ABSTRACT The West Usambara Mountains in Tanzania are severely affected by soil degradation caused by water erosion that includes rill, interill, gully and landslides. To a large extent the area is also affected by soil degradation that is caused by declining soil fertility and harvesting of tuber, bulb and root crops. The problem of soil degradation in the area has triggered adverse effect on crop productivity and is a serious threat to livelihood. Many scientific „Soil and Water Conservati...
ABSTRACT Prices of sweet potato had drastically dropped due to its glut in the market during harvesting season. This lead to stumpy margin revenues to famers as compared to production costs. Hence solution to help farmers earn more is to add value to the produce in Tanzania. The objective of the study was to investigate and create awareness on the sweet potato processed products marketing potential in the smallholder production system. Specifically the study sought (i) to characterize and des...
ABSTRACT Studies were carried out to establish ethno-botanical information and biological activities of crude extracts from Commiphora swynnertonii against selected microbes of veterinary importance in chickens. Initially, a questionnaire survey was conducted to gather information on practices and knowledge on ethno-botanical uses of C. swynnertonii in the study area. Then extracts from different morphological parts of the study plant were tested against selected bacteria and fungi in vitro u...
ABSTRACT Despite efforts devoted to reduce under-five mortality, it has been observed that the reduction trend is not reaching the targeted goals hence the need to explore the possible constraints. The overall objective of the study was to examine the influence of cultural dimensions on under-five mortality among agro-pastoral communities in Handeni District, Tanzania. The specific objectives were to assess health services utilisation in the study area, to examine the influence of cultural di...
ABSTRACT Livelihoods diversification towards off-farm employment is becoming a norm in rural areas of developing countries. It is, however, unclear as to whether diversification towards off-farm employment activities provides better welfare effects in terms of crop productivity and income shock insurance compared to economic specialization in own farm activities. Hence, this study was carried out to unveil the effect of off-farm employment on three dimensions of poverty considered as salien...
ABSTRACT A study was conducted to evaluate the profitability, efficiency and adoption of improved beehives and its implications on household income among beekeepers in western Tanzania. Specifically the study focused on; profitability analysis, comparing between beekeepers using traditional and improved beehives. The study also compare the economic efficiency among beekeepers using improved beehives; analysed the adoption and income poverty impacts of improved beekeeping technologies; and inv...
ABSTRACT Rift Valley fever (RVF) was first reported in Tanzania in 1930 and the last outbreak occurred in the country in 2006/07. Besides the long history of RVF in the country, little is known about its spatial and temporal epidemiology and habitat suitability for its occurrence. This study was conducted to determine potential risk factors and develop the country RVF risk map. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to examine the presence of antibodies specific to RVF virus (RVFV) in ser...
ABSTRACT There are numerous incidences of impoverishment and livelihood change in pastoral societies following transformation in land use and ownership and their livelihoods. Both in theory and practice, pastoral production has demonstrated flexibility in adapting to different risks. This study sought to investigate the changing livelihoods and adaptive capacity of the agro-pastoralists evicted from Ihefu Basin in Mbarali District, Tanzania. Specifically, the study sought to: (i) Examine the ...
ABSTRACT This study assesses the response of large scale-mining companies to the system of governance for improved local livelihoods in Tanzania. Specifically, the study analysed the policy enabling environment of the mining sector in Tanzania, examined compliance of large-scale mining companies with regulatory framework, explored community perception on mining companies’ practices towards enhancing environmental sustainability and assessed the contribution of mining companies to the local ...
ABSTRACT Despite various interventions geared at countering land degradation in the Uluguru Mountains, the problem has persisted.Institutions have an instrumental role in land management. However, the question of compatibility between formal and informal institutions and hence the effectiveness of the institutions in governing land management is yet to be adequately addressed. This study assessed how the interplay of formal and informal grassroots institutions determines their effectiveness i...
ABSTRACT Although Kyela District has high potential for rice production, which is done by almost every household, poverty is high as evidenced by 66% of households in the district being poor. The specific objectives of the study were to: assess rice marketing channels and the role of different marketing participants; analyze rice market structures; determine the performance of the rice marketing sub-system; compare well-being levels of rice farmers, traders and miller-traders; and find the li...
ABSTRACT The aim of this thesis was to enhance the understanding of the role of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in climate change adaptation through studying households adjacent and distant to Iyondo Forest Reserve (IFR) in Kilombero District, Tanzania. Apparently, Kilombero District is prone to diverse climatic stresses; and the role of NTFPs in the way that households adapt and achieve livelihood security in the face of climate stressors is neither well known nor documented. The study ai...
ABSTRACT This work was undertaken in order to improve the performance of some selected rice varieties that are susceptible to phosphorus (P) deficiency through the introgression of P deficiency tolerant genes. This involved screening for tolerance to P deficiency of a diverse set of varieties grown in East and Southern African (ESA) countries and their molecular marker survey, in order to assess the presence or absence of the phosphorus starvation tolerance (PSTOL1) gene. This information ser...
ABSTRACT Western Usambara Mountains in Lushoto District, Tanzania, are highly populated owing to favourable climatic conditions for production of both cash and food crops such as coffee, tea, maize, beans, potatoes and assorted fruits and vegetables. Some areas in the district are also potential as tourist destinations. However, clusters of villages in the district are reported to be hot-spots of plague recurrence that has caused deaths of thousands of people. Plague outbreaks in some village...
ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the effects of Mexican weeping pine (Pinus patula Schelde. ex Schltdl and Cham) and wild lemon grass (Cymbopogon spp.) mulches and time of their application on yield and quality of organically grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), (ii) to investigate the effect of pine and wild lemon grass mulch on pests and beneficial arthropods under organic production of tomato and sweet pepper, and (iii) to...