Opportunities and threats in the beer-banana value chain in Central Uganda

Poster presented at CIALCA Conference 2011. Kigali (Rwanda). 24-27 Oct 2011

Farmers' awareness and application of banana Xanthomonas wilt control options: The case of Uganda and Kenya

Banana is a key staple and cash crop in east and central Africa. However, the recent outbreak of Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) has threatened farmers whose livelihoods depend on the crop. Since 2002, stakeholders embarked on campaigns to sensitize farmers on the disease and its management. This study evaluated the effectiveness of these efforts by examining farmers' awareness of the disease, control options and their application in Uganda and Kenya. Data on BXW distribution and incidence, farmers' awareness of symptoms, mechanisms of spread and control options of the disease and banana production were collected through household surveys conducted in 2010. The results indicated that most farmers (> 90%) were aware of the disease and its symptoms and more than 50% were aware of the recommended control measures. Farmers obtained information on the disease from multiple sources but farmer-to-farmer interaction was the main source suggesting the key role rural social networks play in managing the disease. Not all affected farmers were able to apply control measures due to cost of intervention, lack of labour and inputs. The study recommends strengthening of linkages among stakeholders for better coordination of efforts and participatory development and promotion of farmer-oriented interventions that address farmer constraints

Household dynamics influencing effective eradication of Xanthomonas wilt in smallholder banana systems in Ugunja division-Kenya

Declines in banana (Musa spp.) productivity in western Kenya since 2006 have been exacerbated by Xanthomonas wilt, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum.This study provided insight of household dynamics influencing efforts to eradicate the disease from Ugunja, Lunjre, Sidindi and Sigomere. Surveyed households (N = 120) were purposively selected from villages with and without banana-based farmer field schools (FFS). Results showed limited banana experience, noted by the irregularities in timing and frequency of essential agronomic practices. In addition, a rampant tendency to replant sword suckers obtained from own production or farmer-to-farmer exchange. Even though farmers were sensitized on correct diagnosis and control measures, significant disparities between awareness and actual application of control options seem to prevail over the impact of recent massive eradication campaigns. Selective deployment of elements of Avoid introduction, Break-off male bud, Cut infected plants and Clean cutting tools (ABCC) intervention strategy was evident. Dismantling the ABCC package interferes with complementarities embedded within, which ultimately leads to disease upsurge or resurgence. Repeated exposure and demonstrable efficacy of the practices to halt disease spread may have profound bearing on farmer adoption of Xanthomonas wilt control measures. Therefore, the ABCC package should be validated and fine-tuned within the local context of smallholder

Agronomic performance and farmer preferences for biofortified orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties in Zimbabwe

This report summarizes the findings of a study carried out to evaluate the agronomic performance and sensory acceptance by small holder farmers of six biofortified orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) varieties that were first introduced from CIP’s sweetpotato breeding hub for Southern Africa in Mozambique. The study was participatory and carried out under different agroecological environments in Zimbabwe. The six OFSP varieties, namely Alisha, Victoria, Delvia, Sumaia, Namanga and Irene were planted in the 2019/20 agricultural season along with two non-biofortified white-fleshed local varieties, namely Chingova and German II, at seven DR&SS research stations (Kadoma, Marondera, Harare, Henderson, Gwebi, Makoholi and Panmure) and 120 farmer managed on-farm trial sites in 12 LFSP districts of Bindura, Gokwe North, Gokwe South, Guruve, Kwekwe, Makoni, Mazowe, Mount Darwin, Mutasa, Mutare, Shurugwi and Zvimba. At all but one of the research stations, two trials were set up, one under irrigation and the other under rain-fed conditions. On-farm trials were established following the Mother-Baby Trial approach with 2 mother trials and 8 baby trials per district. In each of the districts, one mother trial was planted under irrigation while the other was rain-fed. All the baby trials were rain-fed

Determinants of farm-level adoption of cultural practices for banana xanthomonas wilt control in Uganda

Understanding the factors influencing farmers’adoption decisions of the disseminated Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) control package is critical for successful management of the disease. This paper analysed the determinants of farmers’ decisions to adopt the control package by smallholder banana farmers in Uganda. A binomial Logit model is applied to household survey data collected from 350 households. Results from the study show that household labour availability, technology pack age attributes such as labour demand and perceived effectiveness of the practices in managing the disease; and agro-ecological location and banana production system significantly influence adoption decisions. These results suggest the need for adaptation of the technology package to better suit the needs and socio-economic conditions of smallholder farmers through a farmer participatory technology development approach that takes into account research findings, farmers’ indigenous knowledge and resource constraints to enhance adoption

Fodder and fertilizer trees action research in Africa RISING sites

United States Agency for International Developmen

Papua New Guinea: a potential refuge for threatened Indo–Pacific river sharks and sawfishes

The conservation of threatened elasmobranchs in tropical regions is challenging due to high local reliance on aquatic and marine resources. Due primarily to fishing pressure, river sharks (Glyphis) and sawfishes (Pristidae) have experienced large population declines in the Indo-Pacific. Papua New Guinea (PNG) may offer a refuge for these species, as human population density is low, and river shark and sawfish populations are thought to persist. However, few data are available on these species in PNG, and risk posed by small-scale fishers is poorly understood. This study observed elasmobranch catches in small-scale fisheries in riverine and coastal environments in the East Sepik (northern region), Gulf, and Western Provinces (southern region) of PNG. Surveys were conducted over a period of weeks to months in each region, during the dry season across seven field trips from 2017 to 2020. We observed a total of 783 elasmobranchs encompassing 38 species from 10 families. River sharks made up 29.4% of observations in the southern region, while sawfishes made up 14.8 and 20.3% in the northern and southern regions, respectively. River sharks were commonly caught by small-scale fishers in lower riverine environments in southern PNG, while sawfishes were generally less common and mainly observed through dried rostra. The primary threat to river shark and sawfish populations is their capture by small-scale fishers targeting teleosts for swim bladder. Persisting populations of river sharks and sawfishes indicate that PNG is the second known nation with viable populations of multiple species in the Indo-Pacific. However, populations are declining or at high risk of decline, and fisheries management and conservation are required to realize the potential of PNG as a long-term refuge

Varietal Adoption, Outcomes and Impact

Parallel to the preceding chapter, we synthesize the results of Chapters 6–17 here. The focus is on outcomes and impacts. Outcomes centre on varietal adoption and turnover; impacts refer to changes in on-farm productivity, poverty and food security. Hypotheses from Chapter 3 are revisited at the end of each thematic section..