NRU :: Browsing by Author "Ongeng, D."

Browsing by Author "Ongeng, D."

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Conceptualizing the Student-Centered Outreach Model for Experiential Learning and Community Transformation
(African Journal of Rural Development, 2016) Kalule, S.W.; Odongo, W.; Kule, E.; Ndyomugyenyi, E.K.; Omara, P.; Ongeng, D.
A dominant discourse in higher education has widely called for reviewing, redesigning and alignment of the curricula to suit the current and future skills demands in the labour market. In response, universities have over time been repositioning themselves to develop practical approaches to produce graduates with skills relevant to the job market. One such approach is the Student-Centered Outreach (S-C-O) model conceived and run at Gulu University in Uganda. However, little is known about the S-C-O model and thus this paper sought to develop and present a conceptual framework that underpins the functioning of the model. The structural set-up of the framework shows that students are centrally positioned between the faculty and the community. A key resource connecting the actors in the S-C-O model is knowledge which is gained through learning that takes place from either the top or bottom side of the S-C-O model and integrating feedback to close the learning loop. Examination of the implementation of the S-C-O model reveals that the model realizes three important outcomes: (i) enhancing experiential learning, (ii) promoting university linkage with the community, and (iii) enhancing transformation of the farming practices. The need for further studies as part of a process to develop an empirical methodology for examining the impacts of this outreach model remains apparent.
Determinants of Market Participation for Smallholder Cassava Processors in North and North-Eastern Uganda
(African Journal of Rural Development, 2017) Mugonola, B.; Ajok, W.; Ongeng, D.
Cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) is a crop of global significance especially in the tropics where it is a source of food, animal feeds and industrial starch. However, the rapid PostHarvest Physiological Deterioration (PPD), bulkiness of fresh cassava roots and high toxicity of some cassava varieties prohibits prolonged marketing and market participation of smallholder farmers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in north and north-eastern Uganda to ascertain the drivers of market participation for smallholder cassava farmers. Data were collected using pre-tested questionnaires administered to 185 randomly selected respondents and using STATA package, a two stage Heckman’s model was fitted involving a Probit model and OLS regression in the first and second stages, respectively. Results of the first stage Probit model revealed that farm land size, market distance, size of household, transport cost and off-farm annual income significantly (P<0.05) influenced the market participation decisions of smallholder cassava processors. In the OLS regression of the outcomes model, gender, market distance, contract marketing, marketing experience, education level, and land allocated to cassava production and group marketing significantly increased the sales revenues of processed cassava products. Our findings indicate that socio-economic and institutional factors are important in stimulating smallholder cassava farmers’ market participation. Therefore, policy support is needed in the areas of contract marketing, processing to prolong cassava shelf-life, strengthen market access conditions and lift smallholder farmers from income poverty.
Influence of Sociocultural Practices on Food and Nutrition Security in Karamoja Subregion of Uganda
(Ecology of food and nutrition, 2017) Muggaga, C.; Ongeng, D.; Mugonola, B.; Okello-Uma, I.; Kaaya, N. A.; Taylor, D.
The study determined the influence of sociocultural practices on food and nutrition security of children and women in Karamoja subregion, located in northeastern Uganda. Sixteen focus group discussions were conducted among 133 participants. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings indicate that cultural norms, myths, and taboos restrict consumption of animal-sourced foods and some green vegetables by women. Sociocultural practices promoted prelacteal feeding, affecting the implementation of World Health Organization’s recommendations for exclusive breast feeding. In conclusion, sociocultural practices influence food and nutrition security, exposing women and children to the risk of malnutrition and associated consequences.
Kinetic Model-Based Prediction of the Persistence of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium under Tropical Agricultural Field Conditions
(Journal of applied microbiology, 2011) Ongeng, D.; Muyanja, C.; Ryckeboer, J.; Springael, D.; Geeraerd, A.H.
Present a kinetic model-based approach for using isothermal data to predict the survival of manure-borne enteric bacteria under dynamic conditions in an agricultural environment. A model to predict the survival of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium under dynamic temperature conditions in soil in the field was developed. The working hypothesis was that the inactivation phenomena associated with the survival kinetics of an organism in an agricultural matrix under dynamic temperature conditions is for a large part due to the cumulative effect of inactivation at various temperatures within the continuum registered in the matrix in the field. The modelling approach followed included (i) the recording of the temperature profile that the organism experiences in the field matrix, (ii) modelling the survival kinetics under isothermal conditions at a range of temperatures that were registered in the matrix in the field; and (iii) using the isothermal-based kinetic models to develop models for predicting survival under dynamic conditions. The time needed for 7 log CFU g−1Salmonella Typhimurium in manure and manure-amended soil to reach the detection limit of the enumeration method (2 log CFU g−1) under tropical conditions in the Central Agro-Ecological Zone of Uganda was predicted to be 61–68 days and corresponded with observed CFU of about 2·2–3·0 log CFU g−1, respectively. The Bias and Accuracy factor of the prediction was 0·71–0·84 and 1·2–1·4, respectively. Survival of Salm. Typhimurium under dynamic field conditions could be for 71–84% determined by the developed modelling approach, hence substantiating the working hypothesis.
Responsiveness of Agricultural Training Curricula in African Universities to Labour Market Needs: The Case of Gulu University in Uganda
(African Journal of Rural Development, 2017) Odongo, W.; Kalule, S. W.; Kule, E. K.; Ndyomugyenyi, E. K.; Omara, P.; Ongeng, D.
Agricultural universities in Africa have a core responsibility to develop and implement relevant curricula to produce well trained human resource to guide stakeholders in production, value addition and marketing to meet the expected quantity and quality requirements of modern agri-food supply chain systems. This paper presents innovations in agricultural training curricula at Gulu University in Uganda designed to produce the breed of graduates, blending in character, the attitudes, hands-on practical skills and knowledge to exploit and succeed in the commonly perceived “non- attractive” labour market of the agricultural sector in Sub-Saharan Africa. Key ingredient in curricula orientation, as a critical input in modelling that type of graduate, is the integration of community engagement and agri-enterprise development in student training. Making use of the Bachelor of Agriculture (BAG) degree programme, the pioneer programme that kick-started the new training orientation, we conducted a tracer study to document employment characteristics, transition to employment and the level of satisfaction with training approach among the first five graduate cohorts (2009-2013) in 2014. Results showed that 84 % of the graduates were employed within the first six months after graduation. The employment rate surpassed 90 % after one year. About 80% of the graduates were employed in rural and semi-urban localities. Employment was in diverse sectors including government extension advisory services, financial institutions, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, agricultural research and graduate-own agro-based enterprise. Only 1.7 % of the graduates had established businesses. Most graduates were satisfied with job placement while over 90 % of the employers were contented with competencies exhibited by the graduates. This paper illustrates that integrating community engagement and enterprise development in student training contributes greatly to building competencies of agricultural graduates for the labour market.
A Strategic Approach for African Agricultural Universities Experiencing Low Human Capacity to Engage in Graduate-Level Training: Lessons from Gulu University in Uganda
(2016) Ongeng, D.
The significance of agriculture in driving Africa’s growth and development has greatly gained recognition in the recent past. African universities are expected to play a critical role in African agricultural development process because of their inherent pivotal role in human capital development and agro-technology generation. Many universities in Africa are plagued with low human capacity, a key factor, which has continued to undermine their contribution to economic development in the continent. The most glaring capacity gap is evident at graduate-level training. Therefore, this paper shares lessons based on experience from Gulu University in Uganda on how agricultural universities experiencing human resource capacity gaps can innovatively venture into high quality PhD-level training. The paper describes innovation in curriculum process that led to the development and mounting of a thematic area-based taught PhD program in the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment. This PhD model is considered as an “accommodative strategy” suitable for human resource-constrained universities as it allows for effective use of existing limited human capacity while providing room for expansion within the same curriculum structure concomitant with staff capacity improvement.
The Student Enterprise Scheme for Agribusiness Innovation: A University-Based Training Model for Nurturing Entrepreneurial Mind-Sets amongst African Youths
(African Journal of Rural Development (AFJRD), 2017) Kalule, S.W.; Mugonola, B.; Ongeng, D.
Paradigm shifts in higher education have necessitated embracing and mainstreaming entrepreneurship education in training curricula. This is because entrepreneurial capacity building amongst the youth is considered the best approach for addressing unemployment, rural poverty and creation of responsible citizenry in Sub Saharan Africa. Reportedly, entrepreneurship education increases the chances for young people to start new businesses or even expand existing ones, gain confidence and so enhance their employability. However, one of the criticism of entrepreneurship education in Africa is that it is largely theoretical, and barely provides the much needed hands-on practice. This calls for training models of entrepreneurship that exhibit practical orientations. In light of this view, Gulu University in Uganda, introduced a practical approach of agri-entrepreneurship training branded as the Student Enterprise Scheme, in which students develop, defend, implement and evaluate agribusiness plans. The students are guided and supported with funds on credit to actualize economically viable and commercially sound business plans. Insights from the implementation of the scheme so far show that it is a useful practical approach for students to integrate theory and practice. This paper illustrates that although the linkage between student entrepreneurial activities and other stakeholders for Roundtable engagements requires further testing and refinement, the scheme is a good opportunity for young people to develop positive entrepreneurial mindsets and capabilities, start own businesses and enhance their employability. The study recommends strengthening linkages between university students and those in technical and vocational institutions to develop a higher educational value chain on entrepreneurship training. Furthermore, entrepreneurship programmes for young people should be connected to credit and micro-finance initiatives to enhance their entrepreneurial success.
Survival of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium in Manure and Manure-Amended Soil under Tropical Climatic Conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Journal of applied microbiology, 2011) Ongeng, D.; Muyanja, C.; Geeraerd, A.H.; Springael, D.; Ryckeboer, J.
To establish the fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium in manure and manure-amended agricultural soils under tropical conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Survival of nonvirulent E. coli O157:H7 and Salm. Typhimurium at 4 and 7 log CFU g−1 in manure and manure-amended soil maintained at ≥80% r.h. or exposed to exclusive field or screen house conditions was determined in the Central Agro-Ecological Zone of Uganda. Maintaining the matrices at high moisture level promoted the persistence of high-density inocula and enhanced the decline of low-density inocula in the screen house, but moisture condition did not affect survival in the field. The large majority of the survival kinetics displayed complex patterns corresponding to the Double Weibull model. The two enteric bacteria survived longer in manure-amended soil than in manure. The 7 log CFU g−1E. coli O157:H7 and Salm. Typhimurium survived for 49–84 and 63–98 days, while at 4 log CFU g−1, persistence was 21–28 and 35–42 days, respectively. Under tropical conditions, E. coli O157:H7 and Salm. Typhimurium persisted for 4 and 6 weeks at low inoculum density and for 12 and 14 weeks at high inoculum density, respectively.
Transfer and Internalisation of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 And Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium in Cabbage Cultivated on Contaminated Manure-Amended Soil under Tropical Field Conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa
(International Journal of Food Microbiology, 2011) Ongeng, D.; Vasquez, G.A.; Muyanja, C.; Ryckeboer, J.; Geeraerd, A.H.; Springael, D.
Surface contamination and internalisation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium in cabbage leaf tissues at harvest (120 days post-transplantation) following amendment of contaminated bovine manure to soil at different times during crop cultivation were investigated under tropical field conditions in the Central Agro-Ecological Zone of Uganda. Fresh bovine manure inoculated with rifampicin-resistant derivatives of non-virulent strains of E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium was incorporated into the soil to achieve inoculum concentrations of 4 and 7 log CFU/g at the point of transplantation, 56 or 105 days post-transplantation of cabbage seedlings. Frequent sampling of the soil enabled the accurate identification of the survival kinetics in soil, which could be described by the Double Weibull model in all but one of the cases. The persistence of 4 log CFU/g E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium in the soil was limited, i.e. only inocula applied 105 days post-transplantation were still present at harvest. Moreover, no internalisation in cabbage leaf tissues was observed. In contrast, at the 7 log CFU/g inoculum level, E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium survived in the soil throughout the cultivation period. All plants (18/18) examined for leaf contamination were positive for E. coli O157:H7 at harvest irrespective of the time of manure application. A similar incidence of leaf contamination was found for S. Typhimurium. On the other hand, only plants (18/18) cultivated on soil amended with contaminated manure at the point of transplantation showed internalised E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium at harvest. These results demonstrate that under tropical field conditions, the risk of surface contamination and internalisation of E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium in cabbage leaf tissues at harvest depend on the inoculum concentration and the time of manure application. Moreover, the internalisation of E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium in cabbage leaf tissues at harvest seems to be limited to the worst case situation, i.e., when highly contaminated manure is introduced into the soil at the time of transplantation of cabbage seedlings.

Browsing by Author "Ongeng, D."

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