Working Document Series Open Access Livelihood diversification and enhanced food security through agro-pastoralism: Socio-cultural and other challenges among Maasai pastoralists of Narok North district of Kenya N. J. Kathuri · J. G. Mwangi · A. O. Nkurumwa The Maasai of Narok North District Kenya have started adopting agro-pastoralism as a livelihood diversification strategy. This study sought to determine the socio-cultural challenges faced in agro-pastoralism and the relationships between … RUF-34994 2010 CC BY 4.0 15 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Evaluation of market opportunities of Meat in Uganda D. Mpairwe · J. Mugisha · J. Nalubega Beef production in Uganda is estimated at an average of 160,000 metric tones per year giving the national meat consumption per capita in Uganda as 11 kg which is lower than the 40 kg recommended by the World Health Organization. The presen… RUF-34988 2010 CC BY 4.0 15 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Pig lymphnode lesions and an immunohistochemical analysis on selected abattoir-derived lymphnode samples for the presence of African swine fever virus L. Ojok · P. Ssajjakambwe In order to gain an insight into the pig lymphnode lesions and African swine fever antigen occurrence, this study was designed based on an abattoir survey. The study was carried out at the Nalukolongo abattoir located at the outskirts of K… RUF-34967 2010 CC BY 4.0 15 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Stakeholders’ views and perceptions on emerging conflicts with respect to apiculture in the western Usambara mountains, Tanzania G.C. Kajembe · D.N. Kimaro · G.E. Mbeyale · J. Sinyangwe The study identified key stakeholders and their interests and analyzed socio-economic factors influencing the perceptions and resource use conflicts of apiculture as an intervention towards improved natural resource management (NRM) by loc… RUF-34962 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Milking procedures and prevalence of mastitis and mastitis specific-pathogens in selected smallholder dairy herds in Zimbabwe G. Matope · M. Ndengu · D.M. Pfukenyi · Katsande. Simbarashe A cross-sectional study was carried to collect milk samples for bacteriological examination and somatic cell counting in diary cows in Zimbabwe. Of the total animals tested, 172 (29.5%) had mastitis with 84% (144/172) of them having subcli… RUF-34960 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Institutional arrangements and stakeholder power relations underlying apiculture for conservation of natural resources in west Usambara Mountains,Tanzania G.C. Kajembe · D.N. Kimaro · G.E. Mbeyale · G. Sicheeba A study was conducted whereby 98 respondents were interviewed out of which 54 were beekeepers while 44 were non –beekeepers. Statistical package SPSS v 16 was used to analyze the data. Age, awareness of national beekeeping policy, awarenes… RUF-34958 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The impact of fodder flow systems practiced by small scale dairy farmers on milk production and economic viability in Marirangwe smallholder dairy scheme of Zimbabwe N. Sikaceya An analysis was made for the cattle feed quality used by the small-scale and large-scale producers in Marirangwe, Zimbabwe. This was done to try and explain the huge disparity between milk production by the two dairy sectors. Feed-staff fr… RUF-34956 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Market access and its effect on citrus fruit production in Uganda E. Chilembwe · G. Elepu · H. Kongai · M.B. Kwapata +1 more Sustaining success in productivity-based agricultural growth depends on expansion of market opportunities. However, limited attention has been directed towards marketing strategies of Uganda’s horticultural produce which is one of the fast… RUF-34922 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access An analysis of productivity and technical efficiency of conservation agriculture in Malawi: A case of Nkhotakota district K. Droppelmann · Abdi-Khalil Edriss · B. Kakhobwe · H.R. Mloza-Banda +1 more Maize productivity, measured as the amount of output for a given input set, is lower than it could be in Malawi due to poor access to agricultural inputs and environmental depletion especially declining soil fertility. Malawi is promoting … RUF-34914 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Estimation of the total viable bacterial counts of raw and processed milk from selected smallholder dairy farms of Zimbabwe P.T. Banda · G. Matope · T.A Mhone A study conducted in several diary farms in Zimbabwe revealed high levels of bacteria in both processed and raw milk. This is a public health concern. Efforts need to be put in place to minimize such high loads of bacterial counts. RUF-34907 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Risk factors and socio-economic effects associated with spread of Peste des petits ruminants in Turkana district, Kenya L.C. Bebora · A. N. Gitau · S.M. Kihu · J.M. Njenga +1 more Peste des petit ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious, infectious and often fatal disease of sheep, goats and small wild ruminants. In Kenya PPR was first suspected in 1992 and confirmed in Turkana District in 2007. Turkana community live… RUF-34838 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Human resource practices, person organization fit and commitment among University lecturers I. M. Birungi · J. Kikooma · J. Ntayi The aim of this study is to understand how Human Resource Management (HRM) practices affect the people, or human resources, who work for the organization. Information generated is vital in driving the organizational strategies and goals in… RUF-34833 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Policy implications for wide scale adoption of sustainable land management technologies in eastern Uganda M. Barungi · Abdi-Khalil Edriss · D. Ng’ong’ola · M. Waithaka This study, to be conducted in the highlands of eastern Uganda, will document existing local policies and incentive systems in relation to sustainable land use management. Various techniques, including questionnaire surveys, group discussi… RUF-34827 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of soil copper accumulation on proliferation and survival of rhizobia G.P. Msumali · H. Tindwa Two strains of the fast-growing bean rhizobia- PV1 and PV2 and two others of the slow-growing cowpea and soybean bradyrhizobia- CP1 and GM8 respectively, were used to test their in vitro proliferation and in vivo survival. Known amounts of… RUF-34704 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Regeneration dynamics of woody species in degraded natural forests in western Kenya Wellington Ekaya · J. Kinyamario · J. Otuoma Deforestation has become rampant in many areas in Kenya due to pressure on land resulting from human population increase. Efforts to rehabilitate areas that have been deforested have had little success due to the limited knowledge of veget… RUF-34678 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Study of heavy metal contamination along roadside soils of Botswana G.K. Gaboutloeloe · A.S. Likuku · B.E. Mochoge This study examined presence of heavy metals (aluminium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel and zinc) along Botswana roads. These metals are toxic to human and animals. The mean values of these metals were below toxic range, ind… RUF-34637 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Improving soil nutrients and water management to increase crop yield for enhanced livelihoods of small scale farmers in semi-arid eastern Kenya B.O. Danga · K.B. Mmolawa Food insecurity in Kenya is on the increase unless appropriate measures are taken. This is because nearly 80% of the land is arid to semi-arid and therefore not favorable for crop production using the current methods of production. The iss… RUF-34636 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Parametric pedotransfer functions for predicting soil water retention in a Ngerengere Subcatchment, Morogoro -Tanzania Kitalyi. Aichi · J. Dietz · J. Kaingo · H. Mahoo +1 more The soil water retention-release characteristics (SWRC) are essential to understand water redistribution in agricultural systems. However, direct measurements of SWRC are constrained by costs, scarcity of equipment and time. Pedotransfer f… RUF-34592 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Biological N2 fixation of three Acacia senegal varieties in the drylands of Kenya using 15N natural abundance method E.W. Githae A study is on-going in Kenya to identify Acacia senegal varieties with high symbiotic biological N2 fixation capacity. Balanites aegyptica, a non-legume species, has been included for comparison. Variety senegal has so far shown the highes… RUF-34584 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Participatory development, testing and validation of concepts and technologies for site-specific detection and control of plant parasitic nematodes infecting tomatoes in Mwea, Kenya J.K. Birgen · V. Gathaara · F.W. Kariuki · G.M. Kariuki Tomato production in Kenya has been a lucrative business for smallholder farmers who cannot afford huge capital to invest in other cash crops. It is a major source of household incomes and has created employment that has resulted in improv… RUF-34557 2010 CC BY 4.0 4 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Prevalence of bean anthracnose in Zambia and diversity of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum in Southern Africa P. Kachapulula · M. Mwala · P. Okori Prevalence of bean anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum was assessed in four agro-ecologies in Zambia. Subsequently, fungal isolates were tested for race specifically involving race differentials and DNA analysis using Simp… RUF-34555 2010 CC BY 4.0 4 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Detection and screening of yellow and sweet calabash passion fruit for resistance to woodiness disease in Uganda G. Ddamulira · R. Edema · S. Musaana · M.K.N. Ochwo-Ssemakula +1 more In Uganda passion fruit woodiness disease (PWD) damages passion fruit, causing yield losses of 60-100%. This study aimed at detecting and screening yellow and sweet calabash passion fruit for resistance to PWD. Four viruses, namely, Cowpea… RUF-34552 2010 CC BY 4.0 4 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Genetic diversity for resistance to larger grain borer in maize hybrids and open pollinated varieties in Kenya S. Mugo · S.W. Munyiri · J.K. Mwololo · P. Okori +1 more Modern maize varieties and hybrids possess improved agronomic performance and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. However, breeding for the traits that contribute to resistance to post harvest pests have not been given due attention.… RUF-34498 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of varying Desmodium and maize harvesting regimes on their yields and growth attributes within the “Push- Pull” intercropping systems in Western Kenya Z. Khan · M. N. Koech · J.R. Okalebo · C.O. Othieno +3 more This study tested the hypothesis that inclusion of Desmodium spp. into maize cropping system under the push-pull technology enhanced crop growth and yield. Field trials were conducted in Siaya and Busia districts of western Kenya with the … RUF-34388 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The giant tiger prawn for sustainable livelihoods of fishers in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria A. I. Hart · P. Isubikalu · G. W. Komi The Giant Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon) is the largest marine shrimp that has lived in the Niger Delta coastal waters since 1999. Its marketability and high income as compared to the indigenous shrimp species has attracted a growing number… RUF-34248 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
