SUAIRE (Sokoine Univ. of Agriculture)
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Pest status of citrus psyllids in relation to citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing) in major citrus growing areas of Tanzania
No full textMSc DissertationThe citrus industry is a significant contributor to the global economy,
with East African countries like Tanzania playing a crucial role.
However, the emergence of Asian citrus greening disease, facilitated
by insect vectors such as Diaphorina citri and Trioza erytreae, poses
a substantial threat to this sector. This study aims to document the
impact of citrus greening and psyllid infestations on Tanzania‘s citrus
industry, which results in diminished fruit yield, compromised quality,
and economic losses.
Field surveys were conducted in major citrus-growing regions in
Tanzania, including Ruvuma, Arusha, Morogoro, and Tanga. Data
was collected using molecular detection techniques, and the
prevalence and severity of Huanglongbing, distribution and
abundance of Diaphorina citri and Trioza erytreae were recorded.
These factors were then correlated with altitude, temperature
variations, and citrus varieties. DNA samples were extracted and
analysed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm the
presence of Huanglongbing in selected samples.
The study found regional variations in the distribution and
abundance of Diaphorina citri and Trioza erytreae. Altitude
significantly influenced psyllid species abundance, with Diaphorina
citri decreasing and Trioza erytreae increasing with altitude. The
temperature had a weak positive correlation with Diaphorina citri
abundance and a moderately negative correlation with Trioza
erytreae abundance. Different citrus varieties significantly affected
Diaphorina citri abundance, with the ―Late Valencia (Kitenesi)‖
variety having the highest average Diaphorina citri counts per tree.
The study also found a negative correlation between altitude and the
Disease Severity Index (DSI), suggesting that as altitude increases,
the DSI decreases. However, a weak positive correlation was
observed between the number of citrus trees in an orchard or backyard and the DSI. Significant variations in Huanglongbing
prevalence were observed at both the regional and ward levels.
The study concluded that the Mediterranean variety was particularly
susceptible to Huanglongbing, while the Valencia, Local variety,
Washington navel, and Bitijuma varieties exhibited more resistance.
The study also confirmed the presence of Ca. L. asiaticus in
symptomatic leaves and the absence of bacteria in asymptomatic
leaves using PCR Analysis for pathogen detection.
The findings of this study have significant implications for developing
region-specific management strategies to protect Tanzania‘s citrus
industry, which is vital for food security and rural livelihoods. It is
recommended to combine molecular and visual methods to enhance
our understanding of the dynamics of Tanzania‘s two crucial citrus
psyllid species, Diaphorina citri and Trioza erytreae, reflecting the
complex ecological interactions involved. This will aid in the
development of effective strategies to mitigate the impact of citrus
greening disease.The HEE
Microbiological quality and safety of poultry processed in Africa: a review
No full textJournal ArticlePoultry is the second most consumed meat in the world. In Africa, chicken production and processing
are practiced both formally and informally, with smallholders constituting the majority in this sector.
Informal practices are vulnerable to the production and processing of chicken, which is easily
contaminated by pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and
Campylobacter. The growth of the poultry industry in Africa, coupled with intensive production, has led
to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and the development of antimicrobial resistance, posing a risk to
the health of consumers. However, there are limited studies evaluating the quality and safety of chicken
consumed in Africa. Several studies report that chicken is the main vehicle for pathogens related to
foodborne diseases, suggesting that foodborne diseases pose a threat to human health. Adequate
hygiene and safety practices by producers and processors are suggested as the main intervention.
These practices would need to be followed by laboratory analysis and inspection to assess chicken
quality and prompt changes in behavior, attitudes, and practices to reduce contamination and promote
the rational use of antimicrobials. This review provides an overview of the quality and microbiological
safety of processed chicken in Africa. It delves into details about the poultry sector, covering
production, slaughter, and processing of chicken. The review highlights the sources and mechanisms
of poultry contamination, describes diseases transmitted through the consumption of poultry, presents
data on the quality and microbiological safety of chicken, proposes good practices in chicken
production and processing, discusses the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic
residues, and presents alternatives against contamination and antimicrobial resistance as potential
tools for the production of healthy and safe foods
The current population genetic status of oreochromis niloticus (linnaeus, 1758) along the malagarasi river, Tanzania
No full textJournal articleIn East African countries, the O. niloticus species is the second most important fish species in terms of economic
significance. However, localized overfishing, habitat degradation, and hybridization have resulted in pop
ulations’ decline that poses a threat to this species in this area. This study assessed the genetic diversity, pop
ulation structure, demographic history, and effective population size of this species along the Malagarasi River.
Comparisons were made between the population genetic structure and demographic history of populations of
this species from Malagarasi River and other sites in the East Africa (EA) region. The study used COI gene se
quences isolated from O. niloticus species collected along the Malagarasi River and COI gene sequences of this
species from other sites in the EA region. The populations of O. niloticus from the Moyowosi had the highest
haplotype diversity (0.80 ± 0.06) and nucleotide diversity (0.72 ± 0.41 %). At Ilagala, the lowest haplotype
diversity (0.44 ± 0.13) and nucleotide diversity (0.16 ± 0.13 %) were found. Fixation index (Fst value) analysis
resulted into significant genetic difference among the populations along Malagarasi River (Fst = 0.08419, P <
0.01). The Fst values and minimum spanning haplotype network revealed genetic break between population of
O. niloticus from the Malagarasi River and other sites of the EA region. In order to ensure the sustainable
exploitation of O. niloticus and other threatened fish species along the Malagarasi River, these findings urge for
strengthening the implementation of fisheries laws, particularly in areas where samples exhibit low genetic
diversity
Perceptions of Tanzanian livestock dependent communities on climate related changes: a case of the Maasai pastoralists in Longido district, Northern Tanzania
No full textJournal articleThe study was carried out in Longido District, northern Tanzania to understand the Maasai
pastoralists‘ perceptions and interpretations of changes in climate and variability and determine
their livelihood coping strategies with climate variability and change following a devastating
drought in 2009/2010. Primary and secondary data were collected using household questionnaires,
key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The perception of climate change and
variability was supported with a time-series analysis of rainfall and temperature data. The results
show that the Maasai pastoralists are aware of the current variations and changes in climate,
which they admit to have become increasingly difficult to predict using their traditional knowledge.
Furthermore, the study identified indicators of climate change and variability and the associated
adversities as perceived by the Maasai pastoralists in the study area. The statistical analysis of
30 years of climatic data produced results that are in agreement with the Maasai pastoralists’
perception of climate change and variability. It is imperative to understand people’s perceptions
and their responses to climate-related impacts in the future. Since some of the pastoralists’ ways to
cope with climate-related adversities are failing, new means or techniques have certainly emerged.
It is recommended that the present techniques in designing alternative adaptive strategies for
pastoralism should be examined and up-scaled, which is the most productive form of land use for
a patchy and scattered range of land resources
COVID-19 crisis : community health workers’ experiences in assisting older adults with tuberculosis in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
No full textJournal articleDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, governments implemented public health measures to safeguard individuals with tuberculosis, their caregivers, and healthcare workers. While these measures were well-intentioned, they inadvertently hindered Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This study explored the experiences of CHWs supporting tuberculosis patients during the pandemic. It involved in-depth interviews with 24 CHWs from 12 wards in the Temeke and Kigamboni districts, using purposive sampling and a cross-sectional research design aligned with a descriptive phenomenological approach. Thematic analysis was employed for data interpretation. The findings revealed three key issues: First, CHWs faced increased workplace pressures as they navigated the complexities of caring for tuberculosis patients while adhering to COVID-19 protocols, often with limited resources. Second, notable changes in the work environment and interactions among healthcare professionals underscored CHWs' difficulties in collaborating with other providers. Lastly, the pandemic's impact on the personal lives of CHWs highlighted significant effects on their overall well-being. The study emphasizes the need for proactive measures to better equip CHWs for the exceptional challenges of tuberculosis care during future pandemics
Participatory establishment of cenchrus ciliaris among pastoralists using different seedbed types and manure levels in semi-arid area, Mvomero, Tanzania
No full textMSc DissertationRuminant livestock species such as cattle, sheep, and goats in
tropical countries including Tanzania to a large extent depend on
natural pasture found in semi-arid rangelands as the major feed
resource. Among the major challenges in the communal semi-arid
rangelands in Tanzania is the seasonal fluctuations in availability of
forages in terms of both quantity and quality. Natural forages are
plenty and nutritious during wet seasons but become scarce and
with less protein content during dry seasons, hence; inability to meet
nutritional requirements of ruminants throughout the year. There are
incidences of dry season loss of conditions and even mortalities of
cattle reared in the semi-arid rangelands. Various efforts are
employed to improve the situation, in particular towards improving
feed availability during dry seasons. The pastoralists practice
nomadism, the movement with animals to other potential places with
substantial pasture and water. The livestock mobility are
accompanied with serious consequences including conflicts with
crop farmers and conservation agencies, animal deaths, and
environment damage such as soil erosion and pollution of surface
water resources. Improving the utilisation and productivity of grazed
semi-arid areas under the pastoral system is crucial. Cenchrus
ciliaris forage could be cultivated to ensure feed availability for
sustainable dry-season livestock feeding. However, forage
cultivation is new among pastoralists, and there is a need for
participatory cultivation through Farm Field School (FFS). The
research project was conducted to evaluate the growth and
nutritional value of C. ciliaris cultivated under not-tilled (NT), tilled flat
(TF), and tilled sunken (SN) land preparation methods and different
manure levels (0 t/ha, 5 t/ha, 10 t/ha, and 15 t/ha). Quantitative and
qualitative data were collected in a semi-arid village in Mvomero
district, eastern Tanzania. The qualitative data involved information
on livestock importance and breeds, milk production and marketing,
livestock production challenges, and manure management. Other
qualitative data were grazing land conditions, improvement practices, and dry-season feeding strategies. Quantitative data
included C. ciliaris establishment rate, grass cover, agronomic
characteristics, and nutritional values. Pastoralists were keeping
local cattle, goat, and sheep breeds, which they depend upon as a
source of income, food, insurance during emergencies, and other
socio-cultural values. The FFS members had a smaller average herd
size (35 cattle, 14 goats, and 8 sheep per household) than the non-
members (52 cattle, 30 goats, and 12 sheep per household). The
attitude of FFS members to keep fewer number of livestock
compared to non-members was attributed to awareness on safe
livestock caring capacity. Daily milk yield was low in both FFS
members and non-members (0.5 - 1.4 litres/cow/day) and varied
seasonally (p < 0.05), in dry season was lower than wet season,
which led to poor market access in the studied area. Many
respondents (68%) were not collecting or using manure for either
food crops or pasture production. Moreover, most respondents in
FFS member and non-member groups perceived grazing land to be
poor because it took their livestock a long time and distance to find
forage. Also, there were limited grazing land improvement practices
because of the communal grazing, limited privately owned land and
large herd sizes. Migration and use of crop residues were the main
dry-season feeding strategies in both groups. Few individuals had
established private forage reserves in the grazing land, which were
smaller (p < 0.05) in FFS members (0.8 ha per houehold) than non-
members (2 ha per household). The Tilled flat seedbed in different
manure levels had higher (p < 0.05) establishment rate (97%), grass
cover (66 - 78%), and biomass yields (10 – 12.6 t/ha) than no tilled
and sunken seedbeds. The responding FFS members perceived TF
as a better land preparation method because of its high yields and
grass cover at the study site. There were variations in biomass yield
and grass cover among manure levels, whereby a manure level of
10 t/ha resulted in the optimum return comparing to other manure
levels in the current study. The protein values (104 - 132 g/kg DM) in
cultivated forage were sufficient to meet the daily nutritional
requirements of ruminants. However, the estimated energy intake (7 - 15 MJ ME/day) was insufficient for optimum cattle performance
and would require other feed supplementation, such as treated
maize stover and bean haulm with molasses or urea during the dry-
season. Lack of effective dry-season feeding strategy, poor grazing
land conditions, and low milk yield showed the importance of C.
ciliaris cultivation at the study site. Based on the results from this
study, the TF and manure 10 t/ha are the recommended land
preparation method and manure level for C. ciliaris cultivation at
study site and similar areas due to better agronomic performance
State of agricultural e-government services to farmers in Tanzania: toward the participatory design of a Farmers Digital Information System (FDIS)
No full textJournal articleThe projected population increase and drastic climate changes are a great setback to food
security through sustainable agriculture. However, governments need to play key roles in supporting
the agriculture sector, which creates considerable employment and contributions to most countries’
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) outcomes. In many countries, the governments already support
the agriculture sector with services based on Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
to reach many stakeholders, including smallholder farmers. This paper investigated the status of
e-Government services in the agriculture sector for farmers in order to understand the functions
and scope of e-services, the challenges faced by farmers, both addressed and unaddressed, and
the challenges of ICT-based services for farmers and other stakeholders in Tanzania. We used a
qualitative research approach to interview the Ministry of Agriculture, farmers, extension workers,
and agriculture processing industries. The main finding reveals that e-government services play a
major role in the agriculture sector in Tanzania. Our results show that the pre-existing ICT services
identified for farmers cannot meet the needs of farmers in a complete farming cycle. Moreover, lack
of awareness, digital illiteracy, and poor infrastructure are the major challenges faced by farmers
and other stakeholders when it comes to ICT-based services. These results justify the need for a
comprehensive digital platform, particularly the proposed Farmers Digital Information System (FDIS)
to enable farmers and other stakeholders to access essential services in a complete farming cycle for a
more sustainable agriculture.Fondation Ernst et Lucie Schmidheiny, grant number 88, 2022;
Fonds Général, grant number 22_69; and the APC was funded by the University of Geneva
Land tenure security, household income and distribution, lesson from southern highlands in Iringa District Council
No full textResearch articleLand distribution is a key factor in income inequality in rural areas of developing countries. This study
examines the impact of land tenure security on household income and its distribution in Iringa district,
Tanzania, focusing on the Certificate of Customary Right of Occupation (CCRO). Using a quasi-
experimental design and Propensity Score Matching, 404 respondents were randomly selected and
divided into groups with and without CCROs. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected
through surveys and in-depth interviews. Analysis using SPSS/STATA revealed that households with
CCROs had higher agricultural yields, sales, and lower production costs. They also invested more in
modern farming techniques and soil conservation, leading to higher incomes and reduced income
inequality. Despite over 50,000 CCROs issued, credit access remains limited due to a lack of awareness
and additional collateral requirements. The study concludes that secure land rights are vital for
economic growth and poverty alleviation. Recommendations include increasing awareness about
CCROs, facilitating their use as collateral, and exploring barriers to credit access for CCRO holders.
Further research is needed to address these challenges
Farmers' knowledge and traditional processing practices of pigeon peas (cajanus cajan) in rural areas in Lindi region Tanzania: a quantitative and qualitative mixed study
No full textJournal ArticlePigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) are an important protein source in many parts of tropical and
sub-tropical regions of the world. However, their quality and availability may be affected by post-
harvest handling and processing practices in use. In the present study, knowledge and practices
of pigeon pea growers (PPG) in Lindi Region were evaluated with respect to harvesting, storage,
processing and cooking preparation. A sample of 597 randomly selected PPG from two villages,
were interviewed and 60 farmers participated in focus group discussions. Majority PPG (83.6%)
harvested pigeon peas (PPs) by cutting and putting them in polyethylene sacks while 86.6% had
knowledge on only one storage method. Also, majority of PPG (77%) lacked any processing
knowledge on mentioned methods such as hulling and solar drying. Results also indicated
75.7% of PPG having no knowledge on cooking preparation methods out of which 94.5% had
no knowledge on soaking, 89.6% on use of bicarbonate and 89.9% on methods to increase shelf
life of PPs. Overall, 49.4% had little/limited knowledge on harvesting, storage, processing, and
cooking preparation practices, with no significant gender difference. All PPG prepared stew using
green or dry PPs. A sizeable proportion (45%) of PPG used dry PPs for stew preparation, after
traditional hulling. The threshing of peas from pods was carried out manually. Traditional methods
in the Lindi Region are laborious and time-consuming; resulting in poorly prepared products thus
affecting the appearance of processed PPs. Training farmers on proper postharvest handling and
processing can improve food security and market appeal
Coping with dual roles: a case of adolescent student mothers in Tanzania’s secondary schools
No full textResearch paperPurpose – This paper aims to examine adolescent student mothers in Tanzania’s secondary schools’ unique
coping strategies. It intends to explore strategies adolescent student mothers use in coping with the challenges of
managing motherhood concurrent with schooling in the context of Tanzania’s secondary schools.
Design/methodology/approach – The study employed a qualitative single-case study design, involving 35
adolescent student mothers and 5 class teachers selected through purposive sampling. Data collection methods
included focus group discussions for adolescent student mothers and semi-structured interviews for class
teachers, facilitating insights into their coping strategies, and the contextual factors guiding their choices of
certain coping strategies. Thematic analysis ensured systematic analysis of the data.
Findings – The findings indicate that adolescent student mothers use coping strategies like relying on
interpersonal support systems, skipping schooling for some days, bringing with them their children to school,
getting into convenience marriages, involving in income-generating ventures, ignoring and relying on faith and
spiritual support.
Research limitations/implications – This research will be beneficial to adolescent student mothers, parents and
schools and will add a contribution to this field. However, the coping strategies identified were limited to a small
sample from a selected region and schools, hence cannot be used for generalization to a larger population.
Practical implications – This research will assist policymakers in evaluating and reassessing the re-admission
policy to create more conducive environments that suit adolescent student mothers’ situations. This will create a
supportive environment that fosters the well-being of adolescent student mothers and their children.
Social implications – The findings of this paper will be useful in understanding the coping strategies employed
by student mothers and how educational modifications can be implemented to suit adolescent student mothers’
situations.
Originality/value – The research was conducted after introducing the re-admission circular to primary and
secondary schools in Tanzania, and the findings derived from it are original.HEET Projec