Browsing by Author "Noba, Kandioura"

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Assessment of the Contribution of Home Gardens to Plant Diversity Conservation in Thies Region, Senegal
(Springer Link, 2021-08-10) Naigaga, Hellen; Ssekandi, Joseph; Ngom, Ablaye; Diouf, Ndongo; Diouf, Jules; Dieng, Birane; Mbaye, Mame Samba; Noba, Kandioura
Home gardens are reservoirs of biological diversity. This study assessed plant diversity conservation in home gardens of Thies region (Senegal) with the aim of documenting species composition and diversity in the home gardens. A sample of 30 home gardens was selected from the three main departments of the region and was used to collect plant species data. Data were collected from home gardens which were selected based on recommendations from the village leaders. Techniques used were plant inventory, participatory observations and individual interviews. Species classifcation and nomenclature were based on Angiosperm Phylogeny Group IV botanical classifcation system, Senegal analytical fora and the world plant list. Microsoft Ofce excel was used for some calculations, tabulation and drawing graphs. Comparison of efect between diferent variables was analysed in analytical software R using simple linear regression, and plant diversity was calculated using the Shannon diversity index. A total of 96 plant species belonging to 86 genera, and 43 families were identifed. Out of these, 34 were trees, 33 were shrubs, and 29 were herbs. 95 were angiosperms with 79 dicotyledonous and 16 monocotyledonous, and only one (1) was a gymnosperm. Species from Fabaceae family were the highest in number (9 species) whereas Citrus limon was the most frequent (80%) species in the home gardens. The results of the Shannon index indicate that there is high species diversity in the home gardens of Thies region (H1=3.9365) with moderate equitability (E=0.5968). The gardeners were 73% men and 27% women. At department level, 66 species (38 families) were recorded in Mbour, 54 species (33 families) in Tivaoune and 50 species (26 families) in Thies department. The study indicates that home gardens are agriculture systems ecologically important for plant diversity conservation, they have a higher potential for ex-situ conservation of plants in the agro ecosystem.
Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Home Garden Plant Species and its Effect on Home Garden Plant Diversity in Thies Region of Senegal
(Springer Link, 2020-08-13) Naigaga, Hellen; Ssekandi, Joseph; Ngom, Ablaye; Sseremba, Godfrey; Mbaye, Mame Samba; Noba, Kandioura
Home gardens are the frst source of immediate contact between people and plants since the gardens are within homesteads. Most home garden studies in Senegal concentrate on food security and economic benefts; no research has been carried out on the social and ecological contexts of home gardening in Senegal. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the way people interact with the home garden plants and how such an interface infuences plant diversity. The objective of this study is to evaluate the ethnobotanical knowledge associated to home garden plants and its efect on plant diversity conservation in home gardens. A sample of 30 home gardens was selected from the three main departments of the region and was used to collect plant species data. Data were collected from informants who were selected basing on recommendations from village leaders. Techniques used were plant inventory, participatory observations and individual interviews. Species nomenclature was based on Senegal analytical fora and the world plant list; comparison of efect between different variables was analyzed in analytical software R using simple linear regression analysis. A total of 96 plant species were identifed; all species were found to be useful plants divided into eight functional groups. Fifty-four percent (54%) were food species, 40% medicinal, 32% ornamental, 14% commercial, 7% fodder, 4% sacred, 4% ceremonial and 3% cosmetic. Citrus limon was the most frequent (80%) and preferred species in the home gardens. Food plant species are the most diversifed, abundant and rich use category. There is a relationship between uses of species and species diversity (P value<0.001). Species diversity in the home gardens increases as the spectrum of use increases; thus, species with more than one use were highly diversifed; people prefer multipurpose species for multiple benefts. This study expresses home gardens as diversifed agroecosystems for sustainable biodiversity conservation of useful plant species.
Evaluating the Impact of Weather and Climate Information Utilization on Adoption of Climate-Smart Technologies Among Smallholder Farmers in Tambacounda and Kolda Regions, (Senegal)
(International Knowledge Sharing Platform, 2021-02-28) Nantongo, Beckie; Ssekand, Joseph; Ngom, Ablaye; Dieng, Birane; Diouf, Ndongo; Diouf, Jules; Noba, Kandioura
Senegal is subjected to climate change and unstable weather conditions of the Sahel zone causing adverse negative effects on the agricultural sector and biodiversity. Weather and climate information is one of the requirements for effective adoption of climate-smart agriculture in Senegal, where Agriculture employs approximately 65% of the total population. This study evaluated the impact of weather information utilization on adoption of climate-smart technologies among smallholder farmers using a case study of Tambacounda and Kolda regions in Senegal. The study aimed at establishing the level of accessibility, understandability, usability of weather information and examined the extent to which utilization of weather information impacts the adoption of Climate-smart agriculture technologies among smallholder farmers in Tambacounda and Kolda. For this study, questionnaires were administered to 341 purposively sampled households with the help of department extension workers and local leaders. The study findings show that while smallholder farmers accessed weather information through traditional and modern media sources like radio, television, and telephone, understandability and usability of the weather and climate information received were low. Overall utilization of weather and climate information was low. Also, the overall adoption rate of climate-smart agriculture technologies was low. Utilization of weather and climate information was constrained by language problems, failure to comprehend the information, difficulty in understanding forecast terminology, inability to respond to weather and climate information in terms of farming equipment and other inputs, poor packaging of information, and user unfriendliness of weather and climate information in the study area. The regression model results (F = 22.203, P=.028) were within the significant level (p<0.05), which means that accessibility, understandability, and usability of weather forecasts were appropriate predictors of adoption of climate smart technologies among smallholder farmers. A new and effective weather information delivery system is proposed and provision of weather-based advisory services to the farming communities.
From organic farming to agroecology farming, what challenges do organic farmers face in Central Uganda?
(Springer Nature Link, 2024-07-16) Dagoudo, Akowedaho, Bienvenu; Ssekyewa, Charles; Ssekandi, Joseph; Ngom, Khady; Naigaga, Hellen; Moumouni, Ismail M; Noba, Kandioura
Revealed as a production system that does not use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, organic farming is recognized as ecological production and has been institutionalized in Uganda. Organic production continues to face the challenges of what is considered agroecology farming, which is viewed nowadays as an opportunity for creating new value chains and food systems for agricultural production based on protecting the environment and supplying nutritious and safe foods to society. This paper focuses on agroecology farming indicators to assess organic farming in order to highlight the challenges organic farmers face in implementing agroecology practices. The data collection was carried out in 5 districts in Central Uganda: Wakiso, Masaka, Bukomansimbi, Ssembabule, and Kyotera. A multiple-stage stratified sampling was used to select 310 organic farmers in 5 districts. Various representations and correlation analyses of agroecology indicators have been conducted using descriptive statistics and correlation tests. The findings show that 51.9% of organic farmer respondents have at least three crops produced in the local climate for a long time, and 58.71% of organic farming has medium integration (animal feed is mostly self-produced and grazed, and their manure is used for compost and fertilizer). It highlights that seeds and animal genetics are self-produced, neighbor farms exchange them, and some specifics are purchased at local markets for 51.61% organic farming. The results revealed that 61.61% of organic farms visited had half of the arable soil covered with organic residues. The correlation test revealed that there is a significant positive correlation between diversity animal genetics and crop and livestock integration (r = 0.674, p < 0.01), between harvesting and saving water systems and resilience and adaptability to climate variability (r = 0.546, p < 0.01), and between diversity crops and diversity activities and services (r = 0.523, p < 0.01). Despite the interdependence of organic farming's agroecology practices, most residues and waste are not recycled or reused as organic fertilizer, and organic farmers have limited equipment to harvest and save water for production. This is an opportunity for organic stakeholders to invest in organic residues and waste recycled equipment in order to create a new value chain for organic production by producing organic fertilizers and biopesticides.
Meteorological information utilization and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices; modifying factors and mediating effect
(Science Direct - Elsevier, 2023-04-14) Nantongo, Beckie; Ssekandi, Joseph; Ngom, Ablaye; Dieng, Birane; Diouf, Ndongo; Diouf, Jules; Noba, Kandioura
There is increasing attention towards understanding the modifying factors influencing the relationship between meteorological information utilization and adopting climate-smart agricultural practices. Much as several studies have established that meteorological information is vital for adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, not much research has been conducted to contextualize the influence of modifying factors in that relationship. The study is derived from a sample of 341 households. Adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and modifying effects were understood through a series of univariate, bivariant, and linear regression analyses. Findings from the study indicate that the climate-smart agriculture practices adopted most are; intercropping (71.8%), cover cropping (71%), and crop rotation (69.5%), while the least adopted are mulching (2.3%) and minimum tillage (4.1%). The relationship between meteorological information utilization and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices is influenced by peers’ or community influence, indigenous knowledge or cultural beliefs, and trust. Trust in weather forecasts scored highest in the relationship between meteorological information utilization and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices (x2=0.01, P = 0.002**). After accounting for the mediating role of trust, meteorological information utilization positively impacted the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices (B = 0.376, t = 2.045, p < 0.05). The Sobel test results indicate that the mediation effect was also significant (Z = 6.45369270, p < 0.000001). Therefore, trust in meteorological information partially accounts for the relationship between meteorological information utilization and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices. It can be recommended that there is a need for integration of indigenous knowledge in the scientific meteorological information and provision of finer grain forecasts that can be trusted by the end-users in a timely fashion. This will promote meteorological information utilization in the climate-smart agricultural practices adoption decision.