Investigating the effect of different loading densities on selected properties of dried coffee using a GHE dryer

Despite coffee being one of the leading cash crops in Uganda contributing 20%-30% of the total export earnings, it is mainly dried on bare earth surfaces hence its drastic decline in quality.  A possible alternative solution is utilization of the greenhouse effect (GHE) solar dryer.  This research was aimed at investigating the effect of different loading densities on selected properties of dried coffee using a GHE dryer that was designed and constructed at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK).  The research involved determining the drying time for the loading densities of 5, 10 and 20 kg m-2 as well as analyzing the coffee quality at the end of the drying period.  Three experimental runs were set up in the months of June and July which experienced average ambient temperature of 23.28 (±2.33)oC and average dryer temperature of 35.68 (±13.85)oC.  The average drying time for the freshly harvested Robusta coffee at 61.3 (±1.36)% wb was 10 days for 5 kg m-2, 11 days for 10 kg m-2 and 12 days for 20 kg m-2.  The loading of 20 kg m-2 resulted into an even roast with fair+ for body and flavour, while 5 and 10 kg m-2 loadings resulted into a silver skin roast with fair body and flavour.  For this particular research, the loading density of 20 kg m-2 yielded the best results from the coffee quality analysis.  The loading densities of 5 kg m-2 and 10 kg m-2 could not yield best results due to case hardening of the outer surfaces of the coffee beans which compromised the body and flavour of the coffee.   Keywords: greenhouse effect, solar dryer, loading densities, coffee quality, drying tim

LaparostomicTreatment of Diffuse Peritonitis in Northern Uganda

No Abstract. Keywords: Bacterial infection, Diagnosis; Surgery, laparostomy, laparostomic treatment, peritonitis, uterine perforation, second look

Extended Debridement and Skin Graft as Local Treatment of Cobra Snake Bite Injury: A Case Report

Snakebite is a serious issue in rural areas of developing countries as Uganda. In children above all snakebite seems to be more common. Availability of anti-venoms is very poor. Local tissue damage caused by snake venom, either cytotoxic or necrotic, can continue even after systemic crisis has expired. We report the case of a 5 years old male child, born in Kitgum district, Northern Uganda, carried in hospital for a Cobra snake bite on the right foot who could not receive anti-venom. Debridement of the bite site, wound lavage, amputation and skin graft were required. Progression of the local infection associated to the reappearance of high fever induced us to bring the debridement up to the leg almost at the level of the knee in order to prevent unset of tibial Osteomyelitis and to be able to perform skin grafting.Keywords: Snakebite, Cobra, surgical treatment, debridement, skin graft, osteomyeliti

The potential of anthill soils in agriculture production in Africa: A review

This research article published by the International Journal of Biosciences, 2017In this review, we have attempted to highlight the critical role which anthills could play in sustainable agriculture practices as a locally available resource for the benefit of financially and soil fertility challenged smallholder farmers. Examples from across sub-Saharan Africa region have been elucidated in this paper on how the anthills have been utilized as a choice of low external input farming strategy for soil fertility challenges. Data from the study was collected through literature search from past and present research work by various scientists across the globe encompassing the internet and research articles. We have become aware that anthill soils could play a crucial role as an alternative to chemical fertilizer for farmers who have no means of buying inorganics. We recommend that for effective utilization of anthills in crop production, there is need to build the capacity of extension staff and farmers on the application method using micro dosing techniques and simple estimation of quantity for determining the requirements per hectare. Raising awareness to policy makers at all levels could stimulate interest on how this resource could be integrated as one of the components of integrated soil fertility management in conservation agriculture technologies. Carrying out studies which would focus on factors that could help in fast development of anthills would be key for enhancing crop development amongst the smallholder farmers challenged by cost of fertilizer input

Decentralized Environmental Governance: A reflection on its role in shaping Wildlife Management Areas in Tanzania

This research article published by Tropical Conservation Science, Vol.8 (4), 2015Decentralised environmental governance has become a catchy solution to environmental problems caused by the failure of traditional centralised environmental governance. It promises to transfer power and authority, improve efficiency, equity, accountability, and inclusion of local people who were previously excluded by the command and control model. This paper examines the efficacy of decentralised environmental governance as an alternative approach to wildlife conservation in Tanzania. We analyse the policy and legal framework for Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Tanzania over the past two decades as a case study on current practice and its implications. We find that despite the rhetoric of community-based conservation (CBC), the wildlife industry remains heavily under state control, while the promises of CBC remain elusive. Questioning the effectiveness of decentralised environmental governance through CBC, we recommend that actors return to the drawing board and re-negotiate their positions, interests, power and authority if meaningfully decentralised environmental governance is to be achieved

Physicochemical and Microbiological Variations in Rivers on the Foothills of Mount Meru, Tanzania.

This research article published by the International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 8, Issue 9, September-2017Little is known on the physicochemical and microbiological changes in Nduruma, Tengeru and Maji ya Chai Rivers. Such important variations were studied during wet and dry seasons in 2015. Water samples from various predetermined points of the rivers were analyzed for major physicochemical and microbial contents using APHA standard methods. Pollution levels in Tengeru River were lower than those of Nduruma and Maji ya Chai Rivers. The fecal coliforms were found in all water samples whereas other parameters were found to be within the WHO maximum permissible limits in most samples. Few samples had BOD, nitrates and total soluble phosphates levels higher than the WHO of 10 mg/l, 50 mg/l and 0.1 mg/l, respectively. Most areas in wet season recorded COD levels higher than the WHO recommended values of 10 mg/l. Few areas in the dry season had EC of up to 1722 µS/cm which is above the WHO maximum recommended level of 500-1500 µS/cm. The stable isotopes studies in water samples revealed sources of DOC in Nduruma River was from plant materials and soil composite with its nitrates being mainly from urea fertilizers applied by farmers. Ground water was the main source of DOC in headwater of Tengeru while manure was its main source in the floodplain with its nitrates originating from animal manure.DOC in Maji ya Chai River originated from plant materials whereas the nitrates was from wild animal manure. The observed severe degradations of the riparian environment of the rivers call upon immediate rehabilitation measure

Levels of community participation and satisfaction with decentralized wildlife management in Idodi-Pawaga Wildlife Management Area, Tanzania

This research article published by Taylor & Francis Online, 2017Participatory approaches to conservation are viewed as a plausible alternative to the old ‘fortress conservation’ approach. The design and implementation of these approaches in developing countries have tended to embrace community participation through decentralized governance mechanisms in the past three decades. However, sustainable conservation approaches that maintain community livelihoods while conserving biodiversity are challenged with meeting both objectives. In addressing this challenge, little attention has been given to an empirical analysis of community’s satisfaction levels on how they participated in the design and implementation of this approach. In this article, we use a mixed method approach using both quantitative and qualitative data to examine levels of satisfaction and participation of local communities in the Idodi-Pawaga Wildlife Management Area (WMA), south-western Tanzania. We find that social economic factors (e.g. age, household size, gender, number of years living in the same location and participation/non-participation) influence, in different ways, the satisfaction levels of community’s participation towards the WMA creation. Due to inadequate participation, we find that the WMA design and implementation process failed from the beginning to actively involve the local communities and this has resulted in the near absence of the promised economic benefits from wildlife conservation. We suggest that participation should go beyond the simple information sharing to actively engage the local communities in key planning activities from the beginning of any WMA programme. It is also important to take into consideration their levels of satisfaction with the process of decision-making if meaningful decentralized governance is to be achieved

Statistics in Climate Variability, Dry Spells, and Implications for Local Livelihoods in Semiarid Regions of Tanzania: The Way Forward

This research article published by Springer Nature Switzerland AG., 2016The Dodoma municipality, a semiarid region of Tanzania, is characterized by limited rains, lack of surface water sources, and a high frequency of extreme climate events, particularly droughts and floods. These disadvantaged settings make it vital to study long-term climate trends for signals and patterns of shifting climate regimes for integrity of local livelihood support systems, especially agriculture, recharge, and pasture developments. The area has fairly long climate records, some of which extend to about 100 years. This chapter presents detailed analysis of six climate parameters, namely, rainfall (R), atmospheric relative humidity (ARH), temperature (T), sunshine (S), radiation (RD), wind speed (WS), and evaporation (ET) records from three meteorological stations, namely, Hombolo Agrovet (HMS), Dodoma (DMS), and Makutupora (MMS). The parameters above were statistically and graphically analyzed in four time scales, namely, monthly, seasonal, annual, and time series. The results showed the area is characterized by slight spatial variability in R intensity and T magnitudes with HMS having higher T and rains than DMS and MMS. Further there are clear decreasing trends in ARH and R, while T, S, WS, ET, and RD parameters showed characteristic increasing trends. Thus, except for extreme rain events, particularly El Niño-Southern Oscillations (ENSO), which are characterized by abnormally increased R magnitudes, R intensity has generally decreased in which over the past 91 years, there has been a net R decrease of 54 mm out of annual rains of only about 550 mm/year. Compared to annual time step, however, monthly step reveals more silent features like shortening of the growing seasons. Similarly, the frequency and severity of drought episodes are increasing, all of which adversely impact agriculture, pasture development, and recharge. Similarly, disappearance of R in some months, shifting seasonality, and general declining R intensities and magnitudes are clearly observed. May rains have largely disappeared, while in January, February, March, and April rains have decreased and hence shortening the length of growing season. On the other hand, clear warming trends and declining ARH were also observed. Yet the area is marked by cyclic wetting and drying events where in recent years, drying cycles have been prolonged. However, there is more variability in the mean minimum temperature (MMT) than in mean maximum temperatures (MMMT) in all stations. Between 1961 and 2012, there has been a net 1.13 and 0.778 °C increases in annual MMT and MMMT in DMS, respectively. Like for R trends, silent features are more evident under monthly T data than annual time steps where it is clear that June had the highest increase in MMT (1.54 °C), while April had the least (only 0.662 °C). However, both trends have the potential of affecting major livelihood support systems particularly agriculture and pasture development, but also local groundwater recharge that is vital for the local economy. The study area therefore offers a rare opportunity to understand and manage changing climate regimes including on extent of dry spells and longevity of growing seasons. The changing climate trends consequently call for significant adaptation and mitigation strategies so that local activities adjust to the current climate regimes particularly on onset and end of rainfall seasons and recharge fluxes

African farmer-led irrigation development: re-framing agricultural policy and investment?

The past decade has witnessed an intensifying focus on the development of irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa. It follows a 20-year hiatus in the wake of disappointing irrigation performance during the 1970s and 1980s. Persistent low productivity in African agriculture and vulnerability of African food supplies to increasing instability in international commodity markets are driving pan-African agricultural investment initiatives, such as the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), that identify as a priority the improvement in reliability of water control for agriculture. The paper argues that, for such initiatives to be effective, there needs to be a re-appraisal of current dynamics of irrigation development in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly with respect to the role of small-scale producers’ initiatives in expanding irrigation. The paper reviews the principal forms such initiatives take and argues that official narratives and statistics on African irrigation often underestimate the extent of such activities. The paper identifies five key characteristics which, it argues, contradict widely held assumptions that inform irrigation policy in Africa. The paper concludes by offering a definition of ‘farmer-led irrigation’ that embraces a range of interaction between producers and commercial, government and non-government agencies, and identifies priority areas for research on the growth potential and impact of such interactions and strategies for their future development

Social-ecological assessment of Lake Manyara basin, Tanzania: A mixed method approach.

This research article published by Elsevier Ltd., 2020The social-ecological system of the Lake Manyara basin (Northern Tanzania), a UNESCO Biosphere reserve (BR) suffers from social-economic and environmental problems due to decreasing water levels, erosion and land and water use conflicts. We propose an integrated assessment of the social-ecological interactions of the area to support future sustainable management. Within the Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework an integrated literature review and several methods of knowledge collection were combined to identify future management priorities and challenges. During focus groups with farmers and pastoralists, stakeholders confirmed the role played by land use changes as driver and pressure in the landscape, e.g. through increased erosion rates and siltation of the lake. Moreover, economic and social issues were identified as prominent factors being influenced by, or influencing these processes. These statements match the scientific literature. During participatory mapping exercises different spatial and resource allocation perceptions appeared amongst pastoralists and farmers. The multidisciplinary approach proved to be useful to acquire an integrated and comprehensive understanding of the state, challenges and opportunities of Lake Manyara BR, to feed into a decision support system in service of an integrated management plan. Our assessment suggests that improved water governance in a multi-actor approach (with a focus on distribution of benefits, rights, and a specific role of the water authorities) should be a priority for future integrated management strategies. Also, awareness raising amongst decision makers, scientists and local communities is needed to demonstrate the advantages of an integrated approach. And finally, visible and fair mechanisms to share conservation revenues should be designed in a way that local benefits can be obtained together with incentive mechanisms for co-management and conservation