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In the midst of global anti-tobacco farming and smoking campaigns: how resilient and sustainable are the tobacco farming co-operatives in southern Africa?
No full textJournal articleCognizant of the harms registered through tobacco farming and consequently smoking on the
environment and human health, the world is witnessing campaigns against both tobacco farming
and smoking. These campaigns are expected to affect the tobacco sub-sector, which contributes to
the economies of the leading tobacco-producing countries, namely Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania,
Malawi, and Mozambique. The campaigns have in some countries been followed by governments’
partial engagement or total disengagement from providing inputs, credit, extension services, and
price support. To protect this subsector, tobacco farmers, inter alia, had to engage agricultural
and marketing cooperative societies (AMCOS). However, the extent to which AMCOS engagement
by farmers has been realized is empirically unknown. Amid these campaigns, understanding how
resilient and sustainable tobacco cooperatives have been, remains imperative. Resilience building
supports people and institutions in adapting to new circumstances, hence sustainability. This article
analyses the resilience and sustainability of Tobacco co-operatives using a documentary research
method. In this article, resilience has been analyzed based on (i) networks, (ii) innovation, and,
(iii) the role of the state. Varied degrees of government support to the tobacco sub-sector have been
identified. Contract farming has been exploited to fill the gap where the minimal role of the state
has been registered. Despite the global anti-smoking campaigns, tobacco production is on the
increase in southern Africa. Resilience and sustainability have been observed to vary country-wise.
Due to tobacco’s economic value in these countries, the campaigns cannot bear significant positive
results in the absence of alternatives to tobacco farming
Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of foodborne salmonella enterica and escherichia coli from rodents and shrews in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania
No full textMSc. Public Health Pest ManagementRodents and shrews were identified as transmitters and carriers of
Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and their
antimicrobial resistant strains; however, few researchers have
examined rodents feces infections. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
is a pressing issue in the field of global public health, impacting both
human and animal health. Small mammals such as rodents and
shrews excrements constitute a significant reservoir of zoonotic
pathogens, including bacteria resistant to antimicrobials. To date,
there is a need for more documented research specifically
addressing Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella enterica strains
derived from small mammal feces samples collected in Morogoro
Municipality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and
antimicrobial resistance profile of Salmonella enterica and E. coli
associated with rodents and shrews in five wards selected in
Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania, from March to November 2023.
Questionnaires were used to assess risk factors of Salmonella
enterica and E. coli associated with house rodents and shrews. This
study isolated bacteria extracted from fecal samples of rodents and
shrews by using a culture test and identified them with biochemical
tests. Molecular tests were used to screen out bacteria-targeted.
The isolates bacteria were analyzed for AMR using the disc
diffusion method for susceptibilities test to the selected antibiotics.
Molecular analysis was used to identify the species of bacteria
using 16S rRNA and InvA. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was
used to find resistance genes in each isolate, including Bla TEM,
Bla SHV, Bla CTXM, Sul 1, and Sul 2.
A total of 148 small mammals were captured, 145 (98%) were
rodents and 3(2%) were shrews. These small mammals were
captured from domestic, peri-domestic, and marketplaces.
Salmonella enterica was detected in 3/148 (2%), and E. coli was
found in 54/148 (36.5%) samples. Most rodents infected by E. coli
and Salmonella enterica were Mus species, with 16.2% and 1.3%
respectively. Regarding habitat, the high prevalence of E. coli was bserved in open markets, at 16.9%, while Salmonella enterica was
high inside households, with 1.3%. Regarding the risk factors
associated with house rodents and shrews, 83.7% of respondents
found rodents feces in uncooked or cooked food, 30.4% found
rodents feces in the water storage, 93.2% found food eaten by
rodents, whereby 66.9 % of households used food contaminated
with feces or eaten by rodents. Twenty-seven percent (27%) of the
respondents were diagnosed with Diarrhea, which may be linked
with pathogens from rodents and shrews.
The AMR on Amoxicillin was observed in shrews at 100%, in Rattus
rattus was 89.5%, and Mus spp was 87.5%, while AMR to Ampicillin
on Rattus rattus was 74% and in Mus spp was 62.5%. Salmonella
Enterica was more resistant than E. coli for Sulphamethoxazole/Trimethoprim, Ciprofloxacin, and ampicillin. E.
coli was more resistant to Amoxicillin than Salmonella Enterica.
Concerning the genes linked to E. coli and Salmonella enterica, the
results showed that Salmonella Enterica harbored more resistance
genes (20%) than E. coli (12%). Two (2) isolates, out of 13
contained Sulphonamide-resistant genes as follows: Sul 1 (n=1) of
Salmonella enterica and Sul 2 (n=1) of E. coli, both representing
15.4% of the total resistant gene analyzed in this study. β-
lactamases (Bla TEM , Bla SHV, Bla CTXM) were found in 7
isolates (53.8%), with Salmonella enterica harboring more
resistance genes than E. coli. The results of this study indicated that
the public health significance of pathogens in rodents and shrews
from the study area requires further investigation because these
animals live close to humans and are also able to move from one
place to another, which can increase the transmission of pathogens
harbored by them to humans or the environment. Also, this research
reveals the presence of resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella
enterica in small mammals, which indicate the potential role of
rodents and shrews as a reservoir for AMR E. coli and Salmonella
enterica that can be transferred to humans.African Centre of Excellence for Innovative Rodent
Pest Management and Biosensor Technology Development (IRPM
& BTD) ACE II- Credit number 5799-TZ at SU
Factors influencing community participation in planning andimplementing agricultural development projects: case Matongoro cattle auction project in Kongwa District, Tanzania
No full textDissertationIn Tanzania, different community development projects in various sectors
including agriculture have been formulated and implemented following a
bottom-up approach to reduce poverty and food insecurity among
community members in our country. However, in many cases, the impact
of such projects has not been significant due to various reasons
including poor participation of the targeted population in the process.
This study using the Matongoro cattle auction development project in
Kongwa as a case investigated the factors influencing community
participation in planning and implementing agricultural development
projects. Specifically, identified the social-economic factors that influence
community participation in the planning and implementation of
agricultural projects, assessed the level of community participation in the
planning and implementation of Cattle auction projects, assessed the
strategies used in community participation at the community level and
last to assess the respondents’ attitude of their participation in project
planning and implementation. Methodologically, the study adopted a
cross-sectional research design whereby a questionnaire-based survey
was used to collect primary data from 150 randomly selected
respondents. The above was complemented by four (4) focus group
discussions and nineteen (19) key informant interviews purposively
selected. The study was founded on three theories; Participation theory,
Social capital theory and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Content
analysis, descriptive statistical analysis and binary logistic regression
model were used to analyse qualitative and quantitative data respectively
with the aid of Index scales and the Likert scale to attain more precise
results. As the study findings revealed that nearly 90% of respondents
had low participation. In addition, the critical factors which were found to
significantly influence community participation in cattle auction
development projects at p>0.05 were income level, number of cattle
owned, age, awareness, experience of participation in projects and sex.
Additionally, the study findings show that the non-participatory
approaches were mainly followed in engaging community members in the area. The study results also show that the attitudes of community
members toward the need for their participation were positive but they
perceived negatively the approaches used for their participation in the
process of the project cycle. Based on the findings it can be concluded
that the project implementer utilize a non-participatory approach (top-
down approach) as means of participation among the project
stakeholders during the project implementation as there was inadequate
accessibility of information sharing, collective decision-making and
meetings that were found to be the most severe limitation of possessing
facts and information. Also, the study concluded that the level of
participation in the project by community members was very low, as
there were low social relationships and poor cooperation among the
agro-pastoralists and project implementers. Therefore, the study
recommends that the government should design ways to increase local
community participation throughout the project cycle to ensure the
success and sustainability of community projects and community
development. It also recommends the use of participatory approaches for
ensuring the active participation of community members in the designing
and implementation of community development projects
Assessment of germination behaviour and nursery performance of pericopsis angolensis
No full textDissertationSuccessful tree planting and forest restoration efforts often rely on
nursery practices to ensure the successful germination, growth, and
survival of tree species. However, indigenous tree species like
Pericopsis angolensis have received limited attention in terms of
establishment, management, and performance in nursery settings,
despite their significant ecological and socio-economic importance.
This study investigated the influences of two major aspects of tree
seedling establishment practices: seed pretreatments and seedling
production techniques to provide a comprehensive understanding of
optimizing nursery practices for Pericopsis angolensis seedlings in
forest restoration. Seed germinability of Pericopsis angolensis was
assessed through a germinability test using a complete randomized
block design (CRBD) with four replications and five pre-treatments,
involving soaking in normal and boiling water at different time
intervals. Germination value, germination percent, mean germination
time, germination index and germination capacity were used as
potential indicators for seed germinability. A CRBD with a 3 x 3 x 3
factorial arrangement was employed to assess seedling performance
under varying nursery conditions, including shading intensities (SIs)
(0%, 50%, and 75%), pot sizes (PSs) (10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm), and
potting mixtures (PMs) (PM0 [sand: cow manure: forest topsoil
(1:2:4)], PM1 [sand: cow manure: forest topsoil (1:2:3)], PM2 [sand:
cow manure: forest topsoil (1:4:3)], PM3 [forest topsoil only], and PM4
[PM0 with an additional 5 gm of NPK]). Performance of tree seedlings
was assessed using growth parameters namely leaf counts, root
collar diameter, root length, shoot height, total dry biomass, survival
percentage, and seedling quality in terms of sturdiness quotient. This
study showed that germinability was higher in the control treatment,
indicating that pre-treating Pericopsis angolensis seeds by soaking in
cold and hot water had no additional effect on germination. On the
other hand, SI was found to significantly affect growth parameters,
with 75% SI having the most substantial impact. PS and PM
composition also played crucial roles, with larger pots and the use of
forest topsoil contributing to increased seedling productivity. While
suggesting that forest restoration using Pericopsis angolensis seeds may not require such pre-treatments, this study recommended
maintaining 50% SI to optimize seedling growth and highlighted the
benefits of larger PS and the inclusion of forest topsoil for biomass
production. The duration for both experiments of seed pre-sowing
treatments and nursery techniques were 28 days and 4.5 months
respectively. In conclusion, the findings underscore the importance
of careful nursery management for Pericopsis angolensis, an
indigenous tree species critical for forest restoration, ultimately
contributing to the conservation and restoration of vital ecosystems
Genetic parameters estimate of iron and zinc nutrients in common bean genotypes
No full textFull Length Research PaperThere is need to know the heritability of different traits for the effective selection of parents for future
breeding activities. A study was carried out to determine heritability of iron and zinc in common bean.
Crosses were made with each donor and recipient parents to obtain four different types of crosses. Part
of the F1 seed from each cross was sown in the screen house to produce F2 seeds and also
backcrossed to both parents. Heritability was estimated using backcross method for high broad sense
heritability and narrow-sense heritability. Broad sense heritability for progenies of NUA 11 × Zawadi
(56%), NUA 11 × Pesa (76%), NUA 17 × Zawadi (57%) and NUA 17 × Pesa (59%) were obtained. Narrow
sense heritability estimates for progenies of NUA 11×Zawadi, NUA 11 × Pesa, NUA 17 ×Zawadi and NUA
17 × Pesa were 65%, 71%, 79% and 63%, respectively. Genetic advance (GA) values for NUA 17 ×
Zawadi, NUA 11 × Pesa, NUA 17 × Pesa and NUA 11 × Zawadi was 35, 12.3, 3.5 and 1%, respectively.
This study demonstrates that there is a potential for improvement of concentration of iron and zinc in
common bean genotypes. Therefore, selection of a superior genotype on the basis of its phenotypic
performance, heritability of traits could be well exploited
Teachers’ and students’ level of awareness regarding re-entry of mother-students in public secondary schools in Dodoma city
No full textResearch articleBackground: This study investigates the awareness levels among teachers and students
regarding the re-entry policy for mother students in public secondary schools in Dodoma City,
Tanzania. The re-entry policy, implemented in 2021, emphasises the readmission of teen mothers
to the regular school system.
Study Design: Employing a Concurrent Triangulation Design, the study gathered comprehensive
information by incorporating diverse research methods.
Population and Sampling: A sample of 489 students and 104 teachers from ordinal secondary
schools in Dodoma City was selected using random, systematic, and stratified techniques.
Instruments/Sources of Data: Data collection utilised questionnaires, interviews, and Focus
Group Discussions (FGD).
Validity and Reliability: Validity was ensured through a literature review, expert consultation, and
supervisor input. Reliability was confirmed via a test-retest method, yielding a Cronbach’s Alpha
of 0.705.
Statistical Treatment of Data: SPSS version 25 facilitated descriptive and inferential statistical
analyses, employing counts, percentages, and tables for data condensation. The Chi-square test
explored associations between variables.
Ethical Considerations: Following ethical guidelines, the study prioritized participant confidentiality
and informed consent.
Key Findings: The study identified that 55% of students and 69% of teachers possessed adequate
awareness of re-entry guidelines. Significant associations were noted between awareness levels
and socio-demographic attributes, including teachers’ and students’ sex, students’ class, and the
education level of students’ mothers.
Recommendation: The study recommends that the Tanzanian government reinforce and
implement existing re-entry guidelines. This is crucial to prevent the exclusion of girls from the
education arena and foster inclusivity and equal educational opportunities
Assessing the impact of human activities on the health condition of the Lukosi River catchment using selected physico-chemical parameters as indicators of water quality
No full textJournal ArticleThe Lukosi River catchment plays a crucial role in the economic and ecological
framework of the country, serving as a major contributor to the Great Ruaha
River (GRR). This study aimed to assess the impact of human activities on the
health of the Lukosi River by analyzing key water parameters. Three sampling
sites across the catchment were selected, and water samples were collected
and analyzed using the American Public Health Association technique. A
one-sample t-test was used to measure the significance of the difference
between the measured water quality parameters and the water quality criteria
established by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and the World Health
Organization (WHO). The results revealed mean values for various parameters:
pH (8.67 ± 0.57), temperature (24.803 ± 1.361°C), EC (93.30 ± 3.34 mgL−1), BOD
(14.85 ± 1.49 mgL−1), TDS (46.95 ± 1.55 mgL−1), total hardness (27.53 ± 1.28 mgL−1),
DO (3.4 ± 0.53 mgL−1), turbidity (109.83 ± 40.99 mgL−1), NO2 (79.04 ± 0.73 mgL−1),
Cu (6.07 ± 0.60 mgL−1), Ca (7.88 ± 0.36 mgL−1), Mn (0.16 ± 0.07 mgL−1), Cl
(7.58 ± 3.97 mgL−1), F (0.12 ± 0.0008 mgL−1), SO4 (20.42 ± 4.12 mgL−1), Mg
(1.92 ± 0.13 mgL−1), Zn (0.14 ± 0.11 mgL−1), Fe (3.56 ± 0.15 mgL−1), and NH3
(4.67 ± 0.51 mgL−1). Parameters such as DO, turbidity, NH3, NO3, and BOD
significantly (p = 0.05) exceeded the permissible limits set by the TBS and the
WHO. Furthermore, elements including Fe and Cu exceeded allowable limits.
Moreover, the WQI was used to indicate that the water in the catchment is
unsuitable for sustaining aquatic organisms and is unfit for domestic use.
Household questionnaires and direct observations identified key human
activities in the catchment: gardening (78.3%), agriculture (68%), livestock
keeping (50%), sand mining (21%), and brick-making (21%). Less prevalent were
car washing (7%) and fishing (4%). These findings underscore the urgent need
for conservation efforts and sustainable management practices to safeguard the
Lukosi River catchment (LRC).UNESC
Estimating heterogeneous effects of land titling on rural household’s agricultural productivity: evidence from the southern highland regions of Tanzania
No full textJournal articleThis paper analyses the effect of land titles on agricultural productivity in the southern highland regions of
Mbeya and Ruvuma and assesses the potential mediating effect of access to credit. The contribution of this paper
to the existing literature is threefold. First, it contributes to the general literature on the impact of land titling on
agricultural performance. Second, it investigates whether access to credit is an important mediating variable.
Third, it assessed whether households respond differently depending on farmer and land characteristics. To
contribute to the evidence on the impact of land titling four hypotheses were tested: Since the study is based on
observational data, propensity score matching technique was employ to determine the land titling effects. The
findings suggest that land titles have a statistically significant positive effect on productivity. This can at least
partially be explained by an increase in credit access for titled households. The study results further suggest
heterogeneous effects of titles, which vary with age of the head of household and size of land cultivated
Determinants of farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies against climate variability and change: Lessons from central Tanzania in Manyoni district
No full textResearch articleFarmers’ adaptation strategies against climate variability and change impact are fundamental in abating the
effects in this epoch. Previous studies have confirmed the presence of context-specific farmers’ adaptation
strategies in Tanzania. However, it is not clear what factors influence farmers to select specific adaptation
strategies. This study contributes to filling this knowledge gap. We used the cross-sectional research design in a
survey of a random sample of 330 small-scale farmers. The multivariate probit was used to model the factors
determining the choice of adaptation strategies. Farmers adapted a number of strategies, nonetheless, there were
four key adaptation strategies: drought-resistant varieties, use of early maturing varieties, resistant livestock
breeds, and conservation agriculture. Farmers used more than one strategy, and the choice was determined by
multiple factors that showed a statistically significant impact at 5 %. We categorize the factors into four groups:
(i) individual farmer and or household characteristics covering age, farming experience of the household head;
household size; and household wealth, especially livestock ownership (ii) farm characteristics like location of the
farm and farm size (iii) institutional factors that include access to extension services, technology, and provision
of title deeds for land ownership to the farmers; and (iv) knowledge of manifestation of CV & C like shifting of
rain seasons, and awareness of using meteorological information in decision making. These factors should be
considered in policy development to heighten the effectiveness of the adaptation strategies in cushioning climate
variability and change impact in the study area and central Tanzania at large
Meta-analysis of legumes and groundnut production trends and variability in the global South
No full textJournal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 10150This study examined the production trends and variability of grain legumes in the Global South from 2000 to
2022, with a particular emphasis on groundnut yields and regional differences. From 2000 to 2022, global
legume production in the Southern Hemisphere increased by approximately 20–30 %, driven by rising demand
for plant-based proteins and expanded cropping areas in countries like Brazil and Argentina. Improved agri-
cultural practices have further enhanced yields. In contrast, groundnut production experienced a more moderate
growth of around 10–15 %, influenced by favourable conditions and expanded cultivation in regions such as
Argentina and South Africa. While demand for groundnuts remains strong, market fluctuations and competition
with other crops continue to shape its production dynamics. The analysis covered a range of legumes, including
common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata), pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan), groundnuts/pea-
nuts (Arachis hypogaea), soya beans (Glycine max), bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterranea), chickpeas (Cicer
arietinum), lentils (Lens culinaris), mung beans (Vigna radiata), black gram (Vigna mungo), faba beans (Vicia faba),
lablab beans (Lablab purpureus), tepary beans (Phaseolus acutifolius), African yam beans (Sphenostylis stenocarpa),
Kersting’s groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum), lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus), black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris),
adzuki beans (Vigna angularis), moth beans (Vigna aconitifolia), horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum), broad beans
(Vicia faba), winged beans (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus). Regional data revealed significant differences in legume
production. In Sub-Saharan Africa, cowpeas and groundnuts are vital, with cowpeas grown over 11.4 million
hectares on average yielding 450 kg ha 1, and groundnuts covering 9.1 million hectares with an average yield of
1007 kg ha 1. Chickpeas and pigeon peas dominate South Asia’s production, whereas Latin America features
prominent soya bean and groundnut cultivation. Oceania’s legume farming is less extensive, focusing on
chickpeas and mung beans. Descriptive statistics revealed that Egypt led in groundnut production with an
average yield of 3279.1 kg ha 1 and a low coefficient of variation (CV) of 4.89 %, indicating stable production.
Conversely, Mozambique had the lowest average yield at 322.9 kg ha 1, with a high CV of 30.23 %, reflecting
greater variability. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified five principal components explaining
70.9 % of the total variance, with the first two components (PC 1 and PC 2) accounting for 51 %. Bangladesh and
Brazil were major contributors to PC 1, while Algeria and Senegal influenced PC 2. These findings highlight the
considerable regional variability in yields and stability in legume production. Future research should address
these disparities and enhance resilience through targeted agricultural practices and policy interventions.This study did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors