Working Document Series Open Access Explanatory variables associated with the yield perfomance gap among small, medium and large scale sugar cane growers at Ubombo Sugar B. M. Dlamini · M. Mbuyazwe Dlamini In Swaziland, sugar cane is grown on small, medium and large scale. The yield of sugarcane between these grower types is large, with small scale producers having the least yield. The study was therefore carried out to determine factors res… RUF-34747 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Translating integrated soil fertility management empirical knowledge into action through participatory learning and marketing with farmers in Zimbabwe R. Chikowo · D. Dhliwayo · P. Mapfumo · F. Mtambanengwe +1 more In this paper we report on findings from a co-learning experience we undertook with smallholder farmers in two areas in Zimbabwe aimed at developing their capacity to apply integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) options to improve foo… RUF-34639 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 Building Capacity for Food Security in Africa: Underlying issues, challenges and opportunities Sylvia Chindime · A. Kaaya · M. Karuhanga · C. Ntwali +1 more Africa’s development will depend largely on three key factors; political stability, a vibrant agricultural sector and a pool of skilled, innovative and entrepreneural graduates able to spur innovations. This paper outlines the rationale fo… RUF-34554 2010 CC BY 4.0 4 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Never sail by someone else’s star: Agricultural education for Africa M. Blackie There is a continent wide recognition that a productive agriculture is a key driver of national growth. But skilled professionals in agriculture are in short supply. Africa’s fastestgrowing and fastest-urbanising population is creating a “… RUF-34549 2010 CC BY 4.0 2 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The impact of climate variability and extreme weather events on gender: Gender vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies for improved household food security in Malawi W. Kogi-Makau · D. Mkwambisi · D.M. Nyariki · V. M. Tasokwa Kakota The challenge to achieving household food security is a combination of biological, physical, and social factors. However, social factors, gender in particular, have received a cursory attention in adaptation studies. This study argues that… RUF-34540 2010 CC BY 4.0 26 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Gender dimensions of climate change adaptation and mitigation by smallholder farmers in Uganda B. Bashaasha · T. Kisauzi · J.G.M. Majaliwa · M. N. Mangheni Climate change is now recognized as serious with long term negative effects on agricultural productivity, and hence on the well-being of communities especially in Africa. Farmers have experienced climate change effects and have tried to mi… RUF-34486 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Vulnerability to drought, adaptation and coping strategies among agro-pastoral communities in Botswana Kabo Mogotsi · M.M. Nyangito · D.M. Nyariki With the increased threat of climate change effects on the African continent, this study was carried out to document the coping mechanisms against the rampant droughts by the agropastoral communities in Botswana. The study was carried out … RUF-34479 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Policy Briefs Open Access Research Briefs for the Fifth Graduate Research Grants Call RUF-34333 2015 CC BY 4.0 19 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access A ‘Trojan Horse’ approach to change: The case of GO4IT1 Willem Heemskerk · Washington Ochola · Mariana Wongtschowski Go4IT was based on the realisation that universities in Africa could improve their student training programmes, to bring change to these countries’ rural realities. To do this, the universities needed to improve the quality and content of … RUF-34317 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Creating an innovation platform for research impact: Lessons from the smallholder soyabean program in Zimbabwe S. Mpepereki This paper outlines the establishment of a broad innovation platform on to which more players were invited in efforts to meet the demands of participating farmers. We share this experience to encourage others to undertake impact-oriented p… RUF-34316 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Harnessing agricultural science for the people: Are African Universities doing enough? S. Mpepereki Agricultural research in many African universities has been project-based and piece-meal, failing to focus on understanding the socio-cultural context of African agricultural systems and their interaction with the physical environment, and… RUF-34315 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Establishment of LMD-Aligned Master programme in post-conflicts countries of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa E. Adipala · L. D’Haese · Freedom. King · C.L. Kizza +4 more Food insecurity and poor health are recognized as key drivers of emergence of conflicts in low income countries. Sustainable peace building strategy should therefore consider investing in increased access to food and nutrition while simult… RUF-34312 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effectiveness of information and communication technologies in dissemination of agricultural information to smallholder farmers in Kilosa District, Tanzania B.F. Kyazze · C. Levi · H. Sseguya Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have the potential to act as effective information dissemination channel that facilitates sustainable relationships between farmers and other stakeholders in agriculture sector. Past and on-goi… RUF-34308 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Open access publishing and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture network L. Levey Publishing is an important component of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture’s (RUFORUM) work to improve the quality of postgraduate training and research in the agricultural sciences. But many members of th… RUF-34287 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Improving graduate competencies through field attachments: Experiences from the School of Agricultural Sciences, Makerere University P. Ebanyat · P. Isubikalu · B. B. Obaa · H. N. Opolot The demand for skilled university graduates to address practical development challenges is higher today than ever before. Field attachment is one of the main approaches for integrating competence building into academic programmes in many u… RUF-34276 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Institutional repositories and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture network L. Levey An institutional repository is an online library that collects, preserves, and disseminates digital copies of the intellectual output of an institution, particularly a research institution. Universities throughout the world have establishe… RUF-34275 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Development of a virtual space for online supervision and mentoring as a novel architecture for learning and improving the quality of graduates’ studies in Africa M. Bji Vaate · D.K. Kiambi · J. Ndung’u-Skilton The quality of tertiary agricultural education is critical because it determines the expertise and competence of scientists, professionals and business leaders in all aspects of agriculture and related industries. Unfortunately, the qualit… RUF-34255 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Building Research Capacity: The case of Burundi M. Inamahoro This manuscript narrates the contribution of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) to strengthening research capacity of the National Agriculture Research Institute (ISABU). Burundi is among the thr… RUF-34238 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Deploying interactive on-line networking platform for improving quality and relevance of African University graduates to labour markets B.O. Bebe · J. Kihoro · N. Kimbugwe · D. Nodumo +1 more African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) face criticisms of producing low performing graduates unable to drive the agricultural innovation processes to revitalise agriculture, boost economic recovery, and accelerate achievement of the … RUF-34225 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Plantwise knowledge bank: Expanding local and global resource pathways for plant health education and research in Africa J. Dennis · S. Hobbs · J. Mulema · W. Ochilo Plant health stakeholders in Africa face many challenges to manage crop pests. Apart from lack of access to vital knowledge and resources, new threats from globalization, climate change and population growth have led to a rapid pace of cha… RUF-34179 2014 CC BY 4.0 14 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Constraints and opportunities for sustainable partnership between Universities, small-holder farming communities and development agencies: The case of the WATERCAP Project in Uganda F. Birungi Kyazze · P. Kibwika · N. Kiggundu Efforts were undertaken through the auspices of a collaborative project “Strengthening Universities Capacities for Mitigating Climate Induced Change Water Vulnerability – WATERCAP” to address a key challenge of water scarcity in dryland ar… RUF-33884 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Strikes in sugarcane mills: The forms of resistance of migrant workers in Brazil C. Maciel · M. Marilda This paper analyse forms of resistance of migrant workers from rural areas of Northeastern regions of Brazil who labour in the harvesting of cane sugar in sugarcane mills in the state of São Paulo. The focus is the analysis of some “sponta… RUF-33834 2014 CC BY 4.0 10 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Technological change in Uganda’s agriculture between 2005-2010 R.M. Kalibwani · E. Kato · J. Mutenyo The study estimates the rate of technological change in Uganda’s agriculture between 2005- 2010 across the 4 major regions of the country. Using a nationally representative household panel data set, we use a time trend variable in the stoc… RUF-33815 2014 CC BY 4.0 10 Aug 2015
Case Studies Open Access Participatory action research boosts incomes and food security through small-scale aquaculture in Malawi Megan Lindow RUF-33777 2012 CC BY 4.0 22 Jul 2015
