Browsing by Author "Zziwa, A."

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    Profiling agricultural engineering technologies for mechanizing smallholder agriculture in Uganda
    (Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 2016) Wanyama, J.; Banadda, N.; Kiyimba, F.; Okurut, S.; Zziwa, A.; Kabenge, I.; Mutumba, C.; Tumutegyereize, P.; Komakech, A. J.; Kiggundu, N.
    Developing countries are grappling with numerous challenges including feeding rapidly growing populations, alleviating poverty, protecting the environment, and mitigating adverse impacts of climate change. For the coming years, one of the main agricultural development agenda for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) should be to increase agricultural productivity and production to achieve food security through agricultural mechanization with Agricultural Engineering Technologies (AETs) as major inputs. However, there is paucity of information on the status of existing AETs and their contribution to mechanizing smallholder agriculture which is crucial to effective planning and strategy formulation. Therefore, the overarching objective of this paper is to review the past and present status, the constraints to adoption and future of AETs in Uganda in the context of mechanizing smallholder agriculture. Several proven AETs developed through research institutions and universities have been profiled in different areas of farm power and mechanization systems, agro-processing for value addition; renewable energy systems; and water harnessing and utilization. Availability and prudent use of these AETs along the value chain has the potential to enhance labor use and efficiency, provide greater precision and timeliness in farm operations, reduce postharvest loses, contributing to adding value to products and profitability of farming through proper handling, drying, cleaning, grading, processing, preservation, packaging and storage. The future of AETs in Uganda is hinged on addressing the aspects on appropriateness of the AETs in the smallholder agriculture context and standardizing of AET. Furthermore, human resource capacity development through enhancement of technical skills in AE, increased private sector engagement, economic incentives and innovation protection should be an integral part of the future strategies for development and increased adoption of AETs.
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    Solar fruit drying technologies for smallholder farmers in Uganda, A review of design constraints and solutions
    (CIGR Journal, 2016) Kiggundu, N.; Wanyama, J.; Galyaki, C.; Banadda, N.; Muyonga, J. H.; Zziwa, A.; Kabenge, I.
    Solar fruit drying is a technology that is successfully applied on both domestic and commercial scale among smallholder farmers in Uganda. However, existing solar drying technologies are marred with multiple deficiencies such as inefficient conversion of trapped solar radiation to meet required enthalpy, low throughput, long drying times, and inherent difficulty to achieve acceptable hygiene among others. This review critically examines existing solar drying technologies in Uganda, highlighting design constraints and plausible solutions for supporting the growing fruit drying industry. The common types of solar dryers in Uganda are the static-bed box type solar dryer model, the PPI tunnel solar dryer model, the NRI Kawanda cabinet solar dryer, the hybrid tunnel solar dryer and the UNIDO solar hybrid dryer model. Findings reveal that the challenges characterizing existing dryers in perspective of design are attributed to; poor material selection, poor mass and energy transfers, total dependence on solar energy, lack of capacity by local craftsmen to replicate new and improved models, difficulty to clean the dryers caused by inapt model configurations, and high cost of installation to mention a few. Therefore, a need exists to develop efficient and affordable designs using scientifically proven methods such as Computer Fluid Dynamics to pre-test and optimize the dryer and incorporating alternative energy sources in the design to ensure an all-weather dryer. Additionally, disseminate such innovations to farmers, retool local artisans with quality fabrication skill sets, and develop simple manual with standards and fabrication procedures for the fruit dryers.