net National Income Per Capita (ANNIPC). The results show
complex interdependencies of capital formation, trade, inflation, and demographics indicating that
increased gross capital formation and manageable inflation positively affect ANNIPC. This
underscores the need for policymakers in SSA to prioritise capital investment strategies, such as
infrastructure development and enhanced financial access, to spur sustainable economic growth.
Additionally, improving export capacities and trade balances for elevating income levels and paying
attention to population dynamics is essential. Similarly, integrating human capital enhancement
through education and skills training into economic policies remains one of the important focal areas.
We also found a quick adjustment to long-run equilibrium among variables that underscores the need
for proactive policymaking to mitigate short-term economic shocks. A comprehensive approach,
considering these interconnected factors, will be critical for SSA's governments to create a stable
economic environment, ultimately fostering resilience and prosperity in the region
Models for estimating volume of Tectona grandis at Longuza and Mtibwa forest plantations in Tanzania
Journal ArticleThis study aimed to develop and validate
allometric equations for estimating total and
merchantable volumes of teak (Tectona
grandis L. f.) trees in two major statemanaged
forest plantations in Tanzania,
Longuza in the Tanga Region and Mtibwa
in the Morogoro Region. It addresses the
existing gap of the absence of accurate
volume models required for the reliable
estimation of total teak tree volume, which
is critical for effective forest management
and planning. A total of 177 destructively
sampled trees were used to fit non-linear
regression models incorporating diameter at
breast height (D) and total height (H) as
predictor variables. Site-specific and general
models were developed and evaluated.
Models that included both D and H
outperformed those based solely on D,
providing more unbiased volume estimates
across diameter classes and sites. The bestperforming
models exhibited high
explanatory power (R² ≥ 0.96) and low
prediction errors (PE% < 3%). The H-D
relationship reveals differences in tree
allometry between the two sites, with taller
trees on average in Longuza than in
Mtibwa. The site-specific H-D and volume
equations are recommended where
available. In the absence of such models, the
generalised equations developed herein
provide a reliable alternative across teak
plantations in Tanzania
Quantification of intangible forest ecosystem services in eastern arc mountains of Tanzania
Journal ArticleLack of recognition of the economic value
of intangible forest ecosystem services has
contributed to the ongoing degradation of
forest resources in Tanzania. This study
employed a choice experiment method to
estimate the economic values of such
services provided by the Udzungwa Scarp,
Chome, and Uluguru Nature Forest
Reserves in the Eastern Arc Mountains, by
assessing households’ willingness to pay
(WTP). The services valued include
protection of water sources, soil
conservation, biodiversity conservation,
climate regulation, and the provision of
recreational and landscaping amenities. A
simple random sampling technique was
used to select 352 households from five
districts: Same, Mvomero, Morogoro Rural,
Kilolo, and Mufindi. Data were analyzed
using a conditional logit model. The pooled
analysis from the three reserves revealed
that the estimated marginal WTP per month
was TZS 597.40 for biodiversity
conservation, TZS 1,898.49 for water
source protection, and TZS 2,874.08 for soil
conservation. Collectively, these services
were valued at approximately TZS 22.68
million annually by all sampled households.
To minimize the degradation of forest
resources in the Eastern Arc Mountains
region, this study recommends that
policymakers incorporate the estimated
economic values into forest conservation
decisions, ensuring that beneficiaries of
these services contribute to their protectio
Quantification of intangible forest ecosystem services in eastern arc mountains of Tanzania
Journal ArticleLack of recognition of the economic value
of intangible forest ecosystem services has
contributed to the ongoing degradation of
forest resources in Tanzania. This study
employed a choice experiment method to
estimate the economic values of such
services provided by the Udzungwa Scarp,
Chome, and Uluguru Nature Forest
Reserves in the Eastern Arc Mountains, by
assessing households’ willingness to pay
(WTP). The services valued include
protection of water sources, soil
conservation, biodiversity conservation,
climate regulation, and the provision of
recreational and landscaping amenities. A
simple random sampling technique was
used to select 352 households from five
districts: Same, Mvomero, Morogoro Rural,
Kilolo, and Mufindi. Data were analyzed
using a conditional logit model. The pooled
analysis from the three reserves revealed
that the estimated marginal WTP per month
was TZS 597.40 for biodiversity
conservation, TZS 1,898.49 for water
source protection, and TZS 2,874.08 for soil
conservation. Collectively, these services
were valued at approximately TZS 22.68
million annually by all sampled households.
To minimize the degradation of forest
resources in the Eastern Arc Mountains
region, this study recommends that
policymakers incorporate the estimated
economic values into forest conservation
decisions, ensuring that beneficiaries of
these services contribute to their protectio
Effect of processing on nutritional and sensory quality of orange-fleshed sweet potato’s porridge and Ugali (stiff-porridge) consumed in the Lake Zone, Tanzania
Journal ArticleThe orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) is a nutrient-rich crop with high β-carotene content, which helps prevent vitamin A
deficiency (VAD). However, its semi-perishability requires proper processing to preserve its nutritional and sensory properties.
This study assessed the effects of sun and solar drying on the proximate composition, β-carotene, vitamin C, mineral content, and
sensory attributes of OFSP porridge and Ugali (stiff porridge) consumed in the Lake zone of Tanzania. Three variety of OFSP;
Ejumla, Jewel, and Carrot Dar, were subjected to solar or sun-drying and subsequently processed into flour. The resulting flours
were used to produce porridge and Ugali (stiff porridge). Conventional techniques were employed to evaluate the proximate
composition, β-carotene, vitamin C, and micronutrient content of porridge and Ugali (stiff porridge). Additionally, sensory
analysis was performed to assess the level of acceptability of the items' sensory qualities. There was a significant difference in
moisture content, crude protein, and crude fat between porridge and Ugali (stiff porridge) for all three varieties of OFSP
(p<0.05). Moreover, solar-dried products had higher retention of β-carotene (28.79 mg/100 g) and vitamin C (3.29-10.45 mg/100
g). Sun-dried products had lower mineral content than solar-dried products. There was also a significant difference (p<0.05)
between solar and sun-dried products in all tested essential minerals. The nutrients analyzed were more concentrated in stiff
porridge than in regular porridge, such as calcium (21.65mg/100g), potassium (90.70mg/100g), Sodium (169.98mg/100g),
magnesium (13.26mg/100g) and zinc (0.51mg/100g). Solar-dried items had the highest acceptability scores (3.0–3.9) compared
to sun-dried products, with Ejumla being the most preferred. The findings depict that solar drying preserves OFSP-based food's
nutritional and sensory quality better. Solar-dried OFSP may reduce vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and improve nutritional
security in Tanzania
Domestic water accessibility and its effect to households livelihood: a case of Maswa District, Shinyanga Region, Tanzania
Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology Volume 24, Issue 6, Page 336-345, 2025; Article no.AJEE.139340Water supply is an essential requirement for people and it has intrinsic connection with lives and
livelihoods. Water shortage affects households’ labour because of much time and energy spent on
obtaining it. Unavailability of safe and clean water has several implications, among them include
waterborne diseases, labour, income and time. The study was carried out to explore information on
domestic water accessibility and its effects to households Livelihood in Maswa District of Tanzania.
Specifically the study intended to get information related to sources of water for domestic use and
its accessibility, who are mostly responsible for collecting water, time spent seeking for water and
challenges related to unsafe and clean water 120 respondents were engaged in this study. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire and focused group discussions (FGDs).
Descriptive statistics and content analysis techniques were applied in analyzing the data. Results
from the study show that unavailability of safe and clean water affects income through consuming
time and loss of labour during fetching water. In addition, water related diseases consumes labour’s
time and money for caring patients. Moreover, most of labour used in fetching water was mothers
and daughters. Consequently, women face many challenges which are associated by carrying
water on their heads at a distance and time wasted during fetching water. The challenges
particularly time waste during fetching water hinders women’s participation to other income
generating activities. The study concludes that sources of water such as traditional dug wells and
hand dug wells at the river bed represent the most important water sources for rural households in
the study area. Moreover, women face a number of challenges related to water shortage and time
spent fetching water. The study recommends that authority’s responsible for facilitating Water
supply systems both at National and Regional level should Increase mechanisms which will enable
large population to access water within acceptable distance in order to reduce women and children
burden of carrying water at a distance
Stochastic frontier analysis of technical efficiency of smallholder maize farmers in Morogoro municipality: a reflection from RIPAT program
Journal articleThis study looks into the elements that influence maize production and
technical efficiency among households participating in the RIPAT
SUA Project in Morogoro Municipality, using stochastic frontier analysis for the 2022 – 2023 season. The focus was on socio-economic
characteristics, land size, seed usage, use of fertilizer extension services, training from the project, and education. The primaryobjective was to examine the factors influencing maize production and
Stochastic Frontier, efficiency by evaluating socioeconomic aspects and specific
Technical Efficiency, agricultural techniques. A total of 110 households were surveyed with
standardized questionnaires. Socioeconomic data was collected, key
variables were evaluated and key variables were analyzed using
descriptive statistics and analysis. The results
reveal that land size harms productivity (β = -0.436, p < 0.001),
whereas improved seed usage has a positive impact (β = 0.401, p =
0.016). Education level (β = -1.168, p = 0.002) and agriculture
experience (β = -0.016, p = 0.049) considerably reduce insisting on the importance of education interventions.
Additionally, 40% of households have access to VSLA, revealing
financial problems. While 94.55% of households got training, only
18.18% received extension services which could hamper the best
productivity. Every household reported owning land and using seeds
highlighting that they had the necessary materials for maize
production. Regarding technical efficiency, Magadu ward high score
of 5%, while Kauzeni has the lowest at 1.9% suggesting significant
disproportions in productivity among wards. These findings
emphasize the importance of focused initiatives to improve agriculture
productivity through enhancing farmer education and training,
experience, and increased access to finance. These strategies are
critical for improving maize productivity and addressing food security
issues among households participating in programs like the RIPAT
SUA initiative hence will increase agricultural efficiency and
contribute to more farmer-sustainable farming methods throughout
the region
Assessment of nodulation potential in Mung bean (V. radiata) genotypes
Mungbean, also known as Green gram (Vigna radiata L) is an important legume and annual
crop with a sweet flavor and a soft texture when cooked . Mungbeans are a rich source of
protein, fiber, vitamin B and C, and minerals making them a popular ingredient in many
vegetarian and versatility in various culinary applications like soups, stews, curries, and
desserts. Mungbean growth and productivity is influenced by its ability to form symbiotic
relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as rhizobia, which convert atmospheric
nitrogen into a form that can be readily used by plants, through the formation of nodules on the
roots of the Mungbean plant, where the rhizobia reside. The experiment aimed to assess the
nodulation potential in different Mungbean varieties for better management of soil fertility.
The experimental design used during research experiment was Randomized Complete Block
Design (RCBD) with three replications and four treatments (four Mungbean varieties).
Results showed that, there was significant difference on number of nodules both at flowering
and pod filling stage at P-value <0.001. TARI GRAM 1 variety exhibited highest number of
nodules at flowering and pod filling stage, 20 and 41 nodules, TARI GRAM 2 variety had 15
and 33.3. nodules, Nuru variety had 10.3 and 20 nodules while Imara variety had 11.67 and
26 nodules respectively. This indicated TARI GRAM 1 variety had superior nodulation
potential and nitrogen fixation potential to improve soil fertility and crop yield in mungbean
cultivation followed by TARI GRAM 2 variety. Therefore, TARI GRAM 1 and TARI GRAM
2 varieties are recommended for farmers looking to enhance soil fertility in Mungbean
cultivation. The increased number of nodules on Mungbean plants leads to higher rates of
nitrogen fixation efficiency resulting in greater nutrient availability in the soil as well as the
overall soil fertility and sustainability.Higher Education Students' Loan Boar
Assessment of food hygiene knowledge, attitude and practices of night street food vendors in Morogoro, Tanzania
Journal ArticleThe consumption of street food is associated with the provision of unhealthy, unsafe, and
nutritionally unbalanced meals, presenting a public health concern. This study was designed to
assess food safety knowledge, attitude and practices of night street food vendors in Morogoro
Municipality. A cross-sectional study involved 256-night street food vendors was performed, using
a structured questionnaire. The results reported that most of the vendors were females (77%) and
half of the vendors were aged between 20 to 30 years. Majority of vendors ,62.9% had been
vending food for 4-5 years. Generally, the study revealed medium attitudes (95.3%) and moderat
Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community health workers on household sanitation and hygiene in rural Tanzania
Journal articleBackground: Access to improved sanitation, adherence to good hygienic practices, and adequate
supply of safe water are very crucial factors for the health and well-being of people within the
household and the entire community. Household sanitation and hygiene promotion has largely been
done by community health workers in most places in Tanzania and worldwide, especially in rural
and marginalized areas. Despite the presence of community health workers in Tanzania as primary
health providers, WASH-sensitive indicators such as diarrhea, stunted growth, and typhoid are still
high. However, little has been done to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding
household sanitation and hygiene.
Aim: This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practices among community health
workers on household sanitation and hygiene at Mbarali and Mbeya rural districts in Mbeya region,
south-west highlands of Tanzania.
Methods: The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. The sample size was estimated by
using Yamane formula for calculating sample size. Data for the study were collected for one month,
questionnaire guide and observation checklist were used as data collection methods. Data were
entered in STATA version 15 databases by two research assistants, and then data were cleaned,
validated and analyzed. Descriptive analyses included frequencies and percentages of socio-
demographic characteristics such as age, sex, education, knowledge, attitude, and practice of
hygiene and sanitation. To determine the association between socio-demographic characteristics
and respondents 'KAP, a bivariate chi-square test was conducted. A threshold of 0.05 p-values was
used for statistical significance.
Results: A total of 391CHWs were recruited. Out of 391CHWs, 184 (47.1%) had adequate
knowledge regarding household sanitation and hygiene, while 207(52.9%) CHWs had inadequate
knowledge. 74.4% of the CHWs had a positive attitude towards, whilst 25.6% of the participants
had a negative attitude regarding household sanitation and hygiene. A total of 128 (33.0%) had
good practices, while (67.1%) of the participants had poor practices regarding household sanitation
and hygiene. High education level and the short period from the last training on sanitation and
hygiene were found to be associated with adequate knowledge (p=0012) and (p=0.008)
respectively. Female participants were found to have good practices (p=0.015) than their
counterparts. The observation checklist revealed that, of the total 391CHWs, 206(52.7%) CHWs
didn’t receive the needed cooperation from the community members, though they had all the
necessary equipment for home visits. On house-to-house visits, only 28 CHWs had all the
necessary equipment. None of the CHWs had allowance at the end of the visit.
Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore the need to check CHW programs to match their
needs as per their roles to strengthen the knowledge, attitude, and practices hence ensuring
efficiency in their provision of primary health services and promotion of improvement in household
sanitation and hygiene particularly in household sanitation and hygiene