Browsing by Author "Mnyenyelwa, Loyce Mtalamile"

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Socio-economic strategies in promoting agroforestry practices in primary schools of peri-urban Singida
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2005) Mnyenyelwa, Loyce Mtalamile
This study investigated the socio-economic strategies in promoting agroforestry practices in primary schools of peri-urban Singida. Specific objectives were: (a) to identify the type of agroforestry practices being used in the primary schools; (b) to find factors if any, which constrain the adoption of agroforestry practices in primary schools; (c) to find more means of motivating pupils in adopting agroforestry practices; (d) to identify ways of broadening the knowledge and skills of primary school teachers for effective teaching and training of agroforcstry practices; and (e) to make recommendation for more effective strategies in improving agroforestry practices in primary schools. for this study. A cross-sectional design was used Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire, personal observation and focus group discussion. Chi-square tests were used to test the relationship between variables. The findings show that tree/crop mixture was the major type of agroforestry practices used in primary schools. Inadequate skill of managing both trees and crops was the most important factor that constrains the adoption of agroforestry practices in primary schools. Inadequate skills and lack of agroforesters highly influenced agroforestry practices (at P< 0.005). Teaching agriculture as a separate subject was suggested to be the most important way of motivating pupils in adopting the practice. The results also show that 100% of the respondents support training as the most effective way of broadening the knowledge and skill of primary school teachers for effective teachrfig and training of agroforestry practices. About 66.7% of the teachers did not attend any training concerning agroforestry practices. The majority suggests construction of wells for irrigation, planting legume trees; extension workers should stay in villages and dissemination of the research results to the searched sites. The study recommends the government through its policy makers and the development planners to strengthening agroforcstry policy in order to maintain agroforcstry quality and productivity on a long term. International organizations that sponsor agroforcstry research should provide agroforestry information, funds, and technical assistance to primary schools.