Assessment of Relationships Between Genotypic Variation and Growth and Yield of Spider Plant in Kenya

Spider plant (Cleome gynandra L.) is an important African leafy vegetable (ALV) that has been used by local African communities as a source of nutrition in their diets for many years. The plant has recently attracted an increasing demand for its highly nutritive and health promoting bioactive compounds important in combating malnutrition and reducing human degenerative diseases. Despite the great value of spider plant, its supply and cultivation remain low, a factor attributed to unavailability of superior genotypes. This study carried out at Ruiru sub county, Kiambu county of Kenya sought to establish the influence of genotypic variation on growth and yield of spider plant. Experimental plots were set up in the field in Ruiru and greenhouse in Juja. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the significance of variables. Results indicated that genotypes MLSF17, UGSF14, P6, UGSF9 and UGSF36 yielded outstanding agronomic performance. However, there was no significant difference among growth parameters of genotypes in greenhouse compared to the field experiments. Keywords: African leafy vegetable, Cleome gynandra, genotypes DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-10-10 Publication date:May 31st 201

Assessing Consumer Priority Attributes in Indigenous Chicken Products: Implications for Marketers

Principal component analysis was applied to assess consumer priority attributes of indigenous chicken eggs and meat in Kenya. Results show that whereas in Makueni consumers considered skin color, tenderness, size and price to be important attributes influencing their choice and preferences for IC meat, in Nairobi the focus was on freshness, sex, skin texture and price as the major significant quality attributes that influenced purchase decisions. The findings could be used for developing quality standards for chicken meat and eggs and gradually revise such standards as more empirical information on changing consumer demand for quality become available. Keywords: Attributes, Priority, Indigenous chicken

Determinants of Households’ Consumption Frequency for Indigenous Chicken in Kenya

Increasing saturation and maturity in the agricultural commodity market is forcing suppliers to innovate in order to sustain their business performance. This innovation should be anchored on gaining a deeper understanding of existing and potential customers purchase behaviour. For instance, in Kenya, consumption of proteins especially from animal origin is below the world average. The low consumption especially of indigenous chicken (IC) has contributed to the low performance of the value chain. Consequently, there is little information on the factors influencing consumption frequency of IC in Kenya. Therefore the main objective of the study was to assess factors that influence consumption frequency of IC in the counties of Makueni and Nairobi in Kenya.  A total of 200 respondents were sampled in a survey, using a multistage sampling technique. The data was collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model in STATA 11. The results showed that: - age, gender, education, household size, price and rearing of IC had a significant effect on consumption frequency. Actors in the value chain should strategize to improve performance based on these factors. Additionally, Policy should focus on promoting production of IC and creation of awareness on the benefits associated with IC consumption. Keywords: Indigenous chicken(IC), consumption frequency, binary logistic regression model.

Economic Analysis of Consumer Demand for Indigenous Chicken Eggs in Kenya

The World health organization recommends a daily protein requirement of 55 grams per person to avert health and nutritional related problems. This requirement is hardly met in majority of developing countries’ households especially in the sub Saharan African. Indigenous chicken eggs have potential to position themselves as a major source of proteins in these households due to their low prices compared to other sources of proteins. However, average per capita egg consumption in Kenya has remained low compared to the world average. Consequently, no research has been done to determine factors that influence egg consumption in Kenya. It is on the basis of this research gap that this study is conducted with three specific objectives; to characterize indigenous chicken egg consumers, to estimate the level of preferences in different egg types and to determine factors influencing household demand for indigenous chicken eggs in the counties of Makueni and Nairobi in Kenya.  A total of 174 respondents were sampled in across sectional survey design using a multistage sampling technique. The data was collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, non parametric Kendall coefficient of concordant test and multiple regression models in STATA 11.0 version. Results showed that there was a significant agreement (p<0.01) among consumers in the ranking of indigenous chicken eggs as the most important compared to all other eggs available in the market. Gender, age, education, price, income and household size had a significant effect (p<0.01) on demand for indigenous chicken eggs. All variables estimated had the expected sign. Policy should focus on these factors in order to increase both consumption levels and competitiveness of the egg value chain. Keywords: Indigenous chicken eggs, demand, Kendall coefficient and multiple regression models

Analysis of Consumer Preference in Product Attributes: A Case of Indigenous Chicken Eggs in Kenya

Indigenous chicken eggs are highly preferred in Kenya by majority of both rural and urban consumers. In the recent past, research has focused on improving productivity levels resulting to Improved indigenous chicken eggs with less focus on consumer preferences. Despite their efforts, Indigenous chicken eggs dominate the market and the country is egg deficit. This study sought to identify and analyze preference attributes of indigenous chicken’ eggs that influences choice and consumption. The specific objectives were to; identify and rank indigenous chickens’ eggs attributes that influences choice and consumption and analyze the influence of these attributes on price of eggs. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select 180 respondents in Nairobi and Makueni counties. Kendall coefficient of concordance test was used to identify and rank the attributes of indigenous chicken’ eggs while semi-logarithmic functional form of hedonic pricing model was employed to analyze the influence of eggs attributes on price. Results indicated that consumers buying indigenous chicken eggs prefer and are willing to pay premium prices for brown shelled, non oval eggs. Small and medium sized eggs were also more preferred and received price premiums compared to the larger sized eggs. Small and medium sized eggs were perceived to be organically produced with less chemical components. The study recommended for incorporation of this attributes by breeders. Farmers can enhance the preferred egg attributes by adopting better production systems while retailers can use the attributes in formulating appropriate marketing strategies in indigenous chicken eggs business. Keywords: Attributes, choice, Hedonic pricing

Gestão Ambiental numa Entidade Gestora em Baixa de Sistema de Abastecimento de Água e Drenagem – Aplicação à Águas de Coimbra, E.M

Este relatório foi realizado no âmbito de um estágio curricular do Mestrado em Gestão Ambiental, da ESAC. O estágio foi realizado na empresa Águas de Coimbra, no Sector de Qualidade, Ambiente e Segurança (SeQAS) e Sector de Qualidade da Água (SQA). Teve como objetivos conhecer e desenvolver competências relacionadas com o controlo e gestão da qualidade da água para consumo humano numa entidade gestora em baixa: Plano de Controlo de Qualidade de Água (PCQA) e Plano de controlo operacional (PCO) e o acompanhamento de vários trabalhos em campo como acompanhamento das colheitas de água realizadas pelo laboratório acreditado prestador de serviços da AC. Foi realizado o acompanhamento de alguns trabalhos de higienização de reservatórios e hidropressores da rede, e o acompanhamento das colheitas de água após a higienização, previamente à sua colocação em serviço. Participei no estudo da realização das colheitas de água para consumo humano, após a reparação de roturas na rede de distribuição de água a fim de se verificar possíveis implicações na qualidade da água.O estágio abrangeu o acompanhamento ambiental de uma empreitada de remodelação da rede de água, e da gestão ambiental da Entidade Gestora em Baixa. O acompanhamento ambiental da empreitada consistiu na gestão dos resíduos produzidos no decorrer das atividades da obra, desde o acondicionamento, armazenamento e encaminhamento, segundo os requisitos legais em vigor. O acompanhamento da gestão ambiental da Entidade Gestora em Baixa, consistiu em coordenar e fiscalizar a empreitada no quesito da gestão de resíduos.This report was carried out as part of a curricular internship of the Master in Environmental Management, at ESAC. The internship was carried out at Águas de Coimbra, in the Quality, Environment and Safety Sector (SeQAS) and Water Quality Sector (SQA). Its objectives were to know and develop skills related to the control and management of the quality of water for human consumption in a management entity in decline: Water Quality Control Plan (PCQA) and Operational Control Plan (PCO) and the monitoring of various works in the field as a follow-up of water harvests carried out by the accredited laboratory providing AC services.The monitoring of some works of cleaning of reservoirs and hydropressors of the network was carried out, and the monitoring of water harvests after cleaning, prior to their putting into service.Participated in the study of the collection of water for human consumption, after the repair of ruptures in the water distribution network in order to verify possible implications on water quality.The internship covered the environmental monitoring of a project to remodel the water network, and the environmental management of the Management Entity in Baixa. The environmental monitoring of the work consisted of the management of waste produced during the work's activities, from packaging, storage and forwarding, according to the legal requirements in force. Monitoring the environmental management of the Management Entity in Baixa consisted of coordinating and inspecting the project in terms of waste management

From awareness raising to sustainable behaviour change in school: the WASH in school road map

Development organisations working in the WASH sector tend to focus on their preferred methodologies for Hygiene and Sanitation (H&S) promotion, while the sustainability of an intervention depends much more on how the methodology is implemented and whether an enabling environment is in place. In 2014, Caritas Switzerland in Kenya started a learning and critical review process on how to improve its WASH in school interventions to finally make the step from raising students’ awareness on good H&S practices to sustainable behaviour change. As a result of this process, a number of lessons on how to foster the enabling environment were learned, based on which the WASH in school road map was developed. This article presents, for each phase of the WASH in school road map, the main lessons learned and how they have been implemented in Kenya

Abundance and Distribution of Malaria Vectors in Various Aquatic Habitats and Land Use Types in Kakamega County, Highlands of Western Kenya

BACKGROUND: Management of malaria transmission relies heavily on vector control. Implementation and sustenance of effective control measures require regular monitoring of malaria vector occurrences, species abundance and distribution. The study assessed mosquito larval species composition, distribution and productivity in Kakamega County, western Kenya.METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of Anopheline larvae was conducted in various aquatic habitats and land use types in Kakamega County, highlands of western Kenya between the month of March and June 2019.RESULTS: One thousand, five hundred and seventy six aquatic habitats were sampled in various land use types. The mean densities of An. gambiae s.l (46.2), An. funestus (5.3), An. coustani (1.7), An. implexus (0.13) and An. squamosus (2.0) were observed in fish ponds, burrow pits, drainage ditches, and tire tracks, respectively. High mean densities of An. gambiae s.l was reported in farmland (20.4) while high mean abundance of An.funestus s.l (8.2) and An. coustani s.l (4.0) were observed in artificial forests.CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the productivity of anopheles larvae varied across various habitat types and land use types. Therefore, treatment of potential breeding sites should be considered as an additional strategy for malaria vector control in Kakamega County, western Kenya.&nbsp

Malaria vectors and their blood-meal sources in an area of high bed net ownership in the western Kenya highlands

Background Blood-meal sources of malaria vectors affect their capacity to transmit the disease. Most efficient malaria vectors prefer human hosts. However, with increasing personal protection measures it becomes more difficult for them to find human hosts. Here recent malaria vector blood-meal sources in western Kenya highlands were investigated. Methods Adult mosquitoes resting indoors, outdoors and exiting through windows were collected in three study areas within the western Kenya highlands from June 2011 to June 2013. A census of people, livestock and of insecticide-treated nets was done per house. Mosquito blood-meal sources were determined as human, goat, bovine or chicken using enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assays. Results Most (86.3 %) households possessed at least one bed net, 57.2 % had domesticated animals and 83.6 % had people sharing houses with livestock at night. Most (94.9 %) unfed malaria vectors were caught exiting through windows. Overall, 53.1 % of Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto obtained blood-meals from humans, 26.5 % from goats and 18.4 % from bovines. Single blood-meal sources by An. gambiae s.s. from humans were 26.5 %, 8.2 % from bovines and 2.0 % from goats. Mixed blood-meal sources by An. gambiae s.s. identified included: 24.5 % human/goat, 10.2 % human/bovine, 8.2 % human/bovine/goat and also 8.2 % bovine/goat. One An. arabiensis mosquito obtained blood-meal only from humans. Conclusion An unusually high frequency of animal and mixed human-animal blood meals in the major malaria vector An. gambiae s.s. was revealed in the western Kenya highlands where bed net coverage is above the WHO target. The shift in blood-meal sources from humans to livestock is most likely the vectors’ response to increased bed net coverage and the close location of livestock frequently in the same house as people at night. Livestock-targeted interventions should be considered under these circumstances to address residual malaria transmission