Browsing by Author "Murongo, Marius Flarian"

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Agro-Related Policy Awareness and Their Influence in Adoption of New Agricultural Technologies; A Case of Tissue Culture Banana in Uganda
(Academic Research Publishing Group, 2019) Wanyana, Barbra; Murongo, Marius Flarian; Mwine, Julius; Wamani, Sam
Adoption of banana tissue culture in Uganda still remains low despite the availability of policies geared to enhancing agriculture. A survey was carried out on 115 smallholder farmers in Central Uganda to establish the influence of agro-related policies in tissue culture banana adoption between January and July 2018. Results from the study indicated that 83.8% of the respondents were aware about the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture policy as compared to National Agricultural Policy (5.5%), National Development Plan (13.12%) and Agricultural Sector Development Strategy and Investment Plan (3.3%). Age, gender and education level all exhibited weak correlations in relation to policy awareness while generally, the study found out that awareness of the of the policies did not significantly influence farmer’s adoption of tissue culture banana in central Uganda (P>0.05). We conclude that most of the agro-related polices were on paper and minimal efforts were in place to enhance their awareness amongst small holder farmers. We therefore recommend that increased awareness of agro-related policies to the farmers as well as integration of farmer interests in policy formulation are paramount in order to achieve wide uptake of agro-technologies like banana tissue culture.
Analysis of sesame seed production and export trends; challenges and strategies towards increasing production in Uganda
(EDP Sciences, 2021-01-01) Wacal, Cosmas; Basalirwa, Daniel; Okello-Anyanga, Walter; Murongo, Marius Flarian; Namirembe, Caroline; Malingumu, Richard
Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the most ancient oilseed crops cultivated for its edible oil and uses in food. Sesame seeds are very nutritious and confer health benefits. However, its potential production in Uganda has not been fully realized. The objective of this review was to summarize the trends in sesame production, export quantity, export value, challenges, and strategies for sustainable sesame seed production in Uganda. The review revealed the sesame seed production and area harvested generally increased from 1996 to 2007 but significantly decreased between 2008 and 2018. The review also revealed that while the export quantities and values were low, they gradually increased from 2009 to 2016. The decreased production between 2008 and 2016 could have been due to challenges such as pests and diseases, loss of soil fertility, prolonged drought, poor agronomic practices, poor yielding varieties, and lack of access to credit. Therefore, it is recommended to improve breeding programs and soil management practices; strengthen agricultural credits and extension services to support marketing of sesame seeds; and improve agronomic practices and farmer knowledge on improved techniques such as sowing methods, plant spacing, intercropping practices, pests and disease control measures. These could boost sesame production in Uganda given the high domestic and global demand for sesame seeds and provide an opportunity to expand sesame production throughout Uganda. Research should focus on how to increase seed yield on farmers’ fields and bridge the yield gap between researchers and farmers while adopting good agronomic practices.
Role of Military Termites (Pseudocanthotermes militaris) in Improving Soil Productivity in Tropical Agroecosystems
(Annual Research & Review in Biology, 2020-06) Apori, Samuel Obeng; Murongo, Marius Flarian; Hanyabui, Emmanuel; Muli, Gideon Kalii; Wamuyu, Beatrice
Termites are insects classified at the taxonomic rank of infrared Isoptera. They are soil animals since they spend some part of their life cycle in the soil; together with their association with the soil, they have several effects on soil properties[1]. Termites are among the macrofauna that influence soil physical, chemical and biological properties. They are more active in the semi-arid and arid areas (this is missing in the general topic)[2]. According to [3], termites account for 40 to 60% of the total soil macrofauna biomass in many tropical ecosystems.Their estimated biomass in African savannas is estimated to be between 70 to 110kg/ha [3]. Several studies have shown that termites are able mechanically to chew up plant material with their mandibles and grind it with their gizzard, thereby increasing the surface area accessible to soil microorganisms. However, some termite species are essential in maintaining long-term soil productivity and also in restoring barren soils[4]. Termite accumulate and deposit particles from various soil depths in mounds so that the amount of organic carbon, clay and nutrients, pH and microbial communities is higher in termite mounds than in adjacent termite-free soils[5]. Termites contribute to the regeneration of crusted soils by creating voids on the sealed surface, resulting in increased potential for infiltration, and ultimately enhanced water quality[6]. Hence this review seeks to find out the contribution of termites through their physical, chemical and biological influence on soil and how it enhances soil productivity.
Underscoring the Gender-Actor Puzzle in Training Needs Development for Ecological Organic Agriculture Value Chains
(Uganda Martyrs University Press, 2018) Murongo, Marius Flarian; Mwine, Tedson Julius; Nabayinda, Irene; Nalugo, Roset
Variations in soil chemical properties and growth traits of tissue culture banana under bio-slurry soil amendments in Uganda
(Springer Link, 2023-09-06) Murongo, Marius Flarian; Ayuke, Frederick O.; Apori Obeng, Samuel; Wangai, K. John; Wacal, Cosmas
Organic bio-slurry soil amendments’ effect on soil chemical properties and the growth traits of tissue culture banana (TCB) were studied from 2017 to 2020 at Uganda Martyrs University Farm. Mpologoma and Kibuzi banana cultivars of the AAB East Africa Highland cultivar were treated with NPK fertilizer and two bio-slurries at different rates. Treatments included the control (CNTRL), 3810 L/ha banana bio-slurry (BBS1), 7620 L/ha banana bio-slurry (BBS2), 11,430 L/ha banana bio-slurry (BBS3), 3810 L/ha cow dung bio-slurry (CDBS1), 7620 L/ha cow dung bio-slurry (CDBS2), 11,430 L/ha cow dung bio-slurry (CDBS3) and 300 kg/ha NPK. The soil was analyzed for variations in pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K) and organic matter (OM) at different depths. The growth parameters of TCB were recorded months after planting (MAP). Soil amended with 11,430 L/ha bio-slurry had high potassium, nitrogen, and organic matter contents for the three soil sampling depths (0–8, 8–16, 16–32 cm), and soils amended with CDBS had higher K, N and OM contents than those amended with BBS. The Soils amended with CDBS3 recorded the maximum pseudostem girth and the number of suckers for both cultivars. Soils amended with BBS3 recorded the highest total number of leaves for the Mpologoma cultivar. The interaction effect of the bio-slurry on the variation of stem girth and height, the number of suckers, and the total number of leaves at 12 MAP for Mpologoma and Kibuzi cultivars was significant (p < 0.05). The banana cultivar and the bio-slurry interaction significantly (p < 0.05) affected the number of clusters per bunch, the number of fingers per cluster, the weight of the bunch (kg) and weight per cluster (kg). Amending soils with 11,430 L/ha of banana and 11,430 L/ha of cow dung bio-slurries provides the soil with sustainable nutrients for TCB growth up to 12 MAP and sustainable environmental health in the long run.