Working Document Series Open Access Efficient regeneration and transformation systems for improving resistance to weevils in Ugandan sweetpotato cultivars M. Ghislain · A. Kiggundu · S. Mukasa · A. Sefasi +1 more Sweetpotato is cultivated worldwide as a valuable source of food. Weevils cause 60-100% loss of productivity. The present study aims at genetically transforming selected Ugandan sweetpotato cultivars with genes that confer resistance to we… RUF-34523 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Climate change adaptation strategies among agricultural communities in Uganda: The case of Kabale and Nakasongla districts P. Isubikalu · J.G.M. Majaliwa · R.L. Mwerera Climate change affects the ability of developing countries to achieve their poverty reduction and sustainable development strategies. Uganda was labeled among the most vulnerable countries to climate change risks. Rural farmers who depend … RUF-34511 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Understanding the gender dimensions of the impact of climate change on agriculture and adaptation among small holder farmers in eastern Uganda B. Bashaasha · J.G.M. Majaliwa · M. N. Mangheni The way gender influences the impact and adaptation to climate change is not well understood. Therefore, the overall objective of the study is to determine the gender dimensions of the impact of climate change on agriculture and small hold… RUF-34496 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access A support tool for enhancing policy decision making for climate change adaptation in agriculture: An information systems approach R. Batte · J.G.M. Majaliwa · A. S. Rwashana Policy decision making often fails to achieve the desired outcomes due to complexity of both the environment and the policy making process itself. This article highlights the impacts of climate change on human livelihood, discusses the wai… RUF-34474 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Introgressing resistance to Turcicum leaf blight and mapping of associated quantitative trait loci in sorghum M. Abdelbagi Ali · Mayada Mamoun Beshir · P. Gibson · P. Okori Screening for Turcicum leaf blight was carried out in F2 and F2:3 segregating sorghum populations under field and controlled conditions. Disease severity as a percentage of leaf area covered by lesions was computed and the lesion type was … RUF-34473 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Participatory analysis of growing season: A key for understanding and copping drought risk in northern Ethiopia A. Araya Berhe Prolonged drought is one of the most serious climatic hazards affecting agricultural production and those most at risk are those countries currently vulnerable to climate variability. Barley is one of the economical and staple food crops g… RUF-34469 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Biotic constraints to passion fruit production in central and eastern provinces of Kenya R. Gathu · N. Kori · J. Mbaka · Maina Mwangi +1 more Passion fruit is an important crop in Kenya for income generation. However, passion fruit production faces major challenges due to pests and diseases that have led to yield losses of 50-100%. To support development of effective integrated … RUF-34463 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Nutrient content of vegetable amaranth (Amaranths cruentus L.) at different harvesting stages N. D. Makobo · T. A. Mtaita · M. D. Shoko Data on the nutritional content of conventional vegetables can be reasonably associated with a specific stage of plant development, but information about the age of plant development to define harvest maturity for wild or indigenous leafy … RUF-34394 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Evaluation of Metarhizium anisopliae for integrated management of termites on maize and Grevillea robusta in Uganda and Kenya H. Agaba · L. Gohole · N.K. Maniania · P. Nyeko +1 more Termites are a major constraint to subsistence agriculture, causing yield losses up to 100%. Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of the fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae for controlling termites, but little is yet known about sustai… RUF-34376 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Distribution and potential invasion of Opuntia spp. on selected Namibian sites L.R. Brown · P.J. Du Preez · I.U. Kavirindi The distribution, density and size attributes of an alien invasive species, Opuntia spp., were assessed on each of north, west, south and eastern communal and commercial farming sites in Namibia. A chemical control trial on this species wa… RUF-34363 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Collection and documentation of Papaya germplasm in Kenya. G. O. Asudi · E. M. Ateka · A. B. Nyende · F. K. Ombwara +2 more Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the major fruit crops of Kenya and the tropics in general. It shows considerable phenotypic variation in morphological and horticultural traits that can be utilized in genetic improvement. The objective … RUF-34358 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Assessment of the fruit fly, Batrocera invadens, pest status and the establishment of the parasitoid, Fopius arisanus in Mozambique G. Albano · D. Cugala · L. Santos Asian fruit flies in the genus Bactrocera (Diptera: Tephritidae) are regarded as some of the most destructive pests of fruits and vegetables worldwide and rank high on quarantine lists worldwide. Losses result from direct feeding damage, d… RUF-34342 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Policy Briefs Open Access Research briefs for the Fourth Graduate Research Grants Call RUF-34334 2015 CC BY 4.0 19 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 study to assess agricultural E-resource use and its impacts within the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture consortium F. Njogu · D. Onyango Electronic resources (E-resources) enable students, lecturers, librarians and researchers, to conduct multiple searches, print citations and full text and access publications remotely through hyperlinks to related content. These processes … RUF-34330 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Strengthening research capacity for agricultural development in post-conflict and protracted crisis countries in africa: A FARA perspective I. Annor-Frempong · N.K. Ojijo, Olang’o Conflicts or crises are prevalent in a number of African countries and invariably cause disruption of economic and livelihood support systems. The agricultural sector, a major contributor to economies of these countries, is often the most … RUF-34327 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Human resource capacity in conservation and use of plant genetic resources in the SADC region: A review M.P. Munyenyembe · L.L. Qhobela This review presents the main achievements made by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) – Plant Genetic Resources Centre (SPGRC) in training and building capacity in conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources s… RUF-34322 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 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 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 African research journals: Challenges and opportunities J.S. Tenywa The need for scholarly journals as a means of dissemination of outputs from African research efforts, particularly the problems and innovations unique to African and related conditions, is overwhelming; yet the operational environment is q… RUF-34284 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Two heads are better than one: Strengthening partnerships in research and higher education D. Doepel · M.P McHenry · S. Sharma Perhaps more than ever our survival as a species is dependent on our collective problem solving ability. Our ability to thrive requires creativity and innovation to seize some amazing opportunities. In both cases - solving problems and sei… RUF-34280 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Tertiary education: A prerequisite to meet global challenges M.J. Kropff · H.J.M. Löffler · C.A.D.M. Van de Vijver Innovation is considered to be crucial for addressing societal and economic challenges and opportunities in the agro-food domain. This calls for high-level educated employees, for which tertiary education is crucial. Since system innovatio… RUF-34279 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
