SUAIRE (Sokoine Univ. of Agriculture)
Not a member yet
11873 research outputs found
Sort by
The influence of agricultural misinformation on smallholder farmers’ crop production in Mvomero District, Morogoro Region, Tanzania
No full textMaster of Arts Degree in Project Management and EvaluationIn the context of agriculture development access to reliable
agricultural information to farmers is highly vital. Research evidence
has indicated that agricultural misinformation on crop production
exists among smallholder farmers in Tanzania. This study was
conducted in Mvomero District because it is one of the areas in
Morogoro Region where smallholder farmers lack knowledge on how
to access reliable agricultural information through proper sources.
The study examined the effect of agricultural misinformation on crop
production among smallholder farmers. Specifically, the study
identified sources of agricultural information, the level of knowledge
among smallholder farmers about agricultural misinformation, and
the effects of agricultural misinformation on crop production for
smallholder farmers. A cross-sectional research design was used.
Data collection was done using both qualitative and quantitative
research methods involving key informants' interviews and survey
questionnaires. Descriptive statistical analysis was computed to
establish measures of central tendencies. An index scale was
constructed to establish the farmer‟s level of knowledge and a binary
logistic regression model was developed to establish the predictors
of farmers‟ level of knowledge and to estimate the effects of
agricultural misinformation on crop production. Qualitative data were
analyzed using content analysis with a constant comparison
technique. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents
(74%) had access to agricultural information through farmer-farmer
information flow. The extension officers had no significant
contribution (p-value of 0.1430) to providing agricultural information.
The majority of respondents (96%) had a high level of knowledge of
agricultural misinformation but still, could not access well reliable
agricultural information. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test showed
that misinformation had a significant negative effect on crop
production (p = 0.000) and the seed varieties, fertilizer and
pesticides misinformation coefficient was statistically significant (P
<0.000). It is concluded that farmers‟ access to reliable sources of agricultural information, extension services, and local agricultural
experts contributes to increase smallholder farmers‟ crop production.
To mitigate the effects of agricultural misinformation farmers should
be encouraged to consult agricultural experts to access and use
reliable information. The local government and development actors
should intensify farmers‟ training through capacity-building programs
to improve smallholder farmers‟ knowledge to help increase the
adoption of recommended agricultural practices. There is a need to
establish farmers‟ resource centres for the effective dissemination of
important information through community workshops, mobile apps,
and radio programs to reach farmers in remote areas. Local
government organizations and development partners should
increase efforts to minimize the spread of misinformation to
smallholder farmers.Deu‟s family in USA and Sokoine University of Agriculture through Facebook Inc
Pollination efficiency of apis mellifera and hypotrigona gribodoi on capsicum annuum fruit set and yield in Morogoro region, Tanzania
No full textMSc DissertationPollination by insects accounts for over 70% of global food crops
production. Among insect species, bees are one of the most efficient
pollinators though their pollination efficiency varies between species.
Amidst rising worries about declining pollinator populations due to
human activities and changes in climate, comprehending diverse
pollinator capabilities is crucial for conservation. While stingless
bees show promise as commercial pollinators, their capacities
compared to Apis mellifera remain insufficiently understood,
resulting in limited domestication and thus threatening their
population.. This study evaluated the pollination efficiency of Apis
mellifera and Hypotrigona gribodoi on yield and fruit set in Capsicum
annuum. A randomized complete block design experiment was
conducted with three replications and three caged treatmentswhich
are Apis mellifera, Hypotrigona gribodoi, and self-pollinated plants.
Each treatment was replicated three times to assess the effects of
pollination on yield and fruit set rates. We made comparison on
bees' foraging activities and computed their impact on fruit set.
Furthermore, we explored the influence of abiotic factors on bees
foraging activities, to a comprehensive analysis of the intricate
relationship between pollination, bee behavior, and environmental
factors. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the
differences in fruit quality, seed quality, and fruit set rate between
the two species. Kruskal wallis was used to test for difference
among data which are not normally distributed. Tukey's Honestly
Significant Difference (HSD) and Dunn tests were used for normally
distributed and non-normally distributed data respectively. To
compare the difference in bee foraging activity, we use the Wilcoxon
rank-sum test. We employed a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) to
investigate the relationship between fruit set rate and foraging
activity, and a Poisson Regression Model to explore the relationship
between foraging activity, abiotic factors, and bee species. The
results show that the number of fruits per plant, fruit transverse
circumference, fruit vertical circumference, fruit weight, and percentage fruit set rate per plant were higher in the plot pollinated
with Hypotrigona gribodoi, followed by Apis mellifera, and lastly the
control plot and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).
However, there was no significant difference in the number of seeds
per fruit and the weight of 100 dry seeds per fruit among the two
species (P>0.05). Hypotrigona gribodoi showed higher flower visits,
pollen-carrying workers, and visitors per flower than Apis mellifera,
with significant differences (P < 0.001). Conversely, Apis mellifera
had more exiting workers (P < 0.001). Moreover no difference in
time spent on the flower (P>0.05). Also the number of workers
entering with pollen (P<0.001), workers exiting the hive (P<0.001),
and time spent on the flower (P<0.05) have a significant effect on
the fruit set rate of Capsicum annuum. The number of visitors per
flower and the number of flowers visited do not have a significant
effect (P>0.05). Temperature and humidity significantly affect the
number of visitors per flower, the time spent on flower and the
number of workers exiting the hives. However, the number of flowers
visited and the number of workers entering the hive with pollen were
not influenced by temperature and humidity. These findings suggest
that Hypotrigona gribodoi is a more efficient pollinator of Capsicum
annuum L. Furthermore, the foraging behavior of Apis mellifera and
Hypotrigona gribodoi is affected by temperature and humidity
affecting the fruit set rate of Capsicum annuum. More research on
the differential pollination efficiency among different bee species in
crop production is imperative.Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS
The implication of water accessibility challenges to urban water governance in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania
No full textResearch articleThis study investigates water accessibility challenges in urban and peri-urban areas and its
implication to urban water governance in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania. A cross-sectional
research design was adopted using a survey of 90 randomly selected households. The key
informant interview was used to collect key information. Quantitative data were analyzed using
descriptive statistics. The Mann-Whitney U Test was employed to establish the extent to which
factors affected water accessibility differently in urban and peri-urban areas. Content analysis was
used to analyse qualitative information. Approximately 69% of the respondents accessed water
from public piped water system. Some accessed water from public water taps while others used
private boreholes and tank carts. Water supply, more so in peri-urban areas, was not reliable. In
addition, water leakage, cost of connecting to the public piped water system, cost for constructing
a borehole, climatic and environmental factors piled up into challenges of water accessibility
suggesting poor urban water governance. The Mann-Whitney U Test showed that households in
peri-urban areas were significantly affected by the challenges compared to households in urban
areas at 5% level of significance where p = 0.000. The study concludes presence of challenges in
water access due to multiple factors with implications on urban water governance. Therefore,
urban water governance should be improved to heighten water accessibility. Further studies
should focus on developing an urban water governance framework in Tanzania
Economic contribution of spice farming to household income on the slopes of the Uluguru Mountains, Morogoro Region, Tanzania
No full textTanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences (2024) Vol. 23 No. 2, 351-365Spice farming is a crucial agricultural activity for smallholder farmers in the Uluguru
Mountains, Morogoro Region, Tanzania. However, the extent to which it contributes to household
income compared to other livelihood activities remains unclear. This study assesses the economic
significance of spice farming, identifies the main types of spices cultivated, and examines key
challenges affecting spice production and market access. As such, a cross-sectional research
design was employed, utilizing simple random sampling (a probability technique) to select 120
farmers from a sampling frame of 617 organic spice farmers, and purposive sampling (a nonprobability technique) to select key informants and study villages. Data collection involved
household surveys, key informant interviews, and direct field observations conducted between June
and July 2020 in four wards: Kinole, Mkuyuni, Mtombozi, and Tawa. The findings reveal that black
pepper, vanilla, and cinnamon are the predominant spices cultivated. Income derived from these
spices was significantly higher than that from other crops (p<0.007, t=2.727), underscoring their
economic importance. However, fungal diseases affecting black pepper and weak market linkages
present major challenges to farmers. The study concludes that the agro-climatic conditions on
the slopes of the Uluguru Mountains are highly suitable for spice farming but require improved
support systems. It is recommended that farmers increase investment in spice production, while
local government authorities and extension officers should enhance training on best agricultural
practices and establish stronger market linkages to boost productivity and economic returns
Butterfly species diversity across ecological gradients in mpanga kipengere game reserve and surrounding farmlands, Tanzania
No full textMSc. DissertationButterflies are a species that are particularly sensitive to environmental
changes. Identifying indicator species is crucial for assessing
ecosystem health and ecological monitoring. Maintaining natural
habitats is crucial for preserving insects and other species that indicate
environmental changes. However, the Mpanga/Kipengere Game
Reserve and its surrounding farmlands are facing disturbance due to
human activities, putting many wildlife species, particularly larger
mammals, at risk. To determine the impact of human activities on
butterfly species diversity and abundance in the reserve and its
surrounding areas, we conducted a study from November 2021 to
October 2023.
The study had three main goals. Firstly, to determine how altitude
affects the composition and diversity of butterfly species in the
Mpanga/Kipengere Game Reserve. Secondly, to assess how habitat
impacts the composition and diversity of butterfly species in the same
reserve. Lastly, to evaluate the effect of human activities on butterfly
species composition and diversity in both the Mpanga/Kipengere
Game Reserve and the adjacent Farmlands. The study was conducted
between July 2021 and June 2022 at three different altitudinal levels
low altitude, mid-altitude, and higher altitude ranging from 1000m to
>2000 above sea level. To study the diversity and similarities in species
composition between habitats, butterflies were collected using baited
traps and sweep nets. A 1000m long line transect was used in each
site for sampling. Shannon Index was employed to calculate diversity,
while variations were tested using ANOVA and TUKEY-HSD. Bray-
Curti's dissimilarities were used to identify similarities in species
composition.
The results observed during the study are as follows: A total of 2091
butterfly specimens from 5 different families, which included 124
species were observed. Among these species, there were 2 endemic
ones, namely Charaxes Congdon and Harpendyreus Juno.
The research showed a significant difference in butterfly species
diversity based on altitude, with the Mid-Altitude having higher diversity
(P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in butterfly species diversity between different habitats (Bray-Curtis’s value
< 0.23). Furthermore, the study reveals that Mpanga Kipengere Game
Reserve has higher butterflies’ diversity compared to surrounding
Farmlands. It is also observed that 77% of the species were recorded
in April when there was high temperature and rainfall. These findings
are crucial for ecological monitoring and the evaluation of the MPKGR
ecosystem.
The study concluded that: There is a significance difference in butterfly
species composition and diversity between altitudes. There is no
significance difference in species composition and diversity between
vegetation types. Therefore, the variation is influenced by altitudes
rather than habitat types. Butterfly species composition and diversity is
higher in MPKGR compared to surrounding farmlands. Therefore, the
study find that human activities have direct impact on butterfly species
composition and diversity. Most of butterfly species recorded
immediately after intensive rain season compared to dry season
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
Households charcoal consumption, sustainability and its environmental impact in montserrado county, liberia
No full textMSc DissertationThe consumption of charcoal is a prevalent practice for many
households in Montserrado County, Liberia. Charcoal serves as a
primary source of cooking fuel for many families. While charcoal
may be a readily available and affordable energy source, its
production and consumption have significant environmental and
sustainability concerns. The aim of this study was geared towards
analyzing the factors influencing household charcoal consumption
and the associated negative environmental consequences in
Montserrado County, Liberia. Its sole objective was to gather
necessary information to aid policy formulation on sustainable
charcoal production and consumption in Liberia. Specifically, the
study intended to look at the factors influencing households’
charcoal consumption, determine the challenges associated with
charcoal consumption in the study area, identify the main sources of
energy in the study area, and determine the environmental impacts
associated with charcoal consumption. In this study, a Cross-
sectional research design was adopted. The sample size was 386
respondents in Montserrado County. Quantitative data were
collected and descriptive statistics and regression models were both
used with the aid of SPSS (Version 20) in analyzing the data.
Findings from the multiple linear regression model showed that
household’s education level, number of meals per day, price of
charcoal and household size were statistically significant (p < 0.05)
associated with household’s charcoal consumption in Montserrado
County. Furthermore, respondents identified high price (22.7%), low
quality (21.6%) and dirtiness of homes (20%) as main challenges
faced in the consumption of charcoal. Moreover, it was evident that
increase in household’s charcoal consumption influenced charcoal
production. More than half of the respondents (65.5%) strongly
agreed that the unsustainable production of charcoal is one of the
drivers of deforestation and (25.13%) agreed that the unsustainable
production of charcoal also disrupt the soil profile, thus devastating
the environment. Based on the findings from this study, to address
the challenges posed by high charcoal consumption and its
associated adverse environmental impacts, it is crucial to promote
sustainable energy practices, increase hydro-electricity power
supply, raise awareness about the environmental impact, subsidize
the production of energy efficient technologies to reduce charcoal
consumption and production, regulate the charcoal industry, and
support research and development of alternative cleaner energy
technologies such as solar, and briquettes as well as initiating
education programs tailored to sustainable charcoal consumption
and production in the study area. On the other hand, it is believed
that the introduction of Low-cost retort-kiln or Improved Charcoal
Production System (ICPS) will help minimize the adverse effects on
the environment caused by charcoal production processes. In
addition, engaging local communities, offering incentives, and
fostering collaborations among stakeholders will further contribute to
a more sustainable energy landscape and forest conservation in the
region
Breeding rice for salinity tolerance and salt-affected soils in Africa
No full textJournal articleSalinity is one of the main factors that limit rice production globally. In Sub Saharan Africa, soil
salinity has affected many countries. Understanding the available screening techniques and the
mechanisms of salinity tolerance in rice is very important for dealing with soil salinity problem.
This review summarizes the extent of soil salinity problems in some of the affected African
countries and the available salt stress-tolerant rice genotypes. The problems, challenges and
opportunities of salt-affected soils in Sub Saharan Africa are thoroughly described in this
review, which also looks at breeding techniques which have been used for developing rice
cultivars adapted to salt stress. Among the best option to deal with salinity-related problems
is through the use of tolerant rice varieties, as many other available management approaches
are not economically feasible for small-scale farmers. Also, the review discusses different
approaches, both conventional and molecular breeding approaches that have greatly enhanced
the current rice breeders’ toolboxes for developing salt-tolerant rice varieties. The review
suggests that more efforts are required to leverage conventional breeding with molecular
techniques for speedy identification of tolerant cultivars, useful markers and quantitative trait
loci (Qt Ls). It is recommended that it is crucial to reinforce collaborative efforts and continuous
investment in research, capacity building, and knowledge sharing for developing improved rice
tolerant cultivars in order to fully address salinity problems in African.Climate-Smart African Rice
Research Project, DANIDA, Grant No. 19-3-KU
Diversity and temporal fluctuations in abundance of rodents, shrews and their flea- ectoparasites in an extensive agricultural landscape of Mgeta division, Morogoro region, Tanzania
No full textMSc. Public Health Pest ManagementRodents and shrews play an important role in a variety of
ecosystems including crop farming and the keeping of food animals.
Increasing cultivation of crops and livestock keeping in Mgeta
division, along the western slopes of Uluguru Mountain, is
threatening the survival of rodents and shrews, and consequently,
changes in the likelihood of these animals in their disease
transmission patterns, which involves also their ectoparasites,
particularly fleas, due to changes in their abundance and distribution
in the ecosystem. This study was conducted from December 2021
to May 2022, and intended to investigate the diversity and temporal
fluctuations in abundance of rodents, shrews and their flea-
ectoparasites in Mgeta, an area with extensive agriculture in south-
east Tanzania. Three habitats (forest, fallow and cultivated lands),
each, were selected and defined as low (1,100 - 1,500 m a.s.l) and
high (1,600 - 1,900 m a.s.l) elevations and subsequently sampled for
rodents, shrews and their flea-ectoparasites. Removal trapping with
baited live Sherman®, Harvahart® and locally made traps was carried
out. A total of 192 rodents and 15 shrews were captured, and 199
fleas were collected. Identification of the rodents, shrews and fleas
was done up to their species levels. Captured rodents included:
Rattus rattus (1.45%), Mastomys natalensis (9.66%), Beamys hindei
(1.45%), Lophuromys flavopunctatus (21.74%), Lophuromys kilonzoi
(2.42%), Praomys delectorum (40.58%), Grammomys ibeanus
(8.7%), Graphiurus murinus (1.45%), Mus minutoides (3.38%), Mus
musculus (1.45%) and Dasmys spp (0.48%), whereas, the shrew
species included: Crocidura olivieri (3.86%) and Crocidura hirta
(3.38%). A Total number of 95 (45.89%) rodents and 6 (2.8%)
shrews were infested by Dinopsyllus lypusus, Nosopsyllus fasciatus
or Ctenopthalmus calceatus. The mean abundance of fleas
presented a significant variation among the host species (F (12, 194) =
11.82, P < 0.001), habitats (F (2, 204) = 9.935, P < 0.001) and along
the elevation gradient (F (1, 205) = 10.15, P = 0.02). Similarly, the
prevalence varied significantly between the hosts (F (12, 194) = 22.44, P < 0.001) and habitats (F (2, 204) = 4.837, P = 0.009) but not with
elevation (F (1, 205) = 0.291, P = 0.59). The mean intensity of flea
infestation, on the other hand, varied significantly among the hosts
(F (12, 194) = 9.257, P < 0.001) and along the elevation gradient (F (1,
205) = 47.91, P < 0.001), but not habitats (F (2, 204) = 0.75, P = 0.474).
Furthermore, while rainfall intensity was strongly associated with
mean abundance of fleas (r = 0.054, P < 0.05), neither temperature,
elevation, nor humidity were correlated with either mean intensity or
prevalence of fleas on the hosts. However, rainfall, temperature, and
relative humidity had a significant effect on rodent and shrew
abundance (P< 0.05). Given the discovery of D. lypusus, which is a
well-known vector of the plague pathogen, Yersinia pestis, and a
common ectoparasite of M. natalensis and R. rattus. Effective
conservation strategies to preserve the remainder forest patches
and community awareness programs regarding the existence of
potential plague vectors and mitigation measures in the study area
as well as avoidance mechanism should be implemented to ensure
the health of the entire ecosystem.African Centre of Excellence for Innovative Rodent Pest Management and
Biosensor Technology Development (ACE IRPM and BTD) through
Project No 5799-TZ under IMP of the Sokoine University of
Agricultur
Local community’s perspectives on trophy hunting and their implications toward people’s welfare: the case of Rungwa Game Reserve
No full textMSc DissertationTrophy hunting in Tanzania plays an important role in wildlife
conservation, economic development, and community development.
This is despite the current contentious debate based on utilitarian
and deontological perspectives across the globe. However, on such
contentious topic, the voices of local communities from wildlife-rich
countries that are key stakeholders in wildlife conservation, including
Tanzania, have largely been unheard. The Rungwa game reserve
(RGR) is among the protected areas where the local community’s
perspectives on trophy hunting are not well documented.
Specifically, the study aimed at (i) assessing local communities’
perceptions and knowledge towards trophy hunting, (ii) determine
the costs and benefits of trophy hunting and its implications to
community’s livelihood (iii) examine the trend of trophy hunting and
its implications to local community’s livelihood. The survey was
conducted in November 2021 and February 2022. The in-depth
interviews were conducted with selected key informants (n=30) and
the questionnaire was administered to 120 sampled respondents.
The study used the mixed methods approach to gather all the data
required whereby surveys through questionnaires and checklists
were used as tools. The Chi-square tests for categorical variables
were used to assess the local community knowledge of trophy
hunting; Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to determine
factors that influenced local community knowledge on trophy
hunting. Assessment of local community attitude was performed by
using descriptive analysis, while to determine factors influencing
local community attitude the Structural Equation Modelling was
employed. Assessing the benefits and number of costs perceived by
local communities the Welch two sample t-test was used. The GLM
with Poisson error distribution were used to assess the factors that
influenced the response on cost and benefits of trophy hunting.
Perceptions of the trend of trophy hunting activities over the past five
years by the local community were assessed by using the Chi-
square test, while the trend of the number of tourists and revenue obtained from trophy hunting over the past 14 years were assessed
by using scaled GLM with a Poisson error distribution. Generally, the
study found that most of the local communities (92%, n = 110) were
aware of existing hunting operations around the village lands and
game reserves. The study found positive attitudes among local
communities toward trophy hunting, only if local people accrue
benefits from hunting operations. The community's attitudes towards
trophy hunting varied across household size and occupation.
Education and household position had an indirect influence on the
community’s attitude. The findings revealed that there was a
significant higher benefit than cost imposed by trophy hunting
activities to local communities living adjacent the RGR (t = 9.27, df =
150.58, p = 0.00). The response of local communities toward
benefits and costs from trophy hunting around RGR appeared to be
influenced by demographic factors. The perceived trend of trophy
hunting from local communities varied significantly (2 = 94.8, df = 3,
P < 0.001). The study found that the number of tourists who
conducted trophy hunting around RGR decreased significantly over
the past ten years (GLM, t =-3.960, P = 0.002), but when assessed
against annual revenue collected over the past 14 years, there was
an insignificant decrease in annual revenue (GLM, t =-1.482, P =
0.164) of which the key informants revealed that it was caused by
reasons like changes of trophy hunting policy, quota prices, and
emergency of Covid-19 pandemic. Our findings suggest that local
communities value trophy hunting's contributions but weigh them
against wildlife costs, with demographics affecting individual
perceptions. In conclusion, trophy hunting is important to local
communities living adjacent to remote protected areas and banning
them may have a significant impact in their livelihood and wildlife
conservation.Sydney Byers Scholarship for Wildlife Conservation through the WCN
Scholarship program and Dascot Lt