An Evaluation of Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program Proposals for the Period 1992-1994.

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare funded and unfunded research proposals submitted to the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Council between 1992 and 1994. Coding reliability and validity were assessed through a pilot study after which the actual coding was carried out. A census of 32 funded and a simple random sample of 54 unfunded proposals were used for this study. Descriptive statistics (frequencies) were used to describe research themes, sustainable agricultural practices, research categories, funds requested for research, origin of proposals, length of research period, research cooperators, and the occupation of principal investigators. The results of the study showed that the investigators placed emphasis on several variables deemed important in the promotion of sustainable agriculture in the Southern Region. The theme of animal systems research was most emphasized, while the variable, cropping practice, had the highest frequency among the sustainable agricultural practices. Integrated and experimental research categories together had the highest frequencies among the funded proposals. Arkansas received the highest number of proposals funded, and most funded proposals took three years. Many funded proposals were written by four or more cooperators. Professors represented the occupation with the most funding, followed by practitioners. Integrated research was shown to be very important in this study. Integration of animal and cropping systems was considered by researchers as an important farming practice in the promotion of sustainable agriculture in the southern United States. A multi-disciplinary approach where different professionals cooperated to do research was emphasized by many researchers in this study

Guiding and counselling pupils in Kenyan public primary schools: headteachers and teacher counsellors role perceptions and experiences

The purpose of this study was to determine the role perceptions of headteachers and the teacher counsellors in the guidance and counselling of pupils in public primary schools of Embu District, Kenya as well as determining whether there were any qualitative different ways in which respondents (headteachers and teacher counsellors) viewed and experienced these roles. In addition, the study established whether there were any significant differences between the respondents' role perceptions in guiding and counselling pupils and the selected demographic variables of age, sex, marital status, academic qualification, teaching experience, experience in management, training in guidance and counselling, school category and geographical location of school. The study also established if there existed any significant differences between headteachers' perceptions of teacher counsellor's role and the teacher counsellors' perceptions of their role. The study used a survey design with a multi-strategy research approach which provided both quantitative and qualitative data through questionnaires, interviews and observations. The data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The inferential statistics employed were t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), which were used to test the hypotheses of the study at significance level of 0.05. The interview data were analysed phenomenographically. Both the headteachers and the teacher counsellors had high levels of perception of their roles in the guidance and counselling of pupils (4.57 and 4.52 respectively out of a maximum of 5.0). The headteachers' level of perception of the teacher counsellors' role was 4.54. The results obtained after testing the hypotheses indicated that there were no significant differences between headteachers' role perceptions and the independent variables of age, gender, marital status, academic qualifications, training in guidance and counselling, administrative experience, teaching experience, school category and geographical location of school. There were also no significant differences between teacher counsellors' role perceptions and the independent variables of age, gender, marital status, academic qualifications, training in guidance and counselling, administrative experience, and school category. In addition, there was no significant difference between the headteachers perception of the teacher counsellors' role and the perception of the teacher counsellors about their role. There was however a significant difference realised between teacher counsellors' role perceptions and the geographical location of school. Over half of the teacher counsellors (55.6%) and the majority of the headteachers (71.4%) had not received any basic training in the guidance and counselling skills. Observations carried out revealed that 90.7% of schools had not time-tabled for guidance and counselling and was only done when need arose. The majority did not have guidance and counselling offices (93.3%), reference materials (79.0%) and training materials (76.5%). Counselling atmosphere in more than half (57.0%) of the counselling sessions was found to be either tense or suspicious. Phenomenographic analysis of data revealed that there were qualitative different ways in which the respondents viewed and experienced their roles in the guidance and counselling of pupils. The pupils who needed guidance and counselling in public schools had socio-cultural, socio-economic, and academic problems or needs. Drug abuse (socio-cultural) was ranked as the most serious with alcohol being most abused. Early pregnancies and marriages were the leading causes of girl school drop outs, while drug abuse and child labour were the leading causes of the boys drop outs. The majority of the teacher counsellors (89.1%) and the headteachers (94.9%) missed out many functions despite having high role perceptions. Lack of support from the stakeholders; intensive poverty and widespread illiteracy; cultural/traditional practices; and negative media influence, were recorded as interfering with their role performance. Several suggestions to solve these problems were offered. Although the respondents listed several indicators of poor role performance in the guidance and counselling of their pupils, the majority still perceived their role performances to be either good or fair. The research findings have justified the need for change in the management of guidance and counselling and several recommendations have been put forward. Some suggestions for further research have also been included

Aboveground Net Primary Productivity in Grazed and Ungrazed pastures: Grazing Optimisation Hypothesis or Local Extinction of Vegetation Species

The controversy that has surrounded herbivory studies in the last few decades prompted our investigation to establish the extent to which herbivore optimisation hypothesis or compensatory growth evidence is real. We used the traditional movable cage method to collect primary productivity data on herbage, functional groups and key individual grass species in various controlled large herbivore treatments in an east African savanna. The herbivore treatments in triplicate blocks included cattle, wild herbivores with and without mega herbivores and combinations of cattle and wild herbivores also with and without mega herbivores. The findings revealed that at herbage level, most grazed treatments (four out of five) had higher productivity than the ungrazed control and three showed grazing optimisation curve at sixth polynomial degree between monthly productivity and grazing intensity (1-g/ng). At functional group level forbs productivity was higher in the ungrazed control than in any of the grazed treatments while at individual grass species level _Themeda triandra_ productivity was higher in all grazed treatments than in ungrazed control. We conclude against presence of herbivore optimisation hypothesis at herbage, functional group and species level because of lack of attributable grazing effect in grazed treatments that matches complex ecological effects in the ungrazed treatment

The logistic model-generated optimal stocking levels, optimal species mix and carrying capacity of wild herbivores in southern rangelands game ranches in Kenya

This paper derives logistic models for Grant's gazelle (Gazella granti), Thompson's gazelle (Gazella Thompsonii) and plains Zebra (Equus burchellii), in a game ranching system. The study was conducted on an 8100 hectares savannah ecosystem in Machakos district, with an average annual rainfall of 514+159.3 mm. Modelled as discrete-time logistic equations with fixed carrying capacities, it captures the wildlife herbivore population dynamics. Time series data, covering a period of 16 years, is used to generate the fixed carrying capacities and the interaction parameters endogenously. The estimation of the logistic models involves estimation of econometric models for each herbivore species, followed by the recovery of the carrying capacities, mathematically. The model-generated carrying capacities are 144.30 AU, 75.53 AU and 54.65 AU; the equivalent number of animals is 986, 929 and 144; for Grant’s gazelle, Thompson’s gazelle and Zebra, respectively. The derived “maximum sustainable yield” (MSY) stocking levels is 44 AU, 24 AU and 29 AU; the equivalent animal number is 297, 393 and 76; for Grant’s gazelle, Thompson’s gazelle and Zebra, respectively. Similarly, the MSY off-take level is 10.42 AU, 8.39 AU and 6.37 AU for these species respectively. These results show that the discrete-time logistic models are applicable to sustainable management of game ranching enterprise.Key words: Carrying capacity, animal units, game ranching, species mix, logistic models, MSY

Aid and real exchange rate dynamics in Malawi

Thesis(Master) --KDI School:Master of Public Policy,2013OutstandingmasterpublishedHeadwick Njoka Banda

Nutrient Analysis of Iowa Grown Field Peas for Swine Feed

Peas are a new crop in Iowa and have potential as an ingredient for supplementing pig diets. However, it is essential to know the nutrient levels before incorporating peas in swine diets. Pea seeds can be ground and incorporated directly in the pig’s diet on the farm without further processing. Field peas (winter, spring, and summer types) grown in southeast Iowa during 2005 and 2006, were sampled and analyzed for nutrient content. The Iowa peas were about 86% dry matter or 14% moisture, which is a level that will store well. Crude fat averaged about 2%, although the 2005 spring varieties were low, less than 1%. Crude fiber was 5 to 6% and ash was about 3%. Crude protein averaged 20% compared with 22.8% reported in the NRC tables. Values reported are as fed basis. Field peas are a good source of lysine (about 1.54%), which is commonly the first limiting amino acid in pig diets. According to the NRC, lysine in peas is highly digestible (84%). This enhances the economic value of peas. The peas were low in methionine and tryptophan, 0.20%. Threonine in winter, summer, and spring peas averaged about 0.74% (Table 1). The amino acid levels in the Iowa-grown peas were similar to NRC table values

Effects of Feeding Iowa-Grown Field Pea on Finishing Pig Performance

Field peas(Pisum sativum L.) are a valuable and versatile nutrient source for a range of livestock species in several regions of the world. Interest in growing field peas as a feedstuff for livestock is increasing in the upper Midwest. Peas are a relatively new crop in Iowa where corn and soybean meal are the primary ingredients of swine diets. The growing season,seed characteristics, and other agronomic factors influence the nutrient content of peas. Hence, it is important to understand the nutrient levels of locally grown peas before incorporating them in swine diets