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Interactive radio programming and gender perspectives in agricultural knowledge sharing: A study of women crop farmers in Dodoma city, Tanzania
No full textjournal articlesThis study examines the accessibility of interactive radio-based agricultural information for women crop farmers in Dodoma City, Tanzania. With a focus on face-to-face interviews, supplemented by Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews, the research involved 32 purposively selected individual participants. The study uses content analysis to unveil a limited interaction between radio programmers and women crop farmers in Dodoma City. Identified barriers include a scarcity of radios and mobile phones, absence of electricity for device charging, domestic responsibilities, fear of spousal disapproval, non-contact by programmers, voucher purchase costs, and language obstacles. The findings underscore the need for intervention to enhance women's engagement with radio programs. The study recommends that the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) addresses financial constraints hindering women's interaction. This aligns with the TCRA's commitment to prioritizing information consumer interests. Additionally, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology is urged to empower schoolgirls by providing agricultural education through secondary levels. Such initiatives can foster improved access to vital agricultural information for women crop farmers in Dodoma City, contributing to their socio-economic development
Rural women's participation in managing aflatoxin contamination in the groundnut postharvest value chain in chemba district, Tanzania
No full textJournal articleAims: This study sought to determine the extent of rural women's participation in managing
aflatoxin contamination in the groundnut postharvest value chain.
Study Design: The study employed a cross-sectional mixed-methods research design involving
quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Chemba District in Dodoma
Region, Tanzania situated at the coordinates 05°14′ 34′′ S latitude and 35°53′ 24′′ E longitude,
respectively. Methodology: The primary data for the study were obtained from a random sample of 137 female
groundnut farmers residing in twelve (12) villages from eight (08) wards in Chemba District. A
questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data, while an FGD guide, checklist, and participant
observation were employed to obtain qualitative data.
Results: The findings show that women groundnut farmers participate partly in various aflatoxins-
related project activities in decision making (50.36%), implementation (44.52%), benefits (59.85%),
and evaluation (51.09%). Moreover, the findings of the study show that women participate in
groundnut postharvest activities involving cleaning, drying, grading, sorting, processing, packing,
storage, and marketing. However, the study shows that women’s participation in groundnut
postharvest activities for managing aflatoxin is low. The findings also indicate that there is no
statistically significant association between women's involvement in aflatoxin management and
their age (χ2 = 7.800, P = 0.099), years of engagement in agriculture (χ2 = 3.556, P = 0.469), and
farm size (χ2 = 2.004, P = 0.735). Additionally, a statistically significant association was observed
between women's participation in managing aflatoxin and their level of education (χ2 = 12.650, P =
0.013*), as well as their marital status (χ2 = 27.550, P = 0.000***).
Conclusion: The study found that rural women's participation in managing aflatoxin contamination
in the groundnut postharvest value chain is critical. Hence, this study recommends developing
strategies and initiatives targeting and supporting women's participation in managing aflatoxin
contamination in the groundnut postharvest value chain
Bionomics, blood-host plasticity and its effect on host-choice and feeding behaviour of tsetse species from selected human- wildlife interface in Tanzania
No full textMSc. DissertationTsetse flies are vectors of trypanosome parasites which cause
human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) in human and African animal
trypanosomiasis (AAT) in livestock across Sub-Saharan Africa.
These flies feed exclusively on animals’ blood. It is during blood-
feeding process of these flies; un-infected host get infected by
parasites carried by infected vector. Several tsetse controls
programs have been implemented so as to minimize the incidences
of trypanosome infections; however, the human-wildlife interfaces
remain as the risk areas where both livestock and human being can
be infected with trypanosome parasites. Therefore, surveillance and
control of these flies is important so as to minimize the African
trypanosomiasis’ risks in these areas. This study assessed the
species composition, abundance and phylogenetic relatedness of
wild collected tsetse flies from selected human-wildlife-livestock
interface in Tanzania. Variation in host choice and feeding
behaviours of predominant species’ (Glossina morsitans) siblings
whose parents were blood-fed on different host species were also
investigated. The tsetse flies were trapped seasonally in two
selected wards within Morogoro Rural district. The study wards and
villages were purposively selected targeting those which are
bordering to protected areas. In each ward, baited NZI, Pyramidal
and Biconical traps were deployed at 200m distance apart from each
other for 72 hours before rotating to the next trapping sites. Trapped
flies were collected from the traps after 24 hours then identified
morphologically and later confirmed using the Polymerase Chain
Reaction (PCR). Moreover, a colony of tsetse flies were established
from pupa obtained from tsetse and vector control centre, Tanga.
Hatched flies were maintained on selected hosts blood until the
offsprings were obtained for the experiments. The host-choice and
feeding behaviours experiments were carried out in large semi-field
cage containing four small equal size screen cages. During the
experiments, individual host was placed in a screen cage which
allowed flies to enter through openings on each side. The groups of flies (20 per replicate) colour-marked differently basing on their
parents’ bloodmeal hosts, were released from the centre of large
semi-field cage and left to forage for 24 hours before being
collected, then, sorted basing on the location, feeding status and
parents’ bloodmeal. The total of 784 tsetseflies were collected;
Glossina pallidipes (n=371; 47.32%) and Glossina morsitans
morsitans (n=413; 52.68%). Of these, 96 flies (80-female, 16-male)
were blood-fed; 57(48-female and 9-male) G. pallidipes and 39(32-
female, 7-male) G.m. morsitans. Overall abundance of collected
tsetse significantly varied across surveyed wards (χ2=4.597, df=1, p=
0.032), villages (χ2=9.491, df=3, p= 0.023), habitats (χ2=17.239,
df=2, p<0.001), months (χ2=13.507, df=3, p= 0.004) and deployed
traps (χ2=6.348, df= 2, p= 0.04). About 78.82% of tsetse flies were
collected from Kisaki ward (n=618; p<0.001) and 21.17% (n=166;
p=0.032) from Bwakila chini. The highest proportion of these flies
were collected in Mbojoge village (62%; n= 489) followed by
Kiperege (18%; n=141) and Sebo (16%; n=129). NZI traps collected
the highest proportion of tsetse flies (n=422; 54%; 4.98 FTD)
followed by Pyramidal traps (n=281; 36%; 4.01 FTD) and Biconical
traps (n=81; 10%; 1.87 FTD). Similarly, the large proportion of tsetse
flies (78.06%) were collected in bushed grassland habitat (n=612;
55.41 FTD) followed by woodland habitat (16.45%; n=129; 20.56
FTD) and farmland (5.5%; n=43; 7.17 FTD). The phylogenetic
analysis revealed genetic relatedness of tsetse flies collected in
Tanzania with those collected from Nigeria and Senegal.
Furthermore, a total of 213 flies (72.95% of the recovered) were
attracted to the hosts. The number of flies attracted to different hosts
varied significantly (χ24= 33.685, p= 0.0001); Rodent (n=80,
p=0.006), Rabbit (n=59, p=0.331), Guinea pig (n=49, p=0.057) and
squirrel (n=25, p=0.005). The number of flies attracted to their
parent’s blood meal source varied significantly (χ212 = 56.476,
p<0.001); rabbits (n= 35, 59.32%, p<0.001), rodent (n=25, 31.25%,
p=0.043) and guinea pig (n= 19, 38.78%, p=0.45). But, only 39 flies
(18.31% of total attracted) bloodfed on the hosts; Guinea pigs (n=10,
25.64%), Rodents (n=23, 58.97%), Rabbits (n=6, 15.38%) and Squirrels (n=0,0.0%). There was significant variation in number of
flies that fed successively across hosts (χ24=49.478, p<0.001). The
present study recommends NZI and Pyramidal traps for tsetse fly
control at the interface and wet season as appropriate season for
conducting control activities. Also, the study confirms the presence
of the hosts’ differential attractiveness to flies but failed to explain
observed behaviours in relation to genetic inheritance. Therefore,
future studies are recommended to investigate the effect of
bloodmeal sources on tsetse fly siblings’ behaviours across filial
generations using small mammals.The Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative Rodent Pest Management and Biosensor
Technology Development (ACE II IRPM-BTD)
Community responses to corona virus disease (COVID-19) in Africa in the face of “Infodemic”: A scoping review
No full textJournal ArticleGlobally, Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) has significantly affected communities in various
aspects. The World Health Organization proposed different measures to prevent the pandemic.
However, these measures in some instances have not effectively minimized the impacts of COVID-
19, due to innumerable factors, inter alia, considerable “infodemic” related to myths, misinformation,
and misconceptions. Knowledge of the “infodemic” on COVID -19 can lead to effective
interventions to rid societies of COVID-19, hence reduction of COVID-19-related risks and outcomes.
This article explores the “COVID-19 infodemic” that affected community responses to
COVID-19 in Africa. The study employed a scoping review approach involving peer-reviewed
articles from numerous search engines and databases. The keywords involved in the search
query were: “COVID-19 infodemic, COVID-19 false news, COVID-19 in Africa, ‘knowledge of
COVID-19, ‘myths, misinformation, and misconceptions on COVID-19, ‘history of COVID-19’,
‘community responses to COVID-19 in Africa”. Findings show that 5G technology transferred
coronavirus, high temperature and alcohol can kill coronavirus, blacks are immune to COVID-19,
COVID-19 vaccine development has been rushed hence not very effective and safe and also causes
infertility. Diverse community responses have been registered which in some ways frustrated
efforts in combating the pandemic. Therefore, the “infodemic” consisting of myths, misconceptions,
and misinformation have been resulting from the history of COVID-19 which first
affected white people more than blacks. Also, low knowledge of how the virus is transmitted and
affect human being; and the notion that COVID-19 affects richer than poor people, hence since
white people are richer than black people then they were the first to be affected by the pandemic.
Obviously in presence of such myths, misconceptions, and misinformation; community responses
in combating COVID-19 have not been very effective in Africa. For these interventions to be
effective, collective efforts involving various stakeholders to raise awareness of COVID-19 are
needed
Enhancing sustainability of university-based outreach activities through participatory action research: the case of Sokoine University of Agriculture
No full textJournal articleUniversities worldwide are mandated for training, research, consultancy and
outreach. To ensure that they are responsive to community’s needs, as part of
corporate social responsibility, Universities carry out outreach activities and engage
with rural communities. However, many universities' outreach activities in rural
communities face the challenge of sustainability. In addressing sustainability,
Participatory Action Research (PAR) has proved to foster collaboration and
meaningful engagements for community transformation. This is because using PAR
to seek solutions to problems facing society and, simultaneously, meeting outreach
goals fosters sustainability. In this paper, we use the Sokoine University of
Agriculture (SUA) as a case to report findings on achievements, challenges and
critical lessons learned from selected outreach projects that used PAR interventional
strategy. We collected primary data from community members based on our
involvement in selected projects. We employed focus group discussions (FGDs) to
collect primary data. These data were compiled and shared during feedback
meetings and dialogue conferences. In addition, secondary data collected include
information obtained from literature review, project reports and researchers’ field
notes. Data were analyzed by thematic analysis procedure. Our experiences and
results indicate that PAR interventional strategy sustained the University’s outreach
activities, enhanced the University-community linkage and transformed rural
communities in different ways, ranging from individual, economic and organisational
empowerment. In addition, PAR fostered researcher-farmer interactions and
collaboration among partners and actors. Critical lessons learned include long-term
commitment to work with rural communities is necessary to build mutual trust and
strong partnerships; communities perceive researchers as “outsiders” who have
abilities and resources for addressing their felt needs and problems and PAR is
limited by institutional set-up. However, frequent interactions and close involvement of stakeholders in project implementation guaranteed success
Anthropogenic activities along the lake nyasa catchments alter the habitat and genetic diversity of a lake salmon, opsaridium microlepis
No full textResearch articleThe Lake Salmon, Opsaridium microlepis is an economically important fish along the Lake Nyasa.
However, the species is under threat of extinction due to anthropogenic activities such as agri
culture, mining, urbanization, and deforestation. Consequently, the fish species is currently
regarded as a threatened species, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
has red-listed the species due to an apparent decline in abundance. The current study assesses the
potential impact of human activities on the genetic diversity of O. microlepis using partial mito
chondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences and microsatellite loci. The results
indicate that genetic diversity is lower in the areas affected by human activities compared to
relatively pristine areas. The results from this study may suggest that human activities taking
place in the catchments are likely to contribute to the alteration of the genetic diversity of O.
microlepis species. Thus, immediate measure is required to control anthropogenic activities in the
areas to protect the species and other aquatic organisms from possible threats of extinction
Cestodes fauna of silvery mole rats (Heliophobius Argentiocinereus Emini) in Morogoro region, Tanzania
No full textJournal ArticleBackground: Silvery mole rat (Heliophobius Argentiocinereus) is a subterranean rodent widely distributed throughout
Sub-Saharan Africa. They have been reported to host several gastrointestinal parasites, however, the status of
parasites from these rats in Tanzania has not been widely studied. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of
cestodes parasites in silvery mole rats from the Morogoro region.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Mlali and Mji mkuu wards of the Mvomero and Morogoro
urban districts in Tanzania, from March to June 2023. Silvery mole rats were collected through manual excavation of
their burrows in agri-ecological areas. The captured rats were euthanized using Diethyl Ether and dissected to remove
the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). GIT contents were gathered. Adult worms were collected and preserved in 70.0%
ethanol. A flotation and aceto-carmine staining techniques were employed to process gastrointestinal contents and
adult tapeworms respectively. Both cestode eggs and adult tapeworms were identified based on general morphological
features using taxonomic keys. The prevalence of cestodes was computed, and a chi-square test was applied to
assess association, a p-value≤ 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: One hundred thirty-seven silvery mole rats were collected, adult females 65% (89/137) were dominant
among collected rats. One species of gastrointestinal cestode was detected with an overall prevalence of 20.44%
(28/137) and identified as Hymenolepis diminuta. A total of 392 adult worms and 1450 eggs per gram (EPG) for H.
diminuta were collected from the gastrointestinal tract. A significant association was shown between cestodes infection
with both host age and reproductive category (p< 0.05).
Conclusion: This study has established that Hymenolepidae (H. diminuta) is prevalent in silvery mole rats of the
Morogoro region, suggesting that this animal could be among the sources of hymenolepiasis disease in the
community. Therefore, further studies are needed to investigate cestodes fauna in community members of the
respective study area
The impacts of anthropogenic activities on the physicochemical water quality of Pinyinyi River, Arusha-Tanzania
No full textJournal of Water Resource and Protection, 2023, 15, 393-412Rivers are important for aquatic biodiversity. Anthropogenic activities de-
grade rivers and decrease their capacity to offer ecosystem services. This study
used macroinvertebrates to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on
the Pinyinyi River during dry and wet season. Abundance of macroinverte-
brates, average score per taxon and Shannon Weiner Species Diversity Index
were used to state the ecological status of Pinyinyi River. Because the abun-
dance of macroinvertebrates can be affected by change in water quality, some
of the physicochemical parameters were also measured. A macroinvertebrates
hand net is used to collect the macroinvertebrates per sampling point. DO,
temperature, pH, turbidity and TDS were measured
in-situ using HI-9829
Multiparameter and BOD was measured in the laboratory using Oxydirect le-
vibond method. A total of 164 macroinvertebrates were collected and identi-
fied from Pinyinyi River during dry and wet season. They belong to 13 fami-
lies. The most abundant taxa were mosquito larva, Diptera (41.07%) and aq-
uatic caterpillar, Lepidoptera (23.21%) during dry season representing about
64.28% of the total macroinvertebrates whereas the least abundant taxa were
pouch snail (16.07%) and dragonflies, Odonata (19.64%) during dry season
representing about 35.72% of the total macroinvertebrates. The most abun-
dant taxa collected during wet season were aquatic earthworm, haplotaxida
(19.44%), midges, Diptera (17.59%), black flies, Diptera (15.74%) and creep-
ing water bugs, hemiptera (12.96%) whereas the least abundant were pigmy
back swimmers, hemiptera (2.78%), snail (3.7%), predacious dividing beetle
(4.63%) and coleopteran (4.63%). Average Score per taxon of Pinyinyi River
during dry season was 5.25 and 3.6 during wet season. The Shannon Weiner
Species Diversity Index was 1.318 during dry season and 2.138 during wet season. Based on the score, Pinyinyi River is moderately polluted during dry
season and seriously polluted during wet season. Based on index, Pinyinyi
River has low diversity of macroinvertebrates during dry season and highly in
diversity of macroinvertebrates during wet season. Moreover, it was found
that, agricultural activities, livestock keeping, bathing and washing alter phy-
sicochemical parameters of Pinyinyi River and hence change the abundance
of macroinvertebrates as well as the quality of water. The study, therefore,
recommends that the source of pollutants should be controlled and the river
regularly monitored by the relevant authorities
Evaluation of food safety knowledge, attitude and hygienic practices among food service workers in hotels, restaurants and street food stands in Morogoro, Tanzania
No full textJournal ArticleFoodborne infections are a global problem, especially in developing nations. These infections mostly
spread in homes, restaurants, and other public places. Thus, promoting food safety knowledge,
attitudes, and hygienic behaviors is essential. The aim of this study was to assess the level of food
safety knowledge attitude and hygienic practices among food service workers in hotels, restaurants
and street food stands. A cross-sectional study carried out during February to May 2024 in Morogoro
Municipality examined 75 hotel, restaurant, and street food vendors' food safety knowledge,
attitudes, and hygienic practices using structured questionnaires and an observation checklist. Food
service workers were tested on pathogens, cleanliness, and handling. Correct answers got points;
scores below 50% indicated insufficient knowledge. Food safety attitudes contained 10 questions
with 10% points for accurate answers. Food service workers in hotels had significantly (p<0.05)
superior food safety knowledge (94.65%), attitude (95.60%), and hygienic practices (98.25%)
compared to those in restaurants and street food stands. The food service workers at street food
stands had the lowest ratings in terms of their knowledge (50.65%), attitude (40.40%), and hygienic
practices (45.75%). Restaurant food service workers scored 66.97%, 69.2% and 83.02% for food
safety knowledge, attitude, and hygienic practices, respectively, and these were significantly
(p<0.05) higher than those obtained from street food stand and lower than hotel service workers.
Hotel staff demonstrated superior food safety knowledge, attitude, and practices compared to street
vendors. Food safety in Morogoro Municipality requires intense training, regulatory supervision,
local authority cooperation, and continual study and monitorin
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