Farmers’ awareness and understanding of climate change and variability in central semi-arid Tanzania

This study investigated the farmers‘ awareness and knowledge of climate change and variability farmers in Tanzania. The study applied a qualitative approach in data collection and analysis. It used interviews and focus group discussions as data collection methods. The study population comprised of farmers. The qualitative data was subjected to content analysis. Key findings show that farmers are aware of climate change and variability and have coping and adaptation knowledge. Despite being aware and practicing adaptation farmers still do not have a clearunderstanding of climate change and variability. The factors, which affect farmers‘ awareness and understanding, are the types of media used in communication, communication gaps, unreliable and untimely information, low income and budget constraints. As such, the study recommends intensive awareness and sensitisation, timely access to information and frequent contacts between researchers, extension officers and farmers.Keywords: Awareness, information, knowledge, climate change, agricultural developmen

Towards establishing an effective data management system in Tanzania: A comparative analysis of scientific climate data and farmers’ perception of climate change and variability

This paper examines and compares farmers’ perceptions of climate change with climate data from the Tanzania Meteorological Agency from 2002 to 2011. Data was collected from Singida and Dodoma regions in Tanzania using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were used to collect qualitative data. Quantitative data were derived from climatic records and semi-structured interviews. Key survey findings indicate that farmers perceived increased temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns. Findings based on weather data also confirmed erratic rainfall patterns and increased temperature and showed corroboration between farmers’ perceptions and scientific evidence from climate data. To promote accuracy and reliability of climate data in decision-making, the study recommends the use of mobile phone devices and cloud computing technology to foster timely collection of weather data and proper record-keeping. It suggests that a clear policy framework should be formulated to guide controlling and managing of weather data records from initial production to their final deposition centre.Keywords: Agriculture sector; climate change adaptation; climate data; climate change perception; meteorological data managemen

Utilisation of e-resources to support teaching and research in higher learning institutions, Tanzania

This study was conducted to compare the use of electronic information resources in selected universities in Tanzania. The study employed a mixed methods research approach to collecting, processing, analysing data and discussing the resultant findings. In all, 119 academic staff and researchers participated in the study. SPSS and STATA were used to analyse the data. The key findings suggest that the majority of academic staff and researchers were aware of, have access to and utilise e-resources to support teaching and research. On the whole, the study found a significant and positive association between awareness and access, access and use. In fact, most of the e-resources the selected higher learning institutions subscribed to through COTUL were under-utilised. Apart from information literacy skills, personal motivations and e-resource infrastructures, demographic characteristics such as age and education level of academic staff and researchers are predictors in e-resources usage. Furthermore, the challenges and problems that deter the effective utilisation of e-resources were include slow internet connectivity, inability to access full-text articles, unreliable power supply, inaccessibility of e-resources outside university premises due to IP address limitations, inadequate ICT infrastructure and inadequate skills and knowledge. The study found that there was a need to promote the usage of e-resources through web technologies to enhance the quality of teaching and research.Keywords: ICT, e-resources, online databases, teaching, research, higher learning institutions, Tanzani

Socio-demographic determinants of access to climate change information among tomato growing farmers in Mvomero district, Tanzania

This study investigated tomato farmers’ access to climate information in Mvomero District in Tanzania. This study used mixed approach where both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. The study comprised of 60 farmers’ who were systematically randomly selected. Questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGDs), and in-depth interviews were the methods used in data collection. Quantitative data were analysed by using SPSS while content analysis was used for qualitative data. Key findings show that majority of farmers use radio as a source of climate change information. The study discovered that gender, marital status, age, level of education and income were the socio-demographic factors influencing access to climate change information. The study concludes that socio-demographic factors influence farmers’ adaptation to climate change. The study recommends the establishment of ICT climate change information systems that can provide timely, relevant, and reliable climate change information to farmers. The study also suggests the use of mobile phone technology to reach out a wider population of farmers

A seventeen-year Research Topic Dispersion and Methodological Choices among LIS Postgraduates in Tanzania

The study explored research topics dispersal and research strategies of Library and Information Science (LIS) postgraduate students in Tanzania from 2000-2017. Data were collected from the East Africana research repository section of the UDSM Library and the Information Studies Programme (ISP) offices from June to November 2017. A total of 269 LIS dissertations were assessed using content analysis to classify research topics. Findings revealed topics extensively researched were information dissemination, information access and information seeking behaviour. Least researched topics were information privacy and ethics, reading habits and encouragement, copyright and Information policy. History of information science and librarianship, quantitative and qualitative research, multimedia, webometrics, human–computer interaction, systems analysis, digital security, internet crime and information licensing and fair use were not researched. In addition, mixed research approach was mostly preferred by students but experimental and action research were least used. The study contributes in LIS education mapping in Tanzania and likely the first study to show topics selection based on globally accepted LIS classification schemes. The study gives an insight on research topics and research strategies used in higher learning organizations (HLIs) in Tanzania and arguably most developing countries. Findings may improve quality of research offered in LIS schools by supporting LIS postgraduate training and establishing library technology hubs and laboratories to match the world LIS research trend and order

Coverage of Information and Communication Technology News by Selected Newspapers in Tanzania

This study explored media coverage of Information and Communication Technology in Tanzania’s four print media published between 2009 and 2013. Specifically, the study aimed at; assessing the trend in covering ICTs information from 2009-2013, identifying ICTs themes covered and exploring the geographic coverage of ICTs information from 2009-2013. Data were collected using informetrics method. Microsoft Excel software 2007 and content analysis were used to analyse data. Results revealed 823 articles were published on ICTs in five years. Additionally, despite variation trends in coverage, the year 2013 had highest coverage. Results showed ICTs themes related to mobile technologies were highly reported compared to others. Results indicate international news on ICTs to be highly reported compared to local news. The study concludes that there is still low coverage of ICTs information in Tanzania newspapers. It recommends increased coverage of ICTs information in media by privately owned newspapers and reporting in local language

Analysis of top cited papers in library and information science that have stood the test of time

Analysis of 10 top cited papers in the field of library and information science was carried out to understand their main characteristics and features such as bibliographic details, authorship collaboration, author affiliation, citation counts and specialty. This list of classic papers was extracted from Google Scholar Metrics in June 2018. These most cited articles were published in 2006 and the list was released in June 2017. The findings indicate that these 10 papers originated from 10 different institutions in six countries mostly in North America and Europe. The number of citations ranged from 410 to 3051, the mean number of authors per article is 2.3 and the mean number of citations per year was 98. Nine out of the 10 articles reported citation analyses. This suggests that LIS research has shifted towards exploring scientific publications and their impact through citation analysis, bibliometrics and scientometrics.Keywords: citation analysis, classic papers, library and information science, scientometrics, bibliometric

Information dissemination for adaptation to climate change and variability in the agriculture sector : the case of Malunga and Chibelela villages, central Tanzania.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.This study investigated how access to and use of agricultural information contributed to farmers’ adaptation to climate change and variability in the semi-arid Maluga and Chibelela villages of central Tanzania. The major research problem this study sought to address was how information on adaptation to climate change and variability is packaged and disseminated to farmers. Specifically, the study 1) identified the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa project goals of disseminating information to farmers on climate change and variability; 2) assessed the status of knowledge adaptation to climate change and variability by farmers; 3) determined farmers’ access to, and use of, information on climate change and variability, and 4) investigated factors affecting access to, and use of, information on adaptation to climate change and variability by farmers. The study was underpinned by Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations Model. A post-positivist approach was used, with a predominantly qualitative and lesser quantitative approach, respectively. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. The study population was made up of farmers, agricultural extension officers and the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa project manager. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the SPSS, while qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. Reliability and validity were ensured by methodological triangulation, pretesting the interview guides and careful transcription of the data. The key findings showed that farmers’ training is crucial in mitigating the impacts of climate change and variability for agricultural development. The study found farmers had a problem with accessing and using climate information. Farmers perceived scientific information on weather as unreliable and untimely and were turning to indigenous knowledge (IK) to predict weather patterns. Repackaging of timely and accurate information on climate change and variability, education and training for farmers and collaboration between researchers, meteorology experts, extension officers and farmers are recommended for implementation to mitigate the adverse effect of climate change and variability on farmers. A clear policy framework for the dissemination of information related to climate change and variability is needed

El efecto antisenescente del resveratrol reduce la tasa de ablandamiento poscosecha de chirimoya

El fruto de chirimoya (Annona cherimolaMill.) es muy susceptible al deterioroposcosechadebido a sunaturaleza climatérica. Con el fin de observar el efecto antisenescente del resveratrol (RVS), éste bioreguladorvegetal se aplicó en frutos de Fino de Jete y Bronceada a 1,6; 0,16; 0,016 y 0 mM a los 0, 8 y 15 días antesde la cosecha (DAC). A los 1, 7 y 15 días después de la cosecha (DDC) se analizaron variables bioquímicas ybiofísicas. Al termino de 15 días de almacenamiento a temperatura ambiente, en relación al control, 1,6 mMRVS, aplicado 15 DAC, disminuyó el ablandamiento del fruto 78% para chirimoya Fino de Jete y 54% paraBronceada. A los 15 DDC se realizó la evaluación sensorial a frutos tratados 8 y15 DAC, los resultadosmostraron que los frutos de mayor aceptación fueron los tratados con 1,6 mM RVS ya sea a los 8 y 15 DAC,al ser calificados como de mejor aspecto, aroma y sabor

What is a Paraconsistent Logic?

Paraconsistent logics are logical systems that reject the classical principle, usually dubbed Explosion, that a contradiction implies everything. However, the received view about paraconsistency focuses only the inferential version of Explosion, which is concerned with formulae, thereby overlooking other possible accounts. In this paper, we propose to focus, additionally, on a meta-inferential version of Explosion, i.e. which is concerned with inferences or sequents. In doing so, we will offer a new characterization of paraconsistency by means of which a logic is paraconsistent if it invalidates either the inferential or the meta-inferential notion of Explosion. We show the non-triviality of this criterion by discussing a number of logics. On the one hand, logics which validate and invalidate both versions of Explosion, such as classical logic and Asenjo–Priest’s 3-valued logic LP. On the other hand, logics which validate one version of Explosion but not the other, such as the substructural logics TS and ST, introduced by Malinowski and Cobreros, Egré, Ripley and van Rooij, which are obtained via Malinowski’s and Frankowski’s q- and p-matrices, respectively