Commercialization of Alate termites (macrotermes sp.) to improve households’ livelihoods in Vihiga County, Kenya

To meet the rising demand for animal-based protein, conventional livestock may prove expensive as the current production system remains  unsustainable. This calls for intervention research on alternative sources of protein, hence a switch to affordable and environmentally acceptable  protein sources of which approximately 1,900 insect species are consumed worldwide. Alate termites have thus received considerations in this line  for nutritional and economic benefits. Trading of alate termites is becoming a valuable source of income for many people in Vihiga county and other  parts of western region, which although modest in terms of monetary value, could nonetheless form a significant proportion of their annual  income. Information about commercialization of alate termites and its impact to household level food security has remained sparse. The goal of this  research was to partly fill this knowledge gap and document the associated potential of alate termite commercialization on household  livelihoods in Luanda and Hamisi sub-counties of Vihiga county. A total of 204 respondents participated in the cross-sectional study. Chi Square and  regression analysis was employed to predict association and relationship between alate termite collection and marketing and household income for  improved livelihoods. The results affirmed that, alate termites are a delicacy and cultural food eaten by the majority of the people in western  Kenya. This is attributed to its nutritional value as well as higher economic potentiality. The average retail price per kilogram of 500 Kenya Shillings  (US $5), compares favorably with that of goat meat, which is retailed within the region. The trading of alate termites is dominated by women and  characterized by wholesalers who buy the alates from collectors and sell to retailers. The purpose of utilization was positively significant p<0.005.  Inferring that the benefits realized from utilization of alate termites was dependent on households’ decisions regarding various utilization purposes.  Drying was the most common preservation method (64%) whereas others have a preference for frying. Moreover, alate termites are  grounded into flour that is used for baking other products. The potential of alate termites to diversify household livelihood can be fully explored in  order to contribute to household livelihoods and ultimately food security

Estimating the potential of beekeeping to alleviate household poverty in rural Uganda

<div><p>Robust evidence underpinning the role of beekeeping in poverty alleviation is currently lacking. This study estimated the production potential for beekeepers in Northern Uganda by quantifying current production assets (equipment and knowledge) and impact on rural income streams range of proposed interventions. Intervention scenarios evaluated the economic benefits to be derived from different hive types combined with year-round provision of a nectar source (<i>Calliandra calothyrsus</i>) planted at varying density. Findings show that the type and number of beehive combinations used influenced the amount of revenue streams generated by the beekeepers. Addition of 20 log hives increased incomes 10 times, 20 KTBs increased revenues 16 times and Langstroth 18 times. Adding <i>Calliandra</i> trees as a forage source to the baseline scenario yielded revenues up to 17.6 times higher than the baseline. Implying that good management plus the introduction of a reliable nectar source, to off-set dry season challenges (absconding), could improve beekeeping productivity in Northern Uganda. Further research is required to validate <i>in situ</i> the impact of modelled scenarios on both honey yield and other ecosystem service benefits.</p></div

Environmental contaminants of honeybee products in Uganda detected using LC-MS/MS and GC-ECD

Pollinator services and the development of beekeeping as a poverty alleviating tool have gained considerable focus in recent years in sub-Saharan Africa. An improved understanding of the pervasive environmental extent of agro-chemical contaminants is critical to the success of beekeeping development and the production of clean hive products. This study developed and validated a multi-residue method for screening 36 pesticides in honeybees, honey and beeswax using LC-MS/MS and GC-ECD. Of the 36 screened pesticides, 20 were detected. The highest frequencies occurred in beeswax and in samples from apiaries located in the proximity of citrus and tobacco farms. Fungicides were the most prevalent chemical class. Detected insecticides included neonicotinoids, organophosphates, carbamates, organophosphorus, tetrazines and diacylhydrazines. All detected pesticide levels were below maximum residue limits (according to EU regulations) and the lethal doses known for honeybees. However, future risk assessment is needed to determine the health effects on the African genotype of honeybees by these pesticide classes and combinations of these. In conclusion, our data present a significant challenge to the burgeoning organic honey sector in Uganda, but to achieve this, there is an urgent need to regulate the contact routes of pesticides into the beehive products. Interestingly, the "zero" detection rate of pesticides in the Mid-Northern zone is a significant indicator of the large potential to promote Ugandan organic honey for the export market

The buzz about bees and poverty alleviation: Identifying drivers and barriers of beekeeping in sub-Saharan Africa

The potential of beekeeping to mitigate the exposure of rural sub-Sahara African farmers to economic stochasticity has been widely promoted by an array of development agencies. Robust outcome indicators of the success of beekeeping to improve household well-being are unfortunately lacking. This study aimed to identify the key drivers and barriers of beekeeping adoption at the household level, and quantified the associated income contribution in three agro-ecological zones in Uganda. Beekeepers were generally the most economically disadvantaged people in the study areas and tended to adopt beekeeping following contact with non-government organisations and access to training. Whilst incomes were not statistically lower than their non-beekeeping counterparts; their mean household well-being scores were significantly lower than non-beekeeping households. The inability of beekeeping to significantly improve well-being status can in part be attributed to a lack of both training in bee husbandry and protective equipment provision such as suits, gloves and smokers. These are critical tools for beekeepers as they provide the necessary confidence to manage honey bees. Rather than focussing solely on the socio-economic conditions of farmers to effectively adopt beekeeping, future research should also attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of development agencies’ provision to the beekeeping sector

Strategies for increased utilisation of new propolis products in Uganda

Over 80% of Ugandan beekeepers harvest honey and beeswax but only 1% venture into commercialising propolis. Propolis has been documented to have antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial and immune boosting properties. This study reveals beekeepers have the potential to produce between 325 to 870 tons of crude propolis annually earning up to US$1.3-3.5 million. This income is currently lost due to poor sector organisation. Further research on chemical composition and pharmacological benefit of the two types of Ugandan propolis is recommended

Utilization of Alate Termites (Macroterme Spp) to Improve Nutritional Security Among Households in Vihiga County-kenya.

Among key food nutritional concerns all over the globe is the rising demand for high-value protein,&nbsp; which is projected to double by 2050 due to the rapidly growing population in developing&nbsp; economies, such as Kenya. To meet the new demand, conventional livestock may prove expensive&nbsp; as the current production system remains unsustainable. Research on alternative sources of&nbsp; protein calls for affordable and environmentally acceptable protein sources. Hence entomophagy&nbsp; is gaining attention with approximately 1,900 insect species consumed worldwide including the&nbsp; Alate termites. However, information on utilization and abundance is largely anecdotal and&nbsp; disjointed due to the limited knowledge of sustained off-season production, appropriate&nbsp; processing technology and packaging for all end-user market segments. The objective of this study&nbsp; was to fill this knowledge gap by assessing the capacity of farmers on the current harvesting and&nbsp; utilization of the alate termite. The research involved a cross-sectional descriptive survey design&nbsp; that informed data collection from a target population of 64,752 households. A Semi-structured&nbsp; questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 204 households obtained through a&nbsp; multistage sampling procedure within Vihiga County Western Kenya. Descriptive and exploratory&nbsp; statistics was applied in summarizing the results while chi-square statistic was used to test for&nbsp; association between attitude, knowledge and utilization of alate termites and the socio demographic variables&nbsp; The key findings revealed a strong association between the respondents' socio-economic status&nbsp; and’ capacity, including attitude on consumption, methods and forms of utilization of alates. Where&nbsp; the categorical variables socioeconomic characteristics, influenced the choice of preferred forms&nbsp; as either fried or blanched termites (p&lt;0.001). Additionally, there was a strong association of termite availability and their role in alleviating hunger through household diet diversification and&nbsp; food security. The utilization of alate termites assessed was recorded to have 65% of the&nbsp; respondents utilize the alate termites for health reasons while 81% consume alate termites as&nbsp; either side dish or staple. The main factors determining abundance and utilization of alate termites&nbsp; (figure 2) include seasonality and weather (63.2%), type of soil in the locality. The termites may&nbsp; be exploited to provide high-quality diets for households especially in developing countries while&nbsp; promoting awareness of the nutritional potential.&nbsp

The PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF MULTI DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSISAMONG REFUGEES IN THE RESETTLEMENTCAMPS OF ADJUMANI, MOYO AND YUMBE DISTRICTSWEST NILE REGION: pMDRTB

Background:   Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a name given to tuberculosis agents when the bacteria are resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, two of the most effective TB drugs. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of MDR-TB among the refugees in the resettlement camps of Adjumani, Yumbe, and Moyo districts, West Nile region.   Methodology:   This was a cross-sectional study where questionnaires were used to capture risk factors associated with MDR-TB and sputum samples (n=223) collected were examined using the gene expert machine. P values and corresponding 95% CI were calculated. All statistical tests were two-tailed and P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.   Results:    143(64.1%) were males while 80 (35.9%) were females, with the age range of 3- 64 years and mean age of 32 years, out of 223 sputum samples analyzed on GeneXpert machine; 178 (79.8%) tested negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) while 45 (20.2%) tested positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Of the 45 samples that tested positive for MTB; 39 (17.5%) were rifampicin sensitive and 6 (2.7%) were rifampicin-resistant. Of the 39 case MTB cases detected in the refugee resettlement camps of Bidibidi, Itula, and Mungula, 17 (43.6%), 14 (35.9%), and 8 (20.5%) were from each mentioned camp respectively; whereas of the 6 MDR-TB cases detected; Mungula camp had the majority cases 3 (50%), Bidibidi camp had 2 (33.3%) cases and Itula had 1 (16.7%) cases. The Risk factors associated with MDR-TB among refugees was overcrowding 5 (83.3%) and not enrolled on DOTs, 5 (66.7%). There was no significant association between MDR-TB and age (P=0.43; 95%CI=0.163-0.233)   Conclusions and recommendations:    The general prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is 20.2% and MDR-TB is 2.7%

“It’s just like a blood transfusion”: perceptions on the use of donated breast milk in selected hospitals in central Uganda: a qualitative study

Abstract Background Breast milk is crucial for the nutritional and developmental milestones in the first two years of life. Uganda has recognized the need for a human milk bank as an opportunity that offers reliable and healthy milk to babies who lack access to their mothers. However, there is little information on the perceptions towards donated breast milk in Uganda. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of mothers, fathers, and health workers on the use of donated breast milk at Nsambya and Naguru hospitals in Kampala district, central Uganda. Methods A qualitative descriptive study was conducted at Nsambya and Naguru hospitals in central Uganda. The study consisted of 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) of 6 participants each and 19 key informant interviews (KIIs) among mothers, fathers, and health workers. Participants were purposively selected. Data collected were transcribed, translated from Luganda to English, and analyzed using thematic analysis. All data were organized and managed in Nvivo version 12.0. Results A total of 67 participants were involved in the study. Two main themes were identified: positive perceptions and negative perceptions. Participants linked donated breast milk to blood transfusion, believed it had nutrients comparable to the biological mother’s milk, and thought it was an opportunity to avoid formula or cow milk and help babies that cannot access breast milk. However, the notable negative perceptions were; the feeling that donated breast milk is disgusting, could result in acquiring non-parental genes and traits, and that it was unsafe. Participants also feared that donated breast milk could be expensive and affect the bond between mother and child. Conclusion In summary, participants had positive perceptions about donated breast milk but were concerned about the potential side effects. Health workers should take extra precautions to ensure that donated breast milk is safe. The development of appropriate information and communication programs to sensitize the public about the benefits of donated breast milk will improve the uptake. Further research should focus on understanding the social-cultural beliefs regarding donated breast milk

Hyperspectral downward irradiance observed during cruise aboard RV IBIS on Lake Victoria, Uganda, from 13 to 15 October 2021

Hyperspectral radiometric quantities were observed at a 5-minute sampling interval in the Ugandan portion of Lake Victoria during a scientific field campaign aboard research vessel (RV) IBIS from 13 to 15 October 2021. The three day fieldwork was cooridnated starting from the Napoleon Bay, Jinja, Uganda. A radiometer setup with one TriOS RAMSES-ACC hyperspectral cosine irradiance meter to measure incoming solar irradiance was installed using a custom-made frame at the bow of RV IBIS. Data logging of raw and calibrated radiometric quantities was automated using TriOS MSDA XE version 8.9.2 software. Further processing was done using Mathworks Matlab 2016a and R software. Processed data was interpolated to 1 nm spectral resolution using PCHIP function in Matlab between 320 and 950 nm. Only the data with valid GPS coordinates and with spectra contributing less than 3% is included in this file, the rest of the data is available on request

Perceptions about mercury and lead in fish consumed in Lake Albert fishing communities Uganda

Fish consumption is a lifestyle in fishing communities influenced by individual and communal perceptions. However, information about individual perceptions about fish consumption in the vulnerable fishing community in a developing country is lacking. Without this study, the benefits of fish consumption in a vulnerable community may not be realized. Data collection was executed using key informant interviews and survey structured questionnaires. The key informants include fisheries, community development, veterinary, community and environmental officers. The household heads were the respondents. The Qualitative data was organized and queried using QSR Nvivo 10 and quantitative data analyzed with SPSS version 22. The perceived benefits of eating fish are health, income, nutrition and manhood. The perceived risks are Stigma and ill health. The factors increasing fish consumption are heedless of fish consumption benefits (p = 0.041) and household size i.e. number of adults more than seven (p = 0.020). Those decreasing are methods of preparation of fish i.e. boiling and frying (p = 0.019 and p = 0.010) and oblivious about organizations dealing with fishing activities (p = 0.029). An awareness campaign is needed to demystify the health benefits and fallacies of fish consumption. The knowledge on individual perceptions associated with fish consumption will increase fish consumption but with fewer risks