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Evaluating the spatiotemporal dynamics of agrometeorological droughts in semi-arid Gwayi agroecosystems (1990–2020) using multiple indices
(Taylor & Francis, 2024-10-10) Chisadza, Bright; Gwate, Onalenna; Musinguzi, Simon Peter
Climate variability poses a significant threat to smallholder farmers in the Gwayi catchment, Zimbabwe. This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of agrometeorological droughts from 1990 to 2020 using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), and Vegetation Health Index (VHI). The triangulation of these indices provided a comprehensive understanding of drought dynamics. Severe to extreme drought events were identified in 1995, 1998, 2005, 2016, 2018, and 2020, while moderate droughts were consistently detected across all indices. Favourable conditions were observed in 2000 and 2006. A strong positive correlation (r¼0.88) between VHI and VCI suggests their similar effectiveness in reflecting vegetation health. In contrast, moderate correlations between VHI and SPI (r ¼0.30), VHI and SPEI (r¼0.39), VCI and SPI (r¼0.28), and VCI and SPEI (r¼0.40) indicate that these indices capture complementary information, reflecting not only precipitation deficits but also the impacts of temperature, soil moisture, and land cover changes. The SPI and SPEI displayed a strong positive correlation (r ¼0.78), aligning in their sensitivity to precipitation and evapotranspiration. Spatial analysis revealed a pronounced north-south drought gradient, with the southwestern region being particularly vulnerable, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
First report of field efficacy and economic viability of metarhizium anisopliae-ICIPE 20 for tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) management on tomato
(MDPI Sustainability, 2022-11) Fred, Kabaale P.; Tumuhaise, Venansio; Tinzaara, William; Turyasingura, Geoffrey; Subramanian, Sevgan; Khamis, Fathiya Mbarak; Akutse, Komivi Senyo
Eco-friendly pest control options are highly needed in food crop production systems to mitigate the hazards of synthetic chemical pesticides. Entomopathogenic fungal biopesticides— Metarhizium anisopliae strains ICIPE 20 (oil-formulation containing 1.0 × 109 conidia/mL) and ICIPE 69 (commercialized biopesticide known as Mazao Campaign®)—were evaluated against Tuta absoluta on tomato through inundative foliar spray and compared with the commonly used pesticide Dudu Acelamectin 5% EC (Abamectin 20 g/L + Acetamiprid 3%) and untreated plot. All the treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The field experiments were conducted for two consecutive cropping seasons in Mukono district, Uganda. Tuta absoluta infestation, injury severity on leaves and fruits, fruit yield loss, marketable fruit yield gain and costbenefit ratio of the treatments were assessed. The results during both seasons showed a significant lower fruit yield loss in M. anisopliae ICIPE 20-treated plots compared to untreated plots, with a marketable fruit yield gain exceeding 22% and a cost–benefit ratio greater than 2.8 (BCR~3). Dudu Acelamectin 5% EC outperformed all the other treatments, but needs to be considered with caution due to its non-target effect and resistance development, whereas M. anisopliae ICIPE 69 performed the least well. In addition, the findings showed the high degree of efficacy and economic viability of these biopesticides as a potential T. absoluta control option in the field. However, it is important to Academic Editor: Sean Clark Received: 23 September 2022 Accepted: 7 November 2022 Published: 10 November 2022 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). further explore different formulations of these eco-friendly biopesticides, inoculum delivery approach, application frequency, their effectiveness in different agro-ecological zones and compatibility with commonly used pesticides in tomato production systems for sustainable management of T. absoluta.
Unravelling the potential benefits of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in cropping systems, nutritional, health, and industrial uses of its seeds – a review
(Cogent Food & Agriculture, 2024-06-11) Cosmas, wacal; Simon, Peter Musinguzi; Emmanuel, Ewaju; Christopher, Atibo; Docus, Alowo; Jorem, Alipa; Daniel, Basalirwa
Sesame (Sesamum indicum l.) is considered as one of the important oilseed crops produced throughout the world especially in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Sesame crop is grown mainly for its highly nutritious seeds that also offer medicinal value. Sesame seed is rich in edible oil, fatty acids mainly linoleic acid and oleic acid, lignans, tocopherols, phytosterols, phenolic acids, and minerals. Due to these essential contents, the consumption of sesame seeds promotes good health not only in humans but also in livestock. Hence, sesame crop has gained significant attention throughout the world due to its several benefits. Although the global production of sesame is increasing, there is need to understand its various uses right from benefits in cropping systems to nutritional, health and industrial level. Several reviews have been conducted with the central focus on sesame nutritional and health promoting benefits but none has provided a holistic review of its benefits in cropping systems such as intercropping sesame with other crops, inclusion in crop rotation, utilization of its crop residues as nutrient recycling, and nutritional, health and industrial uses of sesame seeds, which this study sought to address.
Effect of Covid-19 on Female-Headed Farming Household Food Security in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, South Sudan
(East African nature & science organization, 2024-05) Issa, John; Kityo, Ronald; Mbatudde, Maria
At the beginning of 2020, global food security was interrupted by the unprecedented occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions to contain it. In South Sudan, women were among the most vulnerable groups due to restrictions and standard operating procedures (SoPs). This study was conducted to determine the effect of COVID-19 on the food security of female-headed households from three counties in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, South Sudan. The analysis of the food security status was based on the Consolidated Approach for Reporting Indicators of Food Security (CARI) and food security was viewed in terms of availability of, and accessibility to food among households. Findings revealed that only 15.5% of the female-headed households sampled were food secure while 84.5% of them were food insecure on the 2-level scale. There was a significant reduction in average household income, size of land under agricultural production and crop harvest. Households lost access to produce markets, supermarkets, agro-input markets and produce stores, lowering their food production potential and farm output. Coping strategies included sale of household items, finding other work to supplement their agricultural activities, revision of household food consumption tendencies, new sales channels, while some of the households did nothing. These strategies are indicators of poverty, hunger and food insecurity which can lead to malnutrition. The study concluded that food security among female-headed households is low post-COVID, pushing women into life-threatening coping strategies in South Sudan. Development efforts in the country should be directed towards supporting recovery and resilience systems among these households in the country.
Seed treatment with Bacillus bacteria improves maize production: a narrative review
(OJS, 2024-06) Ocwa, Akasairi; Ssemugenze, Brian; Harsányi, Endre
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in relation to its production and consumption. Production of maize is constrained by soil infertility and poor quality seed. Microbial technologies like seed treatment with Bacillus bacteria improves the productivity of maize on infertile soil. However, due to variations in maize growth environments and Bacillus species, this review was conducted to identify the common species of Bacillus species used for seed treatment, and provide an overview of the effect of seed treatment with Bacillus on maize growth and yield. Results show that Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were the dominant species used for seed treatment. Bacillus was used as both a biofertiliser and biopesticide. The conspicuous positive effects of Bacillus were in plant height, shoot and root length, and shoot dry matter depending on the species. In terms of grain yield, Bacillus subtilis (8502 kg ha-1), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (6822 kg ha-1) and Bacillus safensis (5562 kg ha-1) were the bacterial species that had an overall pronounced effect. The highest increase in grain yield was in the interactive effect of Bacillus megaterium + Bacillus licheniformis (18.1%) and sole Bacillus subtilis (15.6%), while Bacillus pumilus reduced grain yield by 4.8%. This shows that the improvement of maize productivity using Bacillus bacteria requires careful selection of the species for seed treatment. Keywords: Bacillus bacteria; biopriming; maize; seed treatment; yield
Maize Grain Yield and Quality Improvement Through Biostimulant Application: a Systematic Review
(Springer, 2024-02) Ocwa, Akasairi; Mohammed, Safwan; Mousavi, Seyed Mohammad Nasir; Illés, Árpád; Bojtor, Csaba; Ragán, Péter; Rátonyi, Tamás; Harsányi, Endre
Increasing the productivity of cereals such as maize while protecting the environment remains a fundamental impetus of healthy food production systems. The use of biostimulants is one of the sustainable strategies to achieve this balance, although the ability of biostimulants to enhance maize productivity varies. Moreover, research on the efficacy of biostimulants is ubiquitous with limited comprehensive global analysis. In this context, this systematic review evaluated the sole and interactive effects of biostimulants on the yield and quality of maize grain from a global perspective. Changes in yield (t ha-1), protein content (%), starch content (%) and oil content (%) of maize grain were assessed. Results revealed that sole and combined application of biostimulants significantly improved grain yield. Irrespective of the region, the highest and the lowest grain yields ranged between 16-20 t ha-1 and 1-5 t ha-1, respectively. In sole application, the promising biostimulants were chicken feather (16.5 t ha-1), and endophyte Colletotrichum tofieldiae (14.5 t ha-1). Sewage sludge × NPK (15.4 t ha-1), humic acid × control release urea (12.4 t ha-1), Azospirillum brasilense or Bradyrhizobium japonicum × maize hybrids (11.6 t ha- 1), and Rhizophagus intraradices × earthworms (10.0 t ha- 1) had higher yield for the interactive effects. The effects of biostimulants on grain quality were minimal, and all attributes improved in the range from 0.1 to 3.7%. Overall, biostimulants had a distinct improvement effect on yield, rather than on the quality of grain. As one way of maximising maize productivity, soil health, and the overall functioning of crop agroecosystems, the integrated application of synergistic microbial and non-microbial biostimulants could provide a viable option. However, the ability to produce consistent yield and quality of grain improvement remains a major concern.
Assessment of the environmental kuznets curve within EU-27: Steps toward environmental sustainability (1990e2019)
(Elsevier, 2023-09) Mohammed, Safwan; Gill, Abid Rashid; Ghosal, Kaushik; Al-Dalahmeh, Main; Alsafadi, Karam; Szabo, Szilard; Olah, Judit; Alkerdi, Ali; Ocwa, Akasairi; Harsanyi, Endre
Reducing environmental pollution is a critical goal in global environmental economics and economic development. The European Union (EU) faces environmental challenges due to its development activities. Here we present a comprehensive approach to assess the impact of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, energy consumption (EC), population structure (POP), economy (GDP), and policies on the environment within the EU using the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). Our research reveals that between 1990 and 2019, the EU-27 experienced an increase of þ1.18 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) per year in energy consumption (p < 0.05), while CO2 emissions decreased by 24.25 million tonnes (Mt) per year (p < 0.05). The highest reduction in CO2 emissions occurred in Germany (7.52 Mt CO2 annually), and the lowest in Latvia (0.087 Mt CO2 annually). The empirical EKC analysis shows an inverted-U shaped relationship between GDP and CO2 emissions in the EU-27. Specifically, a 1% increase in GDP results in a 0.705% increase in carbon emission, while a 1% increase in GDP2 leads to a 0.062% reduction in environmental pollution in the long run (p < 0.01). These findings indicate that economic development within the EU has reached a stage where economic growth positively impacts the environment. Overall, this study provides insights into the effectiveness of environmental policies in mitigating degradation and promoting green growth in the EU 27 countries.
An environmental impact assessment of Saudi Arabia’s vision 2030 for sustainable urban development: A policy perspective on greenhouse gas emissions
(Elsevier, 2023-12) Altouma, Ahmed; Bashir, Bashar; Ata, Behnam; Ocwa, Akasairi; Alsalman, Abdullah; Harsanyi, Endre; Mohammed, Safwan
Globally, countries are legitimizing actions to curtail the malevolent impacts of environmental degradation. This study examined the interaction between CO2 emissions and selected economic variables within the framework of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The Autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) was used to analyze the long-run relationships and short-run dynamics between studied variables (1970–2020). The Mann-Kendall (MK) test revealed a significant (p < 0.05) positive increase of GHGs emissions from all sectors across the KSA. The highest increased were captured at the electricity and heat by 7345454.47 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents/year (p < 0.05). On the hand, the ARDL model indicates that GDP, agriculture, industry, services, and oil production have short-term effects on the environment through CO2 emissions. Therefore, GDP, agriculture, services and oil production contribute to increases in CO2 emissions. While industry contributes to decrease in CO2 emissions. The ARDL model also showed that an increase in GDP of 1 percent increases CO2 emissions by 3.46 percent, while an increase in oil production of 1 percent increases CO2 emissions by 4.04 percent. However, an increase in industry of 1 percent decreases CO2 emissions by 7.25 percent. The output of this research has a policy implication for addressing environmental concerns in the country.
Impact of research on maize production challenges in Hungary
(Elsevier, 2024-02) Ssemugenze, Brian; Ocwa, Akasairi; Bojtor, Csaba; Illes, Arpad; Esimu, Joseph; Nagy, Janos
Maize (Zea mays L), as a major cereal crop produced in Hungary in addition to wheat, attracts enormous research from both educational and non-educational institutions. Research is aimed at addressing the key abiotic, biotic and social economic constraints. The stakeholders and institutions involved in research are spread all over Hungary. Currently, no review has been done to comprehensively reveal the trend of maize research in Hungary, as well as key players such as institutions, universities, industry and researchers. Hence, this bibliographic review was conducted to: i) identify the major research institutions and their contribution towards maize research in Hungary; ii) evaluate the major maize research areas in Hungary between 1975 and 2022. Literature search was conducted in Web of Science (WoS) database using keywords; ‘maize’ OR ‘maize’ + ‘Research’ + ‘Hungary’. Bibliometric analyses were performed using the VOSviewer software. Changes in the publication trend of documents was tested using Mann Kendall Test. A total of 947 publications related to the topic were published by 441 institutions between 1975 and 2022. There was a significant (p = 0.001) positive increase in the number of published documents. Hungarian Academy of Science (210 documents) and University of Debrecen (132 documents) recorded the highest number of publications contributing 58.7% of the maize research literature in Hungary. The major research areas included: increasing maize yield, hybrid development, pests and diseases, irrigation, fertilization (nitrogen), drought, temperature, gene expression and climate change. The increasing number of published documents signifies an improved response to addressing maize production challenges through research in order to boost its productivity.
Data Mining and Machine Learning Algorithms for Optimizing Maize Yield Forecasting in Central Europe
(MDPI, 2023-05) Harsányi, Endre; Bashir, Bashar; Arshad, Sana; Ocwa, Akasairi; Vad, Attila; Alsalman, Abdullah; Mohammed, Safwan; Széles, Adrienn; Hijazi, Omar; Rátonyi, Tamás; Bácskai, István
Artificial intelligence, specifically machine learning (ML), serves as a valuable tool for decision support in crop management under ongoing climate change. However, ML implementation to predict maize yield is still limited in Central Europe, especially in Hungary. In this context, we assessed the performance of four ML algorithms (Bagging (BG), Decision Table (DT), Random Forest (RF) and Artificial Neural Network-Multi Layer Perceptron (ANN-MLP)) in predicting maize yield based on four different input scenarios. The collected data included both agricultural data (production (PROD) (ton) and maize cropped area (AREA) (ha)) and climate data (annual mean temperature C (Tmean), precipitation (PRCP) (mm), rainy days (RD), frosty days (FD) and hot days (HD)). This research adopted four scenarios, as follows: SC1: AREA+ PROD+ Tmean+ PRCP+ RD+ FD+ HD; SC2: AREA+ PROD; SC3: Tmean+ PRCP+ RD+ FD+ HD; and SC4: AREA+ PROD+ Tmean+ PRCP. In the training stage, ANN-MLP-SC1 and ANN-MLP-SC4 outperformed other ML algorithms; the correlation coefficient (r) was 0.99 for both, while the root mean squared errors (RMSEs) were 107.9 (ANN-MLP-SC1) and 110.7 (ANN-MLP-SC4). In the testing phase, the ANN-MLP-SC4 had the highest r value (0.96), followed by ANN-MLP-SC1 (0.94) and RF-SC2 (0.94). The 10-fold cross validation also revealed that the ANN-MLP-SC4 and ANN-MLP-SC1 have the highest performance. We further evaluated the performance of the ANN-MLP-SC4 in predicting maize yield on a regional scale (Budapest). The ANN-MLP-SC4 succeeded in reaching a high-performance standard (r = 0.98, relative absolute error = 21.87%, root relative squared error = 20.4399% and RMSE = 423.23). This research promotes the use ofANNas an efficient tool for predicting maize yield, which could be highly beneficial for planners and decision makers in developing sustainable plans for crop management. Keywords: maize yield; climate; multilayer perceptron; random forest; optimum model
A bibliographic review of climate change and fertilization as the main drivers of maize yield: implications for food security
(Springer, 2023-06) Ocwa, Akasairi; Harsanyi, Endre; Széles, Adrienn; Holb, Imre János; Szabó, Szilárd; Rátonyi, Tamás; Mohammed, Safwan
Introduction Crop production contribution to food security faces unprecedented challenge of increasing human population. This is due to the decline in major cereal crop yields including maize resulting from climate change and declining soil infertility. Changes in soil nutrient status and climate have continued to occur and in response, new fertilizer recommendations in terms of formulations and application rates are continuously developed and applied globally. In this sense, this review was conducted to: (i) identify the key areas of concentration of research on fertilizer and climate change effect on maize grain yield, (ii) assess the extent of the effect of climate change on maize grain yield, (iii) evaluate the extent of the effect of fertilization practices on maize grain yield, and (iv) examine the effect of interaction between climate change factors and fertilization practices on maize grain yield at global perspective. Methodology Comprehensive search of global literature was conducted in Web of Science (WoS) database. For objective 1, metadata on co-authorship (country, organisation), and co-occurrence of keywords were exported and analysed using VOSviewer software. For objective 2–4, yield data for each treatment presented in the articles were extracted and yield increment calculated. Results The most significant keywords: soil fertility, nutrient use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, integrated nutrient management, sustainability, and climate change adaptation revealed efforts to improve maize production, achieve food security, and protect the environment. A temperature rise of 1–4 °C decreased yield by 5–14% in warm areas and increased by < 5% in cold areas globally. Precipitation reduction decreased yield by 25–32%, while CO2 concentration increased and decreased yield by 2.4 to 7.3% and 9 to 14.6%, respectively. A promising fertilizer was a combination of urea + nitrapyrin with an average yield of 5.1 and 14.4 t ha− 1 under non-irrigation and irrigation, respectively. Fertilization under climate change was projected to reduce yield in the average range of 10.5–18.3% by 2099. Conclusion The results signified that sole fertilizer intensification is insufficient to attain sustainable maize yield. Therefore, there is need for integrated agronomic research that combines fertilizers and other technologies for enhancing maize yield, and consequently maize contribution to the attainment of global food security under climate change conditions. Keywords Climate change, Drought, Fertilizers, Heat stress, Maize, Nitrogen, Temperature, Yield
Impact of conservation farming practices on Aspergillus population density, peanut aflatoxin level, and exposure risk in Zambia
(Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2024-01) Juliet, Akello; Emmanuel, Oladeji Alamu; Chama, Mebbyln Mwila; Paul, W. Kachapulula; Mweshi, Mukanga; Henry, Njapau; David, Chikoye; Alejandro, Ortega-Beltran; Ranajit, Bandyopadhyay
Aflatoxin contamination in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) by aflatoxin producing Aspergillus spp. is a serious problem worldwide affecting human health and restricting trade. Recently, conservation agriculture practices such as minimum tillage, crop rotation, soil surface cover, intercropping, and planting in basins alongside trees that enhance soil fertility, have been introduced in Zambia as tools to conserve soil moisture, increase peanut yield, and reduce the risk of aflatoxin contamination. However, a limited understanding exists of the impact of conservation agriculture on Aspergillus population densities in the soil and aflatoxin concentrations in crops grown under conservation agriculture. This study assessed the impact of conservation agriculture on (i) Aspergillus communities profile in soil cropped to peanuts, (ii) peanut aflatoxin contamination levels, and (iii) influences of the practices on liver cancer risks as a result of consuming peanuts grown in basins, peanuts grown in basins in farms having Gliricidia sepium trees (agroforestry), and peanuts grown on ridges (conventional tillage). Densities of Aspergillus spp. in soils ranged from 10 to 7,400 CFU/g (mean = 295 CFU/g). The densities differed among farming techniques (p = 0.0011) with conventional tillage (357 CFU/g) supporting higher densities than agroforestry (296 CFU/g) and peanuts grown in basins (230 CFU/g). Aspergillus communities were dominated by fungi with S morphology (55%; which is composed of several morphologically similar species), followed by A. parasiticus (34%), and the L morphotype of A. flavus (11%). Over 60% of the peanut samples were contaminated but there were no differences among farming techniques. Mean aflatoxin contents in peanuts were 110, 99, and 87, μg/kg for agroforestry, conventional tillage, and peanuts grown in basins, respectively. Probable daily aflatoxin intake ranged from 12.7 to 767.1 ng/kg body weight/d, depending on the age of consumers. The estimated liver cancer risk due to consumption of raw peanuts (0.334 to 20.128 cases/100,000 persons/ year) was highest among children below 5 years and least for young adults. The results showed that growing peanuts in basins has the potential to reduce Aspergillus populations in soil. Possibly, planting in basins and agroforestry had minimal effect on water runoff and did not support sufficient moisture retention in the soil to reduce Aspergillus spp. densities and aflatoxin accumulation in the peanuts. Thus, more research is needed to improve the effectiveness of peanut cultivation in basins in shaping the Aspergillus species profiles for ultimately reducing aflatoxin in peanuts to safe levels. Given the high exposure of Zambia’s population, especially children, and that contaminated food is the major source of exposure, it is essential that appropriate technical, policy and institutional measures are promoted for aflatoxin mitigation in Zambia.
Determination of mealybug population density for transmission of pineapple mealybug wilt disease in Central Uganda
(International Journal of Agronomy, 2024-01) Bosco, Bua; M. E., Mawa; J., Ayiga; A., Ocwa
Pineapple mealybug wilt disease (PMWD) is a complex and most destructive viral disease constraining pineapple production world over. Pineapple mealybug wilt disease is transmitted by mealybugs (Dysmicoccus species). Currently, in Uganda, the population of Dysmicoccus brevipes that can transmit PMWD is not known. Yet, closing this knowledge gap would provide a better understanding of PMWD etiology and development of sound management strategies. Experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications in the screenhouse at the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyambogo University during the period 2017 and 2018. Pineapple variety Smooth Cayenne was inoculated with fve levels of viruliferous mealybugs including one (1), fve (5), ten (10), ffteen (15), and a control (uninoculated). Data collection commenced on symptoms appearance and continued on a 15-day interval for a period of two months. Data were collected on the incidence and severity of PMWD. All the data collected were analysed using Genstat computer programme. Results showed that the number of mealybugs signifcantly (p < 0.05) afected the incidence and severity of PMWD during both trials. Although one viruliferous mealybug was able to transmit PMWD virus, the efcacy of transmission was recorded with the highest number of mealybugs per plant. It was, therefore, concluded that the higher the number of viruliferous mealybugs colonising a pineapple plant, the higher the incidence and severity of PMWD. Te result of this study, therefore, adds to the pool of knowledge on the understanding the population density of mealybugs transmitting PMWD as well as provide insights to improvement of mealybug vector monitoring as a key component of integrated PMWD management.
Learning through collaboration between vocational teacher training institutions and workplaces: Barriers and contradictions
(Nordic Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 2022-02-09) Arinaitwe, Dinavence; Mifsud, Louise; Kato, Habib; Sannerud, Arne Ronny
In vocational education and training, the acquisition of relevant skills by learners is vital for their employability. It has been argued that institution–workplace collaboration facilitates this acquisition of relevant skills through availing authentic real-life learning situations. This study used the cultural–historical activity theory to identify and characterise challenges to learning through collaboration between a masters of vocational pedagogy (MVP) programme, vocational teacher training institutions and workplaces in Uganda. Data were obtained using in-depth individual interviews with purposively sampled actors in collaborative activities. The findings revealed that challenges manifesting as discursive contradictions occurred in different phases of implementing collaborative activities. In the planning and implementation phase, contradictions were linked to short time frames for collaborative activities, unsynchronised activity plans and contradictory working cultures. In the supervision of learning, contradictions arose from a lack of a common understanding of the objectives and work methods of the collaborative activities. A lack of feedback to actors, an absence of a collaboration focal person, and a lack of government policy limited participation in collaborative activities. These challenges were observed to lessen the focus on the MVP students’ learning, which ultimately affected the quality of work produced and interfered with the implementation of collaborative activities.
Food security and income through sweet potato production in Teso, Uganda
(Research in Agriculture & Applied Economics., 2018) Epeju, William Faustine; Rukundo, Peter Milton
Two relevant studies on food security are referred to in the article. Food insecurity from time to time threatens in Teso sub region which houses a viable Teso agricultural system. One study was done during 2001-2003 in Teso on sweet potato production with 650 persons participating and the second one was done in one disaster affected area of Bududa District nearby during 2012-2016 when 1,142 persons participated. Kiryandongo District where Bududa landslide survivors were resettled in Uganda was included in that study. Participatory methods such as focus group discussions, farm observations, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires were used. Both studies used qualitative and quantitative methods for data analysis. The sweet potato stands second after cassava as the crop for famine and disaster periods in Teso to meet the human right to adequate food to complement the well dried cereals & grain legumes that stored longer. Livestock especially was also one of the prime determinants of food security and income in Teso. Free from cyanides with a good content of affordable Vitamin A from orange fleshed varieties, sweet potatoes in Teso contributed about 61% to the yearly food per capita of the population thus a recommendable crop for sustainable food security and some income in Teso and beyond.
Farmers’ knowledge on the sweetpotato cultivars grown in the Teso sub-region, Uganda
(Research in Agriculture & Applied Economics: Sustainable Agriculture Research., 2014) William Faustine, Epeju
The farmers’ knowledge of the cultivars to use in increasing sweetpotato productivity is critically important. A study was carried out in the Teso Sub-region to investigate the role of education in sweet potato production. Using an ex post facto design, 24 out of 51 sub-counties were purposively selected applying district-county strata and used to determine the perceptions of sweetpotato farmers and of their agricultural advisers. Through interviews, observations and questionnaires, the survey covered 288 farmers randomly selected and a whole population of 33 agricultural advisers, while 329 community leaders purposively selected and farmers randomly selected were engaged in focus group discussions. A total of 650 persons participated. Data were collected on farmers’ knowledge of sweetpotato cultivars grown capturing selected attributes. Analysis of data was done qualitatively using open and axial coding and quantitatively using means, frequencies, percentages, ANOVA and multiple regressions at a confidence level of 0.05 (?). Using selected attributes, farmers identified 139 cultivars grown. The best performing cultivar was Araka yielding a range of 19,001-29,000 kg/ha but was susceptible to the sweetpotato weevil and drought. Araka also stores poorly as dried chips or sliced. The least performing cultivars were Elany ikokolak, Epaku & Ocaka amani with yields below 5,000 kg/ha but less susceptible. Commercialising the crop with value addition, farmers need up-scaling of their scientific knowledge of cultivars and production as basis for better multiplification & selection of vines for higher yields needed in processing the crop for its several uses.
Farmers' personal characteristics in assuring agricultural productivity: lessons from sweet potato farmers in Teso, Uganda
(Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, 2010) Epeju, W. F.
Farmers constantly require incentives to stay in production. This paper discusses findings on farmers' personal characteristics salient in production among sweet potato farmers from the study done in Teso, Uganda. Both farmers and agricultural advisers consulted agreed that the weather is a big factor in agricultural production. Over 91% of the farmers expressed positive attitudes towards growing sweet potatoes which spelt their interest in farming. Conditions under which farmers worked affected enterprise productivity. Key elements in the farmers' work environment in Teso included basic factors in agricultural production, essential needs, accelerating needs, health, rights and readiness to work. The assuring farmers' personal characteristics on sweet potato productivity in Teso were: farmer's income, marital status, age, years of school agriculture done, and exposure to agricultural extension. The income sources at any one period varied by farmer. The exposure to agricultural extension was significantly related statistically to two productivity indicators of income per ha and income per person. On formal education, 96% of the farmers surveyed had attained primary education, which was found significant in their work. Farmer's age was significantly related statistically to the productivity indicator of income per hectare. There was gender division of labour. Gender is significant in sweet potato production in Teso. Majority of farmers had more than 45 years of farming which was significant experience. Therefore, based on the study, the farmers' personal characteristics found significant on agricultural productivity among the farmers are: income level, exposure to agricultural extension, years of school agriculture done (educational level) which determined the farmers' knowledge of what to do, marital status, farmer's age, gender and farming experience such as years in growing sweet potatoes.
Participation or legitimisation? Assessment of quality of participation in farmer learning video production in central Uganda
(Taylor&Francis online: The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 2019-11-19) Tamubula, Irene Bulenzibuto; Sseguya, Haroon; Miiro, Richard; Okry, Florent
This study assessed the quality of participation in farmer learning video (FLV) production by examining opportunities for actors’ participation and the extent of incorporation of their interests. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative case study research design was used through focus group discussions and interviews held with 5 key informants and 19 farmers involved in the production of 2 videos. We used the quality of participation analytical framework for analysis. Findings: Actors in FLV production were largely selected basing on interests and expertise in carrying out assigned tasks. The extent of actor participation in FLV production varied. Video experts made major decisions on video content and allocation of tasks while field officers and farmers largely participated in the filming stage. The incorporation of farmers’ interests was curtailed by their limited participation in planning for FLV production. Further, farmers and field officers perceived that inadequate communication between and among them limited their contributions to FLV production. Practical implications: Choice of actors with the right expertise and providing opportunities for interactions of individual expertise to generate video content is essential. Further, effective communication among actors is important for enhancing actors’ contributions and incorporation of their interests especially at the planning stage. Theoretical implications: Participation of end-users in product development should not only focus on their participation but also on the quality of that participation. Originality/value: Many developing countries have incorporated use of videos in agricultural development initiatives thereby necessitating the production of quality FLVs.
An atoxigenic L-strain of Aspergillus flavus (Eurotiales: Trichocomaceae) is pathogenic to the coffee twig borer, Xylosandrus compactus (Coleoptera: Curculionidea: Scolytinae)
(Environmental Microbiology Reports, 2018-10-11) Mukasa, Yosia; Kyamanywa, Samuel; Sserumaga, Julius P.; Otim, Michael; Tumuhaise, Venansio; Erbaugh, Mark; Egonyu, James P.
This study isolated and evaluated virulence of fungal entomopathogens of Xylosandrus compactus – an important pest of Robusta coffee in Sub-Saharan Africa. A survey was conducted in five farming systems in Uganda to isolate entomopathogens associated with X. compactus. Four fungal isolates were screened for virulence against X. compactus in the laboratory at 1 × 107 conidia ml−1 where an atoxigenic L-strain of A. flavus killed 70%–100% of all stages of X. compactus compared with other unidentified isolates which caused 20%–70% mortalities. The time taken by A. flavus to kill 50% of X. compactus eggs, larvae, pupae and adults in the laboratory was 2–3 days; whereas the other unidentified fungal isolates took 4–7 days. The concentrations of A. flavus that killed 50% of different stages of X. compactus were 5 × 105, 12 × 105, 17 × 105 and 30 × 105 conidia ml−1 for larvae, eggs, pupae and adults respectively. A formulation of A. flavus in oil caused higher mortalities of X. compactus larvae, pupae and adults in the field (71%–79%) than its formulation in water (33%–47%). The atoxigenic strain of A. flavus could therefore be developed into a safe biopesticide against X. compactus.
Knowledge and innovations for farmers from teaching agriculture in Ugandan primary schools: a study of Kumi communities in the Teso sub-region
(Research in Agriculture & Applied Economics., 2016) Epeju, W. Faustine
Kumi communities consist of Bukedea, Kumi and Ngora districts whose agriculture is increasingly complex with declining productivity because of population increase, climate change, low yielding technologies used & poor market access impacting negatively on yields and environment. More knowledge & innovations are needed by farmers. Teaching agriculture in primary schools raised hopes, hence the study. The design was exploratory. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires, documents and observations were used to collect data from 40 primary schools randomly selected. Of 2,069 respondents, 1,951 were head teachers, teachers and primary seven students & 118 were farmers including extension workers purposively selected. Qualitative data were analysed using open coding & axial coding based on objectives and research questions. Agricultural productivity and its growth rate were found low caused by many factors. Education quality and innovations attained by farmers were not assuring for successful farming and rural living. Primary school agriculture was poorly conducted encountering implementation problems such as limited land, no funds, unfavourable weather and lack of improved inputs. Forty five percent (45%) of the students preferred farming as an occupation. The key innovations attained were literacy and numeracy important in the use of improved inputs; knowledge and skills for several farm operations including environmental management and good family living. On ranking school completion rates and farm output of 16 sub-counties, Spearman Rank Order coefficient computed was positive (r = 0.421 with r2 = 0.1772, 18% at 0.05 α). Increased farm output was explained by 18% through completed primary education by farmers. Smallholder farms in Kumi for years may only be run commercially through intelligent and differentiated policies, addressing market access, jobs in non-farm economy and social transfers to improve welfare of the poor. Primary school agriculture through innovations attained by farmers enhances production thus the need for more investment in it.

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