Tree species diversity and abundance in coffee farms adjacent to areas of different disturbance histories in Mabira forest system, central Uganda

Coffee production in Uganda is done on small-scale farms containing a very significant tree component. However, there is little information on how tree species abundance, richness and diversity change in coffee farms as distance from forest changes. The main objectives of this study, therefore, were to assess (a) abundance and (b) diversity of tree species in the coffee production systems in proximity to disturbed and undisturbed forest around Mabira forest, one of Uganda's Robusta coffee-growing areas. Seventy-nine 0.1 ha plots were established in nine villages close to undisturbed and disturbed forest, and over 5 km from the forest. A total of 875 trees belonging to 63 species were recorded. There was significant similarity in species composition among the three study sites (analysis of similarity R = 0.09, p < 0.01; analysis of variance: F3,12 = 0.353, p = 0.79). Non-metric dimensional scaling supported these findings (stress value = 0.224 at k = 2) and showed that tree species composition in the three proximity categories was very similar. These results demonstrate that tree species composition and diversity is similar in coffee farms regardless of their distance from the nearest natural forest and forest exploitation history. (Résumé d'auteur

Evaluating Evidence Based Practice of Physiotherapists and the Quality of Physiotherapy Services in Selected Health Facilities of Lusaka, Zambia

There is an empirical argument that Physiotherapists have a moral and professional obligation to move away from assessment and treatment methods based on anecdotal testimonies or opinion and upgrade their method of practice to Evidence-Based Practice in order to remain alive in the era of scientific research. It is essential to evaluate the quality of service being delivered by referral hospitals. This study aimed to establish linkages of knowledge and awareness of evidence-based practice in selected hospitals of Lusaka and the service quality at the physiotherapy outpatient departments. This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was based on primary data collected through a standardized SERVQUAL tool measuring the mean expectations and perception of performance for the quality of physiotherapy care. A total of 75 respondents including both physiotherapists and patients contributed to the study. Limited utilization of EBP practice was seen with only 3(5.1%) participants always and 26(4.1%) mostly reading research to guide the clinical decision. 18(31%) and 14(24.1%) respectively strongly agreed or agreed that the insufficiency of basic EBP skills was the primary barrier to the application of EBP in clinical practice. A negative mean gap score was observed across all five dimensions of the SERVQUAL tool for patients. Despite Physiotherapists in Lusaka being knowledgeable of evidence-based practice, negative gaps in quality of care being offered still persist, an indication that there is a needs to improve on patients' satisfaction with the services being provided

Looming Long-term Economic Effect of Climate Change on Uganda’s Coffee Industry

Predictions demonstrate that climate change is likely to stifle the coffee development program in Uganda at three levels: (i) by reducing survival rate of coffee seedlings to expand coffee acreage; (ii) exacerbate productivity challenges in an inherently constrained rain-fed low input coffee production system; and (iii) contributing to reduction in quality of coffee beans (specifically bean size) produced leading to losses in absolute value in export earnings. This is likely to slow down the low middle-income status by 2020 target of exporting 20 million (60 Kg bags) annually. The farmers’ ownership model piloted by the National Union of Coffee Agribusinesses and Farm Enterprises (NUCAFE), where a smallholder farmer is guaranteed premium prices for value addition, offers a strategy to sustainably invest in climate smart agriculture 1 (involving use of irrigation and fertilizer)1in coffee production