System In Kenya Research Articles

Managing e-waste from off-grid solar systems in Kenya: Do investors have a role to play?

Over the past decade, the market for off-grid solar (OGS) systems providing affordable sources of energy has seen a remarkable expansion in many developing countries where coverage by the electricity grid is limited. The observed market growth has been fuelled by the provision of finance by a variety of foreign investors to private suppliers of such systems. The development of the OGS market plays an important part in meeting the development imperative of ensuring access to sustainable and affordable sources of energy for all. However, increasing awareness and criticism have emerged about the generation of electronic waste (e-waste) from solar products as an unintended negative side effect of their diffusion. In this paper, we explore whether and how investors of dominant OGS system providers in Kenya, a country that has experienced rapid growth in its OGS market, have reacted to concerns about solar e-waste by changing their funding modalities and practices. Our analysis is based on in-depth interviews carried out with a diverse sample of international investors and industry experts. We find that most investors have not incorporated requirements for managing e-waste beyond a mere box-ticking exercise in their due diligence and monitoring and compliance mechanisms. Hence, e-waste is currently not seen as a priority for investors, which raises questions about the overall environmental sustainability of such investments. To the extent that some investors have devoted attention to improving e-waste management, such efforts appear to have been motivated by the potential risks to their reputations. We also find that the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association – a global industry association for the off-grid solar sector – plays an important role in making investors aware of the link between their investments and the adverse environmental impacts of e-waste. Since most of the solar supplier firms are start-ups that are concerned with developing viable businesses, we find that investors do not want to impose another cost burden on them by requiring the introduction of elaborate e-waste management as part of their investment criteria. Furthermore, our interviews highlight the lack of adequate waste transport and recycling infrastructures and the lack of pressures from waste management regulation as key barriers to the management of e-waste. We discuss the relevance of these findings for strategies on how best to tackle the emerging problem of e-waste from OGS devices.

Judicial Victim Satisfaction with the Criminal Justice System in Kenya: An Empirical Review

The criminal justice system is a web of interactions where victims and offenders of crime are very critical persons in the world. Most studies in criminology have concentrated on offenders and less on victims of crime who bear the greatest burden. The focus of the study is on the judicial victim satisfaction with the criminal justice system in Kenya whose principal objective will be to ascertain whether the judicial victims normally gain intrinsically or extrinsically from the court process. Content analysis of published articles related to Victimology and Criminology will be used to study the judicial victim satisfaction with the criminal justice system. Specifically the study will assess the role of the victims, police, prosecutors, victim advocates, and judges and to rate their level of satisfaction. The findings of the study will benefit the judicial system in enhancing measures that address victims’ needs in a positive manner which will encourage them to turn to the criminal justice system for assistance. This is not only important to set a sound agenda for future research, but also to create an enabling environment where judicial victims gain from the court process.

P16 Strengthening surveillance systems for antimicrobial resistance in urinary tract infections in Kenya

BackgroundUrinary tract infections (UTIs) are amongst the most common conditions leading to outpatient visits and are also one of the most common causes of inappropriate antibiotic usage. Addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) requires strengthening surveillance system in Kenya where UTI is a problem with health systems having limited capacity for accurate laboratory identification of UTI pathogens. Empirical treatment to manage UTIs is the most common problem due to limited microbiology capacity. These include shortages of suitable training, equipment, quality control procedures and professional expertise to make an accurate clinical interpretation of urine cultures. This leads to reporting normal flora as pathogens.ObjectivesTo deliver training on the identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing of bacterial isolates from urine infections at participating hospitals in the Kenyan AMR surveillance network and measure competency levels in staff participating in the training with the aim of strengthening the Kenyan surveillance system.MethodsA 1 day baseline visit to the five sites was made between October and November 2021 using a standardized checklist to assess laboratory capacity. This was followed by urine processing training conducted between November 2021 and January 2022 in Malindi, Jaramogi, Kitale, Nakuru and Nyeri County Hospitals. Training materials were developed with the input of Aga Khan University Hospital. A 5 day in-person training course was delivered at each of the five hospitals, which targeted an average of 2–3 laboratory staff per hospital. The competencies of the laboratory staff were assessed by written pre-assessment and post-assessment tests. A standardized practical assessment was achieved by use of five different control organisms. The scores were done by doing an average performance score at each hospital laboratory.ResultsOut of 13 trainees, 8 were male and 5 were female. The median number of years since qualification for these staff was 6 (IQR 2–9). The median number of total months of microbiology training time was 2.3 (IQR 1–7). The median pre-training and post-training scores were 46% and 90%, respectively; non-parametric Wilcoxon rank test showed statistical difference (P < 0.0001) between pre-training and post-training. All participants improved from pre-to post- training assessment from the 5 day training with marked improvement amongst from staff with lowest previous level of laboratory training.ConclusionsTraining microbiology staff in the accurate processing of urine sample will be an important activity for a Kenyan AMR surveillance system. These training materials, if delivered by an experienced trainer, can achieve a clear improvement in knowledge levels and practical competence for real-life microbiology identifications.

Effect of Supplier Ethics on Performance of Public Procurement Systems in Kenya

Effect of Supplier Ethics on Performance of Public Procurement Systems in Kenya

Breeding objectives for dairy cattle under low, medium and high production systems in the tropics

A deterministic bio-economic model was developed to estimate economic weights for genetic improvement of lactation milk yield, fat yield, age at first calving, calving interval, mature weight and survival under low, medium and high production systems in the Tropics. Input parameters were obtained from dairy production systems in Kenya which has a tropical environment. The highest proportion of revenue is from the sale of milk followed by sale of heifers, cull cows and sale of male calves under all production systems. On the other hand, feed cost is the most important production cost followed by labour, marketing, reproduction and health costs, respectively. Economic values for the six traits were derived from a profit equation using revenue and production costs per cow per year. The economic values were then discounted using diffusion coefficients which account for differences between traits in the time when the improvement is expressed. Economic weights were robust to changes in input and output prices, changes in feeding strategies, and changes in milk and surplus heifer marketing strategies. Genetic standard deviations were multiplied by economic values to standardise the economic value of traits and to compare their potential for economic response. When expressed as proportion of their sum, these relative economic weights under the low, medium and high production systems for lactation milk yield were 51.36, 59.79 and 63.98%; for fat yield 4.50, 10.69 and 9.05%; for age at first calving 3.16, 2.66 and 0.55%; for calving interval 33.59, 19.88 and 20.05%; for mature weight 1.55, 1.34 and 1.19% and for survival rate 5.84, 5.64 and 5.18%, respectively. The predicted responses followed the same pattern as the relative economic weights. This shows that milk yield and calving interval were most important in all production systems but the value of response for traits differed between production systems with more emphasis on milk yield and less on calving interval in the high production systems. Moderate correlations were estimated between the breeding objective for the low, medium and high production systems. To maximise response in the overall breeding objective, different selection criteria are required for the three production systems.

FORMAL JUSTICE AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION ON LAND BASED CONFLICTS IN KENYA

This article highlights the use of formal justice and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADRs) mechanisms in resolving land based conflicts in Kenya. The research employed a desk review method through the review of books, articles, documents, reports and internet information. Findings reveal that symbiotic relationship and equitable value of both the formal justice system and ADR are recognised by the Constitution of Kenya 2010. The court system in Kenya is established under the Constitution and various other Acts of Parliament land dispute suits matters are filed at the civil court registry of a lower or magistrates court or at the Environment and Land Court through its registry. On the other hand, the use of ADR mechanisms offers different advantages compared to the formal court system, including effective and efficient of resources such as time and money. It reduces the time it takes to resolve disputes, particularly in tribunals and traditional and alternative justice systems, and diminish the backlog of cases experienced by the courts. The article provides a better understanding of the two systems in terms of their merits and demerits and recommends that the Government of Kenya does more to build capacity by providing formal training at the local level in the different ADR methods to help disputants resolve conflict before it is channelled through the formal justice system. It also recommends that it create a public fund and a corresponding application process that would allow those who cannot afford to privately hire advocates to prosecute or defend their matters in Court through the said fund.

Classification Algorithm for Career Recommendation System

The tremendous developments in technology that have been realized in this digital era have greatly improved the way in which data is collected and used in schools. Over the years the number of secondary schools using technology in processing student data has been increasing steadily. As a result, a large amount of data in electronic form has been gathered. Classification algorithms can be used to study the patterns presented in these data and use it to predict a suitable career for a student. In this study classification algorithms were used to predict a suitable career for form four students. The study evaluated the best classification algorithm for implementing the career recommendation system in Kenya. The Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining framework was applied to a dataset drawn from form four students in Bungoma County in Kenya. Stratified random sampling was used to select 50 secondary schools and a 10% of candidates were selected from every sampled schools. The collected data were cleansed, preprocessed and analyzed using a data mining tool of RapidMiner. Various classification algorithms were evaluated in predicting a suitable career for a student. The study findings revealed that classification algorithms can be used to predict a suitable career for a student. All the classifiers that were used gave a predictive accuracy of above 88% though deep learning was the most accurate with 97.5%. However, since the classifiers out performed each other in various metrics, therefore using multiple classification algorithms in building the recommendation model can yield better results. The study therefore concludes that classification models comprising of multiple classifiers can be used to predict suitable careers for secondary students.

Detection, characterization, and analysis of land subsidence in Nairobi using InSAR

Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, is one of the fastest-growing cities on the continent. The rapid expansion of human activities has resulted in the overexploitation of natural resources, such as water. In the past, Nairobi had been identified as a vulnerable area to environmental hazards, such as land subsidence. Due to the lack of a functioning deformation-monitoring system in Kenya, the subsidence in Nairobi has yet to be empirically quantified. In this paper, we report the results of the first InSAR-based spatial assessment of land subsidence in Nairobi. Our analysis indicates both localized and regionalized subsidence in several locations in the west and north west of Nairobi. The largest deforming unit in Nairobi’s western part is subsiding at approximately 62 mm/yr. Land subsidence can be attributed to groundwater overexploitation because it coincides with regions with the highest decline in groundwater levels. However, subsidence can also be attributed to consolidation associated with rapid urbanization in other areas such as east of Nairobi. This evaluation corroborates previous hydrogeological investigations which indicated that Nairobi was at risk of subsidence, contributing to flooding in some residential areas. The findings will help guide future decision-making in several agencies as well as provide an effective tool for planning mitigation measures to prevent further subsidence. A few of these include regulating borehole drilling, planning of roads and buildings, and locating groundwater observation wells. In addition, the observed significant land subsidence stresses the need for an updated geodetic reference system. Since Nairobi plays a significant role in the economy of Kenya, the effects of subsidence may be devastating and it is imperative that steps are taken to minimize their impact.

The status and challenges of a modern irrigation system in Kenya: A systematic review

AbstractThe modernization efforts of the irrigation subsector in Kenya have been hampered by several challenges. This review describes the status and challenges facing irrigated agriculture in Kenya. The results indicated that as of 2018, the developed irrigation schemes covered an area of 222,240 ha, which is 16% of the irrigation potential of 1.34 million ha. Most large‐scale irrigation schemes use the furrow system. Private and commercial farms and smallholder irrigation schemes use modern irrigation systems. The major challenges to irrigation development are technical, socio‐economic, and institutional. The main technical challenges include poor water infrastructure, water scarcity, and poor water quality. The main socio‐economic challenges include the high cost of modern irrigation systems, inadequate credit facilities, and market inaccessibility. The institutional challenges include the existence of a pluralistic legal framework, inadequate participation by farmers, including women farmers, and poorly organized irrigation water user associations. However, the future of irrigation development is bright through climate change adaptation strategies such as solar‐powered irrigation systems and rainwater harvesting.

Agronomic Factors Influencing Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Infestation and Damage and Its Co-Occurrence with Stemborers in Maize Cropping Systems in Kenya.

Simple SummaryFall armyworm (FAW), an invasive pest of maize and other cultivated crops, has been established in Kenya since 2016. It is a serious threat to maize production and poses a challenge to food and nutrition security. Little is known about its co-occurrence with resident stemborers, relative infestation and damage and how agronomic factors influence its infestation and damage in maize cropping systems across different agro-ecological zones. Maize fields were surveyed across three agro-ecological zones in Kenya. Fall armyworm was found across the three agro-ecological zones and it dominated resident stemborers in maize cropping systems. Its infestations and damage were highest at coastal lowlands compared to mid-altitude and high-altitude lands. Maize grown under mixed cropping systems, with rainfed production and weeded frequently had low infestation and damage compared to those grown under monoculture, with irrigation and no weeding, respectively. Young vegetative maize plants were more infested and damaged compared to mature plants. Different maize varieties were found to have different infestation and damage levels. These results demonstrate dominance of FAW over resident stemborers and that agronomic practices play a role in influencing FAW infestation and damage in maize cropping systems, which need to be considered when designing sustainable pest management solutions.Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda J.E Smith, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious invasive pest of maize that has been established in Kenya since 2016. Little is known about its co-occurrence with resident stemborers, relative infestation and damage and how agronomic factors influence its infestation and damage in maize cropping systems across different agro-ecological zones. This study assessed FAW co-occurrence with resident stemborers, relative infestation and damage across three agro-ecological zones, and the effects of different agronomic practices on its infestation and damage in maize cropping systems in Kenya. A total of 180 maize farms were surveyed across three different agro-ecological zones. FAW infestation and damage was highest in lowlands compared to mid-altitude and high-altitude lands. Its population (eggs and larvae) dominated that of resident stemborers in maize fields. Maize grown under mixed cropping systems, with rainfed production and weeded frequently had low infestation and damage compared to those grown under monoculture, with irrigation and no weeding, respectively. Young vegetative maize plants were more infested and damaged compared to mature plants. Different maize varieties were found to have different infestation and damage levels with Pioneer having the least damage. These results demonstrate that agronomic practices play a role in influencing FAW infestation and damage in maize cropping systems. Further, the population of FAW is dominating that of stemborers in maize cropping systems in Kenya, four years after its invasion. Thus, agronomic practices need to be considered while designing sustainable agro-ecological-based management solutions for resource-constrained smallholder farmers.

Patients Access to Medicines - A Critical Review of the Healthcare System in Kenya.

Access to affordable, safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines by a patient is important for good health outcomes. Unfortunately, there is sparse literature published on the pharmaceutical enablers that may increase the sale of a substandard and falsified (SF) medicine to a patient in Kenya. The review highlights some of the factors that may facilitate the entry of SF medicines into the legitimate pharmaceutical supply chain and discusses their impact on patient access to medicines. Lack of essential medicines in public health facilities is an important factor that may contribute to increased demand for medicine-related out-of-pocket expenses from private health facilities, thus a likelihood for a patient purchasing SF medicine from unlicensed and illegal medicine outlets or unregulated websites. The need to increase medicine availability in the public sector by the Ministry of Health (MOH) is emphasized in addition to the strengthening of public procurement to cushion it from corruption and mismanagement. In addition, the MOH should promote local pharmaceutical manufacturing and implement a medicine pricing containment policy to avoid abuse and prevent overexploitation of patients, increase medicine price transparency, and reduce pharmaceutical supply chain distortion. Recommended regulatory reviews include accreditation of unlicensed illegal medicine outlets to facilitate accountability, regulatory oversight, and active surveillance. The national post-market surveillance regulatory capacity should be strengthened to improve rational medicine use. A 3-year diploma course should be replaced with a shorter 1- or 2-year pharmaceutical support staff training not eligible to superintend a pharmacy. The recommended legislative review includes a mandatory clause to enforce generic prescribing and the implementation of generic substitution by health workers. Unethical manipulative pharmaceutical marketing practices should carry stiffer penalties to deter malpractice. Future research areas include investigation of medicine prescribing and dispensing practices, medicine consumption studies, medicine price differences within different health sub-sectors, and between licensed pharmacies and unlicensed illegal medicine outlets.

The multiple uses of water derived from managed aquifer recharge systems in Kenya and India

Abstract‘Multiple-use services’ (MUS) takes into account the fact that households use water for both domestic and for productive uses. This paper is the first to determine how managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems are a form of MUS. Two cases were studied in India and in Kenya. In the Kenyan case, sand dams are the form of MAR, and in India check dams and infiltration ponds of various scales are used. Through observations, interviews, and water quality data, it is possible to describe how the communities access the water from these infrastructures in multiple ways for different uses, according to their water needs and the characteristics of the different access points. MAR involves harvesting rainwater and retaining run-off water into the dry season thus increasing the amount of available water and enabling diversification of water uses. It should therefore be considered as an option by water managers aiming to develop water resources meeting both the domestic and productive needs of communities.

COVID-19 and Schooling of Disabled Children and Youth in Kenya: The Locus of Education in the Disaster Risk Reduction Process

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary and secondary school-age children with disabilities to assess Kenya’s disaster readiness and the current mitigating measures using the UNDRO/UNDP Disaster Management and Recovery Program framework. The vulnerability analysis of the education system in Kenya reveals gaps in implementing disaster risk reduction (DRR) programs for children and youth with disabilities. Mismanagement of insufficient resources and services (i.e., digital infrastructure and shortage of computer literate educators and government inaction and corruption) showed the extent to which COVID-19 pandemic has undermined the capacity of Kenya’s education system to prepare school-age children with special needs for citizenry responsibilities. Since DRR efforts can overlook or neglect the particular constraints of communities with disabilities within and beyond the education sector, the DRR programs should include education (i.e., physical and virtual learning) to contain the unpredictable and novel pandemics (e.g., COVID-19) and importantly, and include disabled persons and their families in the DRR committees at all administrative levels. This is vital in mitigating factors that predispose disadvantaged children to academic failure and push them to failed adult life on the periphery of society.

Co-Creation and Priority Setting for Applied and Implementation Research in One Health: Improving Capacities in Public and Animal Health Systems in Kenya

Co-Creation and Priority Setting for Applied and Implementation Research in One Health: Improving Capacities in Public and Animal Health Systems in Kenya

Examining health sector stakeholder perceptions on the efficiency of county health systems in Kenya.

Efficiency gains is a potential strategy to expand Kenya's fiscal space for health. We explored health sector stakeholders' understanding of efficiency and their perceptions of the factors that influence the efficiency of county health systems in Kenya. We conducted a qualitative cross-sectional study and collected data using three focus group discussions during a stakeholder engagement workshop. Workshop participants included health sector stakeholders from the national ministry of health and 10 (out 47) county health departments, and non-state actors in Kenya. A total of 25 health sector stakeholders participated. We analysed data using a thematic approach. Health sector stakeholders indicated the need for the outputs and outcomes of a health system to be aligned to community health needs. They felt that both hardware aspects of the system (such as the financial resources, infrastructure, human resources for health) and software aspects of the system (such as health sector policies, public finance management systems, actor relationships) should be considered as inputs in the analysis of county health system efficiency. They also felt that while traditional indicators of health system performance such as intervention coverage or outcomes for infectious diseases, and reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health are still relevant, emerging epidemiological trends such as an increase in the burden of non-communicable diseases should also be considered. The stakeholders identified public finance management, human resources for health, political interests, corruption, management capacity, and poor coordination as factors that influence the efficiency of county health systems. An in-depth examination of the factors that influence the efficiency of county health systems could illuminate potential policy levers for generating efficiency gains. Mixed methods approaches could facilitate the study of both hardware and software factors that are considered inputs, outputs or factors that influence health system efficiency. County health system efficiency in Kenya could be enhanced by improving the timeliness of financial flows to counties and health facilities, giving health facilities financial autonomy, improving the number, skill mix, and motivation of healthcare staff, managing political interests, enhancing anticorruption strategies, strengthening management capacity and coordination in the health sector.

Agroecological intensification: Can organic conversion improve the production efficiency? A perspective from smallholder kale production systems Kenya

The increasing resource and ecological challenges in agriculture necessitate agricultural intensification and resource optimization. This study focuses on agroecological intensification using organic practices. It compares the production efficiency of the organic and non-organic smallholder kale production systems in Kenya. Using survey data collected from Kenya, the study estimated production (cost and revenue) efficiency of the kale production system by conducting data envelopment and stochastic frontier analysis and subjected the efficiency measures to propensity score matching analysis. The results show no significant difference in cost efficiency between organic and non-organic kale producers. However, revenue efficiency and income per unit production cost are lower among organic than non-organic kale producers. The results also show that the efficiency and productivity of the organic smallholder kale production system are limited by a lack of inputs (especially manure) but not labor. This implies that improving the efficiency of the smallholder organic kale production system requires more use of organic manure as well as research and training on organic pesticides. The finding concurs with literature that reports organic input problems and lower productivity in organic than non-organic production systems in developing countries and Kenya, especially in vegetables. It also shows that the organic production system is more labor-intensive than the non-organic system. • Study compared production efficiency of organic and non-organic kale production system. • Estimated production efficiency using data envelopment and stochastic frontier analysis. • Compared production efficiency using propensity score matching. • Revenue efficiency and income per unit cost lower in organic than non-organic system. • Efficiency and productivity of organic production system limited by inputs but not labor.

Assessment of the Risk of Foot and Mouth Disease among Beef Cattle at Slaughter from East African Production Systems.

Endemic foot and mouth disease (FMD) in East African cattle systems is one factor that limits access to export markets. The probability of FMD transmission associated with export from such systems have never been quantified and there is a need for data and analyses to guide strategies for livestock exports from regions where FMD remains endemic. The probability of infection among animals at slaughter is an important contributor to the risk of FMD transmission associated with the final beef product. In this study, we built a stochastic model to estimate the probability that beef cattle reach slaughter while infected with FMD virus for four production systems in two East African countries (Kenya and Uganda). Input values were derived from the primary literature and expert opinion. We found that the risk that FMD-infected animals reach slaughter under current conditions is high in both countries (median annual probability ranging from 0.05 among cattle from Kenyan feedlots to 0.62 from Ugandan semi-intensive systems). Cattle originating from feedlot and ranching systems in Kenya had the lowest overall probabilities of the eight systems evaluated. The final probabilities among cattle from all systems were sensitive to the likelihood of acquiring new infections en route to slaughter and especially the probability and extent of commingling with other cattle. These results give insight into factors that could be leveraged by potential interventions to lower the probability of FMD among beef cattle at slaughter. Such interventions should be evaluated considering the cost, logistics, and tradeoffs of each, ultimately guiding resource investment that is grounded in the values and capacity of each country.

Electric Two-Wheeler Vehicle Integration into Rural Off-Grid Photovoltaic System in Kenya

In both rural and urban areas, two-wheeler vehicles are the most common means of transportation, contributing to local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Transitioning to electric two-wheeler vehicles can help reduce GHG emissions while also increasing the socioeconomic status of people in rural Kenya. Renewable energy systems can play a significant role in charging electric two-wheeled vehicles, resulting in lower carbon emissions and increased renewable energy penetration in rural Kenya. As a result, using the Conventional and Renewable Energy Optimization (CARNOT) Toolbox in the MATLAB/Simulink environment, this paper focuses on integrating and modeling electric two-wheeled vehicles (e-bikes) into an off-grid photovoltaic Water-Energy Hub located in the Lake Victoria Region of Western Kenya. Electricity demand data obtained from the Water-Energy Hub was investigated and analyzed. Potential solar energy surplus was identified and the surplus was used to incorporate the electric two-wheeler vehicles. The energy consumption of the electric two-wheeler vehicles was also measured in the field based on the rider’s driving behavior. The modeling results revealed an annual power consumption of 27,267 kWh, a photovoltaic (PV) electricity production of 37,785 kWh, and an electricity deficit of 370 kWh. The annual results show that PV generation exceeds power consumption, implying that there should be no electricity deficit. The results, however, do not represent the results in hourly resolution, ignoring the impact of weather fluctuation on PV production. As a result, in order to comprehend the electricity deficit, hourly resolution results are shown. A load optimization method was designed to efficiently integrate the electric 2-wheeler vehicle into the Water-Energy Hub in order to alleviate the electricity deficit. The yearly electricity deficit was decreased to 1 kWh and the annual electricity consumption was raised by 11% (i.e., 30,767 kWh), which is enough to charge four more electric two-wheeler batteries daily using the load optimization technique.

Contextualizing private sector-based seed system development: The case of sorghum in Eastern Africa

Private sector-based seed system development remains a key development intervention in Sub-Saharan Africa. Seed system interventions promoting the adoption of improved varieties through the private sector generally follow a linear, market-oriented technological adoption logic. A qualitative case study of the sorghum seed system in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania demonstrates that this model may not be able to drive the broad-scale adoption of improved sorghum varieties and to generate significant benefits for small sorghum-farming households. The findings suggest that the agro-ecological, social, and political-economic contexts critically determine the role improved varieties and the private sector can play in rural development. Improved sorghum varieties promoted by both the public and private sectors may not suit the needs, preferences and contexts of farming households. Seed companies hold sorghum as an add-on in their portfolio, investing less resources and research into sorghum compared to more profitable crops such as vegetable and maize seeds. Significant political-economic obstacles exist that favor the support of cash crops such as maize and rice, limiting the growth and development of the private sector in the sorghum seed system. We conclude that future interventions should build on approaches that aim to develop more diverse channels of seed delivery in both the formal and informal seed systems, adopt a livelihoods perspective to evaluate the costs, benefits, and risks associated with the adoption of new technologies, and acknowledge that seed system interventions are only one out of a portfolio of interventions to generate rural development.

Genetic parameters and genetic trends for growth traits of the Red Maasai sheep and its crosses to Dorper sheep under extensive production system in Kenya

The Red Maasai are indigenous sheep breeds known for their adaptability in arid and semi-arid environments while the Dorper is known for its good mutton production. A field experiment cross breeding program for the two breeds was set up in 2003 to exploit these traits. In this paper, we present the genetic parameters for birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT) and weight at nine months (MWT) for pure Red Maasai (RRRR), pure Dorper (DDDD), 75% Dorper (DDDR) and 50% Dorper (DDRR) breeds. The genetic parameters were estimated by fitting four different multivariate animal models while ignoring or including maternal effects. The model with the lowest Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) was chosen as the best model for the estimation of genetic parameters. The average annual genetic gain of the studied traits for each breed group was estimated by regressing the estimated breeding values on year of birth. Records from 5442 lambs recorded over a period of 17 years (2003-2019) were used in this analysis. The breed group, sex, type of birth, season of birth and age of the dam significantly (P < 0.001) affected the weights of the animals. The direct heritability estimates for BWT, WWT and MWT were highest in the RRRR (0.40 ± 0.08, 0.39 ± 0.08, 0.45 ± 0.08 respectively). Direct heritability was lowest for BWT in the DDDR (0.18 ± 0.06), and for WWT and MWT in the DDDD (0.10 ± 0.07, 0.08 ± 0.06 respectively). The maternal heritability estimates were highest in BWT for DDRR (0.12 ± 0.05) and at WWT for DDDD (0.05 ± 0.03), and lowest in BWT for DDDR (0.03 ± 0.03) and at WWT for DDRR (0.00 ± 0.01). The maternal heritability for MWT for all the breed groups was close to zero. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between the traits were all high and positive across all breed groups. The phenotypic correlations ranged from 0.41 to 0.73 while the genetic correlations ranged from 0.40 to 0.99. The pure Red Maasai had an average annual genetic gain of 0.012 ± 0.005 kg, 0.144 ± 0.037 kg and 0.170 ± 0.047 kg for BWT, WWT and MWT respectively while the pure Dorper had an average annual genetic gain of 0.006 ± 0.006 for BWT, 0.047 ± 0.033 for WWT and 0.069 ± 0.044 for MWT. Between the crosses, the 50% Dorper had higher annual genetic gains for all the traits. The observed genetic gains demonstrate that selective breeding based on estimated breeding values can lead to significant genetic improvement in the Red Maasai sheep and its crosses.