Browsing by Author "Mbugi, E."

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Determinants of economic efficiency among smallholder Common beans farmers in Igamba and Itaka divisions in Mbozi district, Songwe region
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2020) Mbugi, E.
Common beans are the most exported pulses in Tanzania and contributes about 62% of all Tanzanian pulse exports. This crop has significant importance in the growth of the national economy. The average common bean yield in the country which has been recorded at 991 kgha-1 is lower than the potential yield of 1500-3000 Kgha-1. Using data from 131 randomly selected smallholder common beans farmers from six villages in three wards of Magamba, Bara and Halungu, this study analyzes the determinants of the economic efficiency of smallholder common beans farmers in the study area. Specifically, the study attempts to estimate the levels of technical, allocative, and economic efficiencies among the sampled smallholder common beans farmers in the study area. The stochastic frontier approach was used to estimate the production function, and from a Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier function and its dual, enables the estimation of the technical, allocative and economic efficiencies. The efficiency determinants were simultaneously assessed along with the frontier functions through the FRONTIER 4.1 software. The results show that common bean production was positively influenced (P<0.1) by plot size, quantity of seeds and planting fertilizers. Furthermore, the results show that, farmers’ membership to farmer group, education level, experience in farming and household size were found to be negatively and significantly (P<0.1) associated to technical inefficiency. Similarly, farmers’ membership to farmer group, experience of the farmer, education level and extension services were found to be negatively and significantly (P<0.1) related to allocative inefficiency. Results further show that the mean technical, allocative, and economic efficiency indices of smallholder beans farmers are 64.8%, 52.7%, and 43.62%, respectively, meaning that the sampled farmers were relatively technically efficient than they were allocatively and economically, with 56.38% room to expand productivity with current input use and technology. The study concludes that, inputs such as improved seed and fertilizers which were the major inputs that increase the output of common bean production in the study area should be made available by all stakeholders (government and private sectors) on time, in right amounts and at affordable prices to the farmers. The study recommends that policies should be developed to improve the provision of extension services to the farmers.
Isolation and Potential for Transmission of Mycobacterium bovis at Human–livestock–wildlife Interface of the Serengeti Ecosystem, Northern Tanzania
(DOI, 2017) Katale, B. Z.; Mbugi, E.; Siame, K. K.; Keyyu, J. D.; Kendall, S.; Kazwala, R. R.; Dockrell, H. M.; Fyumagwa, R. D.; Michel, A. L.; Rweyemamu, M.; Streicher, E. M.; Warren, R. M.; Helden, P.; Matee, M.
Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), is a multihost pathogen of public health and veterinary importance. We characterized the M. bovis isolated at the human– livestock–wildlife interface of the Serengeti ecosystem to determine the epidemiology and risk of crossspecies transmission between interacting hosts species. DNA was extracted from mycobacterial cultures obtained from sputum samples of 472 tuberculosis (TB) suspected patients and tissue samples from 606 livestock and wild animal species. M. bovis isolates were characterized using spoligotyping and Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Units-Variable Tandem Repeats (MIRU-VNTR) on 24 loci. Only 5 M. bovis were isolated from the cultured samples. Spoligotyping results revealed that three M. bovis isolates from two buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) and 1 African civet (Civettictis civetta) belonged to SB0133 spoligotype. The two novel strains (AR1 and AR2) assigned as spoligotype SB2290 and SB2289, respectively, were identified from indigenous cattle (Bos indicus). No M. bovis was detected from patients with clinical signs consistent with TB. Of the 606 animal tissue specimens and sputa of 472 TBsuspected patients 43 (7.09%) and 12 (2.9%), respectively, yielded non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), of which 20 isolates were M. intracellulare. No M. avium was identified. M. bovis isolates from wildlife had 45.2% and 96.8% spoligotype pattern agreement with AR1 and AR2 strains, respectively. This finding indicates that bTB infections in wild animals and cattle were epidemiologically related. Of the 24 MIRU-VNTR loci, QUB 11b showed the highest discrimination among the M. bovis strains. The novel strains obtained in this study have not been previously reported in the area, but no clear evidence for recent cross-species transmission of M. bovis was found between human, livestock and wild animals.
Tuberculosis infection: occurrence and risk factors in presumptive tuberculosis patients of the Serengeti Ecosystem in Tanzania
(Research Gate, 2017) Mbugi, E.; Katale, B. Z.; Lupindu, A. M.; Keyyu, J. D.; Kendall, S. I.; Dockrell, H. M.; Michel, A.; D van Helden, P.
Background: Cross-species tuberculosis (TB) transmission between humans and animals has been reported for quite a long time in sub-Saharan Africa. Because humans and animals coexist in the same ecosystem, exploring their potential for cross-species transmission and the impact the disease may have on the health of humans, animals, and their products is critical. Objectives:This study aimed to identify risk factors for transmission of TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and to assess the potential for zoonotic TB (Mycobacterium bovis) transmission in the Serengeti ecosystem where humans and animals are in intense contact. Our aim is to create a base for future implementation of appropriate control strategies to limit infection in both humans and animals. Methodology: We administered a semi-structured questionnaire to 421 self-reporting patients to gather information on risk factors and TB occurrence. In a parallel study, researchers screened sputum smears using Ziehl–Neelsen staining and confirmed by mycobacterial culture. We then performed descriptive statistics (Pearsons chi-square test) and logistic regression analysis to establish frequencies, association, and quantification of the risk factors associated with TB cases. Results: Our findings showed 44% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-0.49) of the results were positive from sputum samples collected over a 1-year duration in areas with a high TB burden, particularly the Bunda district, followed by the Serengeti and Ngorongoro districts. Of the culture-positive patients who also had infections other than TB (43/187 patients), 21 (49%) were HIV positive. Contact with livestock products (odds ratio [OR] 6.0; 95% CI, 1.81-19.9), infrequent milk consumption (OR 2.5; 95% CI, 1.42-4.23), cigarette smoking (OR 2.9; 95% CI, 1.19-7.1.2), and alcohol consumption (OR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.22-4.23) were associated with a higher likelihood of TB infection. Conclusion: There was no evidence of direct cross-species transmission of either M tuberculosis or M bovis between humans and animals using the study methods. The absence of cross-species TB transmission could be due to limited chances of contact rather than an inability of cross-species disease transmission. In addition, not all people with presumptive TB are infected withTB, and therefore control strategies should emphasise confirming TB status before administering anti-TB drugs. Tuberculosis Infection: Occurrence and Risk Factors in Presumptive Tuberculosis.