Working Document Series Open Access Promoting underutilised legumes through food service sector: A case of bambara groundnuts in Malawi A. Kilembe · S. Latif · N. Mponya · A.M. Mwangwela Bambara groundnut is an underutilized yet nutritious legume that is mostly produced by women subsistence farmers on marginal lands. Lack of proper markets and beliefs are among factors that hinder growth in production of the crop. A study … RUF-36509 2016 CC BY 4.0 23 Nov 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Water stress effects on common bean genotypes with four growth habits J. Bokossi · S. Chantiro · R. Chirwa · W. Mkwaila This study evaluated 22 common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes for yield and yield components performance under drought stress conditions. The genotypes were grouped into four growth habits IIIa, IIIb, IVa and IVb, according to Inte… RUF-36501 2016 CC BY 4.0 22 Nov 2016
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Spatial Variability of Hydric Soil Properties to Delineate Khalong-la-Lithunya Wetlands Motlalepula Gerard Rasekoele Spatial variability in wetland soils provide insight into underlying ecosystem processes and may itself give an indication of wetland condition. The study was conducted to characterise and delineate soil variability of wetlands of Khalong-… RUF-36474 2016 CC BY 4.0 7 Nov 2016
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Hydro-period, surface-ground water interactions and water quality to assess wetland condition of Khalong-la-Lithunya Motseko Mots'ets'e Wetland degradation may pose effects on wetland functioning. Wetland hydrology and water quality are important in understanding wetland systems in evaluating wetland functions and processes hence are used to assess the wetland condition. T… RUF-36472 2016 CC BY 4.0 7 Nov 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Processing of leafy plant fibres in Swaziland for multiple end uses M.T. Masarirambi · T.T. Mkhonta · D.A. Otieno · J.M. Thwala +2 more Natural resources have a potential to contribute to national economies, particularly in developing countries. The handcraft sector in Swaziland relies on sisal fibres, which however, are restrictive due to their poor wearable properties. T… RUF-36447 2016 CC BY 4.0 26 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Developing cowpea and bean genotypes with tolerance to bruchid beetle J. Mataa · K. Munyinda · L. Pungulani · P.H. Sohati +1 more Cowpea and beans are important grain legume pulses in sub-Saharan Africa, but yields have been characteristically low as a result of both abiotic and biotic stresses. Among the biotic stresses infestation by the bruchid beetles Callosobruc… RUF-36421 2016 CC BY 4.0 26 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Characterization of water absorption properties of a partial bio-composite made from cotton stalk fibres and phenol formaldehyde resin C. Londiwe Nkiwane · J. Mwasiagi Igadwa · D. Njuguna · Z. Nkosilathi Nkomo +1 more Cotton stalks are a by-product of cotton farming and about two to three tonnes of cotton stalks are generated per hectare of land farmed. In this research, fibres extracted from waste cotton stalks using natural retting and decortication w… RUF-36417 2016 CC BY 4.0 26 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Reducing susceptibility of fresh produce to physical damage during postharvest handling: The case of pomegranate fruit O.A. Fawole · Linus Opara Umezuruike · Hussein Zaharan A large percentage of fruit waste in the horticultural industry results from mechanical damage such as bruising. Fruit bruise damage is mostly caused by impact, compression or vibration during handling, packaging and transport. This study … RUF-36409 2016 CC BY 4.0 26 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Reducing pre-harvest aflatoxin content in groundnuts through soil water management R.L. Brandenburg · H. Chalwe · O.I. Lungu · A. Mutiti Mweetwa +2 more In Zambia, groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important food and market crop. However, the crop has very limited access to international markets due to high concentrations of aflatoxins in kernels, which pose serious health concerns. Th… RUF-36403 2016 CC BY 4.0 26 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access The potential of incorporation of forecasting using time series data into fisheries management in Malawi: Case of management of Oreochromis species of Lake Malawi W.W.L. Jere · J. Kang’ombe · A.H.N. Mtethiwa · M. Mulumpwa +1 more The Chambo fishery has been reported to be declining over the years to the levels that strategies were put in place to restore the fishery by the government and other stakeholders. The effectiveness of these strategies in restoring the cha… RUF-36397 2016 CC BY 4.0 26 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Awareness and control methods of gastrointestinal parasites of merino sheep among farmers of Maseru district, Lesotho M.A. Mahlehla · A.M. Matebesi · M.J. Moiloa · S. Molapo +2 more This study evaluated the prevalence and control methods for gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) in sheep in the two agro-ecological zones of the district of Maseru, Lesotho. Data were collected among 174 randomly selected farmers of Matsieng… RUF-36366 2016 CC BY 4.0 20 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Foxtail millet as a new crop in Namibia: Varietal seed differences in germination L.S.M. Akunadabweni · A.N. Aluvilu · S.N. Nghituwamhata Time of planting is a critical agronomic precedent to success or failure of a crop in the field. Any delay can drastically reduce yield or completely fail a crop given the influence of incongruent environmental factors such as temperature,… RUF-36316 2016 CC BY 4.0 20 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Evaluation of performance of soyabean under farmers specific biosphysical and social environment K. Longwe · W. Mhango · H. Mwale · G.Y.K. Phiri An on farm study was conducted in Kasungu at Mkanakhoti and Kandeu Extension Planning Areas in Malawi to investigate the effect of multi-environment (biophysical and social economic) factors on performance of soybean. The community was sen… RUF-36300 2016 CC BY 4.0 20 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Evaluation of polymorphisms among South African winter wheat varieties M. Chemonges · L. Herselman · Z.A. Pretorius · B. Visser Wheat production globally is constrained by among other factors stem rust. Stem rust is a major disease of wheat that can result in up to 100% yield losses. Though stem rust had been managed before using host resistance genes, most of thes… RUF-36273 2016 CC BY 4.0 19 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Determinants of participation in farmer organisations among smallholder farmers in Malawi M.V. Madola This study investigated the prevalence and the determinants of participation in farmer organisations among smallholder farmers in Balaka District, Malawi. The study explored these issues using a sample of cotton farmers in Malawi, to speci… RUF-36196 2016 CC BY 4.0 16 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Rural youth participation in Agriculture: Exploring the significance and challenges in the control of agricultural sector in Zambian J.M. Kwenye · T. Sichone Agriculture plays a major role in the economic growth and development of most countries. Consequently, the need for effective and progressive agricultural development is fundamental. To achieve this, the active group of individuals, consti… RUF-36194 2016 CC BY 4.0 16 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Creating channels, connections, and communities: Experimenting with virtual rural agricultural learning communities in Nkhotakota district, Malawi R. Chapota · P. Chinkhokwe · J. M. Kisebe · C. Mloza-Banda In the simplest form, an agricultural innovation system has three elements: the organizations and individuals involved in generating, diffusing, adapting and using new knowledge; the interactive learning that occurs when organizations enga… RUF-36175 2016 CC BY 4.0 16 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Reception analysis and popularity of American action movies in Kampala, Uganda P. Atim · P. Boshoff This study set out to examine the meaning that young working class men living in Kampala, Uganda, make of American action movies in Bibanda, informal video-viewing halls. The study examined the ways in which these meanings may contribute t… RUF-36167 2016 CC BY 4.0 15 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Analysis of entrepreneurship development at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources: A case study of the Agripreneur Program J Lepetu · R. Mabe Entrepreneurship development (ED) is a common phrase in the current business world, and similarly so in Botswana. The goal of the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) incubation agripreneur programme in collabora… RUF-36113 2016 CC BY 4.0 14 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access MSc curriculum development and the necessary quality assurance for effective delivery, based on the experiences under the ADECEA MSc program for Burundi and Ghent University processes and experiences Luc D’Haese The higher education system in Burundi was recently restructured on the basis of the “LMD” “Licence, Master’s, and Doctorate” degree system. The Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology (FABI) made an effort to revitalize the academic envi… RUF-36096 2016 CC BY 4.0 14 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Unlocking Africa’s agricultural development through public-private partnerships, supportive curricula and agriculture friendly policy D.L. Bese · L. Coetzee · B. Dayimani · C.T. Kadzere +2 more With over 25% of the world’s arable land being in Africa, the continent could play a pivotal role in producing food and fiber for itself and for the export basket to feed a waxing global population projected to reach nine billion by 2050. … RUF-36092 2016 CC BY 4.0 14 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Public-Private-University partnerships in agriculture science research for economic development in Africa: Lessons from North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park C.T. Kadzere The objective of this paper was to discern how public-private-university partnerships (PPUPs) in Africa can support agriculture science research for economic development, similar to what Research Triangle Park (RTP) has done for North Caro… RUF-36086 2016 CC BY 4.0 14 Oct 2016
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Evaluation of the occurence of parasitoids associated with the invasive coconut whitefly (Aleurotrachelus atratus) in Inhambane Province, Mozambique Ronald Kityo The coconut whitefly, Aleurotrachelus atratus Hempel (Homoptera; Aleyrodidea) is a highly invasive pest of coconut and ornamental palms (Arecaceae). In Mozambique, it was first detected in 2011 and 100% of infested plants have been reporte… RUF-36020 2016 CC BY 4.0 1 Sep 2016
Journal articles Open Access Positioning smallholder farmers in the dairy innovation system in Malawi: a perspective of actors and their roles Mizeck Chagunda · Sylvia Chindime · P. Kibwika The preference of an innovation systems approach to development is based on its inclusiveness and the interactions of actors to co-influence each other, to learn and innovate and to bring about tangible benefits. As more actors with divers… RUF-36015 2016 CC BY 4.0 23 Aug 2016
Journal articles Open Access Genetic diversity and heterotic grouping of the core set of southern African and temperate maize (Zea mays L) Inbred lines using SNP markers Richard Chanda · Thomas Lubberstedt · M.S. Mwala · D.S. Osiru The establishment of heterotic groups and heterotic patterns is crucial to a successful maize hybrid breeding programme. Molecular markers can be used for differentiating maize into heterotic groups which can be used for maximum exploitati… RUF-36008 2016 CC BY 4.0 12 Aug 2016
