Kilosa District Research Articles

Species authentication in meat products sold in Kilosa District in Tanzania using HRM-enhanced DNA barcoding

Species authentication in meat products sold in Kilosa District in Tanzania using HRM-enhanced DNA barcoding

Different groups’ grazing technique preferences in the Miombo woodlands of Eastern Tanzania

Grazing in Miombo woodlands is essential for the livelihoods of the pastoral and agropastoral communities that live adjacent to these fragile ecosystems. However, Miombo woodlands offer not only fodder for livestock but also fertile land for crop farming; hence, they are equally important to the farmers residing in these areas. Due to the importance of the Miombo woodlands for the livelihoods of several groups, the consumption of and competition for Miombo resources has increased over time and now threatens the overall health of the ecosystem. This study aimed to identify the grazing techniques practiced by different livelihood groups in Miombo woodlands; their preferences for different practices, as well as the factors that influence these preferences, so as to understand how sustainable grazing can be achieved for better ecosystem health. The study was conducted in Handeni, Kilombero, and Kilosa districts and covered pastoralists, agropastoralists, and farmers. We carried out focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and a survey of 246 respondents. Un-patterned rotational grazing was the most preferred grazing technique by all three groups, and the only technique the three groups shared a preference for. All the groups took a neutral stance in relation to continuous grazing. Their preferences for other grazing techniques differ. The study highlights the need to raise awareness amongst pastoralists about land ownership and management and recommends enhancing land property rights for all groups in order to harmonize livestock keeping and other land uses for achieving sustainable grazing and overall ecosystem health in the fragile Miombo woodlands of Tanzania.

The status of response to the flood early warnings in Kilosa District, Tanzania

Floods have been a challenging phenomenon, jeopardizing human life and property. Measures have been taken to alleviate flood effects, including using flood early warning systems (EWS), which give warnings to people. Despite the use of warnings from EWS, there is limited information on warnings contribution to mitigate flood effects. This study investigates the status of flood early warning response measures by communities in areas where floods frequently occur in Kilosa District. The data were collected from 375 household heads through surveys and triangulated by 17 participants via focus group discussions, 22 officials through key informant interviews, and a literature survey. The data were descriptively analysed, and chi-square tests and binary logistic regression analyses were done. Results indicate that 76.53 % of the respondents receive flood early warnings from word of mouth among relatives (54.21 %), phones (45.45 %), and radios (31.65 %). Upon receiving the early warnings, 45.43 % inform family members about what to do, 43.82 % vacate flood-prone areas, and 6.99 % make flood emergency response plans. Those flood warning response measures are significantly an outcome of the households’ distance from the rivers causing floods (p < .0001), chances of receiving flood warnings (p < .0001), past flood experience (p < .0001), and the nature of the houses (p < .0007). In conclusion, individuals can proactively protect against floods by diverting floodwaters away from populated areas and reducing human exposure to flood risks. To actively protect against floods, communities should implement multiple warning systems, establish reliable mechanisms to disseminate alerts and install water level gauges in all flood-prone rivers.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for brucellosis in cattle and rodents in Kilosa district, Morogoro, Tanzania

Background: Brucellosis is a global zoonosis caused by gram-negative bacteria that affects a diverse array of hosts including humans, domestic animals as well as wild animals such as cattle (B. abortus), goats, and sheep (B. melitensis), pigs (B. suis), and rodents (B. neotomae), and results in financial setbacks in the livestock industry. This study aimed to identify risk factors and estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle and rodents in Kilosa district, Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2023 to March 2023, cattle were randomly selected and rodents were trapped using Sherman, wire cages, and havahart traps. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein and heart of the cattle and rodents, respectively. Sera were harvested from the collected blood and stored at – 20 ºC. All the sera were screened for brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and confirmed by competitive Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (c-ELISA). The risk factors were captured using a structured questionnaire and analyzed by computing the Chi-square test and generalized linear model. Results: The seroprevalence of brucellosis was found to be 5.31% in cattle (95% CI: 0.0286-0.089) and 0.72% in rodents (95% CI: 0.0002-0.0397). A significant association was observed between grazing style and brucellosis seropositivity in cattle, with cattle that grazed together with sheep and goats having significantly higher odds of seropositivity (OR=6.5; 95% CI: 1.74-42.17, **p &lt; 0.01). Conclusion: The detection of Brucella antibodies in both species indicates ongoing transmission and potential risk to public health. Our findings suggest that rodents may serve as reservoirs of brucellosis, contributing to its persistence and spread. Further research is essential to characterize the specific brucella species circulating among cattle and rodents and to understand the dynamics of interspecies transmission.

Attitude of Community Members towards the Capacity of the Village Land Councils in managing land use conflicts between farmers and pastoralists in Tanzania: A cross sectional Case study Analysis.

Village Land Councils have been established to resolve land use conflicts in rural Tanzania. The history reveals that Tanzania has been mostly affected with the endless land based conflicts between farmers and pastoralists.The presence of VLCs in rural Tanzania has brought significant changes in rural areas where farmers and pastoralists compete to utilize and possess scarce resources. However, rural dwellers have different opinions on the worthness of the respective local organs in resolving land use conflicts between farmers and pastoralists. This study therefore intended to explore attitudes from the community members towards the capacity of the Village Land Councils in managing land use conflicts between farmers and pastoralists. Sem-structured interviews were used to collect data where semantic differential scale was used as the appropriate tool for exploring attitudes from the respondents particularly: farmers and pastoralists who mostly rely on VLCs for mediation services. NVivo software was used for analyzing such data. The results indicated that majority of respondents (farmers and pastoralists) in Mbarali and Kilosa District Councils had positive attitude towards VLCs due to their performance in resolving land use conflicts between farmers and pastoralists. Similar response was obtained from the farmers operating in Tunduru District Council. However, some pastoralists in Tunduru District Councils had remained skeptical on the capacity of the VLCs to resolve conflicts and create conducive working environment for both conflicting parties. Their doubts relied on injustice practices such as corruption, nepotism and tribalism that were directly associated with VLC members. Based on the findings, the study suggests for more capacity building programs for enhancing the capacity of VLC members to act firmly and objectively and for the community members so that they develop a sense of responsibilities in supporting the VLCs’ operations for the common good.

The Impacts of Floods on Crop Production in Kilosa District, Tanzania

Floods pose a major threat to agricultural production in Kilosa District, Tanzania, with the Mkondoa River being a primary source of flooding. This study aimed to assess the impacts of floods on crop production in Kilosa District. A cross-sectional research design was employed, involving a household survey of 120 respondents, focus group discussions and key informant interview with various stakeholders. The results show that floods have had significant negative impacts on crop production in the district. Over 80% of the population in Kilosa depend on agriculture, and this sector is affected by floods. Respondents reported substantial losses in crop yields and damage to farmland due to recurring flood events. The study also identified several initiatives conducted by the local community, organizations and the government to reduce the impact of floods. However, more effort is needed to minimize the impact on crop damage. The insights from this assessment can inform policymakers and development practitioners in designing and implementing effective flood management strategies for Kilosa District

The Impact of Religious Influence on Humanitarianism: Evidence from Local Communities Affected by Floods in Kilosa, Tanzania

This article aims to elucidate the impact of religion on humanitarian practices within local communities affected by floods and the resulting contributions to community survival. Empirical data derived from interviews and focus group discussions conducted with community members in Msowero and Mbigiri wards, Kilosa District, in Morogoro Region, forms the basis of the study findings. Both Muslims and Christians perceive assisting the needy as a divine directive and command, with Holy Scriptures such as the Bible and Quran affirming that those helping their fellow humans will receive divine reward. The act of helping the needy is identified as a means of validating one’s faith, expiating sin, demonstrating respect for others, engaging in worship, and fulfilling a duty to God. The study reveals that individuals in flood-affected local communities actively engage in humanitarianism by helping victims. These acts encompass providing basic necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter, facilitating education services by covering school fees and acquiring uniforms for students, and offering health-related services. Such humanitarian practices significantly contribute to community survival by ensuring the availability of essential resources for victims, promoting good health and well-being, and facilitating access to social services, particularly education for children. This article not only highlights how religiously influenced humanitarianism is pivotal for community survival but also underscores the essential role played by individual local community members as crucial contributors to government and development partners’ endeavours in safeguarding people’s well-being during and after natural disasters like floods.

Drivers of Hired Labour Use among Sugarcane Outgrowers in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania

This study examined the drivers of hired labour use among sugarcane outgrowers in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. The study adopted the cross-sectional survey design, encompassing the population of 8,987, with the sample size of 400 drawn from four villages within Kilosa District. The composition of the sample size was determined through a stratified sampling method, categorising outgrowers based on villages, hamlets and the gender of household heads. Data was gathered through a questionnaire. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were employed, with the dependent variable measured on a dichotomous scale. The results reveal that household size, income, age, gender, land size and farm distance from home significantly influenced the utilisation of hired labour while the level of education was identified as an inconsequential contributing factor. These findings shed light on the recent development of hired labour use among outgrowers in the agro-industrial sector. Therefore, improving the functioning of rural labour markets should be considered an effective way of enhancing labour productivity for the mutual benefits of both households that hire and sell labour.

Effect of fertilizer, planting density and variety on growth and yield of stem cuttings of cassava

The shortage of cassava stem cuttings presents a significant constraint to cassava production in Kilosa district, Tanzania. To address this issue, a field experiment was conducted within the research plots of TARI Ilonga, Kilosa, to evaluate the impact of fertilizer application, planting density, and variety on cassava stem cutting yield. Employing a split-split plot design in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), the experiment featured variety, planting density, and rates of fertilizer combinations as main, sub, and sub-sub factors, respectively. The study focused on three improved varieties of cassava (Kiroba, Chereko, and Mkuranga 1), with planting densities of 10,000, 13,000, and 20,000 plants per hectare, and ten fertilizer treatment rates. Data collected encompassed soil physico-chemical characteristics of the site, total plant height, stem height, stem diameter, number of stem cuttings, and nodes per stem cutting. Analysis of the plant data involved variance analysis, with significant treatments distinguished using Tukey’s honesty significance test (p&lt;0.05). Notably, the application of 150 kg N ha-1 resulted in statistically higher total plant height and stem height, while a planting density of 20,000 plants ha-1 combined with the Kiroba variety exhibited statistically higher numbers of stem cuttings ha-1. The study concludes that for effective stem multiplication, a planting density of 20,000 plants ha-1 and the application of N fertilizers at a rate of 150 kg N ha-1 are recommended.

Gender-based Factors Influencing the Choice of Communication Media for Accessing Agricultural Information in Kilosa and Mvomero Districts, Tanzania

The study examined socio-economic factors influencing the choice of communication media for accessing agricultural information among gender categories, that is, men, women, and youths in Kilosa and Mvomero districts of Tanzania. Data were collected from a sample of 240 selected farmers. Information was collected using structured and semi-structured interviews, and document reviews. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive, inferential and qualitative approaches. A multinomial logit was estimated to identify socio-economic factors such as age of a farmer in farming, education level, types of assets owned, farmer’s marital status, income and nature of farming enterprise in influencing the choice of communication media for accessing agricultural information among men, women, and youths. Results showed that the choice of either television or video or mobile phones or Internet or leaflets or booklets over radio was not statistically gender based. In addition, the choice of leaflets and television by famers over radio in rural areas was influenced by their education level and income at 1% and 3% level of significance respectively. The increase of 1.5 years in schooling influences the farmer to choose leaflets than radio. Similarly, increase of income by 0.3% influences him/her to choose television rather than radio. The income enables the farmer to increase his/her television purchasing power and meet related operational costs by 2%. Generally, the study concludes that the choice between television, video, mobile phones, Internet, leaflets, or booklets over radio was not influenced by gender. However, farmers with low education and income levels did not choose leaflets and television, respectively. The study recommends that policy-makers should formulate appropriate strategies for motivating farmers with low level of education to read leaflets and mobilizing financial resource to enable the government’s intervention on subsidizing television to boost its usage by low-income farmers for timely access to agricultural information.

The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies in Improving Crop Productivity among Youths in Misungwi and Kilosa Districts, Tanzania

The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies in Improving Crop Productivity among Youths in Misungwi and Kilosa Districts, Tanzania

Effect of Integrated Weed Control Options on Growth and Yield of Cassava at Kilosa District, Tanzania

Effect of Integrated Weed Control Options on Growth and Yield of Cassava at Kilosa District, Tanzania

Dietary intake and diversity among children of age 6–59 months in lowland and highland areas in Kilosa District in Morogoro, Tanzania

Dietary intake and diversity among children of age 6–59 months in lowland and highland areas in Kilosa District in Morogoro, Tanzania

Internal Education Stakeholders’ Views on Parents Involvement in Public Secondary Schools’ Affairs in KilosaDistrict in Morogoro Region

Within contemporary society,parents’ involvement in public school affairsis achallengedue to various factors. The present study sought to explore the internal educationstakeholders’ views on parentinvolvement in public secondary schools’ affairs. Specifically, the study aimed to: (i) assess the levels of parents’ awareness of involvement in school matters and (ii) explore factors inhibiting parental involvement in schoolaffairs. The study was conducted at Kisanga secondary school in Kilosa District. It adopted a mixed research approach with the convergent parallel design.It involved 110 participants who were selected through purposive andsimple random samplingtechniques. Data were collected through semi-structured interview guide, structured questionnaires and focus group discussion. The findings showedthat parents’ involvementin school affairs was poordespite the fact that they were aware of theschool meetings and other eventsschedules.The study further revealed that time limitations,variedperceptionstowards teachers, life hardship, lack of awareness on the education policy and parents’ negligence were factors responsible forpoor parents’involvement in public secondary schools’ affairs. Based on these findings, the study concludesthat the government and non-government organisations shouldoffer community education as a mitigation approach for effective parents’ involvement in public secondary schools’ affairs.Lastly,the study recommended to the government of Tanzania to collaborate with other partners through community education to create awareness to every individual citizen on the importance of parents’involvement in school affairs. Keywords:Parent, parents’ involvement, school affairs, stakeholders.

Analysis of Factors Influencing Academic Performance in Primary School National Examination in Tanzania: A Case of Kilosa District

This paper examined the factors influencing academic performance in primary schools in the Kilosa district, Mrogoro region in Tanzania. The study employed a qualitative research approach through a cross-sectional research design. About 106 participants were involved including five (5) head teachers (from five schools), one (1)district education officer, one (1)ward education officer, 30 primary school teachers, and 69 students from the five selected primary schools. Data were collected through interviews and focus group discussions. The collected data were qualitatively analyzed. The study shows that poor academic performance in primary schools in the Kilosa district was first, contributed by a learning environment characterized by the poor quality of school infrastructures, long distance to schools, few desks, and poor teachers' houses. The second was a lack of motivation and the last one was a lack of parental involvement. The findings of this study add to the body of literature on academic performance and learning environment. It also underlines the importance of creating favourable working conditions for both teachers and students that fosters high morale among workers and students. This study also broadens our understanding of the importance of government intervention as part of the strategies for improving teaching and learning environments to improve academic performance.

Partial intermediary value-chain coordination and its effects on productivity of sweet potato in Tanzania

This study investigates the effect of partial intermediary coordination on Tanzania sweet potato productivity. A cross-sectional research design was used, and a sample of 100 small-scale farmers from Kilosa and Gairo Districts were surveyed using both purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data analysis tools included the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Microsoft Excel and Ethnographic Content Analysis. Three key value chain actors primary, secondary, and tertiary were identified by the study, along with their roles and linkages. The majority of farmers identified three main factors that affected crop productivity in the research area: Lack of improved cultivars, restricted access to cash, and small parcels cultivated. Coordination between the horizontal and vertical chain is critical for productivity and efficiency. The study also discovered that weak institutional frameworks exist among key participants in value chain nodes. Farmers and buyers conducted the majority of their business on the spot, and all agreements were unwritten. Meanwhile, only 6% of respondents reported that extension officers had notified them of market price offers and demands from profitable markets. Growers are unable to use innovative production techniques that could lead to economies of scale in shared services and collaborative ventures because of current production practices. It was noticed that rather than raising production, the existing intermediate corporations have contributed to lowering transaction costs. Despite these challenges, there is a lot of potentials for the sweet potato crop to transform rural livelihoods and turn into a valuable commodity. Governance needs to be supported by policies that improve market information flow and necessary infrastructures. While intermediate organizations are essential for improving market connections and lowering transaction costs for dispersed smallholders, it is critical for increasing productivity at the primary production level. Last but not least, the local government should put into effect a strategy designed to promote a climate suitable to the crop. Key words: Partial, Productivity, Coordination, Sweet potatoes, Value-Chain, Smallholders, Actors, Farmers

Recycling for deforestation reduction in Tanzania: Why are households not using waste charcoal?

Abstract. Ngowi NJ, Ngalawa AA. 2022. Recycling for deforestation reduction in Tanzania: Why are households not using waste charcoal?. Asian J For 7: 1-8. Charcoal making and the subsequent waste charcoal produced to contribute to deforestation and the production of greenhouse gases, the major drivers for climate change. Whereas climate change is increasingly becoming a public issue, Africa produces 63% of the total global wood charcoal. Since 2004, the demand for wood charcoal on the continent has risen by 30%, the highest in the world. The low efficiency of locally made earth kilns, between 8% and 36%, reported in Africa has contributed to increased waste charcoal production on the continent. However, more information is needed on the cycling use of waste charcoal in low-income countries. In order to improve forest resource use, we investigated the factors influencing the cycling use of wood waste charcoal in the Kilosa District of East-Central Tanzania between 2020 and 2021. A total of 298 randomly selected households were involved in the survey. SPSS version 20 tools were used in the analysis through cross-tab descriptive statistics and the independent sample t-test. Results show that sex, age, expenditure on fuel energy, environment, and technology for cooking significantly affected household use of waste charcoal (p &lt; 0.05). The availability of wastes (v = 0.272) was the most influential factor in the cycling use of waste charcoal. The paper shows that cycling the use of wood waste charcoal would reduce volumes of trees cleared for firewood and improve sanitation by removing rampantly disposed waste from the environment.

The Effectiveness of Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) Social Assistance on the Care of Elderly in Tanzania: A case of Kilosa District in Morogoro Region

The Effectiveness of Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) Social Assistance on the Care of Elderly in Tanzania: A case of Kilosa District in Morogoro Region

The size of clearings for charcoal production in miombo woodlands affects soil hydrological properties and soil organic carbon

Charcoal production is a major driver of forest degradation in miombo woodlands. Forests play a crucial role in regulating the hydrological cycle, so it is critical to understand how forest degradation and management practices impact water availability, particularly in drylands. Few studies have examined the effect of forest clearing size on the hydrological functioning of soil, particularly under real-world conditions where, following clearing, forests are subject to multiple and prolonged anthropogenic disturbances, as occurs in miombo woodlands which are cleared for charcoal production and commonly used for livestock grazing. The pilot project Transforming Tanzania's Charcoal Sector was established in 2012 with the aim of establishing a sustainable wood harvesting system for charcoal production based on rotational harvesting cycles that allow for natural forest regeneration. Two clearing sizes were established: large clearings (300 × 300 m) harvested by clear-felling, and small clearings (50 × 50 m) harvested in a checkerboard pattern. We examined the effect of these two clearing sizes on soil hydrological properties and soil organic carbon (SOC) in Kilosa district, Morogoro, Tanzania. Our analysis included four treatments: large clearings, small clearings, small intact plots (unharvested plots within the checkboard pattern), and village land forest reserve. For each treatment we assessed the tree cover and measured soil infiltration capacity, soil bulk density, SOC stock, and texture. We also examined the relationship between these variables and the distance to the closest road to better understand the impact of livestock and human disturbance. Our results show that large clearings had the lowest mean infiltration capacity (121 ± 3 mm h−1) and SOC stock content (12 ± 0.2 tonnes ha−1), and the highest bulk density (1.6 ± 0.005 g cm−3) of all the treatments. We found a positive relationship between infiltration capacity and basal area (R2 = 0.71) across all treatments. We also found that infiltration capacity, SOC stock and tree basal area increased with increasing distance from the closest road, while bulk density decreased. We conclude that, in terms of their impact on soil hydrological functioning and SOC stock, small clearings, while not completely unaffected, are better than larger ones. In small clearings, concurrent reductions in tree cover and a relatively low impact on soil hydrological properties could result in increased soil and groundwater recharge compared to unharvested forest areas. Controlling livestock grazing can further minimize soil degradation, producing additional gains.

Factors that influence smallholder farmers' decisions to employ hermetic bag technology for maize grain storage in Kilosa District, Tanzania

The huge maize grain losses caused by a lack of improved storage methods have a negative impact on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and national food security. Despite the effectiveness of hermetic bags against pest insects and fungal growth; and aflatoxins accumulation, the technology is not widely used by smallholder farmers. The survey study was conducted to evaluate the factors that influence the adoption of hermetic bag technology among smallholder farmers in Kilosa district. A total of 180 respondents were purposively selected based on their ability to store maize produce for six months. The data was collected using a smartphone android and responses recorded by open data kit (ODK). The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model in SPSS software. The descriptive results indicated that overall existing maize storage options among smallholder farmers included interwoven polypropylene bags 43.5%, hermetic bags 17.8% and synthetic chemicals and metal silos account for 38% of respondents. The model results indicated that price, access, awareness, farmer’s experience and training factors had a positive and significant impact on the use of hermetic bags. The price variable significantly and negatively influenced the use of hermetic bags at a P&lt;0.01 level of significance. Other independent variables such as awareness, training, access and farmers experience were positively significant at P&lt;0.05 level of significant. The government and other actors could promote and disseminate hermetic storage bag technology as a sustainable approach of lowering grain storage losses while taking identified factors into account.