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Sokoine University of Agriculture Institutional Repository (SUA IR). This repository was built and is maintained by the university library (Sokoine National Agricultural Library-SNAL) , in order to collect, preserve and disseminate scholarly output generated by University research community (staff and students) members.
This repository hosts a variety of openly accessible materials including: scholarly articles and books, theses and dissertations, conference proceedings and technical reports. For assistance about depositing your research output in the repository click here. SUA IR Policy click here or any queries contact us at snal@sua.ac.tz.
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- The Agroforesty Community is a collaborative network dedicated to advancing sustainable land-use practices that integrate trees, crops, and livestock. It serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, research dissemination, and practical innovations in Agroforestry. By fostering connections among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and local communities, the Agroforestry Community promotes environmental conservation, enhanced agricultural productivity, and resilient livelihoods.
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Recent Submissions
Effect of processing on nutritional and sensory quality of orange-fleshed sweet potato’s porridge and Ugali (stiff-porridge) consumed in the Lake Zone, Tanzania
(Science Publishing Group, 2025-06-03) Issa-Zacharia Abdulsudi; Chuwa Caresma
The orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) is a nutrient-rich crop with high β-carotene content, which helps prevent vitamin A
deficiency (VAD). However, its semi-perishability requires proper processing to preserve its nutritional and sensory properties.
This study assessed the effects of sun and solar drying on the proximate composition, β-carotene, vitamin C, mineral content, and
sensory attributes of OFSP porridge and Ugali (stiff porridge) consumed in the Lake zone of Tanzania. Three variety of OFSP;
Ejumla, Jewel, and Carrot Dar, were subjected to solar or sun-drying and subsequently processed into flour. The resulting flours
were used to produce porridge and Ugali (stiff porridge). Conventional techniques were employed to evaluate the proximate
composition, β-carotene, vitamin C, and micronutrient content of porridge and Ugali (stiff porridge). Additionally, sensory
analysis was performed to assess the level of acceptability of the items' sensory qualities. There was a significant difference in
moisture content, crude protein, and crude fat between porridge and Ugali (stiff porridge) for all three varieties of OFSP
(p<0.05). Moreover, solar-dried products had higher retention of β-carotene (28.79 mg/100 g) and vitamin C (3.29-10.45 mg/100
g). Sun-dried products had lower mineral content than solar-dried products. There was also a significant difference (p<0.05)
between solar and sun-dried products in all tested essential minerals. The nutrients analyzed were more concentrated in stiff
porridge than in regular porridge, such as calcium (21.65mg/100g), potassium (90.70mg/100g), Sodium (169.98mg/100g),
magnesium (13.26mg/100g) and zinc (0.51mg/100g). Solar-dried items had the highest acceptability scores (3.0–3.9) compared
to sun-dried products, with Ejumla being the most preferred. The findings depict that solar drying preserves OFSP-based food's
nutritional and sensory quality better. Solar-dried OFSP may reduce vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and improve nutritional
security in Tanzania.
Factors influencing the utilization of animal traction technology: the case of Sasakawa global 2000 in ufipa plateau Rukwa region Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2000) Kipaka, Jelle Msenga
Smallholder farming is the important sector of agricultural production in Tanzania.
The economic contribution from smallholder farmers remains highly significant for
the development of the national economy. About 80% of smallholder farmers in
Tanzania use human and animal traction technology in the production of their food
and meeting income needs. Despite animal traction technology being a viable option
for increasing land and labour productivity, its utilization among smallholder farmers
has remained low.
With particular reference to the SG 2000 agricultural project in the Ufipa Plateau of
Rukwa, Tanzania, the study was conducted to determine factors influencing the
utilization of animal traction technology among smallholder farmers in purposively
selected villages. A cross-sectional design that employees survey methods was used
for this study. A simple random sample of ninety eight respondents was picked with
the aid of the table of random numbers. Data was collected using structured
interview schedules during the months of March to June, 1999. Data were analysed
using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences Personal Computer (SPSS-PC). To
determine the extent and the factors influencing utilization of animal traction
technology, descriptive and inferential statistics (the frequencies and chi-square test
for significance) were employed.
The findings from the analysis show that the utilization of animal traction technology
in the primary farm operations and for transportation among the SG 2000
participants and non-participants were high (over 90 percent) than in the secondary farm operations. However, utilization levels were slightly higher among the SG 2000
participants than non-participants. On average, SG 2000 participants farmers had
high utilization levels of animal traction technology in the secondary farm operations
than non-participants. This was due to the fact that the respondents participating in
the SG 2000 had large farms, received training on animal traction technology and
had more access to credits than non-participants. The major factors identified as
influencing the utilization of animal traction technology in the secondary farm
operations were gender, participation in the SG 2000 animal traction technology
training programme, type of crops grown, labour availability, use of fertilizers and
accessibility to extension services.
The study concludes by saying that there is a need for a more diversified utilization
of animal traction technology to ensure maximum utilization of the technology in
order to enhance labour use efficiency and to increase crop productivity.
Recommendations for improved utilization of animal traction technology include
careful targeting of training to specific groups of smallholder farmers in equal
proportion of both men and women, expansion of the existing animal traction credit
in the study area and elsewhere and training of both adopters and non-adopters of the
technology for more efficient and diversified utilization of animal traction
technology.
Food safety challenges related to meat, fish, and poultry handling and processing in developing countries
(Urmia University, 2025) Zacharia,Abdulsudi Issa; Ghosse,Mourice; Matondo,Joachim Dotto; Muhimbula,Happiness Samuel; Saleh,Hafidhi Nassor
Animal-derived proteins, mainly coming from meat, fish, and poultry, are vital for ensuring nutrition security, especially in many developing countries. However, poor handling practices throughout the supply chain pose serious risks of foodborne illnesses. This review explores the safety challenges related to the handling and processing of these items in developing nations. It highlights key shortcomings in pre-harvest management, such as weak veterinary oversight and limited disease control at the primary production stage. It also points out processing and distribution as potential contamination points, often worsened by poor temperature control, inconsistent application of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems, and infrastructural issues. Globally, contaminated food causes about 10% of yearly illnesses, leading to roughly 420000 deaths. Therefore, strengthening quality and safety management systems at all stages—from production and processing to distribution and consumer handling—is crucial so stakeholders along the supply chain can effectively reduce these risks and protect public health. This review stresses the need for better veterinary services, improved disease management protocols, and strict safety practices to tackle these ongoing issues. Governments, companies, and NGOs should work on upgrading infrastructure, hygiene standards, and training, along with implementing regulations, to improve food safety management from farm to fork.
Enhancing the safety of meat products through chemical and microbiological control: a review
(European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety, 2025-05-06) Issa-Zacharia Abdulsudi; Mkumbukwa Nyomolelo
In today's market, consumers are increasingly demanding meat that is not only safe and of the
highest quality but also minimally processed and free from unnecessary additives. To meet these
evolving expectations, innovative antimicrobial systems and advanced technologies are being
developed, aligning with modern trends and lifestyles. From the moment of slaughter to the point of
sale, meat is vulnerable to contamination from various sources, both internal and external. These
protective approaches help consumer health by lowering the frequency of foodborne pathogens,
which include Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli, among others, that trigger illness.
Implementing rigorous hygienic practices is crucial to minimising microbial risks during processing.
Chemical and microbiological control measures, such as the use of organic acids, nitrates, nitrites,
bacteriocins, and stringent temperature regulation, are employed to safeguard meat quality. The
preservation technology enables microbial deactivation alongside meat quality maintenance and
The role of agricultural extension in improving vegetable production for the new market in Meru district, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2014) Mrosso, Secilia Epiphan
Awareness and skills that address the needs of improving production practices that
incorporate Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and good manufacturing practices (GMP)
arc essential to help producers ensure the safety of their produce and it is through
agricultural extension this will be made possible. To diagnose whether this is done, a study
on roles of agricultural extension in improving vegetable production for the new market in
Meru District, Arusha region was conducted. The specific objectives of the study were to
determine perception of vegetable producers towards different agricultural extension
services in the study area, to examine vegetable producers’ agricultural extension needs in
the study area and to examine the types of extension services offered to vegetable
producers in the study area where a cross-sectional study design was employed.
The study utilized a structured questionnaire used to interview 120 vegetable producing
farmers in different parts of the district on the extension services they were provided with
at different times of vegetable production. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)
was used to analyze data where frequencies and percentages were calculated. Also cross
tabulation was used to examine the relationship between variables where Pearson Chi
square was used.
Results of the study indicated that, very few farmers got extension services during
preparation to production, production and during marketing of vegetables respectively that
is 10%, 37.5% and 5%. Also it was observed that the main reason given for not getting
extension services were lack of extension agents (60%). Also, only 25% of respondents
were members of farmers’ groups. As a result, only 40% farmers managed to meet
vegetable market standards. Most of the interviewed farmers were married (90%) with
primary school education (62.5%). It was observed that extension services at different times of production had a positive contribution to the amount of vegetables produced.
Therefore, efforts should be made to make sure that every village should have extension
agents with all supportive logistics such as transport facilities and housing to serve farmers.