Browsing by Author "Olum, Solomon"

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    Addition of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato and Iron-Rich Beans Improves Sensory, Nutritional and Physical Properties But Reduces Microbial Shelf Life of Cassava-Based Pancake (Kabalagala) Designed for Children 2-5 Years Old
    (Journal of Culinary Science & Technology, 2021) Adoko, Melas Cayrol; Olum, Solomon; Elolu, Samuel; Ongeng, Duncan
    Innovative use of locally available food resources to develop products of enhanced nutritional quality is one of the strategies believed to alleviate deficiencies of essential micronutrients such as vitamin A and iron that are endemic among children 2–5 years in developing countries such as Uganda. New cassava-based pancake (kabalagala) formulae composed of orange-fleshed sweet potato, iron-rich beans, cassava and sweet banana were developed to target vitamin A and iron needs of children 2–5 years in Uganda. The new products had better sensory appeal and nutrient density, had better physical properties during storage, were stable to oxidative rancidity but had lower microbial shelf-life compared to the original pancake formula (composed of cassava and sweet banana). Notwithstanding bioavailability constraints, theoretical nutritional computation revealed that serving 100 g (approximately four pieces) of the new products would contribute approximately 99–102% of vitamin A and 110–119% of iron requirements of the targeted children.
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    Agronomic Biofortification from a Stakeholder’s Viewpoint Evidence from Studies on Iodine-Enriched Foods in Uganda
    (Vitamins and minerals biofortification of edible plants, 2020) Olum, Solomon; Wesana, Joshua; Odongo, Walter; Mogendi, Joseph; Okello, Collins; Webale, Dominic; Ongeng, Duncan
    This chapter provides an overview of two case studies that examine stakeholder reactions toward iodine biofortification in Uganda. The first case applies the protection motivation theory and evaluates the intention of school heads and parents of school-aged children to include iodine-biofortified legumes in school feeding programs. The second case study takes a broader scope of stakeholder groups and applies the analytical hierarchy process, a multicriteria decision-making tool, to understand the stakeholders' evaluation of the relative importance of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) factors in implementing agronomic iodine biofortification in Uganda. Results from the two cases demonstrate that stakeholders are generally optimistic about the iodine biofortification strategy to improve iodine intake and address the prevalent iodine deficiency disorders. Both cases provide insights into key factors that need to be considered in implementing iodine biofortification technology in a developing country.
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    Agronomic Biofortification from a Stakeholder’s Viewpoint Evidence from Studies on Iodine-Enriched Foods in Uganda
    (Vitamins and minerals biofortification of edible plants, 2020) Olum, Solomon; Wesana, Joshua; Odongo, Walter; Mogendi, Joseph; Okello, Collins; Webale, Dominic; Makokha, Anselimo; Ongeng, Duncan; Gellynck, Xavier; Steur, Hans De
    This chapter provides an overview of two case studies that examine stakeholder reactions toward iodine biofortification in Uganda. The first case applies the protection motivation theory and evaluates the intention of school heads and parents of school-aged children to include iodine-biofortified legumes in school feeding programs. The second case study takes a broader scope of stakeholder groups and applies the analytical hierarchy process, a multicriteria decision-making tool, to understand the stakeholders' evaluation of the relative importance of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) factors in implementing agronomic iodine biofortification in Uganda. Results from the two cases demonstrate that stakeholders are generally optimistic about the iodine biofortification strategy to improve iodine intake and address the prevalent iodine deficiency disorders. Both cases provide insights into key factors that need to be considered in implementing iodine biofortification technology in a developing country.
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    Economic Feasibility of Iodine Agronomic Biofortification: A Projective Analysis with Ugandan Vegetable Farmers
    (Sustainability, 2021) Olum, Solomon; Gellynck, Xavier; Wesana, Joshua; Odongo, Walter; Aparo, Nathaline Onek; Aloka, Bonny; Ongeng, Duncan; Steur, Hans De
    Cost–benefit analysis of (iodine) biofortification at farm level is limited in the literature. This study aimed to analyze the economic feasibility of applying iodine-rich fertilizers (agronomic biofortification) to cabbage and cowpea in Northern Uganda. Data on costs and revenues were obtained from a survey of 100 farmers, and benefits that would accrue from using iodine fertilizers were elicited using consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the iodine-biofortified vegetables. The cost–benefit analysis demonstrated iodine agronomic biofortification as a highly profitable effort, generating average benefit–cost ratios (BCRs) of 3.13 and 5.69 for cabbage and cowpea production, respectively, higher than the conventional production practice. However, the projective analysis showed substantive variations of economic gains from iodine biofortification among farmers, possibly due to differences in farming practices and managerial capabilities. For instance, only 74% of cabbage farmers would produce at a BCR above 1 if they were to apply iodine fertilizer. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis to estimate the effect of subsidizing the cost of iodine fertilizer showed that a higher proportion of farmers would benefit from iodine biofortification. Therefore, as biofortification is considered a health policy intervention targeting the poor and vulnerable, farmers could be supported through fertilizer subsidies to lower the production cost of iodine-biofortified foods and to avoid passing on the price burden to vulnerable consumers.
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    Farmers’ Adoption of Agricultural Innovations: A Systematic Review on Willingness to Pay Studies
    (Outlook on Agriculture, 2020) Olum, Solomon; Gellynck, Xavier; Juvinal, Joel; Ongeng, Duncan; Steur, Hans De
    Unlike most studies that focused on specific innovations, this study systematically analyzed farmers’ adoption of agricultural innovations in general. It reports willingness to pay (WTP; willingness to accept (WTA)) as a proxy for adoption, its determinants, applied methods, and statistical models. After searching and screening, 80 studies qualified for review. Majority (n = 30) of studies focused on farmers’ WTP for innovations in agricultural water provision or environmental and crop protection (n = 35), while the remaining studies handled crop or animal improvement innovations. Most studies were performed in developing countries, using stated preference methods for economic valuation, with 55% of the studies (n = 44) applying contingent valuation compared to 39% taking choice modeling approach. While farmers are generally willing to pay premium for improvement in agriculture technologies, WTP (WTA) depends on the innovation (system). For example, premiums ranged from about 0.125 to 2 USD/m3 of water depending on water supply (e.g. ground vs. surface water). Furthermore, the determinants of farmers’ WTP can be grouped into sociodemographic, biophysical, technological, institutional, and behavioral factors. As illustrated by relatively high WTP, the review demonstrates that farmers embrace most innovations, regardless of the context and methods applied.
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    Insects as food: Illuminating the food neophobia and socio-cultural dynamics of insect consumption in Uganda
    (International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2021) Olum, Solomon; Wesana, Joshua; Mawadri, Justine; Nakiranda, Joanitar K.; Odongo, Walter
    Entomophagy presents the most viable and sustainable meat alternative to feed the ever-increasing world population as insects are highly nutritious. However, the potential of edible insects’ consumption is constrained by consumers’ fear towards novel or unfamiliar foods (food neophobia), which tends to be higher for insects. This paper assessed the influence of food neophobia and socio-cultural factors on the consumption and consumers’ willingness to consume three edible insects in Uganda (the longhorned grasshoppers, the flying African termites and the wingless red termites). Data were collected from 310 edible insects’ consumers from two culturally different regions in Uganda. Results show that culture and familiarity with edible insects are important determinants of edible insects’ consumption. Consumers with high levels of food neophobia were less likely to consume edible insects that were unfamiliar to them.Much as the population exhibited high levels of food neophobia, neophobia was not a significant predictor of future edible insect consumption. In addition, personal characteristics like education and age influenced both the level of food neophobia and consumption of insects. Therefore, consumption of edible insect should be promoted, keeping in mind specific cultural contexts and familiarity of specific edible insects among potential consumers. Improving knowledge of consumers about edible insects and their nutritional benefits could also lower their levels of food neophobia and improve willingness to consume insects
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    Iodine Agronomic Biofortification of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Is Effective under Farmer Field Conditions
    (Agronomy, 2019) Ojok, Joe; Omara, Peter; Opolot, Emmanuel; Odongo, Walter; Olum, Solomon; Gijs, Du Laing; Gellynck, Xavier; Steur, Hans De; Ongeng, Duncan
    Iodine (I) is an essential micronutrient, which plays a critical role in human metabolism. However, its concentration is known to be low in most soils, making it deficient in crops. With most I agronomic biofortification studies conducted under controlled environments, limited information currently exists on this approach of enriching I deficient crops under farmer field conditions. Two-year field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 to examine efficacy of cowpea and cabbage in the uptake of foliar applied potassium iodide (KI) and potassium iodate (KIO3), each with 0, 5, 10, and 15 kg I ha−1 under farmer field conditions. Results indicate that KI was 34% more efficient than KIO3. Iodine concentration increased with application rate. In cabbage, the lowest I concentration (8.2 mg kg−1) was registered at 5 kg I ha−1 with KIO3 while the highest was 109.1 mg kg−1 at 15 kg I ha−1 with KI. Cowpea registered the lowest I concentration of 531.5 mg kg−1 at 5 kg I ha−1 with KIO3 while the highest (5854.2 mg kg−1) was registered at 15 kg I ha−1 with KI. Therefore, cowpea and cabbage can be effectively biofortified through foliar application of both KI and KIO3 under farmer field conditions.
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    Physico-chemical and microbiological quality of raw milk produced by smallholder farmers in Gulu City, Northern Uganda
    (Taylor & Francis, 2024-01-27) Opiyo, Alfred; Kidega, Kenneth; Okello-Uma, Ipolto; Olum, Solomon
    Abstract AbstractSmallholder dairy farmers in Northern Uganda sell raw milk to the final consumers without conducting quality control measures. This study evaluated physico-chemical and microbiological quality of milk produced by smallholder farmers in Gulu City. Samples of raw milk were collected from forty (40) smallholder dairy farmers rearing lactating exotic breed of dairy cows (Holstein Friesian) in zero grazing units and eight (8) from milk collection centers. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21.0) by employing descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA and t-test to separate significant means at 5% level of significance. Significant (P < 0.05) differences were observed in the content of solid-not-fat (SNF), specific gravity, pH value, lactic acid, Coliform count and total plate count of colony forming unit among four divisions in Gulu City. There was no discernible (p > 0.05) difference in protein as well as fat content for milk sampled from the study divisions. In conclusion, smallholder dairy farmers in Gulu City conduct limited recommended key practices for raw milk production leading to compromised microbiological and physico-chemical quality. Further research is needed on in-depth analysis of the different species of micro-organisms in raw milk from both local and exotic breeds of dairy cattle under the smallholder farming system in Northern Uganda.
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    The Relationship between Cultural Norms and Food Security in the Karamoja Sub-Region of Uganda
    (Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 2017) Olum, Solomon; Okello-Uma, Ipolto; Tumuhimbise, Gaston A.; Taylor, David; Ongeng, Duncan
    Culture is a strong determinant of food security through its influence on what society considers acceptable for consumption. Karamoja sub-region is one of the most ethnically diverse parts of eastern Africa, and is associated with the highest levels of food insecurity in Uganda. However, there is a general lack of understanding on the extent to which ethnicity is a contributing factor to food insecurity. We examined the relationship between ethnicity and food security in relation to commonly practiced cultural norms among the Jie, Karamojong and Tepeth ethnic groups of Karamoja. Data from 273 randomly selected households across a range of cultural settings were obtained using structured questionnaires in the September-October (2015) period. Food security status was assessed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), daily calorie intake and coping strategy index. The study also used focus group discussions to assess the implications for food security of common cultural practices. Results confirm the general observation that the sub-region is food insecure. There were also significant variations in food security across geographical location and ethnicity. Cultural restrictions, applied particularly to women and children, over the consumption of several nutritious foods from livestock were revealed. Consumption of raw milk and animal blood, potential sources of food-borne infections and thus of malnutrition, was found to be high in the sub-region and varied significantly across ethnicity. The findings provide a basis for interventions aimed at reducing food insecurity and averting cultural impediments to a more nutritious diet.
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    Willingness-to-pay for iodine biofortified vegetables: Results from open-ended choice and bilateral bargaining experiments
    (2019) Olum, Solomon; Gellynck, Xavier; Ongeng, Duncan; De Steur, Hans
    A lot of efforts have been made globally to improve the iodine content of staple foods through, but acceptance and willingness to pay (WTP) studies are limited. While WTP has been applied to other biofortified crops, such studies have evaluated WTP for a single unit of food products, when in reality, consumers often buy more than one unit. This research estimated the initial demand for iodine biofortified cabbage and cowpea in Uganda using open-ended-choice-experiment (OECE) that allows to estimate consumer demand for multiple units of products. In addition, it introduces bilateral bargaining to the consumer WTP literature to estimate the possible transaction boundaries between the producers and the consumers. Results show that consumers are willing to pay high premium for the two crops. They are willing to pay higher premium for the cowpea than for the cabbages, as cowpea is consumed more than cabbages in the study area. To this stage, bargaining is seen to produce comparable results to OECE. The study provides key information for producers and authorities on how to value iodine biofortified cabbages and cowpea, once produced. It also emphases the need to integrate bargaining to other established methods of estimating consumers’ WTP, especially in those regions where bargaining is common in food markets