Morogoro District Research Articles

Constraints of English Teaching Proficiency on Students’ Mastery of English Language Skills in Community Secondary Schools in Morogoro District Council

This study focused on investigating the Constraints of English teaching proficiency on students’ mastery of English language skills in community secondary schools in Morogoro District Council. The study used case study research design and mixed research approach. The targeted populations in this study were ward education officers, School head masters, English teachers, and students from 5 rural community secondary schools in Morogoro district council. Sample size for this study was 130 respondents. Purposive sampling technique was applied in selecting Ward education officers and school head masters and simple random sampling technique was used in selection of students and English teachers. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The findings emphasize that low teaching proficiency is a significant factor contributing to poor student performance in community secondary schools. The overuse of code switching, although aimed at aiding comprehension, may negatively impact students’ English language development. Improving teachers’ proficiency is crucial for enhancing students’ communication skills and overall academic performance. The results emphasize the need for targeted professional development to address teaching deficiencies and support better educational outcomes. To address these challenges, educational institutions should invest in professional development programs that enhance teachers’ English proficiency and reduce code switching. Regular assessments of teaching effectiveness and the integration of language support tools will further improve instructional quality and boost students’ academic performance

The Efficacy of VICOBA Intervention in Alleviating Poverty in Emerging Economies: A Study of the ORGUT SEDIT VICOBA Lending Scheme Project in Morogoro, Tanzania

Microfinance institutions have emerged as crucial agents in the fight against poverty, particularly in emerging economies. Despite debates about their effectiveness, microfinance interventions have contributed positively to socio-economic conditions, improving livelihood access. Recognising the importance of the microfinance subsector, Tanzania has instituted tools to foster financial inclusion. The Village Community Banks (VICOBA) are an example of these efforts, aiming to empower marginalised communities through financial inclusion and access to credit. This study assesses the effectiveness of the VICOBA intervention in alleviating poverty in Morogoro District, Tanzania. Using a cross-sectional design and logistic regression analysis, the study examines the relationship between key variables (access to credit, ability to save, access to insurance services, entrepreneurship skills) and poverty alleviation. The results show the effectiveness of access to credit, savings, and access to insurance services in poverty alleviation.

Morphological, Pedological and Chemical Characterization and Classification of Soils in Morogoro District, Tanzania

Morphological, Pedological and Chemical Characterization and Classification of Soils in Morogoro District, Tanzania

Woody Species Composition, Structure, Regeneration Status and Carbon Storage of Mkulazi Forest Reserve in Tanzania

Little is known about the status of forest condition and carbon storage potential of Mkulazi forest reserve (MFR) located in Morogoro District, Tanzania. This study was conducted to assess i) woody species composition, richness and diversity, ii) stand structure, iii) regeneration status and iv) carbon storage. Data collection for vegetation involved establishment of 100 concentric circular sample plots in the forest area of 65,710 ha. A total of 54 plant species for trees and shrubs with DBH ≥ 5 cm that belongs to 20 plant families were identified. The diversity of woody species was high (H’ = 3.11), while Stem density was 336 ± 126 stems ha-1, basal area was 9.48 ± 2.88 m2ha-1 and stand volume was 96.22 ± 32.51 m3ha-1. For the regeneration with DBH < 5 cm, a total of 26 plant species belonging to 11 plant families were identified. The diversity of woody species was also high (H’ = 3.14) and stem density was 1,198 ± 847 stems ha-1. The mean carbon stocks above ground for trees and shrubs with DBH ≥ 5 cm were 32.13 ± 10.91 Mg C ha-1 and that of below ground were 11.84 ± 3.58 Mg C ha-1. The observed high diversity of woody species, regeneration status and relatively high carbon storage potential signifies the importance of continuing protecting this reserve.

Effect of harvesting stage on postharvest quality of black pepper piper nigrum l. cultivars grown in Morogoro, Tanzania

Optimal harvest maturity stage determines the on-shelf quality of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Small-scale farmers in Morogoro harvest black pepper before reaching full maturity to catch up with high market prices offered early in the season. Unfortunately, traders are complaining on the quality of black pepper from the area. This study evaluated the effect of harvesting stages on post-harvest quality of pepper cultivars grown in the Morogoro district. Pepper cultivars; Babu kati, Babu kubwa, and Ismailia at premature and mature stages were dried on coconut leaves mats to suitable drying stage. Treatments in a 2 x 3 factorial experiment following a complete randomized design (CRD) were replicated thrice. Statistical significance of variables was generated by ANOVA and mean separation by Tukey HSD test at p ≤ 0.05. Results showed a significant (p<0.001) difference between harvest stages and cultivars on berry colour, moisture content, berry firmness, dry recover and weight loss percentage. Pepper berries at pre-mature stage across cultivars had higher (79.11%) initial moisture content than mature berries (71.6%). Mature berries had higher dry recovery percentage (28.84%) than pre mature (15.78%). Mature “Ismailia” berries had the highest firmness (10.5kg/mm2) than premature (5.8 kg/mm2). During sun drying, colour values L*(brightness), and b* (yellowness) decreased significantly while greenness decreased as a* values increased from more negative values to zero in both harvesting stages as pepper berries darkened. Colour changes were sharper on mature than pre-mature harvested pepper corns. These findings will help farmers to make right decision on when to harvest for quality black pepper product. Farmers are recommended to harvest black pepper when mature for better firmness and colour development during drying. Further studies are required to determine the sensory quality and volatile oil contents of the cultivars when harvested premature and mature stages.

The Effectiveness of Internal Controls System over Cash Management in Local Government Authorities: A Case of Morogoro District Council

The Effectiveness of Internal Controls System over Cash Management in Local Government Authorities: A Case of Morogoro District Council

English

Using a cross sectional survey, this study investigated variations in time spent between men and women in economic productive and non-economic reproductive activities in a rural environment in Morogoro District in Tanzania. The study investigated 323 married or cohabiting women between the ages of 15 and 49 who lived in six villages across three wards. To determine the time expenditure disparity between men and women, females and their male counterparts were interviewed. A standardized questionnaire and focus group discussions (FGDs) were used to obtain quantitative and supplementary qualitative data, respectively. IBM SPSS V22 was used for data analysis. Content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. Women and men spent considerably different amounts of time engaged in productive and reproductive activities. Women spend 2.23 h less daily in economic production than males. Women spend 1.20 and 2.12 more hours daily on family care and child nursing, respectively. Aside from non-productive time, 64.8% of women devote 3 more hours to access maternal and child health services. Women spend more time in non-productive activities due to constrained access to social services and delivery at MCH clinics.   Key words: Time, production, reproduction, women, poverty, Tanzania.

Likelihood of Adopting Briquette Technology in Abundance of Competitive Energy Sources: A Case Study of Morogoro Urban and Rural Districts, Tanzania

Firewood and charcoal are the primary energy resources in many developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the unstainable collection and use of these resources negatively impact the environment. Equally, using briquettes as green energy resources can address the energy shortage and conserves the environment. However, the information on people’s preference to use briquettes instead of other alternative energy sources is scarce. Furthermore, studies demonstrating the briquette technology preferences and adoption to prospective users, including youth and women in urban and rural areas, are limited. Therefore, this study was conducted in the Morogoro district to (1) characterise the respondents’ demographic issues useful for evaluation of people's preferences, (2) assess the preference for briquette fuels, particularly for youth and women, and (3) evaluate the extent of using the briquettes as sources of energy as compared to other alternative sources of energy. The household survey involved 330 respondents in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas of Morogoro. The areas were chosen to represent the Tanzania sceneries. Besides, supplementary key informants’ interviews involved village leaders, charcoal retailers and other people with knowledge of briquette technology. The results show that over 95% of respondents preferred to use briquette as an alternative energy source and expressed their willingness to engage in the briquette business. Additionally, the study shows low use of briquettes compared to other energy sources like charcoal and firewood in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between men and women in their willingness to join the briquette business (p-value =0.517). Therefore, a few people are aware of briquette technology. This study recommends increasing the awareness of briquette technology through training youths and women on briquette technology and insisting on the availability of briquette products and stoves. In addition, assessing the factors hindering the briquettes from being a hundred per cent preferred by people is a point of research interest.

Classification of Briquettes Selection Criteria Using Principal Components Analysis Approach

The briquettes have the potential to reduce reliance on charcoal and firewood while addressing employment issues for youths and women through briquette-making value chain components. However, the marketing that would increase the acceptance of the briquettes requires an essential understanding of the briquettes’ critical selection criteria considered by potential briquette users. This study assesses the classes of briquette energy and their preferences. The study specifically investigated the following: 1) level of interest in briquette’s geometric shapes, 2) classes for briquette geometric shapes 3) class components leading to purchasing the briquettes. A baseline survey was conducted, which included 330 households in the Morogoro district’s urban, peri-urban, and rural communities. The study used a snowball technique to meet with respondents, especially in families with youth and women. Securing information in objectives one and two used the five Likert scales (Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree, and strongly disagree). In contrast, objective three utilized the five Likert scales of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in the order of importance. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method assisted in classification and interpreting the motive behind preferences. The results found that the motive behind the shape preferences was in two categories, each including three principal components. The categories are 1) geometric shapes: round, long, and circular/plate forms, and 2) purchasing influences: performance, attractiveness, and personal capacity. Therefore, the briquettes with technically improved round shapes produced based on the performance factors are recommended for adoption and marketability.

Traditional initiation and academic performance of primary school girls in Tanzania: reflections from Morogoro District Council

Traditional initiation and academic performance of primary school girls in Tanzania: reflections from Morogoro District Council

Traditional initiation and academic performance of primary school girls in Tanzania: reflections from Morogoro District Council

Traditional initiation and academic performance of primary school girls in Tanzania: reflections from Morogoro District Council

A Study of Local Government in Africa through Participatory Action Research (PAR)

A Study of Local Government in Africa through Participatory Action Research (PAR)

Morphological characterization and yield of pepper (Piper nigrum L.) types grown in Morogoro District, Tanzania

BackgroundPepper (Piper nigrum L.) is among key spice crops grown in Morogoro district of Tanzania. Most of the pepper types grown in the district are only known by their local names as Babu kubwa, Babu ndogo, Babu kati and Ismailia. This may limit information on germplasm collection or genetic resource for plant improvement and trade in markets with variety specifications. The aim of this study was to generate preliminary information of the pepper types based on their morphological characteristics for easy comparison with other known pepper varieties in the spices industry.MethodsThe evaluation of pepper morphological characters was conducted following a randomized complete block design with three replications and four treatments (pepper types). Observations were recorded with respect to 28 characters (9 qualitative and 19 quantitative) which entail vegetative (8) and reproductive (20) traits. The quantitative data for vegetative, inflorescence and berry characters were subjected to analysis of variance. Mean separation test was conducted using Turkey’s Honest Significance Test at (α = 0.05). Correlation and regression analyses were performed to explore the relationship between yield and yield attributes of pepper.ResultsBabu kubwa and Babu ndogo pepper types were characterized by erect and horizontal branching habit, whereas the others showed hanging habit. Babu kubwa had longer spikes (12.4 cm), leaves blade (17.9 cm), leaf petiole (2.8 cm), wider leaves (12.9 cm) and larger berries (5.8 mm) than all other pepper types. Babu kubwa and Babu kati had cordate and acute leaf bases, respectively while other types had round leaf base shapes. The highest number of flowers was recorded on Babu kubwa (93.5) and Ismailia (90.7) with spikes weighing 7.6 g and 7.5 g, respectively compared to other types. Babu ndogo and Ismailia had compact spikes, while other types had medium loose spikes. Babu kati had the highest number of spikes kg−1 (282.6) due its lower spike weight compared to other types. The highest weight of 100 fresh spikes (704.3 g) and 1000 fresh berries (164.2 g) was recorded on Ismailia. Spike length was significantly positively correlated to yield (r = 0.23, R2 = 0.08, p < 0.001). However, yield had a significant negative correlation with the number of spikes kg−1 (r = −0.85, R2 = 0.017, p = 0.001) and fresh weight of 1000 berries (r = −0.91, R2 = 0.003, p = 0.04).ConclusionsThe pepper types grown in Morogoro district differed significantly based on most of the evaluated traits. This information can be used to formulate methods and strategies for conservation and in turn genetic improvement of the crop. Despite that the pepper types literary matched with characters of some well-known commercial varieties, confirmation of genetic relatedness is yet needed. Further studies need to be conducted in consecutive years and involve assessment of internal quality attributes. Other studies should encompass wider range of pepper types from other producing areas in Tanzania in order to establish their morphological distinctness, genetic diversity and interrelationships in relation to the globally known commercial varieties.

Establishment of the Causal Agent(s) of Spike Shedding and Stem Wilting of Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in Morogoro District, Tanzania

Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) serves as a source of income to smallholder spice farmers in Morogoro district of Tanzania. Recently, spike shedding and stem wilting of pepper plants were reported to cause about 30% yield loss of the crop. This study was undertaken to identify the causal agent(s) of the problems. Three pepper gardens in each of the four hamlets (Nyange, Doga, Tandai, and Lukenge) in Tandai village (Kinole ward) were surveyed, and plant tissue and soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis. An experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Pepper cultivars, Babu kubwa, Babu ndogo, Babu kati, and Ismailia grown in the study area, were used as treatments for evaluation of the prevalence of spike shedding and stem wilting. Treatments mean separation was conducted based on Duncan’s multiple range test atp=0.05. Regression (R2) and simple correlation (r) analyses between stem wilting (incidence and severity) and termite pest infestation were performed. The identified pathogen in most of the soil and plant tissue samples was Fusarium oxysporum. The nutrients, N, P, Mg, and Cu, concentration in soil and leaf samples was below the optimal ranges. Termite attacks were significantly high in some farmer’s gardens where up to 50.5% of the pepper plants was damaged. Hence, a significant positive correlation was observed between termite pest infestation in gardens and both incidence (r = 0.881, R2 = 0.74,p&lt;0.001) and severity of stem wilting (r = 0.918, R2 = 0.84,p&lt;0.001) of pepper plants. Most of the termite attacks and damages (70%) were observed on pepper plants supported on silver oak, unlike those trained on Jatropha. A higher percentage of undeveloped berries (36%) and intermediate-size berries (34%) was recorded on cultivars “Babu kati” and “Babu kubwa,” respectively. Multiple factors have been associated to be the causes of spike shedding and stem wilting of pepper, which could be used to develop appropriate control solutions useful to farmers. Confirmation of F. oxysporum pathogenicity is recommended. A comprehensive study is suggested on the repellent or lethal activities of Jatropha against F. oxysporum and termites. Furthermore, studies through field experiments are needed to generate site-specific soil nutrient improvement recommendations and design an integrated approach to control F. oxysporum and termites and to determine existing alternative host plants for these pests.

Extent of spike shedding and stem wilting of pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in Morogoro District, Tanzania

BackgroundPepper (Piper nigrum L.) is an important spice produced by small-scale farmers in Morogoro district of Tanzania for both local and export markets. Recently, farmers have reported a decline in crop productivity due to spike shedding and stem wilting of pepper plants. The study was conducted to obtain baseline information on the extent of the disorders.MethodsAn altitudinal transect survey was conducted in Morogoro district from October to November 2018. Data were collected from 216 pepper farmers through a questionnaire, focus group discussions, and field observations. Chi square tests (α = 0.05) were used to compare differences between gender, pepper cultivars by wards and yield, spike shedding and stem wilting by pepper cultivars and plant species used to support pepper vines. Fisher’s exact test at (α = 0.05) was used to compare the effects of production constraints and altitude. A regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship between altitude and the incidence of spike shedding and stem wilting.ResultsThe majority of interviewees (69%) had observed spike shedding and stem wilting of pepper on their farms for > 3 years. Spike shedding was more prominent at 300 meters above sea level (masl, 85.7%), while stem wilting was reported by most (66.7%) farmers at 457 masl. The most affected pepper cultivar was reported to be “Babu kati” in Mtombozi (19.2% of respondents) and “Ismailia” in Mkuyuni and Kibogwa (28.9% of respondents) wards, while in Kibungo ward cultivar “Babu ndogo” (85.7% of respondents) and in Konde ward cultivar “Babu kubwa” (53.8% of respondents) were most affected. Approximately 53% of respondents reporting the disorders used Jatropha to support the pepper vines, and 93% of the farmers reported the disorders to occur during the dry season. A greater proportion of the interviewed farmers (92.1%) reported applying no measures to control spike shedding and stem wilting of pepper.ConclusionsIncidence of spike shedding and stem wilting was higher at a low altitude compared to high altitude areas. The magnitude of the disorders differed among pepper cultivars regardless of support plants species used. Poor adoption of key agronomic practices and lack of any information on control measures may be contributing to the high incidence of the disorders in the study area. The study demonstrates the extent of the problem, and provides a baseline for identifying the causal agent(s) of spike shedding and stem wilting, which in turn will allow appropriate control measures to be selected.

English

Women’s poor socio-economic status (SES) is linked to multiple contributing factors, most of which are related to performing multiple roles that include family, childcare and reproductive responsibilities in general. However, the relationship between women’s reproductive factors and household SES remains uncertain. This study explored the association between selected reproductive factors and households’ SES among rural households with women of reproductive age. A cross-sectional study, involving six randomly selected villages from three wards of Morogoro district, Tanzania, was used. A total of 542 participants consisting of women from male and female-headed households were involved in the study. Data analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS® software. Ordinal logistic regression model was used to estimate the relationship of the study variables. The number of children a woman wished to have had negative association with SES, whereby wishing to have more than 5 children was associated with less likelihood to attain the higher SES. The mean age at first pregnancy was 18.5 years, with 56.5% of the participants becoming pregnant for the first time at age 18 or below, which indicates predominance of teenage pregnancies. The age at first pregnancy had significant and positive relationship with SES, whereby being pregnant at the age of more than 18 years increases the chance of attaining a higher SES. In conclusion, teenage pregnancies and the desire for relatively many children (>5) constrain the attainment of higher SES. The study recommends strengthening reproductive health education particularly family planning and advocacy on teenage pregnancies in rural communities. Key words: Women, socio-economic status, reproductive factors, rural, Tanzania.

English

Factors responsible for poor household socio-economic status (hSES) vary in different social groups. Little information exists to explain how demographic and household characteristics are related to hSES in rural societies of Tanzania. This cross-sectional study assessed associations between selected women demographic characteristics, household structure and hSES in a rural area in Morogoro District, Tanzania. The study involved 542 women aged 15 to 49 years, who had given birth to at least two children. Data were collected by face to face interviews using a structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions. Principal Component Analysis was used to construct hSES index. Women older than 35 years had higher likelihood of being in the higher SES category compared to their younger counterparts [OR1.26 (95%CI1.82-2.94), p&lt;0.05]. Living in road accessible ward was associated with being in the medium to high hSES [OR4.08 (95%CI2.40-6.94), p&lt;0.001]. Households with at least one child aged between 5 and 9 increased the likelihood of being in the low hSES [OR 0.57 (95%CI 1.3-2.06), p&lt; 0.05]. While road accessibility and age determined a better hSES, most other factors were not related to hSES. The findings underscore the urgency for transportation infrastructural improvement as a reliable means for improvement of rural hSES Key words: Household, socio-economic status, demographic characteristics, women, poverty. &nbsp

The Impact of Cultural Norms on Influencing Child Labour Practices in Tanzania: The Case Study of Small Scale Mining in Morogoro District, Tanzania

This paper is endeavored to examine the influence of cultural norms in influencing child labour practices in Tanzania. It is inspired by the concern that numerous studies have been conducted about child labour practices in Tanzania. Disappointingly, the exiting studies overlooked the examination of the impact of cultural norms on in influencing child labour practices. Therefore, this paper is a modest attempt to bridge the existing gap of knowledge. The mixed methods approach combining both descriptive cross-sectional and phenomenology designs were employed .The target population for the study consisted of social welfare officers, community development officers, most vulnerable children commitee's members, and community members. The ward executive officers, village executive officers, child labouers, primary school teachers and employers were also involved. Simple random sampling, stratified sampling, purposive and convenience sampling were used to select respondents while questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, observation and document analysis were tools used to collect data. The collected data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to obtain descriptive statistics and inferential statistic while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis model. From the findings it can be concluded that there is an influence of cultural norms on child labour practices in Tanzania. It is hereby recommended that there is need of an increased awareness raising campaigns by the government and civil society organisations against child labour practices.

Serological evidence of inter-epizootic/inter-epidemic circulation of Rift Valley fever virus in domestic cattle in Kyela and Morogoro, Tanzania.

BackgroundTanzania is among the Rift Valley fever (RVF) epizootic/endemic countries in sub Saharan Africa, where RVF disease outbreaks occur within a range of 3 to 17-year intervals. Detection of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) antibodies in animals in regions with no previous history of outbreaks raises the question of whether the disease is overlooked due to lack-of effective surveillance systems, or if there are strains of RVFV with low pathogenicity. Furthermore, which vertebrate hosts are involved in the inter-epidemic and inter-epizootic maintenance of RVFV? In our study region, the Kyela and Morogoro districts in Tanzania, no previous RVF outbreaks have been reported.MethodologyThe study was conducted from June 2014 to October 2015 in the Kyela and Morogoro districts, Tanzania. Samples (n = 356) were retrieved from both the local breed of zebu cattle (Bos indicus) and Bos indicus/Bos Taurus cross breed. RVFV antibodies were analyzed by two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) approaches. Initially, samples were analyzed by a RVFV multi-species competition ELISA (cELISA), which detected both RVFV IgG and IgM antibodies. All serum samples that were positive with the cELISA method were specifically analysed for the presence of RVFV IgM antibodies to trace recent infection. A plaque reduction neutralization assay (PRNT80) was performed to determine presence of RVFV neutralizing antibodies in all cELISA positive samples.FindingsOverall RVFV seroprevalence rate in cattle by cELISA in both districts was 29.2% (104 of 356) with seroprevalence rates of 33% (47/147) in the Kyela district and 27% (57/209) in the Morogoro district. In total, 8.4% (30/356) of all cattle sampled had RVFV IgM antibodies, indicating current disease transmission. When segregated by districts, the IgM antibody seroprevalence was 2.0% (3/147) and 12.9% (27/209) in Kyela and Morogoro districts respectively. When the 104 cELISA positive samples were analyzed by PRNT80 to confirm that RVFV-specific antibodies were present, the majority (89%, 93/104) had RVFV neutralising antibodies.ConclusionThe results provided evidence of widespread prevalence of RVFV antibody among cattle during an inter-epizootic/inter-epidemic period in Tanzania in regions with no previous history of outbreaks. There is a need for further investigations of RVFV maintenance and transmission in vertebrates and vectors during the long inter-epizootic/inter-epidemic periods.

Drivers of rural-urban migration and impact on food security in rural Tanzania

This paper contributes to (1) the Valletta action plan by identifying root causes of migration in Africa, and (2) the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda reflecting the close links between migration and development. Our objectives are to identify drivers of rural-urban migration in Tanzania and to examine its impact on food security. The analyses are based on survey data of 900 rural households in the Dodoma and Morogoro districts of Tanzania from 2013. The logistic regression revealed that several household characteristics such as age of the household head, household size, and dependency ratio, but also employment and welfare status determine whether any household member migrates from the rural area to an urban area. Households from the more remote and food insecure Dodoma district were more likely to have migrants looking for jobs than households from Morogoro district. The Propensity Score Matching approach revealed that migration significantly worsens the food security status of rural migrant households in terms of access, availability and stability. This outcome is explained by the loss in labor input, leading to lower agricultural productivity of rural households, which cannot be compensated by the transfer of remittances from their respective migrants. Thus, migration does not always function as a pathway out of food insecurity in developing countries.