Working Document Series Open Access Economic Analysis of Fish farming in Mbale-sub region, Eastern Uganda A. Akol · Halasi Gidongo Zech · T.S. Hyuha · F. Muyodi +1 more Aquaculture is an important fish subsector in Uganda. It provides alternative employment opportunity along the entire value chain. Though aquaculture is facing many limitations like market imperfections, it is still being promoted as a sec… RUF-32802 2012 CC BY 4.0 19 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access The RUFORUM Community Action Research Programme: A Programme to Link African Universities to Communities and Agribusiness E. Adipala · E. Nambi · P. Nampala · C. Ntwali The Community Action Research Programme of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is an initiative that aims to support universities in Africa to better support rural communities to improve their pro… RUF-32796 2012 CC BY 4.0 19 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Economics of Management of Farmer Associations in Western Kenya A.K. Kipkoech · S. Mwakubo · O.A. Nekesa · J.O. Ochuodho +3 more Farmer associations (FAs) have the capacity to improve earnings and the general welfare of their members when they are well managed. In this study, we characterise three umbrella FAs in western Kenya namely, Bungoma Small-Scale Farmers For… RUF-32795 2012 CC BY 4.0 19 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access University Outreach Support to Farmer Associations in Western Kenya: The Case of The RUFORUM’s Community Action Research Project (CARP) at Moi University A.K. Kipkoech · P.O. Mongare · C. Navalayo · J.O. Ochuodho +7 more Moi University’s School of Agriculture obtained a research grant from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) under the Community Action Research Program (CARP) to carry out a research leading to the … RUF-32782 2012 CC BY 4.0 19 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Analysis of Critical Factors Influencing Performance of Fish Farmer Organisations in Dowa and Mchinji District in Central Malawi C. Chonde · J. Dzanja · D. Kambewa · D. Kayambazinthu +1 more This study is being carried out to determine critical factors that affect performance of fish farmer organisations in Malawi as part of the RUFORUM Community Action Research programme (CARP). Five fish farmer organisations with a total of … RUF-32758 2012 CC BY 4.0 19 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Enhancing Market Opportunities Through Value Chain Development: The Role of University Research J.N. Jagwe This paper was solicited to highlight the potential role of university research in enhancing market opportunities through value chain development. A definition of agricultural value chain is presented to get a common understanding of the t… RUF-32755 2012 CC BY 4.0 19 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Scaling up innovation platform approach implementation in Rwanda L. Dusengemungu · P. Ndayisenga The adoption of innovation platform approach is gaining credence in the Districts of Rwanda. This paper gives a picture of the Platforms initiated by Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) in Kirehe, Bugesera, Nyamagabe and Muhanga Districts. It … RUF-32753 2012 CC BY 4.0 19 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Determination of sugarcane yield advantages of Mycorrhiza inoculants on Ferralsols S.O. Kibirango · C.L. Kizza · J.G.M. Majaliwa · E. Sebuliba +1 more Sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is the source of sugar in all tropical and subtropical countries of the world. Understanding the performance of sugarcane in Uganda is therefore vital in light of the new challenges for the development… RUF-32743 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Spatial Dynamic of the Mabalane Mopane Ecosystem Degradation and its Association with Wildfires in southern Mozambique: What Implications for Biodiversity and people’s Livelihoods Romana Rombe Bandeira · Inocência Muzime · Amadeu Ossene · Cláudio dos Santos Quenhe +1 more The study focused on the Mopane woodlands, a forest ecosystem in Mozambiques from which the rural poor extract various forest and non forests products. The size of the ecosystem has been reduced over the years due to extensive agriculture … RUF-32737 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Gender Roles in Soil Fertility and Water Management for Maize (Zea mays L.) Production in Urban Agriculture: A Case for Harare, Zimbabwe J. Nyamangara · B. Nyamasoka · P. Nyamugafata A survey of 205 farmers in Harare and Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe was conducted to characterise soil fertility and water management practices used by urban farmers to produce maize and to determine the influence of gender on their use. Results s… RUF-32731 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Effects of FarmYard Manure and Mineral Fertilisers on Maize Yield and Soil Properties in two Districts of Southern Rwanda B.E. Mochoge · I. Munyabarenzi · L. Nabahungu Agriculture in Rwanda is characterised by low productivity due to decline in soil fertility. This is mainly attributed to the mining of nutrients due to continuous cropping without external addition of adequate nutrients coupled with small… RUF-32726 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Translating Integrated Soil Fertility Management Empirical Knowledge into Action through Participatory Learning and Marketing Agricultural Produce in Zimbabwe R. Chikowo · D. Dhliwayo · P. Mapfumo · F. Mtambanengwe +2 more The study sought to identify suitable mechanisms for transferring the available knowledge on concepts and principles of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) technologies to smallholder farmers and agricultural service providers in Z… RUF-32722 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Preliminary Assessment of Socio-economic Potential for Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) in Semi-arid Bobirwa Sub-district of Eastern Botswana B. Kayombo · O. Mpatane · C. Patrick This report is an account of an on-going study being carried out in Mathathane, Motlhabaneng and Tsetsebjwe villages of Bobirwa Sub-district in eastern Botswana to assess the socioeconomic potential for RWH. Bobirwa Sub-district has a mean… RUF-32715 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Improving Water Storage in Soils to Enhance Nutrient use Efficiency and Crop Yields for Enhanced Livelihoods of Small Scale Farmers in Semi-arid eastern Kenya B.O. Danda · C. Kibunja · G. Kironchi · B.E. Mochoge The current food situation in Kenya is alarming so that food is extremely expensive for the larger Kenyan population. This is largely due to the frequent droughts in the country and especially because more than 80% of the land is arid to s… RUF-32711 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access An Assessment of the Processes and Pathways to Achieve Innovation in Conservation Agriculture in Malawi: A Case of Machinga Agricultural Development Division D. Kambewa · J. Kamoto · C. Mloza-Banda · H.R. Mloza-Banda +1 more A study was carried out in Machinga Agricultural Development Division, located in the Southern Region of Malawi to assess the institutional arrangements for implementation of conservation agriculture (CA). Social network analysis was used … RUF-32706 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Characterisation of Vermiculites from the Neoproterozoic Mozambique Belt of Tanzania for Agricultural Applications S. Hillier · E.M.M. Marwa · A.A. Meharg · C.M. Rice The study assessed the mineral phases and properties of five Tanzanian vermiculites in response to the temperature used to expand them with respect to their potential suitability for agricultural applications. One sample from Palabora Mine… RUF-32700 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Spatial and Temporal Distribution and Utilisation of Fallow Land in South Central Zimbabwe E. Manzungu · L. Mtali The purpose of this study was to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of fallow land between 1984 and 2010 in Zimbabwe’s communal areas and its utilisation. Chivi district, which is located in south central Zimbabwe, was used as a … RUF-32695 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Factors Influencing Levels of Knowledge in Soil Fertility Management in the Central Highlands of Kenya J.M. Macharia · M.W. Mucheru-Muna · D.N. Mugendi · J.N. Mugwe Soil nutrient depletion is one of the major biophysical constraints affecting agricultural production in Sub Saharan Africa. Despite past research developing soil fertility management options, few of the recommendations from this research … RUF-32692 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Effectiveness of White Lupin (Lupinus albus) and Chickpea (Cicer arietinum ) in Enhancing Phosphorus Release from Rock Phosphate J.J. Lelei · R.N. Onwonga · J.P. Ouma Smallholder farming systems are characterised by application of suboptimal rates or non utilisation of inorganic fertilisers due to their exorbitant prices vis-à-vis low financial return from crops. Minjingu rock phosphate (MPR) would be a… RUF-32687 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Mineralogy of Africa’s Soils as a predictor of Soil Fertility M.N. Kamau · B. Mochoge · K.D. Shepherd Soil mineralogy is essential to understanding many facets of land use and a key determinant of all soil functional properties that are expensive or time-consuming to measure, and can solve specific agricultural and environmental problems. … RUF-32683 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access The Effectiveness of Lignite Coal and Biochar in Reducing Nitrogen (N) Losses from Cattle Feedlot Manure F.M. Kagimbo · H. Suter · A. Weatherley This study was conducted at the University of Melbourne Burnley campus aimed at investigating the effectiveness of lignite coal and biochar in reducing nitrogen losses from feedlot cattle manure. Forty (40) kg of manure was mixed with eith… RUF-32679 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Influence of Legume Biomass on Soil Fertility Status and Maize Performance in Striga Infested Soils of Iringa, Tanzania R. Hepelwa · J.J. Msaky · K.P. Sibuga Striga asiatica is one of the most severe biological constraints to cereal production in low soil fertility areas, reducing maize and sorghum yield by 10-100%. The use of inorganic nitrogen fertilisers counteracts the effect of this parasi… RUF-32675 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Predicting tef Yield using AquaCrop Model Under Various Water Availability Regimes: A case study in Northern Ethiopia Alemie Araya · S. Habtu · Haileselassie Hailay Tef is one of the most important food crops grown in northern Ethiopia. This region is severely affected by drought. To continue producing the crop, it is necessary improve efficient use of water by tef within the context of climate variab… RUF-32671 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Improving Rainwater use Efficiency in Teff for Enhancing Adaptation to Climate Variability and Climate Change in the Northern Ethiopia Alemie Araya · Gebresamuel Girmay · S. Habtu · Meles Kiros +1 more The main limitation in stabilising food security in Ethiopia is the dependency of the farming system on erratic rainfall. The production of teff, an Ethiopian staple food crop adapted to rainfed farming, has been affected by water stress w… RUF-32667 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Arbuscular Mycorrhiza and Water and Nutrient Supply Differently Impact Seedling Performance of Acquisitive and Conservative Dry Woodland Species Frans Bongers · Birhane Emiru · Gebrehiwot Kindeya · T.W. Kuyper +1 more Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are known to increase seedling survival and performance through enhancement of nutrient and water uptake. Acacia etbaica, Acacia senegal and Boswellia papyrifera dominate large areas in African drylands. W… RUF-32661 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
