School of Agriculture, Veterinary Science and Technologyhttp://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/292024-03-29T08:05:17Z2024-03-29T08:05:17ZOCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF GROUNDNUT ROSETTE DISEASE IN WESTERN KENYAMabele, Anthony Simiyuhttp://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/25562024-02-15T17:59:06Z2016-12-01T00:00:00ZOCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF GROUNDNUT ROSETTE DISEASE IN WESTERN KENYA
Mabele, Anthony Simiyu
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an economically important food legume, grown in Western Kenya. Groundnut rosette disease (GRD) is a major constraint in sub-Saharan Africa, which can cause serious yield losses in an epidemic situation. Rosette is transmitted in nature by the viruliferous aphid vector, Aphis craccivora Koch (Insecta: Homoptera), in a persistent circulative manner. The disease is caused by two synergistic viruses; groundnut rosette assistor virus (GRAV, genus Luteovirus) and groundnut rosette virus (GRV, genus Umbravirus) associated with a satellite-ribonucleic acid (Sat-RNA). The GRD viruses occur in three predominant symptom forms; chlorotic rosette, green rosette and mosaic rosette. This study will determine the symptomatology, occurrence, distribution, biological and molecular characterization of groundnut rosette in Western Kenya. Two disease diagnostic surveys, will be conducted during the short and long rain seasons in eight counties; Bungoma, Busia, Homabay, Kakamega, Migori, Nandi, Siaya and Vihiga. The counties represent the Lower Midland (LM) and Upper Midland (UM) agro-ecological zones (AEZs). Symptomatic leaves will be collected from the groundnut farms. Total RNA will be extracted by RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen), and sequenced using next generation sequencing technologies (NGS). Disease incidence and severity will be scored on the disease score sheet. The data collected on occurrence, distribution, diversity and characterization, will be compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA), using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) program (SAS Institute lnc.). Pairwise comparison of means will be done using Least Significance Difference (LSD) at P ≤ 0.05 confidence level. This research will provide comprehensive knowledge of GRD viruses, rosette symptoms and better agronomic farming technologies, for considerable increased groundnut production.
Master of Science in Crop Protection
2016-12-01T00:00:00ZTHE INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION ACCESS ON IMPROVED SWEETPOTATO VARIETIES FOR ADOPTION IN MIGORI COUNTY OF KENYAOjuodhi, Tabitha Aumahttp://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/25552024-01-16T12:45:17Z2017-05-01T00:00:00ZTHE INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION ACCESS ON IMPROVED SWEETPOTATO VARIETIES FOR ADOPTION IN MIGORI COUNTY OF KENYA
Ojuodhi, Tabitha Auma
Sweetpotato (Ipomea batatas) is a starchy root crop belonging to the family of convolvulacea. It is the seventh most important food crop after wheat, rice, maize, potato, barley and cassava. It is a food security crop, it offers flexible source of food and income to rural households that are vulnerable to crop failure. It is a drought tolerant crop with a wide ecological adaptability. It is a rich source of carbohydrate offers a cheap source of energy and vitamins for health and nutritional benefits. Improved sweetpotato varieties have been recommended by Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization and disseminated by other institutions, but there still appears to be low uptake of the technologies. The problem that cause low adoption process is unknown. The study therefore seeks to explore access to information as one of the factors that influence any given technology. The purpose of the study is to determine the influence of information access on improved sweetpotato for adoption in Migori County with the following objectives, i) identify and describe information access on production and marketing pathways of improved sweetpotato varieties known by farmers in Migori County ii) to identify and determine socio economic factors influencing information access on improved sweetpotato varieties , iii) to identify the drivers which influence adoption of improved sweetpotato varieties. The total population of Migori County is 591,959 people. The study location will be Suna East and Kuria West sub counties. The study population will be 98803 households. The research design will be sociological survey. The sample size will be 120 farmers. Sampling techniques which will be used are purposive to select location of the study of improved sweetpotatoes varieties which have been disseminated. Random sampling will be used on every fifth household to select sweetpotato farmers in the area. Research instruments will be questionnaires administered as interview schedules. Data collection will be both qualitative and quantitative. Method of analysis will be statistical package for social sciences version 20, descriptive statistics, frequency distribution and percentages will be used. Inferential statistics (Chi-square and correlation) will be used to test the relationships between social-economic factors influencing information access on adoption of improved sweetpotato as well the drivers which influence adoption of improved sweetpotatoes. Results will be presented according to research objectiv
Master of Science in agricultural extension and rural development
2017-05-01T00:00:00ZINFLUENCE OF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON DAIRY CATTLE PRODUCTIVITY ON SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN KAKAMEGA CENTRAL SUB-COUNTY, KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYANUNDU, CHARLES O.http://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/25542024-02-15T17:58:47Z2021-05-01T00:00:00ZINFLUENCE OF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON DAIRY CATTLE PRODUCTIVITY ON SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN KAKAMEGA CENTRAL SUB-COUNTY, KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA
NUNDU, CHARLES O.
Dairy production has always been the main stay of the Kenyan economy, however many counties Kakamega included have suffered perennial milk deficiencies and production fluctuations against a backdrop of an expected increase in human population in rural households. This necessitated the need to investigate the underlying factors that influence this situation and their individual effect on dairy cattle productivity, and to suggest ways on how to overcome them. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of management practices on dairy cattle productivity among smallholder farmers in Kakamega Central Sub County, Kenya. The study was guided by three objectives; (i) to determine the effect of nutritional management practices on dairy cattle productivity among smallholder farmers in Kakamega Central Sub County, Kenya (ii) to determine the effect of reproduction management practices on dairy cattle productivity among smallholder farmers in Kakamega Central Sub County, Kenya and (iii) to evaluate the contribution of housing environment management practices on dairy cattle productivity among smallholder farmers in Kakamega Central Sub County, Kenya. The study adopted aCorrelational survey research design, with a focus on smallholder dairy farmers in Kakamega Central Sub County, in Kakamega County, Kenya. The study target population were the 4000 dairy farmers in the research area, who owned between 1 and 5 dairy cows and either supplied milk to a local dairy cooperative or sold milk in the open air market. From this, a sample of 400 farmers were selected and used as respondents, through multistage random and purposive sampling techniques. Data collection involved the use of interview guide, observation checklist, focus group discussions and key informant interview. A Pilot study was carried out in Butsotso South ward, to assess the suitability of the research instruments. Their validity was tested using experts, while their reliability was tested by test-retest method, where all the instruments surpassed the set thresholds for reliability and validity. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics were analyzed in frequencies and percentages then presented in tables, histograms and pie charts. Inferential statistics were annalysed through Regression, correlation and simple t-test.Findings revealed thatproper nutritional management comprising of sufficient feeds, watering, mineral supplementation and frequent deworming and vaccination significantly influenced dairy productivity.[r=.725,p=.001,α=.05]Reproduction management practices (Breed selection, heat detection, heat stress management and pregnancy detection) had a strong positive association with their dairy cattle productivity.[r=.749,p=.02,α=.05]There was a moderate positive association between the selected smallholder farmers housing environmental management scores and their dairy cattle productivity scores [r=.512, p=.01 at α=.05]. The study also revealed that the government approach of demand driven extension services contributed to lowering farmers’ awareness of the best management practices to in cooperate in their farming activities. These research findings provide data that might be useful to the dairy farmers, Ministry of Agriculture in the County Government of Kakamega and the National Environmental Management Authority for future policy actions.
Master of Science Degreein Animal Production
2021-05-01T00:00:00ZEVALUATION OF ELECTRONIC AGRICULTURE PLATFORM TO ACHIEVE FOOD PRODUCTION IN BUSIA COUNTY, KENYAOKWARA, CAREN KAGEHAhttp://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/25532024-01-16T12:44:13Z2017-01-01T00:00:00ZEVALUATION OF ELECTRONIC AGRICULTURE PLATFORM TO ACHIEVE FOOD PRODUCTION IN BUSIA COUNTY, KENYA
OKWARA, CAREN KAGEHA
Agricultural production depends on effective dissemination and access to relevant information on new production techniques, application of agricultural input, decision making on markets, prices and methods of conservation of productive resources. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of electronic agriculture platforms in providing information to improve food production in Busia County. The objectives of the study include; To determine and describe the extent to which the use of e-Agriculture resources has been adopted by farmers to increase agricultural production, To identify the agricultural information needs of farmers in Busia County, To describe constraints encountered by small holder farmers’ in accessing and utilization of electronic agriculture resources and to provide policy recommendations on dissemination of e-agriculture information resources in achieving agricultural production in Kenya. The study will adopt a descriptive survey design with a target population of 181,789 small holder farmers from Nambale and Teso North Sub Counties. Random sampling using the balloting technique will be used to select the two wards in each sub county. Sample size of 384 respondents will be selected based on Krejcie and Morgan (1970) formula. A multi stage sampling technique will be used to arrive at the sample which will include; purposive, proportionate and simple random sampling techniques. Data will be collected using a questionnaire designed using Likert scale of 5 to 10 items and will be validated by experts in the department to be administered at house hold level. A pre-test of the research instruments will be done using 20 smallholder farmers from Bukhayo West ward of Nambale Sub-county. Data analysis will be aided by the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 17.0 and the Cronbach alpha reliability test will be used to ensure that the results generated from the instruments are consistent. The collected data will be processed and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The chi-square test of independence and cross tabulations will be used to measure the relationship between dependent and independent variables. All tests will be done at α = 0.05 level of significance.
Master of Science in Agricultural Information and Communication Management
2017-01-01T00:00:00Z