Documentation and Nutritional profile of some selected food plants of Otwal and Ngai sun counties Oyam District, Northern Uganda

Wild food plants play an important role in the diet of inhabitants of Oyam District. Some of these plants are drought-resistant and gathered throughout the season. These foods are an important source of nutrients. However, there is a lack of comprehensive data regarding the nutrient content of these indigenous plants. The purpose of this study was to document and assess the nutrient and mineral content of some of these plants. Ethnobotanical surveys were used to collect data through formal and informal interviews and focused group discussions. Voucher specimens were collected during field excursions and deposited at Makerere Herbarium. Nutrients and mineral analyses were carried out through known laid down procedures. Wild and cultivated fruits, seeds, underground organs and vegetables from Ngai and Otwal Sub counties were analysed for mineral elements that is; calcium, iron, potassium, and phosphorus concentrations. Also nutrients such proteins, beta carotene, vitamin C and dietary fibre were determined. A total of 20 plant samples were analysed comprising both wild and domesticated food plant species so as to give a basis in comparison in nutrient and nutrient element. On average, vegetables were found to be rich in nutrients and minerals compared to seeds, fruits and roots. The wild food plant species were rich sources of nutrient element for example the highest concentration of calcium was found in copper leaves 867.59 mg/100g compared to 47 mg in broccoli or 77 mg in okra. Plant species that showed high iron contents [>30%] were leaves of swamp hibiscus, African spider flower, fruit of Tamarind, Black night shade and Jews mallow. It was also noted that among the food plant species analysed, fruits were low in nutrients and mineral elements. Some of these food plants were also considered to have medicinal properties by the locals such as African spider flower, Rattle pod among others. However, it should be noted that there is a general decline in the consumption of wild plants, despite the apparent high nutritional values. The conservation of wild food plants is not taking place among the communities in the study area, thus the poor rural communities who are limited on balancing their diet could be faced with diseases associated with nutrient deficiencies.Keywords: Wild food plants; Nutrient; MineralAfrican Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Volume 13 No. 2 April 201

Medicinal Plants used during Antenatal Care by Pregnant Women in Eastern Uganda

Plants are commonly used during the antenatal stage in pregnancy to manage different ailments in Africa. In Uganda, both medicinal and food plants are used to handle common pregnancy related conditions. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Iganga district, eastern Uganda. Seven traditional birth attendants (TBA) and 46 mothers were interviewed. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and household interviews. The TBAs were identified using snowball sampling. A total of 33 plant species, belonging to 23 families were documented. Out of these, the pregnant mothers used 45.5 % as both food and medicine. The most frequently used plant life form was herbs (58.8%). The leaves are the most commonly used plant parts (59%). Most of the plants (58.8%) were semi cultivated and were being domesticated in crop fields and home gardens. Most of the plants were used to manage anaemia and for child development and good health among the pregnant women. The pregnant women and TBAs in Namungalwe sub County have diverse knowledge on medicinal and nutri-medicinal plants in the management of common pregnancy related diseases, which can be used to supplement modern antenatal services, inspite of the ban of the activities of TBA. Further research on the bioavailability of nutrients, efficacy and safety of the medicinal plants used by pregnant women should be done. Keywords: Medicinal Plants, Antenatal, Traditional Birth Attendants, Ugand

Barriers, attitudes, confidence, and knowledge of nurses regarding metabolic health screening and intervention in people with mental illness: A pilot study from Uganda

© 2019 Vancampfort et al. Licensee African Health Sciences. Background: People with mental illness are at an increased risk for developing cardio-metabolic disorders. Routine screening following pharmacotherapy is however unacceptably low in sub-Saharan African countries with less than 1% adequately screened. It is unknown whether this is due to a lack of adequate competences. Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to assess the barriers, attitudes, confidence, and knowledge of nurses regarding metabolic health, prevention and treatment in Uganda. Methods: Twenty-eight nurses (39% female, 30.9±6.9 years) completed the Metabolic – Barriers, Confidence, Attitudes and Knowledge Questionnaire and the physical activity prescription rate item of the Exercise in Mental Illness Questionnaire. Results: More than 75% had a positive attitude towards metabolic screening and intervention and more than 50% were confident in providing smoking cessation advice, and physical activity and nutritional counseling. However, 57% stated that their heavy workload prevented them from doing health screening and promotion activities. There was a negative correlation (ϱ=-0.54, P=0.003) between the frequency of physical activity prescription and the perception of the inability of patients to change. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that nurses are generally supportive of metabolic health screening and intervention but their high workload prevents them from implementing metabolic health interventions

CHARACTERISATION OF POTATO VARIETIES COMMONLY GROWN IN UGANDA FOR FOOD PROCESSING SUITABILITY

Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important crop for food and income generation in Uganda. However, lack of data on the physico-chemical characteristics of the major potato varieties to support industrial-level processing is one of the major limitations. To bridge the existing information gap, nine major potato varieties grown in Uganda; namely: Cruza, Kachpot1, Kimuli, Kinigi, Mbumbamagara, Rutuku, Rwashaki, Rwangume and Victoria were characterised to generate information on physical, chemical and processing traits. The results indicated that Kinigi had the highest dry matter (27.2%); whereas Rutuku had the lowest (19.28 %). Most varieties had tubers of medium size (50-60 mm), round in shape with medium eye depth. Kimuli recorded the highest (0.55 g 100 g-1 FW) levels of reducing sugars; whereas Kinigi had the lowest (0.02 g 100 g-1 FW). Cluster analysis separated the varieties into three groups; group 1 included varieties Cruza, Kimuli and Rwangume, which were found unsuitable for processing French fries and crisps due to high levels of reducing sugars; but are excellent candidates for preparation of mashed potato and salads. The second group included Kachpot1, Kinigi and Rwashaki and was found suitable for processing French fries, crisps and starch due to high dry matter and low reducing sugars. Group 3 included Mbumbamagara, Rutuku and Victoria and was found only suitable for production of potato flour, mashed potato and salads due to low dry matter content and small tubers.The information generated by the study is important in guiding interventions aimed at improving the potato value chain in Uganda and its contribution to socio-economic development.La pomme de terre (Solanum tuberosum L.) est une culture importante pour l\u2019alimentation et la g\ue9n\ue9ration de revenus en Ouganda. Cependant, le manque de donn\ue9es sur les caract\ue9ristiques physico-chimiques des principales vari\ue9t\ue9s de pommes de terre pour appuyer la transformation au niveau industriel est l\u2019une des principales contraintes. Pour combler ce manque d\u2019information, neuf vari\ue9t\ue9s de pommes de terre cultiv\ue9es en Ouganda, \ue0 savoir : Cruza, Kachpot1, Kimuli, Kinigi, Mbumbamagara, Rutuku, Rwashaki, Rwangume et Victoria ont \ue9t\ue9 caract\ue9ris\ue9es pour g\ue9n\ue9rer des informations sur les traits physiques, chimiques et de transformation. Les r\ue9sultats ont indiqu\ue9 que Kinigi avait la teneur en mati\ue8re s\ue8che la plus \ue9lev\ue9e (27,2%), tandis que Rutuku en avait la plus faible (19,28%). La plupart des vari\ue9t\ue9s avaient des tubercules de taille moyenne (50-60 mm), de forme ronde avec une profondeur d\u2019\u153il moyenne. Kimuli a enregistr\ue9 la concentration la plus \ue9lev\ue9e (0,55 g 100 g-1 FW) de sucres r\ue9ducteurs, tandis que Kinigi a enregistr\ue9 la plus faible (0,02 g 100 g-1 FW). L\u2019analyse typologique (Cluster) a synth\ue9tis\ue9 les vari\ue9t\ue9s en trois groupes. Le groupe 1 comprenait les vari\ue9t\ue9s Cruza, Kimuli et Rwangume, qui se sont av\ue9r\ue9es inadapt\ue9es \ue0 la production des frites et des chips en raison de leurs niveaux \ue9lev\ue9s de sucres r\ue9ducteurs, mais sont d\u2019excellents candidats pour la pr\ue9paration de pur\ue9e de pommes de terre et de salades. Le deuxi\ue8me groupe comprenait Kachpot1, Kinigi et Rwashaki et s\u2019est av\ue9r\ue9 adapt\ue9 \ue0 la pr\ue9paration des frites, des chips et de l\u2019amidon en raison de leur mati\ue8re s\ue8che \ue9lev\ue9e et de faibles concentrations en sucres r\ue9ducteurs. Le groupe 3 comprenait Mbumbamagara, Rutuku et Victoria et n\u2019\ue9tait adapt\ue9 qu\u2019\ue0 la production de farine de pommes de terre, de pur\ue9e de pommes de terre et de salades en raison de la faible teneur en mati\ue8re s\ue8che et des petits tubercules. Les informations g\ue9n\ue9r\ue9es par cette \ue9tude sont importantes pour guider les interventions visant \ue0 am\ue9liorer la cha\ueene de valeur de la pomme de terre en Ouganda et sa contribution au d\ue9veloppement socio-\ue9conomique

AFRICAN INDIGENOUS AND TRADITIONAL VEGETABLES IN TANZANIA: PRODUCTION, POST-HARVEST MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING

Indigenous and traditional African vegetables (AITVs) are important sources of nutrition for sub-Saharan Africans (SSA), especially the low-income and food insecure. The U.S. Agency for International Development directed Horticulture Collaborative Research Support Program, now named the Horticulture Innovation Lab, builds international partnerships for fruit and vegetable research to improve livelihoods in developing countries. For this Programme a study was carried out to provide baseline information on AITVs in Tanzania and to determine research needs. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in four regions of Tanzania with a total of 160 sellers and producers of AITVs, with attention to post-harvest management. Key concerns were demographics, i.e. who is growing, transporting, and selling AITVs, AITV identities and quantities, production, harvest, transport, wholesale and retail patterns, processing, and surplus. Common AITVs are greens of amaranths, nightshade, cowpea, cucurbits, Ipomea , cassava tree, spider flower and Ethiopian mustard; plus African eggplant and okra fruits. Ninety six percent of sellers and 71% of producers were female. Most AITVs are sold in roofed open markets, secondarily on streets by mobile or semi-mobile sellers. Amaranth was the number one seller for 83% of sellers. Issues covered were: (i) cultural practices, AITV plot size, seed sources, irrigation and pesticide use; (ii) post-harvest: harvest to market storage and transport times and modes, grading, packaging and bundling, and washing; and (iii) marketing: retail markup, price variation by season, year and region, average daily sales; cell phone use, retail space size and cost, retailer storage, remainders, processing and less common AITVs. OLS regression was done to elucidate factors affecting sales volume and regional differences. Post-harvest losses of AITVs do not appear to be significant as the value chain participants demonstrate an acute knowledge of consumer demand and daily market dynamics.Les l\ue9gumes indig\ue8nes et traditionnelles africaines (AITVs) constituent une source importante de nutrition pour l\u2019Afrique sub-saharienne, sp\ue9cialement \ue0 bas revenus et \ue0 ins\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire. Le programme de soutien \ue0 la recherche collaborative de l\u2019agence internationale am\ue9ricaine pour le d\ue9veloppement, aussi appel\ue9 \u2018Horticulture Innovation Lab\u2019 institue des partenariats internationaux pour la recherche sur les fruits et les l\ue9gumes pour am\ue9liorer les conditions de vie dans les pays en voie de d\ue9veloppement. Une \ue9tude \ue9tait conduite afin d\u2019\ue9tablir une information de base sur AITVs en Tanzanie et d\ue9terminer les besoins en recherche. Une enqu\ueate \ue9tait conduite dans quatre r\ue9gions de la Tanzanie avec un total de 160 vendeurs et producteurs de AITVs, avec attention \ue0 la gestion post-r\ue9colte. La question la plus importante concernait la d\ue9mographie, par exemple, qui cro\ueet, transporte et vend AITV, identit\ue9s et quantit\ue9s de l\u2019AITV, production, r\ue9colte, transport, grossistes et d\ue9taillants, transformation et surplus. Les AITVs usuels sont des amarantes, morelles, pois cajan, cucurbites, Ipomea , manioc, cl\ue9ome et moutarde \ue9thiopienne. A ceci s\u2019ajoute les aubergines africaines et les fruits d\u2019Okra. Quatre vingt seize pour cent des vendeurs et 71% des producteurs \ue9taient des femmes. La plupart d\u2019AITVs sont vendus dans des march\ue9s t\uf4l\ue9s ouverts sur les rues par des vendeurs mobiles ou semi-mobiles. Les amarantes \ue9taient les plus vendues (83%). Les probl\ue8mes rencontr\ue9s \ue9taient: (i) pratiques culturales, la taille des parcelles sous AITV, sources des semences, utilisation des pesticides et de l\u2019irrigation; (ii) post-r\ue9colte: de la r\ue9colte au magasin du march\ue9 et temps et mode de transport, cat\ue9gorisation, emballage et empaquetage, et le lavage, et (iii) promotion sur le march\ue9: fixation des prix des d\ue9tails, variation des prix par saison, ann\ue9e et r\ue9gion, ventes moyennes journali\ue8res, utilisation des t\ue9l\ue9phone cellulaires, la taille et le co\ufbt de l\u2019espace pour vente des produits, le magasin des petits vendeurs, les produits restants apr\ue8s vente, la transformation et les AITVs les moins communs. La r\ue9gression d\u2019OLS \ue9tait faite apr\ue8s vente pour \ue9lucider les facteurs qui affectent le volume des ventes et les diff\ue9rences r\ue9gionales. Des pertes post-r\ue9coltes d\u2019AITVs ne paraissent pas \ueatre significatives \ue9tant donn\ue9 que les participants dans la chaine des valeurs font montre d\u2019une connaissance suffisante sur la demande du consommateur et les dynamiques quotidiennes du march\ue9

Urbanization and transformation of agri-food system: Opportunities for organic producers in developing countries

Developing countries especially in Sub-Saharan Africa are pronominally agricultural based. Where the majority of the population resides in rural areas and engaged in agriculture as a source of livelihood. However, recently there has been a growing debate globally on rapid urban population growth in developing countries. The aim of this paper is to present opportunities for organic producers emanating from transformations of agri-food systems in urban area. The paper is based on research activities of a project ‘Productivity and Growth in Organic Value Chains (ProGrOV)’. ProGrOV is collaboration between universities in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Denmark addressing the need for sustainable development of smallholder farming systems in East Africa with focus on value chains for local high-value markets as well as export chains. The project addresses innovations for improving production as well as market access. The transformations of agri-food systems addressed in this paper resulting from urbanization are evidenced by proliferation of supermarkets, specialized organic-food shops, food supply to tourist industry and traditional farmer markets. Efforts for promoting organic products in East Africa have traditionally focused on export markets this paper based on evidence from ProGrOV studies argue that there is opportunity for developing domestic organic product value chains to meet the demand from urban population growth and transformed agri-food systems

Profitability of soil erosion control technologies in Eastern Uganda Highlands

The lack of farmer awareness of costs and benefits associated with the use of sustainable land management (SLM) technologies is one of the major constraints to technology adoption in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to estimate the profitability of application of SLM in the form of soil erosion control technologies by communities in the highlands of eastern Uganda; a hot spot for this land degradation agent. A survey was conducted using 240 farmers in the highlands of eastern Uganda. The findings from Partial Budget Analysis indicate that the net returns associated with the use of soil erosion control technologies, are sufficiently high to offset the costs involved. For example, for every US$invested per hectare in terracing and tree planting, there is a return of over US$ 15. However, these returns are likely to be much less if inflation is not regulated. For example, the profits expected from the use of terraces and trees would reduce by about 3 percent if inflation rose to 30 percent. Thus, for the benefits to be sustainable, farmers have to regularly maintain the structures (terraces, contours, and trenches) and the vegetation (trees and grasses). Also, use of soil erosion control technologies would remain profitable only if the Central Bank fulfils its mandate of keeping inflation low and stable.Le manque de connaissance sur les co\ufbts et les b\ue9n\ue9fices li\ue9s \ue0 l\u2019utilisation des technologies de la gestion durable de terres (SLM) est l\u2019une des contraintes majeurs \ue0 l\u2019adoption des technologies en Afrique Sub-Saharienne. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019estimer la profitabilit\ue9 de l\u2019application les technologies SLM de lutte contre l\u2019\ue9rosion par les communaut\ue9s des hautes terres de l\u2019Est de l\u2019Uganda, un lieu de pr\ue9dilection de cet agent de d\ue9gradation de sol. Une enqu\ueate \ue9tait conduite utilisant 240 fermiers dans les terre de l\u2019Est de l\u2019Uganda. Les r\ue9sultats de l\u2019analyse du budget partiel indiquent que les b\ue9n\ue9fices provenant de l\u2019utilisation des technologies anti-\ue9rosives sont suffisamment \ue9lev\ue9s pour compenser les co\ufbts impliqu\ue9s. Par exemple, pour chaque US investi par hectare dans les travux de terracement et plantation d\u2019arbre, il ya un b\ue9n\ue9fice de plus de US 15. Par ailleurs, ces b\ue9n\ue9fices sont vraissemblablement r\ue9duits si l\u2019inflation n\u2019est pas r\ue9gul\ue9e. Par exemple, les profits attendus de l\u2019utilisation des terraces et arbres plant\ue9s se trouveraient r\ue9duits de trois pourcent si l\u2019inflation augmente de trente pourcent. Ainsi, pour que les b\ue9n\ue9fices soient durables, les fermiers doivent r\ue9guli\ue8rement maintenir les structures (terraces, contours et trench\ue9es) et la vegetation (arbres et herbes). Aussi, l\u2019utilisation des technologies de contr\uf4le de l\u2019\ue9rosion du sol pourraient demeurer b\ue9n\ue9fiques seulement si la Banque Centrale remplit correctement son mandat de garder l\u2019inflation basse et stable