Journal articles Open Access An appraisal of farmer variety selection in drought prone areas and Its implication to breeding for drought tolerance Shamiso. Chikobvu · Kassie. Girma Tesfahun · C. Magorokosho · X. Mhike +1 more Maize production and productivity among small scale farmers of southern Africa is limited mainly by drought and low soil fertility. This study aimed at assessing how farmers prioritize selection of varieties for planting under drought stre… RUF-35601 2012 CC BY 4.0 7 Oct 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Innovative breeding for drought tolerance and fertilizer use efficiency in maize S.C. Muchena This paper highlights outcome of research that was initiated as part of a graduate PhD research thesis, but has today led to development of commercial maize varieties in Southern Africa. It clearly demonstrates that university-based resear… RUF-35218 2010 CC BY 4.0 17 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 Determination of milk components lost in whey during the manufacture of three cheese types P.T. Banda · C.T. Ndavambi · W. Parawira A small-scale farm in Harare processes soft goat cheese from goat milk and feta and gouda cheese from jersy cow milk. Milk constituents were measured in milk and as residual components in whey after processing cheese. Residual phosphorus a… RUF-34940 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Prominence of goat milk consumption and determinants of attitudes towards the milk in five agro-ecological zones of Zimbabwe P.T. Banda · S. Mpofu · D.M. Pfukenyi This study determined the prominence and determinants of attitudes towards goat milk consumption in agro-ecological zones I to V of Zimbabwe. Data were collected from 545 households and analyzed using SPSS. Generally, milk was consumed at … RUF-34928 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Assessment of milk producers’ awareness of milk-borne zoonoses, prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis in selected smallholder and commercial dairy farms of Zimbabwe G. Matope · D. Mosalagae · D. Pfukenyi The study assessed milk producers’ awareness of milk-borne zoonoses and prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis in selected smallholder and commercial dairy farms of Zimbabwe. A total of 119 dairy producers were interviewed; 21 (17.6%) … RUF-34918 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 Breed preference, selection criteria and production performance of dairy cattle in the selected smallholder dairy farms in Zimbabwe B.T. Hanyani-Mlambo · E.V Imbayawro-Chikosi · L. Marius · C. Mutisi This study identified breed preferences, production performance and selection criteria used in selecting dairy breeds in Zimbabwe. A questionnaire based survey was conducted on 109 smallholder dairy farmers in Zimbabwe and data were analyz… RUF-34869 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effects of optimised innovative soil fertility and water management technologies on maize production in two contrasting soils in Harare, Zimbabwe S. Madyiwa · J. Nyamangara · B. Nyamasoka · P. Nyamugafata +1 more Poor soil fertility and fertiliser management coupled with increased frequency of mid-season droughts induced by climate change have made it difficult for urban farmers to get sustainable crop yields especially on sandy soils. Urban farmer… RUF-34692 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effects of innovative farmer practices in soil fertility and water management on soil productivity and maizeand leafy vegetable production in Harare, Zimbabwe S. Madyiwa · J. Nyamangara · B. Nyamasoka · P. Nyamugafata Poor soil fertility and increased frequency of mid-season droughts due to climate change have made it difficult for urban farmers to get sustainable crop yields especially on sandy soils. Higher yields can be attained by urban farmers if p… RUF-34657 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The effect of super phosphate and planting density on mini-tuber production from true potato seed T. A. Mtaita · M. Mutetwa · M. D. Shoko Improving tuber seed quality and availability is institutionally complex in the tropics and sub-tropics. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of superphosphate and plant density on mini-tuber production from true pota… RUF-34649 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 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 Genetic inheritance studies and early generation marker selection in maize breeding for drought tolerance C. Magorokosho · X. Mhike · P. Okori It has been estimated that approximately US $10 billion of primary food production is lost annually because of drought. Interventions like irrigation are options the majority of the smallholder farmers in sub Saharan Africa cannot afford. … RUF-34476 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Enhancing genetic resistance to soybean rust disease R. Bandyopadhyay · M. Maphosa · C. Mukankusi · H. Talwana Soybean is an important crop worldwide with unrivalled protein quality and content. Sustenance of soybean productivity is, however, compromised by the devastating soybean rust disease caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Some resist… RUF-34472 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 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 Towards resilient and profitable family farming systems in Central Mozambique M. Hauser · F. Mazuze · J Onofre Rainde · D. Rodriguez +3 more This research improves our understanding of diversity across Mozambique’s family farming systems in terms of local agro-ecological potentials, existing market opportunities and production objectives as well as the household level resource … RUF-33930 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
