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...
ABSTRACT Goat production is an integral component of small holder agriculture in Tanzania but farmers have been keeping indigenous goats which have poor genetic potential for growth and have small mature body size. Goat keepers can improve mature body size by crossing with improved breeds. However, in Tanzania there is paucity of information on performance of crossbreds in comparison to their parents. The effects of breed, sex, birth type, season of birth, year of birth and dam weight class o...
TRACT Integrated aquaculture and other agricultural activities involve use of animal manure directly or indirectly into the pond. This farming practice increase production and minimize the production cost. Despite the benefits, this may impose diseases to fish and consumers. Use of antibiotics in poultry integrated with aquaculture may impose antimicrobial resistance to fish. Extended spectrum beta lactomase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli is resistant genes that inhibit the function of thi...
ABSTRACT This study was conducted to assess the effect of land titling on tenure security and subsequent investment on land improvement among smallholder farmers in Mbozi District, Tanzania. Specific objectives were; to determine the proportion of farmers who have formal land titles as well as the proportion of formalized land in Mbozi District, to identify how land tenure security is defined according to local criteria among farmers and determine indicators that express tenure security by la...
ABSTRACT Many large water projects that were established and managed by community and central governments in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) failed mainly due to inadequate community participation in planning and implementation of such rural domestic water supply projects. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania - Konde Diocese (ELCT-KOD) in collaboration with Marion Medical Mission (MMM) introduced shallow wells project in Mbozi District in 2002. Out of 1061 shallow wells constructed by ELCT-Ko...