Impact of participatory training on biosecurity protocols on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of smallholder pig farmers in Uganda

Irish Ai

Spatial Variation of The Impact of Salmonella Bacteria on The Soil of The Plateau (Najaf – Karbala) Using Modern Technologies

The research concluded through field studies and laboratory work that there  is spatial and temporal variation of soil contamination with Salmonella bacteria in the soil of the plateau (Najaf – Karbala) within the center of Najaf district and Al-Haydariyah sub-district by taking (36)sites and(144)models and by four seasons ( summer, autumn, winter and spring) and then  diagnosed and analyzed  microbiologically and  know their types and numbers and the effects caused by these pathological species on humans, animals and plants, as two types of Salmonella  bacteria were discovered in the soil of the study area and these two types were (Salmonella enteritidis,  Salmonella typhi) was also known to have spatial variation for all the previous two species, as it was found that there are sites that record the highest presence of Salmonella bacteria in the soil of the study area, on the contrary, there are sites that did not record any presence of this bacteria , and the temporal variation between the seasons was also known, as autumn and spring recorded the highest presence and then winter ranked third and finally recorded the summer in terms of the total number of Salmonella bacteria in the soil of the study area, and finally the research concluded that the study area poses an environmental threat to the population in particular and the population of Najaf Governorate In general, what these types of bacteria leave on the environment

Spatial Analysis of the Effect of Aspergillus spp Fungus on the Soil of the Plateau (Najaf - Karbala)

This study investigated the spatial and temporal variation of Aspergillus spp fungus in the soil of the Najaf-Karbala plateau, covering Najaf district center and Al-Haidariya district. Soil samples were collected from 36 sites over four seasons and analyzed microbiologically to identify types and quantities of Aspergillus spp fungus. Spatial analysis techniques, including GIS and spatial autocorrelation, were used to examine the distribution of Aspergillus spp fungus across the study area. The results showed significant spatial and temporal variation in the occurrence of Aspergillus spp fungus, with highest concentrations found in autumn and spring seasons. The study highlights the environmental hazard posed by Aspergillus spp fungus in the Najaf-Karbala plateau soil, with potential health risks for humans, animals, and plants. Further research is needed to understand the sources and drivers of Aspergillus spp fungus presence and to develop strategies for mitigating its environmental and health impacts

Yield performance of short duration pigeon pea cultivars in northern and Eastern Uganda

Field experiments were carried out at Serere Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute (SAARI) and Ngetta Experimental Station to evaluate the yield performance of short-duration pigeon pea lines. The study was conducted in two stages; on-station and on-farm trials. On-station trials were carried out during first rains of 1993, 1994 and 1995, while on-farm trials were carried in Lira district during the first rains of 1996 and 1997. Twelve improved pigeon pea lines were evaluated and Apio-Elina local pigeon pea variety was used as check (control). Improved pigeon pea line gave higher yields than the local variety. Amongst the improved lines, KAT 60/8 and ICPL 87091 consistently gave high yields across the sites and years. Highest yield 3200 kg ha-1 was obtained from KAT 60/8, while the lowest yield (570 kg ha-1) was from the local variety. KAT 60/8, ICPL 87091, ICPL 87102 and ICPL 87104, performed well and were selected for on-farm testing. Results from on-farm trials indicated that KAT 60/8 and ICPL 87091 performed better that the other two and were then recommended for release. KAT 60/8 was then named as SEPI 1 while ICPL 87091 named as SEPI 2

Institutionalising client-oriented participatory agricultural research through regional competitive agricultural technology funds

The strengthening and adoption of farmer participatory research methodologies often pose institutional issues and constraints for the various actors and organisations involved. The Uganda National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) is committed to improving the effectiveness oftechnology development and dissemination through increased stakeholder participation in all stages of the research and dissemination process. One of the ways in which NARO is attempting to address institutional constraints to strengthening farmer participatory research is through regional competitive agricultural technology funds, which are being piloted in east and northern Uganda. Application and screening procedures are briefly described, and the applications received in the first two rounds are analysed in terms of partnerships, resources and agricultural themes. The approach appears to be reasonably effective in strengthening stakeholder participation and linkages, and in mobilising skills and resources for participatory research and dissemination. Future challenges include increasing the number of high quality projects submitted by civil society and local government organisations, ensuring meaningful farmer participation, strengthening partnerships and securing sustainable funding

Fruit fly infestation in mango: A threat to the Horticultural sector in Uganda

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephtritidae) are one of the most important insect pests to fruits worldwide. In Uganda, fruit flies have inflicted considerable yield losses especially in mangos (Mangifera indica L.), However, there has been no recent assessment of the associated economic damage impact despite the outcries from the farming communities. The objective of this study was to assess fruit fly prevalence and infestation in mango and other hosts, to guide the development and improvement of fruit fly control measures in the mango industry in Uganda. A survey was conducted in the major mango producing areas of the country. Four fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) species were recovered from various field-collected fruits; namely Bactrocera invadens, Ceratitis cosyra, Ceratitis rosa and Ceratitis capitata. Bactrocera invadens was the most prevalent species (98%), while C. capitata was the populous. A total of 73% of the mango fruit samples collected from seven agro-ecological zones was found infested with fruit fly larvae. Fruit samples from West Nile had the highest infestation (83%), followed by Northern Moist, Lake Victoria Crescent, and Western Medium High Farmland, with 78, 75 and 73% fruit fly infestation, respectively. It was common to experience 100% fruit losses across the agro-ecological zones in the absence of control measures. The situation was increasingly severest with exotic commercial varieties. Besides mangoes, over 15 other cultivated and wild fruits acted as alternative hosts to the fruit flies

Assessment of farmers knowledge and preferences for planting materials to fill-gaps in banana plantations in southwestern Uganda

Banana (Musa spp.) plantations in central Uganda used to be productive for 30-100 years. Due to prevalence of the banana weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus L.), life spans have fallen to only <5 years. This forces farmers to establish new plantations or replant existing ones, usually using infested materials. To determine farmers’ knowledge and sources of planting materials and the cleaning techniques used, a household survey was conducted in southwestern Uganda. Up to 99% of the farmers reported C. sordidus as their major pest, and at least 50% reported gap-filling mainly due to land and banana weevil pressure. Most farmers (>80%) obtained planting materials from home/neighbours’ gardens. Corm paring (recommended for cleaning) was minimal, with 87% of farmers just trimming a few roots from the suckers. Most (90%) farmers preferred maiden suckers for gap-filling, believing that they establish and mature faster, and withstand weevil damage compared with other planting materials. Based on farmers’ experience and the results of an on-station study at the National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL), Kawanda, we recommend the use of maiden suckers when replanting in already infested plantations or those at risk

Implementation of the AquaCrop Model for Forecasting the Effects of Climate Change on Water Consumption and Potato Yield Under Various Irrigation Techniques

In this study, the AquaCrop model was employed to analyze the impact of projected future climate changes on the water usage and biomass production of potato crops in Babylon, Iraq, under varying irrigation methods. The irrigation techniques evaluated included sprinkler irrigation, surface drip irrigation, and subsurface drip irrigation at depths of 10 cm and 20 cm. The study involved simulating and forecasting conditions for the year 2050, comparing them to current conditions. The model measured and predicted the evapotranspiration (ETa) and actual biomass of potato crops for 2050 using the RCP 8.5 scenarios, which outline different trajectories for greenhouse gas emissions. The AquaCrop model was calibrated and validated using statistical measures such as the R2, RMSE, CV, EF, and D, achieving a 99% accuracy level in its performance. The findings suggest that using drip irrigation systems and applying the AquaCrop model significantly mitigates the adverse effects of environmental stress on desert soils and enhances sustainable agricultural practices in arid regions

Studies of pigeonpea insect pests and their management in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda

Systematic surveys were conducted in farmers= fields in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda to determine the incidence, distribution and damage levels due to insect pests of pigeonpea seeds. Three surveys were conducted in eastern Kenya, one in 1992 and two in 1995. Two surveys, one per country per year - were conducted in Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda in 1995 and 1996. Key insect pests were pod sucking bugs (dominated by Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stal), pod and seed boring Lepidoptera (Helicoverpa armigera Hübner, Maruca vitrata (= testulalis) Geyer, Etiella zinkenella Treitschke), and pod fly (Melanagromyza chalcosoma Spencer). Seed damage due to insect pests were 22, 15, 14, and 16% in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda, respectively. Damage levels indicated that pod sucking bugs were more damaging in Malawi (caused 69% of total seed damage) and Kenya (43%), while pod borers caused more damage in Tanzania (50%) and Uganda (54%). Pod fly caused more damage in Kenya than in the other countries. Pod borer damage was high in early maturing crops and pod fly in late maturing crops, while pod sucking bugs damage was high regardless of crop maturity period. Greater variations in seed damage were observed between locations in Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania than in Uganda. Warm and dry locations had less seed damage than warm and humid, cool and dry, or cool and humid locations in Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania. None of the farmers visited in Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda used conventional pesticides on pigeonpea in the field. Over 80% of these farmers used traditional methods in storage pest management. In contrast, 35 and 53% of farmers in Kenya had used conventional pesticides on long-duration pigeonpea genotypes in their fields

The Normative Agency of Regional Organizations and Non‐governmental Organizations in International Peace Mediation

This article analyzes the increasingly prominent role of regional organizations (ROs) and non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) in promoting norms in mediation processes. In particular, we seek to understand the processes by which RO and NGO mediators promote the inclusivity norm to negotiating parties and the outcomes that result. We employ the concepts of local agency and social practices in examining the normative agency of ROs and NGOs in promoting and redefining the inclusivity norm. Through illustrative case studies of peace processes in South Sudan and Myanmar, we argue that ROs’ and NGOs’ mediation practices reflect their claims to alternative resources of power, such as long‐standing expertise and insider status in the context, and build congruence with strong local norms. We provide nuanced theoretical insights on RO and NGO mediators’ claims to agency and provide empirical illustrations on how these claims contribute to constitutive changes to norms