Main-streaming participatory and cross-disciplinary approaches in animal science research in developing countries

Conventional research approaches have lost considerable momentum after their astonishing achieve-ments during the green revolution. The negative side of focusing rigorously on production improve-ment was eminent around 1980 and led to considerations of environmental, gender and equity aspects - making agricultural development much more complex than previously. In the search for new ways of addressing the persisting problems of food insecurity and malnutrition, new ways should be explored. Based on the experiences from three international, African research projects, the article argues the case of participatory action research and cross-disciplinarity as some of the key elements in future animal science research in developing countries. The benefits are outlined as well as the challenges for the researchers and the donor agencies

Training Report: Training of trainers and farmers’ training on validated sweetpotato silage making and use in Masaka and Kamuli districts.

European UnionInternational Fund for Agricultural Developmen

RESISTANCE OF NAPIER GRASS CLONES TO NAPIER GRASS STUNT DISEASE

Napier grass ( Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) is the major livestock fodder under intensive and semi-intensive systems in East Africa. However, the productivity of the grass is constrained by Napier grass Stunt Disease (NSD). The purpose of this study was to identify Napier grass clones with resistance to NSD. Seven introduced Napier grass, from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) gene bank in Ethiopia, and 3 locally available clones in Uganda, were screened for resistance to NSD. Napier grass Stunt Disease severely infected plants tended to have more tillers (r = 0.84, P<0.001), but reduced biomass (r = -0.70, P<0.001) and height (r = -0.88, P<0.001). The reaction of the clones ranged from highly susceptible (clones 16795 and 16792), moderately susceptible (P99, KW4, 16806, 16803, 16785, local and 16814) to resistant (16837). Clone P99 was moderately susceptible to NSD but its harvestable biomass was least affected by disease infection, thus could be, in the interim, utilised in integrated NSD management as the search for more resistant clones is expedited.Le Napier ( Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) est un fourrage important pour l\u2019\ue9levage dans les syst\ue8mes intensifs et semi-intensifs en Afrique de l\u2019est. Par ailleurs, la productivit\ue9 de cet aliment fait face au probl\ue8me de productivit\ue9 de cette herbe qui est affect\ue9 par la maladie du rabougrissement de Napier (NSD). L\u2019objet de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019identifier les clones du Napier introduit et localement disponible avec r\ue9sistance au NSD. Sept Napiers introduits en provenance du la banque de g\ue8ne de l\u2019Institut International de Recherche sur l\u2019Elevage (ILRI) en Ethiopie, et trois clones locaux disponibles en Ouganda \ue9taient \ue9valu\ue9s pour leur r\ue9sistance \ue0 cette maladie dans un essai au champ au \u2018National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI)\u2019 \ue0 Namulonge en Ouganda. La r\ue9action de ces clones variait de hautement susceptible (16795 et 16792), mod\ue9r\ue9ment susceptible (P99, KW4, 16806, 16803, 16785 et 16814) \ue0 r\ue9sistant (16837 et local). La maladie de rabougrissement des plants s\ue9v\ue8rement infect\ue9e tendaient d\u2019avoir significativement plus de talles (r = 0.84, P<0.001) mais avec de la biomasse (r = -0.70, P<0.001) et hauteur (r = -0.88, P<0.001) r\ue9duites. Les clones P99 et 16837 mod\ue9r\ue9ment susceptibles au NSD mais dont leur biomasse n\u2019\ue9tait pas affect\ue9 par by l\u2019infection de la maladie, pourrait \ueatre, dans l\u2019int\ue9rim, utilis\ue9s dans la gestion int\ue9gr\ue9e du NSD pendant que la recherche des clones plus r\ue9sistants continue

Nutritional and physicochemical properties of stored solar-dried cowpea leafy vegetables

Preservation techniques for cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) leaves, a green leafy vegetable mainly consumed in the eastern and northern parts of Uganda, are still lacking. The study aimed at determining the effect of blanching, open sun and solar-drying on the nutrient content, organoleptic acceptability and physicochemical properties of cowpea leafy vegetables (CLV) during storage. Proximate composition, sensory quality and colour of the CLV were determined. No significant differences (p < 0.05) in nutrient composition were observed between drying methods, except the dietary fibre, zinc and total carotenoid content. Blanched-solar dried CLV showed higher dietary fibre and total carotenoid content compared to raw dried CLV. No significant differences (p > 0.05) in appearance, taste, flavour, and texture of dried CLV were observed, except for the fresh CLV (control). Water activity levels ranged from 0.34 to 0.54 indicative of storage stability. Positive ‘L’ colour values (37.90 to 44.95) indicative of light green to green, negative ‘a’ values (-7.28 to -4.15) for greenishness and positive ‘b’ values (3.45 to 9.25) for yellowishness for raw-dried and blanched green leafy cowpea vegetable, respectively, were obtained. Marked increases in browning index and total colour difference were observed in the dried CLV during storage. Blanching and solar drying treatment formed stable and highly acceptable vegetables during storage, which could be recommended for market.Keywords: Acceptability, colour, nutrient content, Vigna unguiculata, water activit

Testing forage legume technologies with smallholder dairy farmers: a case study of Masaka district, Uganda

No Abstract

Napier stunt and smut diseases in Uganda

A poster showing research findings about Napier stunt and smut in Uganda

Planning for and monitoring outcomes in action-research projects: The Napier grass diseases project

A presentation prepared for the 5th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture and the 18th Annual Meeting of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP), Addis Ababa, October 25-28, 2010

Controlling Napier smut and stunt diseases in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania

This article was compiled by ASARECA Livestock and Fisheries Programme in collaboration with Doctors Genevieve Renard, Janice Proud and Jean Hanson, Margaret Mulaa, Beatrice Pallangyo and Jolly Kabirizi. The project is funded by the AfDB