MSUIR Collection:

Agricultural Extension Worker Training Needs Survey. The Case Of Irrigation Schemes In The Midlands Province Of Zimbabwe

Chivizhe; J.B — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Agricultural Extension Worker Training Needs Survey. The Case Of Irrigation Schemes In The Midlands Province Of Zimbabwe Authors: Chivizhe; J.B; Gwazane, M.; Maparara.T; Mika, H.P Abstract: Agricultural extension plays a very important role in improving crop production at the extension worker/ farmer inter-face on smallholder irrigation schemes through the provision of technical and advisory services. In the study 71% of the extension workers had a formal training at National Certificate level, while 28 % was at Certificate and Diploma levels. Very limited and relevant on the job training was provided to the resident extension workers in the last five to ten years. Twenty-eight percent of extension workers received no training at all, forty-three percent received training in technical and relevant courses while the remaining twenty-eight percent received training in one relevant and one non-relevant course. Out of a combined list of thirteen pest and diseases mostly found in horticultural crops, one maize pest (Busseola fusca) was known to all respondents, five pests and diseases were known by some extension workers, while the control of eight pests and diseases that included early blight (Alternari solani), late blight (Phytophtora infestans), bean stem maggot (Ophiamyia spp), fruit fly (Dacus spp) and Red Spider mite (Tetranychus spp) were completely unknown to all the respondents. Extension workers indicated a need for training in technical subjects like pest and disease identification and control to close the knowledge gap in order to facilitate provision of effective extension services to farmers.

Technical Efficiency among Smallholder Irrigators: Trends from Zimbabwe

Joseph Buteteh Chivizhe — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Technical Efficiency among Smallholder Irrigators: Trends from Zimbabwe Authors: Joseph Buteteh Chivizhe; Norman Mupaso Abstract: Smallholder irrigation productivity has been a topical issue among researchers and policy makers in developing countries. The level of productivity has raised questions on whether smallholder irrigation is the most suitable model for agricultural development. The study was conducted at HamaMavhaire and Ngondoma irrigation schemes in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe. The aim of the study was to assess the level of technical efficiency and agricultural productivity in smallholder irrigated agriculture. The study used primary data collected from a randomly selected sample of 127 respondents. The sample comprised of 76 farmers from Ngondoma irrigation scheme and 51 farmers from HamaMavhaire irrigation scheme. The stochastic frontier production function was used to analyze the productivity and technical efficiency of the irrigation schemes. The study’s findings show that the average technical efficiency for Ngondoma irrigation scheme was 69%. This implies that there is a potential of increasing agricultural productivity by 31% using the existing irrigation technology. The findings also show that for the efficiency model, the statistically significant variables are; manure (P<0.01), farm size and irrigation water (P<0.05). The results for HamaMavhaire irrigation scheme show an average technical efficiency of 65%. This implies that there is a potential to increase agricultural productivity by 35% using the existing technology. The use of pesticides was statistically significant (P<0.01). The inefficiency model suggested that the statistically significant variables influencing agricultural productivity are years of schooling (P<0.01) and agricultural extension (P<0.05). The study concluded that there were potential gains to be realized by the farmers if technical efficiency of the smallholder irrigation schemes were to be improved.

An analysis of ground water quality in a water stressed urban centre: a case of Gweru city, Zimbabwe

Mukanga, C. — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: An analysis of ground water quality in a water stressed urban centre: a case of Gweru city, Zimbabwe Authors: Mukanga, C.; Chitata, T.; Mudereri, Bester Tawona Abstract: Ground water quality conformance to the World Health Organisation standards for drinking water was carried out and inferred to the health risks associated with use of such quality of water. Water samples were collected thrice a month, from nine boreholes, over a period of twelve months and analysed for physical, chemical and biological parameters. Chemical parameters were tested using UV-Vis photometry. Physical parameters were measured using HI9829 waterproof portable logging multi-parameter meter and biological parameters were determined using the Minimal Media ONRG-MUG test and the Membrane Filtration Method (MF). Results shows that total hardness and Fe concentration were above limit in 78% and 56% of the sampled boreholes, respectively. pH, EC, Ca, Cl, Fl, Mn, Mg and Turbidity were within the acceptable WHO limits. Of the sampled boreholes, 67% were not conforming to the Escherichia coli loads recommended for drinking water. Parametric correlations showed strong and significant correlations between chlorides and fluorides (r = 0.68; p < 0.05), Nitrates and Sulphates (r = 0.78; p < 0.05). There is need to treat borehole water to eliminate E. coli and reduce nitrates and total hardness. Furthermore, analysis and monitoring systems to determine temporal variability and health risks, respectively, needs to be put in place.

Only a small subset of the SPRY domain gene family in Globodera pallida is likely to encode effectors, two of which suppress host defences induced by the potato resistance gene Gpa2

Mei, Yuanyuan — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Only a small subset of the SPRY domain gene family in Globodera pallida is likely to encode effectors, two of which suppress host defences induced by the potato resistance gene Gpa2 Authors: Mei, Yuanyuan; Thorpe, Peter; Guzha, Athanas; Haegeman, Annelies; Blok, Vivian C.; MacKenzie, Katrin; Gheysen, Godelieve; Jones, John T.; Mantelin, Sophie Abstract: Analysis of the genome sequence of the potato cyst nematode, Globodera pallida, has shown that a substantial gene family (approximately 300 sequences) of proteins containing a SPRY domain is present in this species. This is a huge expansion of the gene family as compared to other organisms, including other plant-parasitic nematodes. Some SPRY domain proteins from G. pallida and G. rostochiensis have signal peptides for secretion and are deployed as effectors. One of these SPRYSEC proteins has been shown to suppress host defence responses. We describe further analysis of this gene family in G. pallida. We show that only a minority (10%) of the SPRY domain proteins in this species have a predicted signal peptide for secretion and that the presence of a signal peptide is strongly correlated with the corresponding gene being expressed at the early stages of parasitism. The data suggest that while the gene family is greatly expanded, only a minority of SPRY domain proteins in G. pallida are SPRYSEC candidate effectors. We show that several new SPRYSECs from G. pallida are expressed in the dorsal gland cell and demonstrate that some, but not all, of the SPRYSECs can suppress the hypersensitive response induced by co-expression of the resistance gene Gpa2 and its cognate avirulence factor RBP-1 in Nicotiana benthamiana.