Browsing by Author "Byamungu, Mechtilda"

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    Assessing Community and Resource Conditions: A Participatory Diagnosis Report for the Baga Watershed Lushoto Tanzania
    (2005-12) Wickama, Juma; Mbaga, Tuaeli; Madadi, Lazarus; Byamungu, Mechtilda
    In September-October 2006 a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the AHI Benchmarksite in Lushoto, the Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) – Selian in Arusha, the Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) – Mlingano, Tanga, the Association for Land use Environmental care Research and Technology Transfer (ALERT) in Tanga, the Tanzania Forest Research Institute (TAFORI) in Lushoto and the extension personnel from the District Council of Lushoto conducted a focused participatory resource diagnosis (PD) study in the villages of Mbelei, Kwekitui, Kwadoe, Kwehangala, Dule and Kwalei in Lushoto district. The six villages are what this document collectively refers to as the Baga Watershed. The objective of the study was to assess resource conditions and their management. Special bias was taken towards water and soil related resources and their management because these formed the foundations for the project for which this PD was conducted. The diagnosis was conducted in a participatory manner in which the study team combined use of a modified approach called PLAR (Participatory Learning and Action Research) and the AHI method Guide to engage the study communities, discussed with them resource conditions, their causes and proper action to be taken. The activity was also continuation of engagements which the AHI has been undertaking in the area for the last 3 years now. Results indicate that there is still significant degradation of water, tree and soil based resources in the Watershed villages. Water related resources like water streams, rivers, springs and wells are highly degraded and less productive than what they used to be 10-20 years ago. Many of the once permanent streams no longer produce water during the non-rainy months. In many of these villages water availability for irrigation is now a major source of social conflicts. Many farmers still report a declining trend in rainfall availability and its distribution within the seasons. Similarly yields per unit area for nearly all crops are falling with time. At the farm level the team observed significant soil erosion, lack of soil conservation practices, poor agricultural practices and falling soil fertility. Irrigated agriculture for vegetable and other horticultural produce is highly popular especially among the youth who have smaller landholdings as compared to their older fathers. The youth are practicing improved soil fertility management practices like fertilizer use in their fields which carry horticultural produce. Most of the important crops like coffee and banana which used to be irrigated during abundance of water are now practically rainfed and their actual acreage are declining. Many farmers point an acusing finger towards reduced precipitation as the reason for all the ills. Our team however, again confirmed four factors which contribute to the current water related conflicts and falling productivity from the fields; reduced amount of water from current water sources, increased water demand, excessive wastage of water through wasteful irrigation furrows and practices as well as poor distribution of irrigation water. To counter this trend in resource degradation our team discussed with farmers about the probable reasons for resource degradation and what could be done against it. The six villages have agreed to take actions that will progressively reverse the degradation of the water resources through collective action. They have in turn requested the project team to build their capacity in the utilization of efficient water utilization technologies and
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    Evaluation of Sampling Devices for Glossina Species in The Tarangire National Park- Northern Tanzania
    (2016-01) Byamungu, Mechtilda; Matembo, S.
    Sampling devices for Glossina species are important in conducting population studies. Based on previous findings on trapping device performances in Tanzania, experiments were initiated to compare the existing devices in capturing the morsitans group of tsetse. Five different trap types including S3, Nzi, Biconical, Pyramidal, and Epsilon were evaluated for their effectiveness in capturing Glossina species in the Tarangire National Park. A total of 25 traps (five per trap type) were compared without odor attractants relative to S3 trap as a standard in a Latin Squares of 5x5x5 (treatment x site x days). The experiments were repeated twice in the rain and dry seasons. The only tsetse species found in the study area were Glossina swynnertoni and G. pallidipes. Results indicated that there was a significance difference in catches between traps and best traps were S3 and Nzi compared to other trap types. The comparison of catches with seasons showed a significance difference in fly catches more flies were captured during the dry season than in wet season. There was no statistical significant difference in catches between sex. Observations showed a statistical significant difference between species, G. swynnertoni being captured more compared to G. pallidipes in dry and wet seasons. The Nzi trap was recommended for use in sampling of Glossina species (morsitans group) in the Northern Tanzania due to its design and cost.
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    Standardizing Visual Control Devices for Tsetse Flies: East African Species Glossina Swynnertoni
    (2013-01) Mramba, Furaha; Oloo, Francis; Byamungu, Mechtilda; Kröber, Thomas; Mcmullin, Andrew; Mihok, Steve; Guerin, Patrick M.
    Here we set out to standardize long-lasting, visually-attractive devices for , a vector of both human and animal trypanosomiasis in open savannah in Tanzania and Kenya, and in neighbouring conservation areas used by pastoralists. The goal was to determine the most practical device/material that would induce the strongest landing response in for use in area-wide population suppression of this fly with insecticide-impregnated devices. Trials were conducted in wet and dry seasons in the Serengeti and Maasai Mara to measure the performance of traps and targets of different sizes and colours, with and without chemical baits, at different population densities and under different environmental conditions. Adhesive film was used as a simple enumerator at these remote locations to compare trapping efficiencies of devices. Independent of season or presence of chemical baits, targets in phthalogen blue or turquoise blue cloth with adhesive film were the best devices for capturing G. in all situations, catching up to 19 times more flies than pyramidal traps. Baiting with chemicals did not affect the relative performance of devices. Fly landings were two times higher on 1 m blue-black targets as on pyramidal traps when equivalent areas of both were covered with adhesive film. Landings on 1 m blue-black targets were compared to those on smaller phthalogen blue 0.5 m all-blue or blue-black-blue cloth targets, and to landings on all-blue plastic 0.32-0.47 m leg panels painted in phthalogen blue. These smaller targets and leg panels captured equivalent numbers of per unit area as bigger targets. Leg panels and 0.5 m cloth targets show promise as cost effective devices for management of as they can be used for both control (insecticide-impregnated cloth) and for sampling (rigid plastic with insect glue or adhesive film) of populations.
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    Storage time effect on blood diet for tsetse mass production in sterile insect technique
    (2011-05) Byamungu, Mechtilda; Matembo, S; Benedic, K; Mashenga, G
    Different methods have been developed for tsetse and trypanosomiasis control or eradication but all these have their specific advantages and limitations. However, a combination of methods could be used as part of an Area-wide Integrated Pest Management (AWPM). The sterile insect technique (SIT) as a technique of choice for eradication of tsetse flies requires mass production of flies in the laboratories. Since tsetse's are exclusively haemotophogous insects, a quality blood diet is needed for maintenance of flies with optimum production. The aim of this study was to establish the optimum storage time of blood diet for tsetse colonies. A total of 450 flies Glossina austeni were fed on different batches of blood (collected in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008) three times a week. Pupae were collected daily and mortality checks were done on weekly basis. The quality of the blood diet was measured by observation of tsetse production parameters including survival, pupae production and size. The survival of flies fed on 2004 and 2006 batches had lower survival compared to the rest of the batches. Also the 2005 batch had a significant higher number of pupae compared to the production in other treatments. The 2004 and 2005 batches had more of small pupae (class A & B) compared to the other batches. There was a significant difference between the blood batches and the production parameters were better in the last three years, i.e. 2008, 2007 and 2006. Therefore, this study recommends three years to be an optimum storage time for blood diet under regional conditions. Also the storage temperature conditions should remain stable at -20ºC.