ABSTRACT The interaction between extension agents and farmers and the extent to which farmers perceive extension agents as useful to them is paramount to bringing about change in agriculture output. However, little information is available in Kilindi District; therefore, this study was conducted to assess farmers‟ perception on the effectiveness of their extension agents in knowledge transfer to maize farmers in Kilindi District. Specifically, the study intended to: identify socio-economic ...
ABSTRACT Pearl millet is among the crops which are performing well in Central and Lake Zone of Tanzania and due to its adaptation to semi-arid climate. The crop has a very high potential for improving livelihoods of farmers residing in those areas. Unfortunately, farmers are not getting maximum benefits from the crop due to some limiting factors. One of the key factors is low demand for the crop within and outside the semi-arid areas. Small quantity of pearl millet traded is an indication of ...
ABSTRACT Studies to determine the optimal level of chickpea seed waste (Cicer arietinum L.) inclusion in the diets for growing rabbits were carried out using two experiments. In Experiment 1, 24 male rabbits were allocated to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design to evaluate nutrients digestibility and nitrogen balance of diets containing different levels of chickpea seed waste (CSW). Diet T0 was a control, formulated to meet nutrient requirements of growing rabbits, where...
ABSTRACT Perceptions guides decision making and eventually determines the actions to be made by farmers on climate change adaptation. This study analyzed how farmers perceive cassava as climate change crop, determinants of farmer’s perception and also estimated the share of cassava to total household income in Kigoma Region. A multistage random sampling procedure was used to select a total of 140 household heads for analysis. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and key inform...
ABSTRACT A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the extent of exposure of anticholinesterase contaminants in Ruvu river using cholinesterase biomarker in African Sharptooth Catfish. Questionnaire interviews were used to collect sociological data from 200 respondents, also Ellman‟s method and 5, 5‟-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid chromophore was used to establish cholinesterase activities in plasma and brain of 40 Claria gariepinus. The sociological findings showed that all responde...
ABSTRACT Despite the initiative being made by the government and other stakeholders to promote improved technologies in coconut production among the smallholder farmers in West District in Zanzibar, its yield remains very low. This study intended to assess the adoption of improved coconut production among smallholder farmers in West District. Specifically, the study objectives were to: assess farmers‟ attitude towards improved technologies; assess level of coconut yield before and after the...
ABSTRACT This study was carried out with the main objective of analyzing the economic impacts of climate change on teff production in central Ethiopia. Specific objectives of the study were: i) To analyze the relationship of income from teff (Eragrostis tef) production with biophysical and socioeconomic variables, ii) To determine the marginal impact of temperature and rainfall on income from teff production, iii) To predict a range of potential future impacts on teff production under a mid-r...
ABSTRACT Growth and productivity of four indigenous tree species (Miliciaexcelsa, Afzeliaquanzensis, DarbegiamelanoxylonandKhayaanthotheca) was evaluated in 23 year old rectangular 400 m2 (20 x 20 m) plots planted at Tanzania Tree Seed Agency (TTSA) Arboretum in Morogoro, Tanzania. Data was collected on survival, diameter at breast height (Dbh), total height, stem form and wood basic density. A t-test of the collected data (dbh, total height and wood basic density) have shown that there were ...
ABSTRACT The Agricultural and Livestock Policy of Tanzania gives high priority to the promotion of food sufficiency and security through irrigated agriculture. The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting participation of farmers in irrigation schemes in Tanzania. The data were collected by interviewing farmers using semi structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were done using SPSS version 12 as a tool of analysis. The findings reveal that the ...
ABSTRACT Plastics, though widely used, have low biodegradability and hence are persistent in the environment, becoming a major source of pollution. The study herein was conducted to isolate, from soils, isolates of microorganisms capable of biodegradation of plastics. The soils were sampled from Morogoro Municipality in Tanzania. The pH of the soils ranged between 6.46 and 8.91. Organic carbon ranged from 0.20 and 1.23%, which was very low to low. Total nitrogen ranged from 0.01 and 0.09%, wh...
ABSTRACT Sweet potato with a negligible amount of vitamin A has been consumed for a long time in Sub-Saharan African (SSA)countries including Tanzania. The production and consumption of improved sweet potato varieties including orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) with high Vitamin A content has been promoted due to its potential to combat Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD). Adding value to OFSP will increase both its shelf-life and market demand. This study was conducted toassess consumer acceptabilit...
ABSTRACT Despite 19 years of its existence, organic cotton production (OCP) system has not been adopted as envisioned. This study therefore sought to identify and assess constraints to its adoption and consequent diffusion, both in temporal and spatial dimensions. A survey study was conducted using almost equal number of both organic and conventional farmers. The key methodological features involved interviewing 59 organic and 60 conventional cotton farmers using structured questionnaire. Oth...
ABSTRACT Land evaluation was conducted in Butuguri area, Butiama District, Mara Region to assess land’s suitability for cassava, maize and sorghum production. After reviewing literature and discussing with farmers and extension officers, five criteria for growing crops were selected which are: soil physical properties, soil chemical fertility, rainfall, temperature and topography. The Analytical Hierarchical Process was used to assign relative importance weights to the chosen criteria. Spat...
ABSTRACT This study aimed at analyzing the value chain for traditionally produced honey and identifying the most profitable value-adding activity practiced by traditional beekeepers. Specifically, the study intended (i) to analyze the value chain for traditionally produced honey in Kongwa district, (ii) to determine the contribution of honey to traditional beekeeper’s household income, (iii) to analyse costs and returns from honey value-adding activities in order to identify the most profit...
ABSTRACT The government of Tanzania and some NGOs have been making a lot of efforts to control malaria, but its prevalence is still high in Mtwara Region. Therefore, the research for this dissertation was conducted in Mtwara District in November and December 2010 with the main objective to determine the association between prevalence of malaria, some economic and social factors in rural and urban areas of the district. The specific objectives of the study were to: assess levels of economic an...