A literature review on yield gaps of various root, tuber and banana crops as a background for assessing banana yield reductions due to pests and diseases at a field site in western Burundi

Banana pests (corm weevil and root nematodes) and diseases (Xanthomonas wilt of banana, banana bunchy top disease and fusarium wilt) are major constraints to banana production in Central Africa. The pests cause various degrees of yield reduction, while plants affected by three of the diseases eventually die before producing an edible bunch. Studies on yield gaps for most of these constraints are currently limited. This paper reviews yield gap studies of some root, tuber and banana crops broadly and with a specific focus on biotic constraints. It also presents an initial case study conducted in Burundi to understand yield gaps due to various banana pests and diseases. Bunch weights of banana varied widely at production zones in western Burundi due to biotic constraints. Boundary line analysis revealed large yield gaps due to the various pests. The often sub-optimal, medium and small bunch sizes found in visibly healthy fields however indicate that in addition to mitigating effects of biotic constraints, significant improvements in bunch weights could be attained through the application of agronomic/field management practices that enhance soil fertility, soil moisture content and soil health. Simple and robust methods (such as the boundary line analysis) for estimating yield gaps caused by pests and diseases, and abiotic constraints on farm are crucial for informing/guiding on the need to apply agronomic and/or disease control efforts. In addition, continuous/sustained field monitoring, with the involvement of farmers, over time will be necessary for a more accurate assessment of yield gaps caused by diseases and pests

Estimating yield components, limiting factors, and yield gaps of Enset in Ethiopia using easily measurable above-ground plant traits

The quantification of yield for different enset products has mainly been based on farmers’ estimates, which are often inaccurate. Several allometric models have been developed to overcome this challenge. Building on past work, the current study developed allometric models for enset fiber, kocho, and bula yield estimation. Enset yield limiting factors and associated yield gaps were also determined. In this study, above-ground growth and yield (kocho, bula, and fiber) traits of five-year-old plants of two widely grown enset landraces, ‘Unjame’ and ‘Siskela’, were assessed in farmers’ fields at three contrasting altitude sites. Except for bula, a minor yield component, correlation, and PCA analysis showed strong association between the above-ground and yield traits. Allometric equations based on the above-ground traits significantly (R2 = 25 to 68%) explained the variation in the yield traits. This study, for the first time, generated allometric models that can reliably estimate enset fiber yield. Leaf length, petiole length, and plant height are especially good for estimating fiber and kocho yields. The performance of models for bula were poor possibly due to the very low bula yields per plant. Soil chemical characteristics differently influenced enset yield attributes. For example, improving K supply can potentially enhance fiber yield. Higher yield gaps were observed for bula, with P accounting for the highest yield gaps across yield traits. Through careful targeting, the different yield attributes can thus be enhanced. This and previous studies clearly show that non-destructive enset plant assessments can provide solid information for quick and easy yield assessments for various traits during e.g., agronomic, germplasm evaluation, soil fertility enhancement, and intercropping trials

The The Economic Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Market Vendors in Kampala City in Uganda

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic struck Uganda, much emphasis by the policy makers and researchers were on the health effects of the pandemic at the expense of the economic effects hence creating a research gap. The cardinal aim of this study was to examine the economic effects of the pandemic on the wellbeing of the market vendors in Kampala city. The specific objectives of this study were; examining how the COVID-19 pandemic economically affected the market vendors in Kampala city, and determining if the pandemic was a demand or supply side shock. The study employed the Blinder-Oaxaca (B-O) decomposition technique, which was originally used in labor economics to decompose earnings gaps and to estimate the level of discrimination. This decomposition method analyses changes in a given variable over time. Descriptive statistics such as means, frequencies, and percentages were generated to gain insights into the data. Consumption and Sales were used as proxies for demand whereas the proxy for supply was production. The decomposition results from the Oaxaca estimates show that consumption, sales, and production reduced after the introduction of the COVID-19 restriction. The pandemic affected the market vendors economically through reduced consumption, sales, and disruption of the supply chain. It is recommended that the government provide appropriate support in form of income support, access to low credit and building the digital capacity of market vendors. This study contributes to the understanding of the economic effects of the pandemic on vulnerable groups-the market vendors