Goromonzi District Research Articles

NEMATODE MANAGEMENT IN RAIN-FED SMALLHOLDER MAIZE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS UNDER CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN ZIMBABWE

SUMMARYNematode infestation in Sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) cropping systems, worsened by poor crop rotations, is a major factor contributing to limited utilisation of applied nutrients and water, leading to low maize (Zea mays L.) yields particularly on sandy soils. The effects of nematode infestation on maize productivity were evaluated under conservation agriculture (CA) on granitic sandy soils in sub-humid smallholder farms of Goromonzi district of Zimbabwe. Four treatments were tested for three seasons on six smallholder farmers’ fields in a randomised complete block design, each farm being a replicate: fenamiphos 40EC (a commercial synthetic nematicide), lime + fenamiphos 40EC, lime and an untreated control. Results of the study showed that independent application of fenamiphos 40EC and lime significantly reduced plant parasitic nematode infestations in maize roots by more than 10 times those present in the untreated plots while maize yield also increased significantly. Yield increase from fenamiphos and lime applications amounted to 53 and 42% respectively, compared to the untreated controls. Maize yield was negatively correlated with density of Pratylenchus spp. nematodes. Nematode management strategies involving fenamiphos 40EC or lime could significantly reduce maize yield losses in maize-based smallholder farming systems of SSA under CA. It was more economical to use fenamiphos than lime to control nematodes.

A Comparative Evaluation of the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Program for Seke and Goromonzi Districts, Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe, 2017

Background: In 2009, Zimbabwe incorporated Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) to a consortium of measures to eliminate HIV transmission by 2030. Seke and Goromonzi districts simultaneously commenced implementing VMMC. These districts have comparable population, geography, and support yet scored varied performances. Cumulatively, (2009-2016) Seke achieved 83% while Goromonzi achieved 15% of set circumcision targets. We compared the performance of the VMMC program in the 2 districts. Methodology: A process evaluation was conducted modelled on a logical framework. Interviewer-administered questionnaires and checklists were used to collect data. Epi info7 was used to generate frequencies and proportions. Results: Three health facilities in Seke and four in Goromonzi were implementing VMMC. Material resources were maintained at three months buffer stock and human resources equitably distributed between the two districts. Additional support (three nurses), from the national army, was received by Seke, and management provided vehicle support for program activities. Goromonzi conducted half of the targeted mobilisations (6/12) and Seke 12/12. Similar amounts of financial support were simultaneously disbursed. Seke circumcised 99.5% (4716) and Goromonzi 48.5% (2372) of annual targets. Adverse reactions were 0.04% (2) for Seke and 2.3% (55) for Goromonzi for same period with no review meetings conducted. Seke participants attributed performance to effective demand creation (22; 100%), effective coordination (20; 90.9%) and management support (21; 95.5%). Goromonzi participants cited delayed payments (20; 90.9%), lack of active leadership involvement in planning and execution (14; 63.6%) and weak mobilisations (11; 50%) to have worked against the program. Conclusion: Effective demand creation and coordination, manpower boost and leadership support enhanced VMMC program performance for Seke and was therefore recommended for Goromonzi. Resource availability did not translate to performance in Goromonzi where lack of active leadership involvement in planning and execution, weak mobilisations resulted in poor results. Robust demand creation strategies were suggested for both districts.

The effect of conditioning and natural aeration methods on rate of moisture loss and crude protein content of Lablab purpureus herbage during hay-making

The objective of this on-farm study was to develop an effective and labour-extensive method to cure forage Lablab purpureus ‘Highworth’ for resource-constrained smallholder farmers in the Goromonzi district, Zimbabwe in 2014. In a completely randomised factorial design, the drying rate of forage subjected to three conditioning treatments, viz. pressing with a plain water-filled 200 L steel drum, pressing with a water-filled 200 L steel drum covered with 14-gauge wire mesh, and chopping to 5 cm length with a machete, was compared with that of unconditioned forage. The conditioning treatments were subjected to three natural aeration methods, viz. Aframe, raised platform, and dry ground. Replicated four times, conditioned forage was cured at a swath density of 25 kg m−2 to cover 3 m2 per treatment over 28 d. Conditioning of forage had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on drying rate. However, conditioning did not have a significant (p > 0.05) effect on crude protein content. Aeration treatments did not have a significant effect (p > 0.05) on drying rate or crude protein content. Moisture loss rate was higher for forage conditioned with a wired drum and machete. Conditioning with a machete was most labour intensive compared with drum conditioning treatments. Laceration and pressing is an effective and labour-extensive conditioning method for resource-constrained smallholder farmers.

Risk factors of HIV infection among farm workers at Rattray Arnold Research Farm in Goromonzi district, Zimbabwe: a qualitative study

Notwithstanding the generally declining levels of HIV in Zimbabwe, HIV prevalence remains exceedingly high in commercial farms. Risky sexual practices underpinned by poverty, unreliable supply of condoms and lack of entertainment are the major underlying factors facilitating the spread of HIV. We carried out a qualitative study among farm workers at Rattray Arnold Research Farm in Goromonzi district in Zimbabwe to establish the prevalence of HIV, factors underlying HIV transmission among the farm workers and the impact of HIV and AIDS on the farm. Six focus group discussions and five key informant interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data. The study established that misconceptions about the modes of transmission are still pervasive among participants. Contrary to widespread knowledge about HIV and AIDS, high risk sexual behaviours and low condom use are still major concerns. Lack of health services at the farm — compounded by respondents’ negative attitudes towards use of condoms — also exacerbates exposure to HIV infections. Reports from the Home-based Care Officer revealed that HIV prevalence at the farm is estimated at about 42%. Further, morbidity and mortality due to HIV have profound effects on the daily activities at the farm. The study recommends that health services must be availed at the farm in addition to providing information, education and communication so as to foster positive behaviour change, while dispelling myths associated with HIV modes of transmission and preventive strategies.

An Econometric Model of the Determinants of Married Women?s Land Rights in A1 Resettlement Areas in Zimbabwe

The study investigated the major determinants of married women’s land rights under the fast track land reform programme, 2000-2002 in A1 resettlement areas in Zimbabwe using econometric analysis on national baseline survey. Case data collected in Goromonzi District through in-depth interviews, direct observations and documentary reviews were used to complement results from the econometric model. Although the focus was on women beneficiaries of the fast track land reform programme, the study adopted a gender approach to study both men and women. The study revealed that extra-household factors such as the method used to make beneficiaries aware about the fast track land reform programme, the size of arable area cultivated and provincial differentials of male and female beneficiaries determined the probability of women’s land holding. This meant that social assets were a strong determinant of women’s land rights and hence the socio-political environment should not be ignored when analysing the distribution of land under the fast track land reform programme. The study recommended that individual level asset ownership data should be collected in order to evaluate and understand how benefits of development programmes are shared between men and women and that allocation of land under the land reform programme should focus on individuals within households. Methods should be devised to inform women about their land rights and the avenues through which these rights can be enforced. A study of each province would be required to unravel the underlying factors for the differential land distribution patterns by sex in provinces.

Women and Participation in Civil Society: Do Women Get Empowered? The Case of Women in Goromonzi District in Zimbabwe

Using a case study of the Goromonzi District in Zimbabwe, this article explores whether women's participation in informal politics leads to the collective empowerment of women at the community level. Furthermore, the article seeks to investigate opportunities and constraints that exist for improving the position of women. Results show that due to unequal access to and control over resources, discriminatory attitudes and perceptions against women, and entrenched systems of political patronage, participating in informal local-level politics may empower individuals, but it does not empower women as a group. To be empowering, informal political organizations should pursue a transformatory political agenda that seeks to challenge social relations which perpetuate inequality between men and women.

Who was allocated Fast Track land, and what did they do with it? Selection of A2 farmers in Goromonzi District, Zimbabwe and its impacts on agricultural production

Questions of who was allocated land under Zimbabwe's Fast Track land reform programme and how productive the beneficiaries have been are highly controversial. This article presents detailed empirical data on beneficiaries who were small and medium-sized commercial farms (the A2 model) in Goromonzi district, land allocation processes, and land use. Goromonzi District is one of the four districts that share a boundary with Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe. A questionnaire survey targeting 65 A2 beneficiaries was implemented in 2003, while key informant interviews were done in 2006. Drawing on both primary and official data, the article shows that official criteria for selecting beneficiaries for A2 farms that emphasized the potential to use the land productively were ignored in practice. The institutions responsible for land allocation were captured by members of the ruling party and by representatives of the state security apparatus, and most beneficiaries were drawn from the governing or the local elite. Many lacked sufficient capital to invest meaningfully in commercial agriculture, did not have relevant farming experience, and were unable to put the bulk of their land into production for several years. As a result, in Goromonzi District the impact of Fast Track land reform on commercial agriculture has been negative.

A survey of ectoparasites, cestodes and management of free-range indigenous chickens in rural Zimbabwe

A survey of ectoparasites, cestodes and husbandry aspects of indigenous free-range chickens was carried out in selected districts from the highveld and lowveld of rural Zimbabwe. The survey recorded infection with 4 species from the order Phthiraptera (lice), 1 species from the order Siphonaptera (fleas), 6 species from the order Acarina (ticks and mites) and 9 species of cestodes. Among the ectoparasites, the most prevalent was Menacanthus stramineus (87.7%) followed by Echidinophaga gallinacea (71.9%). Chickens in the Mazowe district had the highest number of ectoparasites species (10 of 11) followed by Goromonzi district (9 of 11) both these districts are situated in the highveld of Zimbabwe. The most prevalent cestode species was Raillietina tetragona (84.4%), followed by Raillietina echinobothrida (32.2%). Chickens in the Goromonzi district had the highest number of cestode species (7 of 9), followed by Mazowe district (one subgenus and 5 of 9). In all the districts sampled the main purpose of keeping free-range chickens was for meat for the household, with few households using the birds as a source of income. The majority of households kept their birds extensively with barely any appropriate housing, and supplementary feeding was only occasionally practised.

Manure and soil properties affect survival and persistence of soyabean nodulating rhizobia in smallholder soils of Zimbabwe

Persistence of the soyabean rhizobial inoculant strain MAR 1491 was assessed in 52 soils from Guruve, Hurungwe and Goromonzi districts of Zimbabwe, which had been inoculated 1–4 or 6 years previously. Most probable number estimates of rhizobia in the soils showed that population sizes decreased with increasing time since the last inoculation. Rhizobial populations of up to 10 2 cells g −1 soil were found in Guruve soils inoculated 3 years before, while persistence in Hurungwe and Goromonzi soils was significant for soils inoculated 2 years before. The greater rhizobial persistence in Guruve soils was attributed to their higher clay (>20%) and organic C (>1%) compared with the sandier, relatively less fertile Hurungwe and Goromonzi soils. Farmers with favourable soils such as those in Guruve can grow soyabean for at least 3 years without the need for repeat inoculation. Manure application led to increased indigenous rhizobial numbers at two smallholder sites and larger numbers of rhizobia in inoculated plots in sandy soils from Goromonzi. Inoculation and manure addition increased rhizobial numbers and soyabean yields in field experiments; soyabean yields varied from 0.5 t ha −1 in uninoculated, unmanured plots to 1.1 t ha −1 in inoculated plots receiving 10 t manure ha −1. Increases in numbers closely followed the progress of the wet season. The highest rhizobial population of 10 5 cells g −1 soil was obtained in plots that had received 10 t ha −1 manure when a high soil moisture (15%, w/w) was recorded during the cropping season, while the lowest population of 10 1 cells g −1 soil was recorded in treatments during the dry season when soil moisture was low (<2%). Increases in rhizobial numbers upon manure addition were attributed to the high organic C content (38%) of the manure, which acted as a source of C and provided a favourable environment for bacterial multiplication. Farmers can benefit from using cattle manure to enhance rhizobial survival and persistence in sandy soils, increasing the period before the next inoculation is required.

Ecto-, endo- and haemoparasites in free-range chickens in the Goromonzi District in Zimbabwe

A cross-sectional study determined the prevalence of ecto-, endo- and haemoparasites in free-range chickens from the Goromonzi District, Zimbabwe. Fifty young and 50 adult birds were selected randomly. All chickens harboured ecto- and endoparasites, and 32% were infected with haemoparasites. Eight different ectoparasites were identified; the more prevalent ones had the following prevalences (young, %; adult, %): Argas persicus (6; 14), Cnemidocoptes mutans (6; 32), Echidnophaga gallinacea (72; 74), Goniocotes gallinae (0; 22), Menacanthus stramenius (90; 88) and Menopon gallinea (24; 66). The prevalences of C. mutans, G. gallinae and M. gallinae were higher in adults compared to young chickens. The mean (±S.D.) number of helminth species per chicken was 6.7±2.0 for young chickens and 6.4±2.0 for adult chickens with a range of 1–10 for young chickens and a range of 1–11 for adult chickens. The most prevalent nematodes identified were (with prevalence in % for young/adult birds): Allodapa suctoria (76; 72), Ascaridia galli (48; 24), Gongylonema ingluvicola (28; 56), Heterakis gallinarum (64; 62) and Tetrameres americana (70; 62). For cestodes the prevalences were: Amoebotaenia cuneata (60; 68), Hymenolepis spp. (62; 80), Raillietina echinobothrida (66; 34), Raillietina tetragona (94; 100) and Skrjabinia cesticillus (50; 76). The young chickens had higher prevalences of A. galli and R. echinobothrida compared to adults, but lower prevalence of G. ingluvicola and S. cesticillus. Eimeria spp. oocysts were isolated in 36% of 47 investigated samples. The prevalence was 47% for young chickens and 18% for adult chickens. Prevelances (in %) of haemoparasites in young and adult chickens were: Aegyptinella pullorum (7; 6), Leucocytozoon sabrazesi (3; 1), Plasmodium gallinaceum (8; 6) and Trypanosoma avium (2; 3).

An outbreak of dysentery in a rural district of Zimbabwe: the role of personal hygiene at public gatherings.

To characterize the nature and extent of the outbreak; to determine the risk factors associated with contracting shigellosis; and to institute disease control and preventive measures. Case control study. Nyaure Ward, Goromonzi District, Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe. 52 cases and 52 controls. A case was defined as any resident of Nyaure Ward who presented with bloody diarrhoea (three or more loose stools/day) between 25 July and 25 October 1997. Frequencies of symptoms, types of treatment received, risk factors for contracting the illness. The median age was 17 (Q1 = 8, Q3 = 30) years for cases and 19 (Q1 = 7, Q3 = 28) years for controls. Prominent symptoms were abdominal cramps (96.2%), malaise and fever (92.3%), nausea and vomiting (50.0%). The median duration of diarrhoea was 13 (Q1 = 6, Q3 = 14) days. Eighteen (34.6%) cases were admitted and of these five were referred to a central hospital and two of them complicated with haemolytic uraemic syndrome. The case fatality rate was 1.6%. Twenty four(46.1%) of the cases had Shigella dysenteriae type I, sensitive to Nalidixic acid, Kanamycin, and Doxycycline but resistant to Metronidazole, isolated from the stool specimen. Water samples did not yield any pathogens. Significant risk factors associated with contracting dysentery were shared hand washing in the same standing water at gatherings[OR = 8.47, 95% CI: (2.43-31.33)] or within homes[OR = 60.43, 95% CI: (15.73 to 256.00)]. The use of Blair toilets was a protective factor[OR = 0.03, 95% CI: (0.01 to 0.11)]. The epidemiologic evidence implicated contamination of water used for shared hand washing before meals as the source of the infection. The common practice of shared hand washing in standing water should be discouraged at all gatherings and within households to avoid future outbreaks.

Natural protection of groundwater against bacteria of fecal origin

A survey of rural groundwater quality in Canada showed that some drinking water wells were consistently contaminated with bacteria, whereas others were consistently free of such contamination. The purpose of this study was to identify profile characteristics that make wells susceptible to, or provide natural protection against microbial contamination. Information from surveys was supplemented with information from regional maps of soil, physiography, quaternary and bedrock geology, together with descriptions of stratigraphy from the well driller's records. The prediction of the most relevant factors affecting well water quality in Ontario was evaluated for the different soil and geological profiles in the Goromonzi district of Zimbabwe. High risk wells in Ontario were located most often at sites with older limestone or dolostone bedrock, and in clay or clay loam soil. The presence of a sandy soil may offer some protection to groundwater resources in very vulnerable dug or bored wells. The presence of shale and hardpan layers may offer protection due to the impermeable nature of these deposits. Well construction was a dominant factor affecting water quality. Shallow dug or bored wells, located in sites where there is a thin soil profile or shallow water table, can be very vulnerable to contamination. Dug or bored wells were most affected by the soil and geological setting of the well location. Manure spreading, particularly daily manure application, increased the risk of well water contamination, whereas other farming practices such as tillage were less predictive of well vulnerability. Knowledge of the history of contamination for a well was useful in predicting well susceptibility. A brief assessment of topography and local surface water provided sufficient information to indicate the direction of groundwater flow, the most important feature that can be used to predict the susceptibility of a well in a given location.

Mastitis and milk production in cattle in a communal land of Zimbabwe

A study of the prevalence of mastitis pathogens in lactating cows and the herd characteristics relating to milk production potential was carried out in communal cattle in Goromonzi district of Mashonaland, Zimbabwe. Clinical and subclinical mastitis were rarely observed, and Staphylococcus aureus was the bacterium most frequently isolated. Hand milking was carried out in 46% of herds studied, but there was no association between milking and the presence of mastitis pathogens in the udder. Supplementary data on herd structure and productivity were gathered by a questionnaire survey, and the potential role of communal cattle in milk production is discussed.