ABSTRACT In Kenya, there are gaps on the availability of studies of the specific extension approaches and their effectiveness on the adoption of technologies. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) in promoting adoption of best agricultural practices (BAP) by smallholder coffee farmers in Kenya. The target population was the smallholder coffee farmers in the CRI’s FFS pilot project numbering 4802. All the 117 farmers who trained and graduated in FFS w...
ABSTRACT The main producers of rabbits in the world are Italy, Russia, Ukraine, France, China, Spain, Southeast Asia, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. In Kenya, farmers have made an effort towards food self sufficiency by raising various livestock breeds such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry, but the country remains food insecure. Rabbits are nonconventional source of protein and are increasingly being kept in Kenya to enhance household food security and income. However, despite the advanta...
ABSTRACT Increasing demand for food and the diminishing agricultural land has resulted in farmers putting great efforts to increase crop yields by using more fertilizer and pesticides. Pesticide use in agricultural production has, however, produced undesirable effects on human health and the environment. Thus, the study aimed at contributing to sustainable agricultural intensification through safe pesticide use and uptake of alternative pest control methods among small-scale tomato farmers in...
ABSTRACT Increased herd productivity and incomes can be obtained with the intensification of smallholder dairy production when applying genetics, ecological and socio-economic interventions. However, intensification can also result in negative externalities including depletion of natural resources, land use changes and human health risks. This study evaluated the association of intensification interventions with herd productivity, natural resource depletion and human health risks using a set ...
ABSTRACT Credit constraints hinder development of agriculture in developing countries, yet access is mainly associated with increased farm productivity and crop incomes. For over a decade, Mozambican smallholders have accessed a decoupled credit subsidy under the seven million program for agricultural development. However, little is known about the influence of the program on crop productivity and farm incomes in rural areas. This study therefore, examined whether there are productivity and i...
ABSTRACT The use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria offers an alternative to the use of chemical fertilizers. The quality and efficacy of inoculants is critical to realize the benefits of inoculation. The objectives of this study were; 1) to test the quality of 3 inoculants (Legumefix, Biofix for soybean and Biofix for common bean) and evaluate the response of soybean and common bean to inoculation; 2) to test the effect of soil fertility on inoculation response of soybean and common bea...
Abstract: Transport of wood biomass is one of the key operations in forestry and in the wood industry. An important part is the transport of shredded wood, where the most common forms are chips and sawdust. The aim of the research was to present the variability of the total weight of trucks (gross vehicle weight, GVW), the weight of the empty trucks (tare), and loads of chips and sawdust in different periods of the year. Changes in specific parameters were analyzed: GVW; tare weight; trailer...
Abstract Geographic Information System (GIS) is a veritable tool for spatial analysis in forestry. The proximity to forest reserves has been considered one of the major factors affecting the spatial distribution of wood based industries. However, information on number of sawmills and spatial distribution of both the forest reserves and sawmill in Oyo Sate is lacking. Hence, this study employed GIS to develop spatial distribution map of forest reserves and sawmills in Oyo State, Nigeria. The ...
Forest reserves are portions of state lands where commercial harvesting of wood products is excluded in order to capture elements of biodiversity that can be missing from sustainably harvested sites. Small (patch) reserves will conserve sensitive, localized resources such as steep slopes, fragile soils, and habitat for certain rare species that benefit from intact forest canopies. Large (matrix) reserves will represent the diversity of relatively un-fragmented forest landscapes remaining in M...
ABSTRACT Few studies have been conducted on fistula in Tanzania and indeed on its relationship to home delivery. The general objective of this study was to examine the relationship between home delivery and fistula in Mufindi District. It also examined factors influencing home delivery and assessed women attitudes towards home delivery and also community awareness towards fistula.The study adopted cross-sectional research design where data were collected from 130 respondents through questio...
ABSTRACT The traditional pathways used in the dissemination of information including that of the market for cattle remain one of the focal challenges for beef cattle smallholder in many rural areas. Although there is evidence in India, Africa and Tanzania distinctively on the expansion of social networking, micro-entrepreneurs growth and access to crops and fish marketing enhanced by cellphones, the use of cellphones in access to beef cattle market information is little in Tanzania particul...
ABSTRACT Food availability and supply is essential requirement for people. Household food security is the availability of food to household level which will suffice the needs all times for an active, healthy life. The food will be either produced in farms by family or purchased from other places. The aim of this study was to assess effects of mining on food security to farming communities surrounding Nyamongo Gold Mine in Tarime District, Tanzania. Specific objectives were to: (i) determine ...
ABSTRACT This study was conducted with the aim of assessing factors that influence SEDA agricultural credit rationing to smallholder farmers in Dodoma Municipality and Bahi District. Purposive and random sampling techniques were employed in selecting 200 smallholder farmers. Binary logistic and linear regressions models were used to analyse the influence of farmer’s socio-economic characteristics on credit demand and factors influencing SEDA agricultural credit rationing respectively. Desc...
ABSTRACT The rise of contract farming and vertically integrated firms of production and marketing is undoubtly one of the most important changes in Tanzania economy. The study examined new role of contract farming (CF) in Tanzania towards designing partnership model in the light of transformation and industrialization of agriculture. The specific objectives were (i) To describe contractual arrangement found in the study area (ii) To examine the role of contractual arrangement in reducing tra...
ABSTRACT Mara River Basin ecosystem is shared by Tarime, Serengeti and Musoma districts. While there is a great understanding on the availability of natural resources in the basin, less is known on the implications of natural resources use conflicts on the livelihoods and on the resource base. The overall objective of the study was to assess natural resources use conflicts and their socio-economic and ecological implications. Data were collected through PRA, discussions with key informants,...