Unravelling technology-acceptance factors influencing farmer use of banana tissue culture planting materials in Central Uganda

Effective management of plant health is fundamental for food and income security to meet the growing demands of local and global markets. This however requires farmers’ adequate access to quality planting materials under the prevailing contextual and psycho-social factors. This study, anchored in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technologies, unravels technology-acceptance factors that influence farmers’ intentions to use banana tissue culture planting materials in the control of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt. Data were collected from 248 randomly sampled banana farmers using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using structural equation modelling to examine hypothesized paths in the uptake of banana tissue culture planting materials. Results show that farmer intentions to use tissue culture planting materials are dependent on two constructs: social influence and farmer innovativeness. However, social influence is the main predictor of intentions to use tissue culture planting materials. In particular, farmer innovativeness mediates facilitating conditions and social influence in predicting intentions to use tissue culture planting materials. Thus, this study reveals two factors that influence farmer intentions to use tissue culture planting materials: social influence and farmer innovativeness. The findings imply that social influence and farmer innovativeness are critical in disseminating novel agricultural technologies in Uganda and elsewhere

The role of variety attributes in the uptake of new hybrid bananas among smallholder rural farmers in central Uganda

Open Access Journal; Published online: 29 Jun 2020Background While advances in agricultural research and development have led to generation of improved new cooking hybrid banana varieties (HBVs) with enhanced yield potential to restore production levels, these have been received with mixed feelings on production and consumption attributes among the farming communities in Uganda. Some farmers prefer HBVs that are comparable to their local varieties in terms of consumption attributes such as soft food, color when cooked, flavor and taste while others prefer high-yielding HBVs to produce surplus output for sale. Methods Using cross-sectional survey data from 242 randomly selected smallholder banana farmers in Nakaseke and Luwero districts in Central Uganda, the study applied a Tobit regression model to analyze the influence of socio-economic factors and variety attributes on the adoption of new hybrid bananas. Results The results on the perception of farmers on banana variety attributes showed that the new HBVs had desirable production-related attributes, while local cultivars were rated superior to hybrids on consumption-related attributes. Evidence further showed that production-related and consumption-related attributes influenced farmers’ decisions in the adoption of HBVs. Further, an assessment of the socio-economic factors that influence the adoption of HBVs showed that education of the farmer, household size, interaction with different banana actors, experience (number of years growing HBVs), and source of planting materials had a significant influence on farmers’ adoption of the new HBVs. Conclusion The study findings provide insights into the need for agricultural research and development initiatives to target the development of banana varieties with multi-traits that meet end-users’ preferences and needs. Facilitating the establishment of multi-actor platforms that bring together the different actors to share information and learn might be useful in increasing the intensity of HBVs adoption

Understanding gender dimensions of agriculture and climate change in smallholder farming communities

In Uganda, Ghana and Bangladesh, participatory tools were used for a socio-economic and gender analysis of three topics: climate-smart agriculture (CSA), climate analogue approaches, and climate and weather forecasting. Policy and programme relevant results were obtained. Smallholders are changing agricultural practices due to observations of climatic and environmental change. Women appear to be less adaptive because of financial or resource constraints, because of male domination in receiving information and extension services and because available adaptation strategies tend to create higher labour loads for women. The climate analogue approach (identifying places resembling your future climate so as to identify potential adaptations) is a promising tool for increasing farmer-to-farmer learning, where a high degree of climatic variability means that analogue villages that have successfully adopted new CSA practices exist nearby. Institutional issues related to forecast production limit their credibility and salience, particularly in terms of women’s ability to access and understand them. The participatory tools used in this study provided some insights into women’s adaptive capacity in the villages studied, but not to the depth necessary to address women’s specific vulnerabilities in CSA programmes. Further research is necessary to move the discourse related to gender and climate change beyond the conceptualization of women as a homogenously vulnerable group in CSA programmes

Indicators of optimal diabetes care and burden of diabetes complications in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Contemporary data on the attainment of optimal diabetes treatment goals and the burden of diabetes complications in adult populations with type 2 diabetes in Africa are lacking. We aimed to document the current status of attainment of three key indicators of optimal diabetes care and the prevalence of five diabetes complications in adult African populations with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We systematically searched Embase, PubMed and the Cochrane library for published studies from January 2000 to December 2020. Included studies reported any information on the proportion of attainment of optimal glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) goals and/or prevalence of five diabetes complications (diabetic peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, foot ulcers and peripheral arterial disease). Random effect model meta-analysis was performed to determine the pooled proportion of attainment of the three treatment goals and the prevalence of five diabetes complications. RESULTS: In total, 109 studies with a total of 63 890 participants (53.3% being females) were included in the meta-analysis. Most of the studies were conducted in Eastern African countries (n=44, 40.4%). The pooled proportion of attainment of an optimal HbA1c, BP and LDLC goal was 27% (95% CI 24 to 30, I2=94.7%), 38% (95% CI 30 to 46, I2=98.7%) and 42% (95% CI 32 to 52, I2=97.4%), respectively. The pooled prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, peripheral arterial disease and foot ulcers was 38% (95% CI 31 to 45, I2=98.2%), 32% (95% CI 28 to 36, I2=98%), 31% (95% CI 22 to 41, I2=99.3%), 19% (95% CI 12 to 25, I2=98.1%) and 11% (95% CI 9 to 14, I2=97.4%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Attainment of optimal diabetes treatment goals, especially HbA1c, in adult patients with type 2 diabetes in Africa remains a challenge. Diabetes complications, especially diabetic peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy, are highly prevalent in adult populations with type 2 diabetes in Africa

Burden and associated phenotypic characteristics of tuberculosis infection in adult Africans with diabetes: a systematic review.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of developing tuberculosis infection (TBI). However, the evidence on the burden and phenotypic characteristics of TBI in African patients with DM is limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and characterisation of TBI in native African patients living with DM. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and African Journals Online for original studies reporting information on the prevalence and characteristics of TBI in adult Africans with DM. A forest plot was used to describe the pooled prevalence estimate of TBI and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Six studies conducted in four African countries involving 721 participants with DM were included in this systematic review. The pooled prevalence estimate of TBI was 40% (95% CI 20-60%, I2 = 98.52%, p < 0.001). Age ≥ 40 years and glycated haemoglobin levels independently predicted TBI positivity in patients with DM in three studies. Africans with DM have a high prevalence of TBI, especially those who are older or with poorly controlled diabetes. This justifies the need for studies to explore how to screen and manage TBI to avert the progression to active TB disease

Uganda's experience in Ebola virus disease outbreak preparedness, 2018-2019.

BACKGROUND: Since the declaration of the 10th Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in DRC on 1st Aug 2018, several neighboring countries have been developing and implementing preparedness efforts to prevent EVD cross-border transmission to enable timely detection, investigation, and response in the event of a confirmed EVD outbreak in the country. We describe Uganda's experience in EVD preparedness. RESULTS: On 4 August 2018, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) and the National Task Force (NTF) for public health emergencies to plan, guide, and coordinate EVD preparedness in the country. The NTF selected an Incident Management Team (IMT), constituting a National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) that supported activation of the District Task Forces (DTFs) and District Rapid Response Teams (DRRTs) that jointly assessed levels of preparedness in 30 designated high-risk districts representing category 1 (20 districts) and category 2 (10 districts). The MoH, with technical guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO), led EVD preparedness activities and worked together with other ministries and partner organisations to enhance community-based surveillance systems, develop and disseminate risk communication messages, engage communities, reinforce EVD screening and infection prevention measures at Points of Entry (PoEs) and in high-risk health facilities, construct and equip EVD isolation and treatment units, and establish coordination and procurement mechanisms. CONCLUSION: As of 31 May 2019, there was no confirmed case of EVD as Uganda has continued to make significant and verifiable progress in EVD preparedness. There is a need to sustain these efforts, not only in EVD preparedness but also across the entire spectrum of a multi-hazard framework. These efforts strengthen country capacity and compel the country to avail resources for preparedness and management of incidents at the source while effectively cutting costs of using a "fire-fighting" approach during public health emergencies

Poultry farmer perceptions of agricultural advisory services involving value addition and marketing in Wakiso district Uganda

Successful agricultural innovations depend inter alia, upon farmer perception of introduced programmes. The present study determined farmer perceptions of the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and how these affected innovative technology adoption practices in poultry management in Wakiso district in central Uganda. Social demographic attributes (SDAs) data and perceptions of the NAADS were captured quantitatively using interviews from self-reported survey questionnaires with 231 poultry farmers. Measured perception factors included: attitude, social influence, skills, knowledge and belief about capabilities. Results showed farmer perceptions to be significantly influenced by farmer SDA ‘experience’ and ‘education level’. While ‘attitude’ played a small but significant role, perception factors ‘skills’ and ‘social Influence’ contributed significantly to farmer intentions towards innovative technology adoption. To enhance intentions towards adoption of innovative advisory services, value addition and marketing, farmer SDAs and perception beliefs need to be considered

Poultry farmer perceptions of agricultural advisory services involving value addition and marketing in Wakiso district Uganda

Successful agricultural innovations depend inter alia, upon farmer perception of introduced programmes. The present study determined farmer perceptions of the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and how these affected innovative technology adoption practices in poultry management in Wakiso district in central Uganda. Social demographic attributes (SDAs) data and perceptions of the NAADS were captured quantitatively using interviews from self-reported survey questionnaires with 231 poultry farmers. Measured perception factors included: attitude, social influence, skills, knowledge and belief about capabilities. Results showed farmer perceptions to be significantly influenced by farmer SDA ‘experience’ and ‘education level’. While ‘attitude’ played a small but significant role, perception factors ‘skills’ and ‘social Influence’ contributed significantly to farmer intentions towards innovative technology adoption. To enhance intentions towards adoption of innovative advisory services, value addition and marketing, farmer SDAs and perception beliefs need to be considered

Assessing the capacity for effective multi-stakeholder participation in innovation platforms: The case of Research-Into-Use Project in Rwanda

Innovation Platforms (IPs) are gaining popularity as a practical approach to operationalizing Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) thinking to accelerate agricultural development and poverty eradication particularly in developing countries. The strength of IPs lies in the multi-stakeholder interactions to learn together and co-create knowledge and innovations in the agricultural value chains. Multi-stakeholder interactions are characterized by power relations and influence requiring individual actors to deploy their social and communicative competences to utilize the space provided by IPs to influence benefits from their engagement. In current practice, IPs focus on creating space for multi-stakeholder interaction and little attention is given to building the essential competences for stakeholder groups to take advantage of the opportunities in IPs. Using a case of IPs initiated by the Research-Into-Use (RIU) project in Rwanda, this paper identifies a range of competences required by various stakeholder groups and perceived priorities for capacity strengthening. All stakeholder groups recognize social and communicative competences as necessary to foster interaction in IPs, but downplay their need for capacity strengthening. Instead, they perceive technical competences such as utilizing technologies and business skills to be priority for capacity strengthening. This suggests that for IPs to be successful and sustainable, actors will need greater exposure to the importance of the social and communicative competences. This includes engagement of innovation brokers in training and exposure of actors to communicative skills to equitably gain from the IPs

ICTs for conservation agriculture: influence of actor positioning in knowledge networks in Laikipia and Machakos counties, Kenya

Knowledge networks play a significant role in the transfer of innovations such as conservation agriculture. In this paper, we examine the position of actors in the network and socio-economic factors influencing use of ICTs. ICTs potentially enable information to reach large numbers of farmers. We collected data through 298 household surveys, 29 key informant interviews and five focus group discussions. We used social network analysis for centrality measures. To statistically test the relationship between socio-economic factors and use of ICTs, we used multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results suggest that gender and land under conservation agriculture (p= 0.05) was not a statistically significant factor. Positions of influence were occupied by extension officers (20%) and farmers (41%). The study recommends the use of ICTs with conventional approaches in CA knowledge networks