Maize and livestock: their inter-linked roles in meeting human needs in Ethiopia

This study was conducted to understand the roles and interactions of maize and livestock in meeting livelihoods requirement of Ethiopian households in the maize belt. Emphasis was given to the factors that determine the use patterns of maize in order to identify options for improving the use of maize as livestock feed. The specific objectives were to characterize the maize-livestock production system; to assess the availability and use of livestock feed in the system; to analyse the role of maize as food and feed; and to analyse the factors that affect the use of maize as livestock feed. The report is organized as follows. The first section is introduction. The following section presents methods of study. Section three describes the study area. Section four presents crop production in the maize belt area. Sections five and six deal with maize and livestock production in the maize belt, respectively. Section seven presents the multiple roles of maize, while section eight describes the feed marketing situation in the study area. Section nine concludes the paper and draws implications

Phytochemicals Present in Engleromyces goetzei and Antimicrobial Activity Against Phytopathogenic Bacteria

Interest in the extraction of bioactive compounds from natural sources has increased in recent years due to the potential applications of these compounds in food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. The methanolic extract of the fungus Engleromyces goetzei was investigated for the presence of phytochemicals and the antibacterial properties. The study shows that the extract has flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, terpenoids and steroids. Engleromyces goetzei has potential as a source of useful antibacterial compounds active against phytopathogenic bacteria. Disk diffusion assay was used to analyze the susceptibility of an organism which help in identifying the proper antibacterial biopesticide. In this experiment, this was done by placing the antimicrobial disks impregnated with E. goetzei on the NA plates swabbed with Xanthomonas campestris, Pseudomonas sryingae pv phaseolicola, Erwinia carotovora and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. After twenty-four hours of incubation, there were areas around the antimicrobial disks with no bacterial growth. The MIC of E. goetzei against X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli, Ps. syringae pv phaseolicola and X. campestris was found to be 1mg/ml while that of E. carotovora was 10mg/ml. Keywords: Phytochemicals, Engleromyces goetzei, X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli, E. carotovora, Ps. syringae pv phaseolicola, X. campestri

Biocontrol of Green Mould Disease of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) using Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

The occurrence of Trichoderma harzianum and T. asperellum in cultivation of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) frequently results in serious crop losses and considerable inhibition of growth of mycelium and fruiting bodies of oyster mushroom thus lowering the yield substantially. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain isolated from groundnuts proved very effective in antagonizing the oyster mushroom pathogenic T. harzianum and T. asperellum without having a negative effect on P. ostreatus mycelia. The Bacillus amyloliquefaciens was found to produce diffusible and volatile organic compounds. This strain is a potential biocontrol candidate, in addition to the lack of antagonistic activity towards P. ostreatus mycelia. The present study, hence, provides a potential biocontrol agent for Trichoderma green mould. However, field studies of this isolate as substrate inoculant in oyster mushroom are required in order to establish its actual performance. Keywords: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Green mould, Mushroom, Biocontro

Effect of Inoculation with Mycorrhizae on Growth Parameters of Dombeya torrida, Leucaena leucocephala and Tephrosia vogelii

The present work evaluated the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus on growth. Three species of trees, Tephrosia vogelii, Leucaena leucocephala and Dombeya torrida were treated with fragments of arbuscular mycorrhizae and grown in greenhouse. The aim of the present work was to determine whether arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiotic association with these tree species would enhance their growth. Data on height, stem diameter and number of leaves were taken after every two weeks for a period of three months. Mycorrhizal plants demonstrated higher vigor with Tephrosia vogelii giving a mean height of 57.50 cm, 0.50 cm diameter and 9.33 number of leaves which were significantly different from the control plants at p ≤ 0.05 according to least significant difference (LSD). The biomass was also taken at the end of 90 days of growth and the same trend was exhibited. Mycorrhizal plants also showed root nodules with mycorrhizal arbuscles. This work contributes to our understanding of the effects of AM symbiosis on the accumulation of certain micronutrients in valuable woody tree species. Keywords: arbuscular mycorrhizae, Tephrosia vogelii, Leucaena leucocephala, plant growt

PiMA Survey Design and Methodology

The Politics and Interactive Media in Africa (PiMA) project investigates participation in radio and television programmes through new information and communication technologies (ICTs) as it is shaped by the political, social and media context in Zambia and Kenya, as well as the implications of such interactions for democratic governance and poverty alleviation. The empirical research combines different methodologies, including interviews with key informants, focus groups with audience members, in-studio observations and surveys of the general population. This paper describes the methodology for conducting surveys in four sites in Kenya and Zambia. The objective of the surveys was to obtain representative samples of two constituencies per country. Constituencies were selected according to their social and economic characteristics, in order to capture a wide variety of contexts. A random procedure was deployed in all stages of sampling, ensuring representativity of households and individuals of voting age in the four constituencies. The results of the survey can be generalised to the particular constituencies with a margin of error of approximately minus or plus 5% for a 95% confidence interval

Genetic diversity assessment of farmers’ and improved potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivars from Eritrea using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers

Sixty three potato clones (51 farmers’ and 12 varieties) from Eritrea, 18 and 12 varieties from Kenya and Rwanda, respectively were characterized using 12 highly polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The study was designed to assess the genetic diversity and varietal distinctness among the different samples. In total, 91 alleles ranging between 2 (STM1053) to 13 (STM0031) alleles per marker were scored. All but 97.8 SSR markers were highly polymorphic with an average PIC value of 0.87 (0.51 to 0.98). All of the 51 farmers’ cultivars were clearly distinct from each other. Samples from Eritrea showed the highest genetic diversity as explained by the diversity index (h). The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed that the local farmers’ Eritrean samples are different from the Kenyan, Rwandese and even the imported varieties. Genetic distance analysis generated three clusters correlating with the PCoA findings. Cluster I consisted of 45 samples with 6 sub-clusters; Cluster II consisted of 29 samples with a majority (26) from Eritrea while cluster III consisted of 19 samples. Potato materials from Eritrea appeared to cluster separately from the other samples, which reflects a contribution from the Tuberosum germplasm prominent in temperate regions, unlike from the Andigenum germplasm for Kenyan and Rwandan potato materials. Most of the Eritrean samples in cluster I are farmers’ cultivars with intermediate maturity, good performance and better tuber quality characteristics. Cluster II contains mainly the imported variety from Eritrea characterized by late emergence and late maturity. The Kenyan and Rwandese were grouped mainly in Cluster III. In summary, the farmers’ cultivars are distinct from the Kenyan and Rwandese materials and represent more genetic diversity than the varieties imported into Eritrea. This finding is of interest to national breeding program to use the farmer’s materials as source of genetic variation for traits of interest.Keywords: Potato, simple sequence repeat (SSR), principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), cluster analysis, Eritrea, multivariat

Helminth Infection and Eosinophilia and the Risk of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in 1- to 6-Year-Old Children in a Malaria Endemic Area

Malaria infection and other parasitic infections are widespread in developing countries. There is evidence from some studies that intestinal worm infections may increase the risk of developing febrile malaria. However, the evidence is mixed, and some studies have found no effect or even protective effects. A vaccine trial was recently conducted to assess the efficacy of a candidate malaria vaccine. Episodes of malaria were monitored. The vaccine was not protective, but data was also recorded on the prevalence of worm infections. The rates of febrile malaria did not seem to vary according to worm infection in this study. However, because of the relatively low prevalence of worm infection, the study did not have high power. Given the conflicting findings in the literature, and the potential for the effect of worm infection to vary geographically, it is important that larger, definitive studies are conducted, since even quite small effects might be important for global public health

Accelerate Scaling up Forage Intensification Using Novel Digital Extension Approach in Kenya

Wide scale adoption of diverse forages improves livestock productivity and farmers welfare. However, limited access to information and knowledge on forage production results in slow adoption in Kenya. There is need to enhance information and knowledge exchange among farming communities for efficient and effective adoption and decision-making. An inter-institutional pilot project was initiated in 2017 to scale-up forages in Kenya using a novel extension approach - the village knowledge centre (VKC). A VKC is an information and communication technology (ICT) digital platform-based linking farmers through smart phones and social media as a conduit for faster and effective information and knowledge. This paper shares the experiences of VKC intervention to scale up Urochloa grass technology among smallholder farmers for livestock productivity. Through the VKC support there has been increased access of information and knowledge on Urochloa grass management, conservation and livestock feeding. Approximately 702 farmers out of which 28% were women visited the VKC to seek information on Urochloa grass from May 2018 to May 2020. It has trained 22 lead farmers on the establishment and management of Urochloa grass. The VKC has created two WhatsApp groups for networking among farmers with over 330 members. Between September 2018 and May 2020, the groups shared 2550 messages on Urochloa management, conservation, and livestock feeding with other farmers in their communities. Additionally, the VKC has improved availability of Urochloa grass seeds to farmers. Over 530 farmers received the seeds through the VKC, while 500 made request though mobile phone Short Message Services (SMS) and were supplied using courier services. It was evident that VKC intervention has not only improved the adoption rate, but also led to increased forage productivity and higher income for farmers. There is a need to continue using tools such as the VKC in the dissemination of information on Urochloa grass and explore suitable funding for sustainability of the centre after the end of the project

Characteristics of HIV-infected children seen in Western Kenya

Objectives: To describe the characteristics and outcomes of children registered for care in a large HIV care programme in Western Kenya. Design: A retrospective descriptive study. Setting: USAID-AMPATH HIV clinics in health centres; district and sub-district hospitals; Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Western Kenya. Subjects: HIV-infected children below age of 15 years seen in a network of 18 clinics in Western Kenya. Interventions: Paediatric HIV diagnosis and care including treatment and prevention of opportunistic infections and provision of combination antiretroviral therapy (CART). Main outcome measures: Diagnosis, clinical stage and immune status at enrollment and follow-up; hospitalisation and death. Descriptive statistical analyses and chi square tests were performed. Results: Four thousand and seventeen HIV-infected children seen between June 2002 and April 2008. Median age at enrollment was four years (0-14.2 years), 51% girls, 25% paternal orphans, 10% total orphans and 13% maternal orphans. At enrollment, 25% had weight-for-Age Z scores (WAZ)\u3e -1 and 21% had WAZ scores \u3c 3. Orphaned children had worse WAZ scores (p=0.0001). Twenty five per cent of children were classified as WHO clinical stage 3 and 4, 56% were WHO clinical stages 1 and 2 with 19% missing clinical staging at enrollment. Cough (25%), gastroenteritis (21%), fever (15%), pneumonia (10%) were the commonest presenting features. Twenty six per cent had been diagnosed with tuberculosis and only 25% started on cotrimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT). Median CD4% at enrollment was 16% (0-64%); latest recorded values were 22% (0-64). Sixty four per cent were on cART (cART+), median age at start was 5.4 (014.4 years).The median initial CD4% among cART+ was 13 (0-62) compared to 24 (0-64) for those not on ART (cART-). Median CD4% for cART+ improved to 22% (0-59); whereas cART- was 23% (0- 64) at last appointment. During the period of follow-up, one fifth (19%) of children on cART were lost to follow-up compared to slightly over one third (37%) for those not on cART. Thirty four percent were hospitalised; 41% diagnosed with pneumonia. Six per cent of 4017 were confirmed dead. Conclusions: HIV -infected children were enrolled in care early in childhood. Orphanhood was prevalent in these children as were gastroenteritis, fever, pneumonia and advanced immuno-suppression. Orphans were more likely to be severely malnourished. Only a quarter of children were put on cotrimoxazole preventive therapy. Children commenced on cART late but responded well to treatment. Loss to follow-up was less prevalent among those on cART