Browsing by Author "Constantine, John"

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    Awareness and application of existing agroecological practices by small holder farmers in Mvomero and Masasi districts-Tanzania
    (Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2020-12-15) Constantine, John; Sibuga, Kallunde P.; Shitindi, Mawazo J.; Hilberk, Angelika
    A survey study was conducted to assess the level of awareness and application of existing agro-ecological practices by small holder farmers in Mvomero and Masasi districts in Tanzania. The selection of farmers to interview and the villages in the respective districts was based on their long history of producing cassava and maize. A structured questionnaire was used to identify the type of agro-ecological practices, agricultural information sources accessed by farmers, training on agro-ecological practices, type of crops grown in the study areas and kind of livestock kept. Results indicated that the most applied agro-ecological practices were diversification (80.5%), the use of farmer saved seeds (78.2%) followed by intercropping (72.9%) and lastly, agro-forestry (3.2%). The highest percentage of farmers (30.4%) reported to receive information on ecological organic agriculture from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (SAT, SWISS AID), 27.5% were using own farming experience, 21% reported to receive the information from government extension officers, 13% from friends or neighbours, 4.3% from government institutions (SUA, Agricultural Training Institutes) and 3.6% received information from agricultural input suppliers. Generally, 50% of farmers had received training on agroecological practices indicating the level of awareness. Lack of knowledge among farmers was one of the key factors that hamper the wide application of agroecological practices. There was a need for farmer’s capacity building through training to enhance wider application of agroecological practices hence progressive agricultural production increase.
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    Effects of striga asiatica (L.) Kuntzc and Rhaniphicarpa fistulosa (Hochst) Benth. seed densities on physiology and yielding ability of rice (Oryza sativa L.)
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2014) Constantine, John
    Striga asiatica and Rhamphicarpa fistulosa greatly affects rice productivity in infested fields. To address this problem, two screen house experiments were conducted at Sokoine University of Agriculture during September, 2012 to February, 2013 to study the effects of parasitic weed seed densities of S. asiatica and R. fistulosa on physiology and yielding aptitude of rice. In one of the experiments eight S. asiatica densities were planted with single host rice (variety IAC 165) while in the second experiment, seven R. fistulosa densities were planted with single host rice (variety IR64). Both experiments were laid out in a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) with five replicataions. In addition, a supplementary experiment was conducted to study the intra specific competition between R.jistulosa plants under monoculture where six R.fistulosa seed densities (31, 62, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 seeds/pot) were sown without host. In the S. asiatica density experiment, the highest value on stomatal conductance was recorded in the parasite free pots (205.8 mmol/ni2 s) while the lowest was recorded in the plants with the highest S. asiatica infestation densities (21 mmol/(m2s). At 60 DAS there was a significant difference (P<0.05) between the treatment means chlorophyll content from 20.8 in highest S. asiatica density (47 840 seeds/pot) to 34.1 in S. asiatica free pots. The highest average total rice biomass was recorded in non-infested pots (2.5 g/pot) while the lowest was recorded in the highest S. asiatica infestation density (0.5 g/pot). In R. fistulosa density experiment there was significant difference in stomatal conductance (P<0.05) at 60 DAS i.e. (202.8 mmol/(m2,s) from R. fistulosa free plants and (143.6 mniol/(m2 s) from lowest R. fistulosa infestation density. At 60 DAS, the highest average value of chlorophyll fluorescence (0.66) was recorded in R. fistulosa free plants while the lowest (0.413) was recorded from plants in the highest R. fistulosa infestation density (1000 R. fistulosa seeds/pot). The highest rice biomass was obtained from R. fistulosa free plants (5.42 g/pot) while the lowest was recorded in the highest R. fistulosa infection levels (0.68 g/pot). On the basis of these results, it was concluded that S. asiatica and R. fistulosa affect rice physiology and yielding ability.
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    ICT4Agroecology: a participatory research methodology for agroecological field research in Tanzania
    (Taylor & Francis, 2024) Hilbeck, Angelika; Tisselli, Eugenio; Crameri, Simon; Sibuga, Kallunde P.; Constantine, John; Shitindi, Mawazo J.; Kilasara, Method; Churi, Ayubu; Sanga, Camillius; Kihoma, Luambano; Brush, Gladness; Stambuli, Fadhili; Mjunguli, Rainard; Burnier, Blaise; Maro, Janet; Mbele, Angelina; Hamza, Suleyman; Kissimbo, Mary; Ndee, Ayoub
    Agroecology has become increasingly popular but locally optimized agroecological production methods and informa­tion and communication technology (ICT) support tools are limited. This study was conducted at three different geo­graphic locations across Tanzania; we co-developed an integrated participatory field research methodology con­sisting of two components, each supported by a specifically developed, complementary ICT tool, withmaize and cassava as the two focal crops, to examine soil fertility and conservation (compost and mulching), increased biodiversity through intercropping (legumes), and organic pest control measures. Two specifically devel­ oped ICT tools, the AgroEco Research application (AER) and AgroEco Analysis application (AEA) were used for data gathering & storage and visualization & statistical analysis,respectively. Further, farmer-managed satellite experiments were performed to further test the research premises and validate their outcomes in the “real world” of smallholder farmers, which was supported by a smartphone application called “Ugunduzi” – enabling farmers to collect, store, and evaluate data generated at different stages of their research. Farmers were free to choose any type, number, and combination of the agroecological practices tested in the field research. This study serves as a methodology reference for a number of companion publications reporting