An eco-physiological study in relation to water use for tree growth of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. globulus on the dry west coast of South Africa

Thesis (M.Sc.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1998.One copy microfiche.Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record

Aflatoxin contamination in groundnut and maize food products in Eastern and Northern Uganda

AbstractGroundnut and maize are among the economically important crops grown widely in Uganda for household food and income security. However, those crops and their products are vulnerable to aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxin contamination. The present study sought to establish the levels of aflatoxin in the different products of groundnut and maize in local markets and roadside retail shops. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in ten districts in the eastern and northern regions of Uganda. Groundnut products: paste, unshelled, shelled/grain, and flour/powder were collected; and maize products: cobs (covered and uncovered), grain, flour, bran, mixed feed, flour reject, and roasted/boiled maize were also collected. A total of 241 samples (133 groundnut and 108 maize samples) were collected from the community and analysed for aflatoxin contamination using ELISA test. Regardless of the source, 41.8% of groundnuts had aflatoxin levels higher than 20 parts per billion (ppb), with groundnut paste (196.52 ± 437.24 ppb) and flour (187.90 ± 289.95 ppb) being the most contaminated. Aflatoxin levels in 62.8% of maize products were higher than 20 ppb, with maize cobs having the highest levels (126.4 ppb). Groundnut and maize products from the eastern region were the most contaminated. These results indicate that most of the maize and groundnut products in the markets away from major urban centres are also highly contaminated and unsafe for food and feed. This calls for immediate action to develop mitigation measures to curb the impact of aflatoxin contamination on the health and income of households, particularly through sensitization and training on appropriate pre-and post-harvest handling practices of the products

A parametric test evaluating smallholder farmers' training needs in Uganda : a case of dairy farmers in the Rwenzori region

Purpose: Effective rural agribusiness development requires dedicated training programmes therefore, this paper is an attempt to investigate smallholder farmers' TNs in the dairy agribusiness sector. The purpose of this paper is to study a bigger research project of the dairy value chain in agribusiness framework in the Rwenzori region. Design/methodology/approach: A sample size of 100 dairy farmers were randomly selected from two Districts in the Rwenzori region. The descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) provided a basis for discussion. Furthermore, parametric Pearson coefficient test was conducted to examine the smallholder farmers' TNs and assess its association with selected socio-demographic characteristics of the dairy farmers. Findings: The analysis indicated that dairy farmers expressed the need for a training program. Most frequently requested topics include: fodder cultivation, quality and safe milk handling, milk marketing, calf feeding and rearing, animal nutrition and financial literacy out of 12 topics. The least desired TNs was record keeping. Research limitations/implications: The findings contribute to the understanding of dairy farmers' TNs. Practical implications: The identified 12 key training intervention areas for the dairy farmers inform policymakers Dairy Development Authority and other development bodies in the Rwenzori region to address the challenges and improve smallholder dairy farming practices. Originality/value: The study applies a synthesis review to identify theoretically acceptable variables that measure smallholder farmers' TNs in the dairy agribusiness. The paper also shares the empirical evidence of a pioneering attempt to identify smallholder dairy farmers' TNs in Uganda