Browsing by Author "Mwine Julius"

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The African Centre of Agro-Ecology and Livelihood Systems (ACALISE):
(The World Bank, 2016-10-17) Mwine Julius
Africa in general and East Africa in particular is faced with problems of low production and productivity, little or no value addition to the few products but also lack of ethical values in management of business. These overarching problems have of late been compounded by effects of climate change, all of which have made peoples’ livelihoods a dilemma. It is no doubt therefore that Agricultural research and technology development, which is a component of the agricultural production and productivity enhancement intervention, is fundamental for enhanced agricultural sector growth and performance. To generate high returns of investment, each link in the production and value chains of agricultural enterprises needs to be accompanied by effective agricultural research and technology generation programs. Well-designed innovation systems with a component of climate smart initiative like Agro-ecology and endowed with ethical values will help to generate the desired shift from the present poverty cycle to better livelihoods. This will eventually bring in the aspect of sustainability that has been glaringly lacking in African/small scale enterprises.
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.
Assessing the effectiveness of ethnomedicinal products on banana weevils using REML
(Science Publishing Group, 2014) Bwogi Godfrey; Mwine Julius; Jumba Francis; Murongo Marius; Njoroge Njeri Grace; Kabango Freddie; Mutumba Pross Mutumba Nakulima
This study investigated the effect of applying selected banana pest control treatments on management of banana weevils. The data was collected on 283 banana plants picked at random; from 29 farmers selected using a snowball sampling technique. Treatments used were ethnomedicinal products, synthetic chemicals, cultural practices in plantation planted from suckers and those planted from tissue culture. Since data was spatially collected, it was analyzed using Restricted Maximum likelihood Estimator (REML). REML was used to estimate the PCI after a square root transformation. The statistical analysis indicated a significant difference between plantations where synthetic chemicals, clean planting materials (tissue culture), cultural practices and ethnomedicinal products were used. There was also significant variation resulting from different varieties grown. However, there was no significant variation resulting from the response of different varieties to the different treatments. Results also indicated that garden where the cleaning materials had been used had the least percentage of banana weevil infection. This study found out that there was no significant difference in damage caused by banana weevils in banana plantations where synthetic chemicals and ethnomedicinal extracts were applied. Thus given the results, the study concluded that ethnomedicinal products can be used by farmers to manage banana weevils. The study recommends that further studies should be carried out to assess efficacy of the identified potential plants with pesticidal properties under controlled experiment.
Assessing the effectiveness of ethnomedicinal products on banana weevils using REML
(Science Publishing Group, 2014) Bwogi Godfrey; Mwine Julius; Jumba Francis; Murongo Marius; Njoroge Njeri Grace; Kabango Freddie; Mutumba Nakulima Kyeswa Pross
This study investigated the effect of applying selected banana pest control treatments on management of banana weevils. The data was collected on 283 banana plants picked at random; from 29 farmers selected using a snowball sampling technique. Treatments used were ethnomedicinal products, synthetic chemicals, cultural practices in plantation planted from suckers and those planted from tissue culture. Since data was spatially collected, it was analyzed using Restricted Maximum likelihood Estimator (REML). REML was used to estimate the PCI after a square root transformation. The statistical analysis indicated a significant difference between plantations where synthetic chemicals, clean planting materials (tissue culture), cultural practices and ethnomedicinal products were used. There was also significant variation resulting from different varieties grown. However, there was no significant variation resulting from the response of different varieties to the different treatments. Results also indicated that garden where the cleaning materials had been used had the least percentage of banana weevil infection. This study found out that there was no significant difference in damage caused by banana weevils in banana plantations where synthetic chemicals and ethnomedicinal extracts were applied. Thus given the results, the study concluded that ethnomedicinal products can be used by farmers to manage banana weevils. The study recommends that further studies should be carried out to assess efficacy of the identified potential plants with pesticidal properties under controlled experiment.
Euphorbia tirucalli L. (Euphorbiaceae) – The miracle tree: Current status of available knowledge
(Academic Journals, 2011) Mwine Julius; Damme Van Patrick
Euphorbia tirucalli is one of the most important tree Euphorbias known worldwide for its many uses. Endemic to tropical Africa where it often grows wild, it is usually planted for boundary demarcation but also as a live fence around compounds, shrines and kraals due to its ability to withstand extreme aridity and possession of low herbivore pressure. E. tirucalli has white latex which is vesicant and rubifacient but also known to be a remedy against many ailments. However, most of its medicinal features are reported in folk medicine and there appears to be little medical/laboratory analysis to validate them. In this review, we attempt to explore the current knowledge status about E. tirucalli in relation to its classification, chemical content and functions, and the extent to which modern research has gone to validate them. It was found that although a great deal has been done to analyze its chemical composition (bark, roots and latex), and potential for biodiesel production, little is available on validation of its application for medicinal purposes, yet it continues to be used in traditional and alternative medicine on a daily basis. Empirical research is called for to achieve this.
Evaluation of larvicidal properties of the latex of Euphorbia tirucalli L. (Euphorbiaceae) against larvae of Anopheles mosquitoes
(Academic Journals, 2010) Mwine Julius; Damme Van Patrick; Jumba Francis
Malaria is the most important vector-borne disease in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Although, different control measures like use of insecticide-impregnated mosquito nets and curtains, chemotherapy and others are in place, so far, malaria eradication has proved impossible in affected areas. Therefore, any measure that attempts to fight the parasite or its vector (Anopheles spp.) would be of help. In this experiment, we assessed the efficacy of Euphorbia tirucalli latex both as a herbal mosquito remedy and larvicide against Anopheles fenestus Giles and Anopheles gambae Giles in a semi-natural environment. Our results indicate that E. tirucalli latex can bring about total mortality of Anopheles species larvae at the highest dilution used of 1: 250 in 5 days. LT 50 and LT 90 for the same dilution were attained at 12 and 36 h respectively. Latex was active only for eight days which is typical for herbal biocides, whose advantage is that they do not accumulate in the environment. It is concluded that E. tirucalli latex has a high efficacy against Anopheles mosquito larvae and could eventually be considered for adoption as a plant based mosquito larvicide, after further research.
Evaluation of Selected Pesticidal Plant Extracts against Major Cabbage Insect Pests in the Field
(University of Ghent, Department of Plant Production - Laboratory for Tropical Agronomy, Belgium, 2010-09) Mwine Julius; van Damme Patrick
An evaluation of fresh extracts from three locally available pesticidal plants was carried out at the shores of Lake Victoria, in Central Uganda, against two important cabbage insect pests in the field in order to establish and assess their potency for future pesticidal application. This followed the farmers’ view that the plants could have pesticidal features or at least have been observed to protect leafy crops against pests. Locally available plants were used as a result of getting a tip from local farmers that the plants could be of pesticidal importance. Although many plants were mentioned in our preliminary survey, only three plants investigated in this work namely: Euphorbia tirucalli, Jatropha curcas and Phytolacca dodecandra were seen to show reasonable pesticidal features. Results suggest that E. tirucalli fresh latex could reduce infestation of Brevicoryne brassicae below economic threshold levels. Extracts from J. curcas and P. dodecandra likewise reduced B. brassicae levels but could not do so to the required threshold levels. Their potency was therefore deemed incapable for the required pesticidal requirement. The same extracts were evaluated against the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella but none was able to cause reduction of the moth larvae to economic threshold levels. Only E. tirucalli latex seemed to be a potential management measure against B. brassicae and a contributory factor to managing P. xylostella infestations. Although the rest displayed some pesticidal characteristics, they were only seen as contributory to the purpose. It was concluded and recommended that the farmers could continue using the extracts but commercialisation and extensive use should await further research.
Evaluation of the Efficacy of Crude Extracts of Tick Berry Lantana camara and Mexican Marigold Tagetes manuta Against Cabbage Aphids Brevicoryne brassicae
(Global Society of Scientific Research and Researchers, 2017) Baryakabonaa Silver; Mwine Julius
The efficacy of two plant extracts; Lantana camara, Tagetes manuta and a combination of Lanatana camara and Tagetes manuta applied to the cabbage plants at differeent concentrations against cabbage aphids were tested at St. Mary’s College Rushoroza Demonstration farm, Kabale district in 2015. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of selected botanical plants’ crude extracts against the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae L. The specific objectives of the study were to compare the aphid populations on cabbage plants sprayed with Lantana camara, Tagetes manuta extracts and their combination, to determine the effective concentration of Lantana camara, Tagetes manuta and their combination that could protect the crop against cabbage aphids and to determine the yield of cabbage under different treatments of Lantana camara, Tagetes manuta and their combination on aphids. A field experiment was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four blocks, three treatments replicated four times and a control experiment. Each experimental plot was 3 M by 2.5 M (7.5 M2 area) per plot and separated by 0.9 m between plots to avoid interplot and interblock interference. Data collected were aphid infestations (adults and nymphs) per three leaves, reduction in aphid populations after application of sprays, and percentage marketable yield. Data were subjected to one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in Genstat software (eleventh edition) programme to compare the aphid population means in treated groups and untreated groups of cabbage. The plant extracts treatments of Lantana camara, Tagetes manuta and their combination on cabbage plants significantly reduced the number of aphids than on the untreated plants during the trial seasons.
Pesticidal Plants Used in Masaka District of Uganda
(African Journals Online, 2009) Mwine Julius
The use of syntheti c pesti cides in developing countries is limited by both the high cost of procuring them and predominance of subsistence holdings. Resultantly, many farmers have to rely on traditi onal methods of pest control. Among these is the use of pesti cidal plant extracts and this paper reports on the fi ndings of a study that undertook to compile an inventory of plants that are used in pest control in one part of the developing world, namely, Masaka District of Uganda. The paper reports that the study found that thirty-six (36) plant species are used. Thirty-fi ve (3 ) of these were found to belong to twenty-one (21) families. The paper adds that, of these, the Asteraceae family is the most commonly used followed by the Solanaceae family. It was noted that although some of the plants are scienti fi cally well established (e.g. Azadirachta indica, Melia azedarach, and Tagetes minuta), a few are not well known (e.g. Euphorbia ti rucalli, Bidens pilosa, Vernonia amygdalina), hence the need for research on them. Finally, it was established that some of the plants are increasingly rare, which highlights need for their conservati on.
Understanding Organic Food Qualities in the Global South: An East African Perspective
(Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2012) Jumba Francis Richard; Freyer Bernhard; Mwine Julius; Dietrich Phillip; Dietrich Phillip
Quality is a major component of the process of food production, delivery and consumption because it plays an influential role in consumer acceptability of the food. It has been widely suggested that food quality consists of both tangible and intangible (e.g., aesthetic) components although much of the debate has been based in the global north with little focus on southern countries. This paper therefore aims at exploring the concept of quality and more specifically organic food quality in East Africa (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania). We carry out an extensive review of the relevant literature on food quality from a variety of electronic databases while exploring the cross cutting issues that are intrinsically connected to it in a bid to better understand both its explicit and implicit components. The findings suggest that in addition to the product and process qualities prominent in the global north, organic food in East Africa possesses context specific qualities which appear to play a greater role in the understanding of food quality within rural farming households because they satisfy some of their most pressing needs. This implies that how quality is interpreted will always depend on the situation or circumstances under which the user is operating in whether at the microcosmic (individual) or macrocosmic (regional) level.