Modelling asthma development in a population with genetic risk and polluted environment

Environmental pollutant continues to pose a great threat to public health, leading to development of chronic diseases. In this study, a nonlinear mathematical model is formulated and analysed to study the effect of genetic risk, environmental pollutant, public health education/awareness on asthma development. Conditions for the existence of the unique positive steady state and permanence of the system are assessed. Using Lyapunov function analysis, the unique positive steady state is locally and globally asymptotically stable. Results reveal that genetic risk, pollutant emission rate, effective exposure rate of population to polluted environment and recurrence rate contribute to asthma prevalence. However, sufficiently effective pollutant reduction strategies, improvement in compliance to public health education/awareness together with human dependent environmental pollutant depletion lead to a marked reduction in disease prevalence

Tracing Uganda’s global primary organic pineapple value chain

The organic sector is one of the fastest growing sectors globally. The sector provides an opportunity for developing countries to export high value products in the global market. One such opportunity for Uganda is the export of organic pineapples. The organic pineapple enterprise is relatively new, having existed for approximately 10 years. This paper traces the organic pineapple value chain, characterises and explains the functions of the actors in the chain. The study used the Global Value Chain Analysis Framework, using data obtained from 140 organic farmers, 10 exporters and 3 support institutions in Uganda. It is clear from the study that the chain is private- sector-driven, has relatively young smallholder farmers, and comprises of 10 small scale export companies. Only 45% of the organic pineapples produced by farmers reach the organic consumers. Reasons for this included limited processing capacity of exporters, competition from conventional buyers and the few local organic consumers. Other reasons were declining soil fertility, limited regulative institutional support and poor infrastructure. We recommend increased use of soil amendments, favourable legislations and investment environment, increased horizontal coordination among exporters and increasing the range of the organic export products in order to increase organic pineapple sales.Keywords: Certification, organic consumer value strea

Risk of major depressive disorder among older persons living in HIV-endemic central and southwestern Uganda.

: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is projected to become the second most common cause of disability by 2020 calling for a better understanding its antecedents across the lifespan and in diverse socio-cultural settings. In this paper we describe the risk factors of MDD among older people (50 years +) living in HIV-endemic central and southwestern Uganda. A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 471 respondents (50 years +) participating in the Wellbeing of Older People's Study cohort of the MRC/UVRI Uganda research Unit on AIDS in Uganda. Participants were from five strata: HIV negative, HIV positive on ART, HIV positive not on ART, having an adult child on ART, and having an adult child who died of HIV. Overall MDD prevalence was 9.2% (95% CI 6.7-12.2%) with a prevalence among males of 7.4% (95% CI 4.0-12.3%) and females of 10.3% (95% CI 7.0-14.3%). Factors significantly associated with MDD included: declining socio-economic status, increasing disability scores, decreasing mean grip strength, reported back pain, and not having hypertension. Marginally associated with MDD was being HIV infected and not on ART.<br/

Women’s production capacities enhancement and gender yield gap reduction in groundnuts in Uganda

Literature shows that women in many African farming communities are more involved in agricultural production activities than men, but their capacities, including access to key farm resources and markets are lower, leading to gender differentials in productivity or yield gaps. In Uganda, women make up 53% of the agricultural labor force, but reportedly manage plots that are 20-30% less productive than plots managed by the men. This study analyses groundnut production differences among female and male farmers in Uganda. Yield gaps between the male and female farmers are considered at two levels; differences between actual and potential yields, and differences between expected and actual yields. A total of 240 randomly selected farmers (58% females) were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. Using regression analysis, factors that contributed to groundnut yield gaps among and between female and male farmers were determined. Results show that both female and male farmers experience a yield gap ranging from about 20% to 37%. The results further indicate that more men than women use improved seed, fungicides, and carry out timely weeding; the crucial factors that affect groundnut output and yield. Majority of farmers, especially women, use home saved seeds and fewer improved technologies due to high cost, leading to low production. Other factors contributing to the yield gap are socio-demographic, economic and institutional factors including less access to extension services by women, less access to and/or control over land, lower affordability of labor and other key inputs

Value chain analysis and mapping for groundnuts in Uganda, Socioeconomics Discussion Paper Series Number 14

Groundnut is grown on about 23.95 million ha worldwide with the total production of 36.45 million tons and an average yield of 1520 kg/ha in 2009 Developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America account for about 97% of world groundnut area and 95% of total production. It is one of the important legumes grown in Uganda, ranking second after beans. Its production is most common in Northern, Eastern and Southern parts of the country with higher volumes being produced in the Eastern part compared to the other two. The value chain for groundnuts in Uganda consist of many actors (individuals and institutions) including input suppliers and seed dealers, producers, market sellers, rural traders, urban traders, processors, exporters and consumers. The general objective of this study was to map the value chain for groundnuts, indicating the opportunities that value chain actors can benefit from and strategies that can be used to upgrade the chain. The specific objectives were to characterize the key actors along the groundnut value chain; determine the costs and value added along the groundnut value chain; determine the level of awareness of health problems associated with groundnuts; and determine the constraints and opportunities in the value chain and suggest ways to upgrade the chain. A cross sectional survey was conducted among the key actors in the value chain in 16 purposively selected districts in Uganda where groundnuts are predominantly produced marketed and/or consumed. The districts are Arua in North western Uganda, Lira in the North, Bugiri, Bukedea, Busia, Iganga, Jinja Kaberamaido, Mbale, Pallisa, Kumi and Tororo in Eastern Uganda; Soroti and Katakwi in the North east, Kampala and Wakiso in Central where a total of 145 wholesale traders, 209 retail traders wand 51 processors were randomly selected and interviewed. In addition, data collected by NARO from a total of 314 randomly selected groundnut farmers were used in this study.The data collected included socio-economic characteristics of the value chain actors, type and varieties of groundnuts handled, sales volumes and prices, trends in demand and supply, aflatoxins awareness and control, challenges, constraints and opportunities in groundnuts and trade policy related issues

Identification of upgrading options for legume value chains using a comparison across countries and crops – Tanzania pigeonpea and Uganda groundnut. Socioeconomics Discussion Paper Series 24

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (lCRISAT) is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi-arid tropics have over 2 billion people, of whom 644 million are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT innovations help the dryland poor move from poverty to prosperity by harnessing markets while managing risks – a strategy called Inclusive Market- Oriented development (lMOD). ICRISAT is headquartered in Patancheru near Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, with two regional hubs and five country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a member of the CGIAR Consortium

Dialogue to address the roots of resource competition: Lessons for policy and practice

Conflict management is an intrinsic element of natural resource management, and becomes increasingly important amid growing pressure on natural resources from local uses, as well as from external drivers such as climate change and international investment. If policymakers and practitioners aim to truly improve livelihood resilience and reduce vulnerabilities of poor rural households, issues of resource competition and conflict management cannot be ignored. This synthesis report summarizes outcomes and lessons from three ecoregions: Lake Victoria, with a focus on Uganda; Lake Kariba, with a focus on Zambia; and Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia. Partners used a common approach to stakeholder engagement and action research that we call “Collaborating for Resilience”. In each region, partners assisted local stakeholders in developing a shared understanding of risks and opportunities, weighing alternative actions, developing action plans, and evaluating and learning from the outcomes. These experiences demonstrate that investing in capacities for conflict management is practical and can contribute to broader improvements in resource governance

Mapping quantitative trait loci for fusarium root rot in common bean (phaseolus vulgaris l.)

The common bean is a primary protein source in the diet of many low-income populations. Bean root rots occur in most bean fields. Genetic resistance to Fusarium root rot caused by Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli is polygenic and is strongly influenced by environmental factors that confound the expression and detection of resistance mechanisms. Response to selection for root rot resistance is slow due to genetic complexity of the trait that makes it difficult to evaluate. Indirect selection for Fusarium root rot resistance based on DNA markers linked to the resistance QTL would facilitate improvement of Fusarium root rot, given the limitations of field selection. The study is aimed at identify significant QTL- simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker associations, which could be used to facilitate marker-assisted selection for Fusarium root rot resistance in common bean