Browsing by Author "Lejju, Julius Bunny"

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    Causes of losses and the economic loss estimates at post-harvest handling points along the beef value chain in Uganda
    (Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 2019) Kyayesimira, Juliet; Wangalwa, Rapheal; Kagoro Rugunda, Grace; Lejju, Julius Bunny; Matofari, Joseph W.; Andama, Morgan
    Uganda’s beef industry has been growing slowly and requires sustained monitoring of actors at post-harvest handling points in order to decrease public health risks and losses. This study documented causes of losses and estimated economic values at post-harvest handling points along the beef value chain. It was carried out at slaughter houses, transporters and butcher shops in the districts of Western, Central and Eastern Uganda. A cross sectional study was conducted among meat handlers who were interviewed to find out the losses incurred in the value chain. Microbial load from carcass swabs were collected and evaluated using standard microbiological methods to determine microbial contamination of beef. The causes of losses varied at different handling points. The actors at slaughter houses indicated the major losses were due to low beef demand (15.3%), insecurity (13.4%) and poor weight estimation methods (11.03%). Losses at the butchery included, beef waste (22.4%), drip loss (19.7%) and beef spoilage (18.4%). Microbial analysis showed the highest microbial prevalence at the butchery (70-100%) followed by slaughter (50-80%) and lastly transport (30-50%). Microbial contamination on carcass leads to spoilage and hence market loss because exportation does not admit contaminated foods. Actors reported beef waste and drip loss as the major causes of losses at the butchery. To reduce losses, public health care education for meat handlers and adherence to strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) are a key.
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    Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Subsistence Agriculture, Climate Risk Management, and Mitigation of Community Vulnerability in Changing Climate, Lake Victoria Basin: A Case Study of Rakai and Isingiro Districts, Uganda
    (Springer International, 2014) Umba Tolo, Casim; Majule, Enock Amos; Lejju, Julius Bunny
    Developing countries are vulnerable to negative impacts of climate change due to over reliance on climate-sensitive sectors, mainly agriculture. Limited adaptive capacity makes them vulnerable to climate-induced hazards. However, over the years, indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) have proven effective in promoting sustainable development particularly for those in subsistence agriculture. For example, in LakeVictoria basin, local communities have coped and adapted to climate-induced hazards using traditional systems and IKS. This chapter presents findings of a crosssectional survey on the use of IKS in subsistence agriculture to enhance climate risk management and mitigation of community vulnerability in a changing climate. Data were collected by household questionnaires, key informants’ interviews, and focus group discussions. Results showed overall, significantly high community awareness levels prevail in study area, implicating climate change as the main challenge facing agricultural sector. Nevertheless, as climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, local communities use myriad of IKS to improve resilience and productivity. They use IKS in soil conservation, weather/climate forecasting, selection of planting seeds, and preservation of seeds/crops. This study, therefore, recommends incorporating IKS into scientific knowledge systems to promote climate change adaptation and mitigation among vulnerable communities dependent on climate-sensitive resources.
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    Local knowledge of maturity indicators for priority fruits and vegetables in Uganda
    (Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 2017) Okiror, Paul; Balitta, Paul; Agea, Jacob Godfrey; Ocan, Jolly Joe; Lejju, Julius Bunny; Bahati, Joseph; Kagoro Rugunda, Grace; Sebuuwufu, Collins Inno
    Local knowledge on maturity indicators is important in determining optimal time of harvesting fruits and vegetables. These farm products are increasingly becoming a valuable source of livelihood for many rural families through household consumption and trade. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of literature on the integration of local knowledge and practices in improving maturity assessment techniques with the view of promoting optimal harvesting and consumer acceptability of fruits and vegetables in Uganda. A study was undertaken between April and September 2014 to prioritize viable fruits and vegetables, ascertain socio-economic characteristics influencing maturity assessments, assess local knowledge on maturity indicators and document maturity assessment challenges faced by fruit and vegetable farmers, transporters and traders in Kampala, Rubirizi and Sheema districts. A total of 102 respondents were interviewed as corroborative measure to field visits and focused group discussions involving 27 participants. The findings indicate that passion fruit, watermelon and pineapple were the most preferred fruits while tomato, cabbage and eggplant were highly ranked among vegetables
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    Maturity indices for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), cv. Ghalia 281 in Central Uganda
    (African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2017) Okiror, Paul; Lejju, Julius Bunny; Bahati, Joseph; Kagoro Rugunda, Grace; Sebuuwufu, Collins Inno
    Application of maturity indices and optimal harvest time improves handling and marketing operations and minimizes pre and postharvest losses for tomato products. Growth patterns of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), cv. Ghalia 281, were therefore analyzed to determine nondestructive maturity indices for optimal harvest regimes. Propagation experiments were run in central Uganda in 2015. A total of 216 tomato fruits were tagged and their diameter, height and color recorded daily prior to physico-chemical and nutritional analyses at Makerere University Food Science and Technology laboratory. The longest fruit (5.55 cm) was from breaker, while the shortest (4.95 cm) was in light red samples. Total soluble solids were highest at breaker (5.40 °Brix) and red (6.00 °Brix) and was lowest at turning stage (4.00 °Brix). Green tomatoes had the highest carbohydrate content of 5.99 g/100 g, followed by breaker tomatoes with 5.71 g/100 g, while the lowest CHO (4.17 g/100 g) was observed from tomatoes at turning stage. The pH decreased from 4.98 (green) to 4.60 (light red). Protein content was highest (13.05%) from red tomatoes and lowest in pink samples (10.22%). Fruit diameter was negatively correlated with fruit color (r = -0.748, P≤0.05) and °Brix (r = -0.787, P≤0.05). A highly negative correlation occurred between fruit age and pH (r = -0.949, P≤0.05). There was a high positive correlation between fruit diameter and total titrable acidity (r = 0.959, P≤0.05). Optimal harvesting should occur at breaker for distant markets and fruit with red outer colour be proposed for local consumers. Maturity indices for determining harvest time of tomato is a combination of fruit age, diameter and color, because these correlate significantly with physico-chemical and nutritional characteristics including total soluble solids (TSS), total titrable acidity (TTA) and protein content.
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    Nondestructive maturity assessment tools for commercially viable fruits and vegetables in Uganda
    (African Journal of Plant Science, 2017) Okiror, Paul; Lejju, Julius Bunny; Bahati, Joseph; Kagoro Rugunda, Grace; Sebuuwufu, Collins Inno
    Fruit and vegetable maturity at harvest influences transportation and storage requirements as well as market value. However, small scale farmers in Uganda lack technologies for maturity assessment leading to high pre- and post-harvest losses and low financial returns from fruit and vegetable farms. This study, therefore, assessed the development of fruits (pineapple, passion fruit, watermelon) and vegetables (cabbage, egg plant, pumpkin and tomato), determined optimal maturity indices and fabricated and tested nondestructive tools for maturity assessment. Propagation trials and testing of tools were undertaken at Nangabo and Kangulumira sub counties in central Uganda. The findings show that eggplant, passion fruit, pineapple and pumpkin underwent 3 distinct development stages during which their diameter, length and outer colour changed. Cabbage remained green, but its bulb diameter and length varied with maturity. Watermelon had 4 development stages with significant (P≤0.05) changes in morphology and outer colour. Tomato fruits had 6 distinct outer colour changes. Age and colour were maturity indices for passion fruit. Fruit age and diameter were the maturity indices for watermelon. Age, diameter, length and colour were the maturity indices for pineapple, tomato and eggplant
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    Prevalence of Jigger Flea (Tunga Penetrans) Infestation amongst Age Groups, Male and Female Persons in Jinja District, Eastern Uganda
    (International Journal of Science and Research, 2018) Amatre, Gerald; Lejju, Julius Bunny; Andama, Morgan
    Jigger flea infestations are endemic in several rural communities in Uganda. The Eastern part of the country reports outbreaks of jigger infestations. This case study was carried out to identify the most vulnerable sex and age groups to jigger infestation so that appropriate control measures can be recommended. Members of the affected communities in Jinja district were requested to report households that had current cases of jigger infestation. The name, sex and age of the household heads and infected persons were recorded. Details of the persons were then removed from the lists for ethical reasons. A total of 429 persons were reported to be infested with jiggers in nine parishes of five sub-counties in the district. There was a significant difference in jigger infestation in different age groups (p=8E-152, χ2 = 712.79) and between males and females (p=2.88E-8, χ2=30.78). The most infested age group (n, %) was below 15years (269, 62.7%), followed by the elderly people, above 55 years (48, 11.2%) and the least infested age group was 16-25 years (8, 1.9%). Males in each age category were at least twice more infested with jiggers than females. The study recommends that more attention be focused on children, elderly persons and males in jigger control than on females and persons in other age groups.
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    Regeneration of an afromontane forest Following agricultural encroachment in Southwestern Uganda
    (Israel Journal Of Plant Sciences, 2000) Lejju, Julius Bunny; Oryem-Origa, Hannington; Kasenene, John M.
    A study of the regeneration of an Afromontane forest was carried out in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP), southwestern Uganda, following agricultural encroachment in the last 50 years. The landscape was changed by terracing and removing the indigenous vegetation and replacing it with exotic tree species. This study also examined the soil nutrient status of the formerly encroached area in the park. Species richness of indigenous trees was high in the formerly cultivated area. Twenty-six indigenous species were found in the formerly cultivated area, compared with 20 species in the natural forest and 12 species of indigenous trees found under exotic woodlots. There was a significant difference in species richness and density in the three habitat types. The natural forest supported the highest stem density (75%), and the lowest stem density (4%) was recorded under exotic woodlots. Seedlings (<2 cm diameter at breast height) accounted for the majority of juveniles in the three habitats. The natural forest had the highest density (24,625 seedlings/ha), and exotic woodlots supported the lowest stem density (1,350 seedlings/ha).