Browsing by Author "Kigozi, Abasi"

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    Assessment of Adoption, Market Potential and Environmental Impact of Carbonized Briquettes Among Farmers in Western Uganda’s Beef-Producing Regions
    (International Journal of Economy, Energy and Environment, 2023-06) Nakiganda, Annuciate; Wamubirigwe, Bernard; Mubiru, Sarah; Bugeza, James; Kigozi, Abasi; Mugerwa, Swidiq; Kigongo, John; Kayiwa, Stephen; Sserumaga, Pyton; Namwanje, Joan; Kivumbi, Achileo; Serwadda, Joseph; Kasule, Hannah Talinda; Twesigye, Annet
    A lot of agricultural residues are generated each year in developing and developed countries. About 60-70% of the total Agricultural biomass is left in the fields annually in Uganda. Making Briquettes helps to turn waste into wealth, saves money and provides an alternative for firewood and charcoal. This study was developed to assess the adoption and market potential of carbonized briquette production among farmers in beef producing communities in Uganda. NARO introduced briquettes making in the beef producing communities of Isingiro, Mbarara and Masindi districts. After four months, an adoption study was conducted to determine how many farmers continued to produce, use and sell the briquettes. Approximately 58.2%, 50.6% and 66.7% farmers were found producing and using briquettes in Isingiro, Masindi and Mbarara districts respectively. Farmers mostly used cow dung (82%) as binders and charcoal dust (83%) as class B material. Over 93% farmers used briquettes to cook their food while 57.4% saved money on buying traditional fuels, and 49.5% mentioned that briquettes lasted longer while cooking respectively. Farmers in all the three districts produced 447.5 basins of briquettes which generated 6,712,500shs in revenue at a price of 15,000shs/basin of briquettes. Briquettes making can help the farmers in beef producing communities to earn income, while reducing agricultural waste, tree cutting and protecting the environment.
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    Effect of Different Organic Substrates on Reproductive Biology, Growth and Offtake of the African Night Crawler Earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae)
    (Saly Portudal, Senegal, 2018) Kabi, Fred; Kayima, Denis; Kigozi, Abasi; Mpingirika, Eric Zadok; Kayiwa, Ronald; Okello, Dorothy
    Rapid growth and high fecundity of Eudrilus eugeniae makes it a commercial vermicomposting agent. The worm is also a rich protein source (50-70%CP) in livestock diets. The major question, however, is how do we promote earthworm production as a strategy for ecological livestock intensification and integration with crops through earthworm domestication as a source of protein and vermicompost. Reproduction characteristics, growth and offtake of E. eugeniae were studied using four organic substrates including abattoir waste (AW), cattle manure (CM), soya bean crop residue (SBCR) and a mixture of cattle manure and soya bean crop residue (CM+SBCR) aged 15 days. Irrespective of the substrate, length and biomass of earthworms increased at a decreasing rate between the 1st and 8th weeks. Clitellum appearance was initiated at 31.5±2.4, 32.8±3.2, 33.7±3.3 and 35.5±2.4 days for AW, CM,CM+SBCR and BCR, respectively, while cocoon initiation was at 69.0±1.4 (AW), 54.9±2.3 (CM), 51.7±1.7 (CM+SBCR) and 60.0±2.4 (SBCR) days. Organic substrate used affected reproductive biology,
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    Farmers’ perception of calf housing and factors influencing its adoption on dairy cattle farms in Uganda
    (Scientific African, 2021) Kiggundu, Muhammad; Kigozi, Abasi; Walusimbi, Hussein K.; Mugerwa, Swidiq
    Calf housing is a significant challenge affecting calf performance. Despite its importance in ensuring optimal calf performance, inadequate housing facilities cause morbidity and mortalities on many dairy farms. This study explores farmer perception of calf housing and factors influencing its adoption on dairy cattle farms in Uganda. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data across four regions of Uganda. Data analysis was through descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square), and a binary logit model was estimated. Results revealed that 70.8% of farmers provided housing for their calves. Of these, 59.2% constructed permanent while 40.8% constructed temporary structures. Of the farmers who provided calf housing, 54.6% were dissatisfied with the structures' appropriateness in protecting the calves on their farms. Among the variables included in the model, education level, region, and cattle breeding method positively influenced calf housing adoption. On the other side, the number of cattle owned, cattle grazing system, and land tenure system negatively influenced calf housing adoption. Subsequently, increasing literacy levels, possession of a small cattle herd, and private ownership of land with a title deed increase the likelihood of adopting calf housing. In light of these results, we recommend that the promotion of calf housing needs to be sensitive to farmers' demographic and socio-economic characteristics and farm characteristics. Additionally, the provision of farmer education and training should be enhanced to ensure the adoption of calf housing on dairy farms across the country.
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    Genome-wide diversity and structure variation among lablab [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet] accessions and their implication in a Forage breeding program
    (Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 2021) Sserumaga, Julius Pyton; Kayondo, Siraj Ismail; Kigozi, Abasi; Kiggundu, Muhammad; Namazzi, Clementine; Walusimbi, Kato; Bugeza, James; Molly, Allen; Mugerwa, Swidiq
    Most orphan crops have not been fully sequenced, hence we rely on genome sequences of related species to align markers to different chromosomes. This hinders their utilisation in plant population improvement programs. Utilising the advances in the science of sequencing technologies, the population structure, relatedness, and genetic diversity among accessions can be assessed quickly for better exploitation in forage breeding programs. Using DArTseq technology, we studied the genetic and structural variation in 65 Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet conserved gene-bank accessions using 9320 DArTseqbased SNPs and 15,719 SilicoDart markers. These markers had a low discriminating ability with mean polymorphic information content (P.I.C.) of 0.14 with DArTseq-based SNPs and 0.13 with SilicoDart markers. However, the markers had a high mean call rate of 73% with DArTseq-based SNPs and 97% with SilicoDart markers. Analysis of molecular variance revealed a high within populations variance (99.4%), indicating a high gene exchange or low genetic differentiation (PhiPT = 0.0057) among the populations. Structure analysis showed three allelic pools in variable clusters of DK = 3 and 6. Phylogenetic tree of lablab accessions showed three main groups with variable membership coefficients. Most pairs of accessions (40.3%) had genetic distances between 0.10 and 0.15 for SilicoDart markers, while for DArTseq-based SNPs, (46.5%) had genetic distances between 0.20 and 0.25. Phylogenetic clustering and minimum spanning analysis divided the 65 accessions into three groups, irrespective of their origin. For the first time, this study produced high-density markers with good genom coverage. The utilisation of these accessions in a forage program will base on the information from molecular-based grouping. The outcomes uncovered the presence of noteworthy measure of variety in Uganda, CIAT and ILRI accessions, thus demonstrating an opportunity for further marker-trait-association studies.