Browsing by Author "Msuya, Catherine Phillip"

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A study of factors affecting the adoption of Hybrid maize in Mwanga district
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 1998) Msuya, Catherine Phillip
Mwanga district is experiencing continuous food shortages. In spite of the food problems, farmers continue to use traditional ways of food production and have not fully adopted the available modern agricultural technologies and practices. This study was designed to investigate factors influencing the adoption of hybrid maize in Mwanga district. The specific objectives of the study were: 1) To determine the level of adoption of hybrid maize in Mwanga district 2) To identify and describe factors that affect the adoption of hybrid maize in Mwanga district. 3) To determine the innovations,relationship between farmers, institutional and environmental characteristics on one hand and the adoption of hybrid maize 4) To recommend ways which can facilitate farmers to adopt hybrid maize in Mwanga district. The study was done in two villages involving 90 farmers and one extension worker. Forty five respondents from each village were selected randomly by using a table of random numbers. Data were collected using two types of structured questionnaires: one was for the farmers who grew maize and the other for the extension worker. Field observations were also used for data collection. These data were supplemented by documents and records from agricultural offices in Mwanga district and two village extension offices. Data were analyzed at Sokoine University of Agriculture using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). In the SPSS the sub-programmes "frequencies" and "crosstabs" we used to further analyze the data. Findings show that adoption was found to be significantly associated with gender, farm size, income, cost of inputs and complexity of growing hybrid maize. Moreover, adoption of hybrid maize was affected by other factors like the presence of coffee, inter-cropping system and the de-husking quality of hybrid maize. Recommendations drawn from this study include: (a)The price of inputs which is expensive need to be addressed. This can be solved by giving farmers subsidies and credits for them to buy farm inputs. (b)Farmers should be encouraged to buy fresh supplies of hybrid maize seed every season. (c)Women should be involved in the decision making process that involve growing of hybrid maize. (d)Farmers should look for alternative arable areas to cultivate such as the lowlands of Mwanga district to offset food shortages. (e)Farmers should be encouraged to use other alternative ways of improving soil fertility such as using composit manure and increase the use of farm yard manure from cattle kraals. (f)To reduce the problem of drought, farmers should been encouraged to adopt modern agricultural practices such as agro forestry and use field water retention techniques.
Agricultural extension approaches in Tanzania
(Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 2019) Msuya, Catherine Phillip
This chapter analyzes agricultural extension approaches used in Tanzania with a view to improving them for effective extension service delivery in the country. Linear extension approaches, which were used in the past, were skewed more towards research interests than towards the farmers’ perceived problems. Other participatory approaches, which were used, include Farmer Field School and Farmer-to-farmer approach. Farmer field school is the main participatory extension approach is commonly used in Tanzania as opposed to farmer-to-farmer extension approach. The approach seems to be more effective based on its features, principles, and the benefits explained in this paper. However, FFS focuses on agricultural production ignoring other aspects and actors in the agricultural innovation system (AIS). In addition, FFS does not adequately consider current changes in the agricultural sector such as climate change and value chain aspects. In addition, the concept of FFS is not well conceived by the implementers. Therefore, there is a need of improving and or developing new extension approaches that will accommodate current changes and consider all actors in the AIS. In addition, all actors need thorough training on the extension approaches available in the country including FFS for their successful implementation. Furthermore, monitoring and evaluation of the introduced approaches is crucial in order to determine their effectiveness, efficiency, and relevance that will form the basis for their improvement.
Scaling strategy for sustainable intensification for maize-legume cropping systems for food security in Eastern and Southern Africa
(CIMMYT and ACIAR, 2018) Misiko, Michael Tatuli; Ngesa, Frederick Ugwe; Msuya, Catherine Phillip; Chaula, Kenneth Welman; Mburathi, George; Kavoi, Mutuku Muendo; Abdi, Bedru Beshir; Alfred Micheni; Zerfu, Elias; Jorge, Custódio José Fernando; Sariah, John E.; Munthali, Grace Timanyechi; Dias, Domingos José Brás; Rukuni, Mandivamba
The concepts and descriptions employed and the presentation of content in this scaling strategy do not directly or indirectly point to the opinion of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), or of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). All the views expressed in this strategy are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies or norms of CIMMYT, or ACIAR. The mention of specific Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) processes or products are for illustration purposes, whether or not these have been published. Their use, however, implies that these have been endorsed as a result of 8 years of in-depth research, full details of which can be sought from CIMMYT and ACIAR. CIMMYT and ACIAR encourage the use, reproduction and dissemination of any material in this strategy. Unless otherwise indicated, content may be copied, downloaded and printed for private study, research, teaching purposes, or for other non-commercial use. Such appropriate use must provide acknowledgement to CIMMYT and ACIAR, as the source and copyright holders. However, CIMMYT and ACIAR do not endorse all views or interpretations related to use of this product. All requests for translation and adaptation rights and for resale and other commercial use rights should be made via CIMMYT and ACIAR. CIMMYT and ACIAR information products are available at cimmyt.org and aciar.gov.au respectively.