Browsing by Author "Malingumu, Richard"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Analysis of sesame seed production and export trends; challenges and strategies towards increasing production in Uganda
    (Oilseeds and fats, Crops and Lipids Journal, 2021-01) Wacal, Cosmas; Basalirwa, Daniel; Okello-Anyanga, Walter; Murongo, Marius Flarian; Namirembe, Caroline; Malingumu, Richard
    Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the most ancient oilseed crops cultivated for its edible oil and uses in food. Sesame seeds are very nutritious and confer health benefits. However, its potential production in Uganda has not been fully realized. The objective of this review was to summarize the trends in sesame production, export quantity, export value, challenges, and strategies for sustainable sesame seed production in Uganda. The review revealed the sesame seed production and area harvested generally increased from 1996 to 2007 but significantly decreased between 2008 and 2018. The review also revealed that while the export quantities and values were low, they gradually increased from 2009 to 2016. The decreased production between 2008 and 2016 could have been due to challenges such as pests and diseases, loss of soil fertility, prolonged drought, poor agronomic practices, poor yielding varieties, and lack of access to credit. Therefore, it is recommended to improve breeding programs and soil management practices; strengthen agricultural credits and extension services to support marketing of sesame seeds; and improve agronomic practices and farmer knowledge on improved techniques such as sowing methods, plant spacing, intercropping practices, pests and disease control measures. These could boost sesame production in Uganda given the high domestic and global demand for sesame seeds and provide an opportunity to expand sesame production throughout Uganda. Research should focus on how to increase seed yield on farmers’ fields and bridge the yield gap between researchers and farmers while adopting good agronomic practices.
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    Compositional shifts in Microbial diversity under traditional banana cropping systems of Sub-Saharan Africa
    (MDPI, 2022-05-16) Kaushal, Manoj; Tumuhairwe, John Baptist; Kaingo, Jacob; Malingumu, Richard; Nakamanya, Florence; Taulya, Godfrey; Coyne, Danny
    Improvements in the crop productivity, soil health, and sustainable intensification should be premised on the better understanding of interactions between the cropping systems and soil microbial diversity. In this study, we assessed variations in the microbial communities across the traditional banana-based cropping systems of contrasting monocrop vigor (vigorous or V vs. nonvigorous or NV) and the cropping system (monocrop or MC vs. intercropped or IC) using 16S rDNA (V3–V4) and ITS2 amplicon deep sequencing via Illumina platform. Sequencing results of the bacterial and fungal communities showed high variability among MC and V cropping systems. The abundances of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were significantly higher in NV (non-vigorous) and V (vigorous) cropping systems; and the abundances of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes in the MC (monocropping) than IC (intercropping). There were high relative abundances of Pseudomonas (6.1–37.43%), Bacillus (4.5–20.4%), Rhizobium (1.4–6.5%), and Devosia (1.5–6.7%) in the cropping systems. The dominant family of fungal class Incertae_sedis was Mortierellales, which accounted for 8.79–41.12% of total taxa. This result indicated that the cropping systems are vital for supporting the dynamic microbial diversity specifically beneficial for bacterial communities that helps in promoting synergistic plant-soil interactions and total productivity under resource poor conditions of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
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    Food system innovation platforms as a pathway towards regenerative inclusive food systems
    (Wageningen University & Research, 2023) Froebrich, Jochen; Groot, Annemarie; Adokorach, Molly; Aranguiz, Adolfo Alvarez; Andeweg, Karin; Omedo, Bockline Bebe; Beekman, Gonne; Bennink, Viola; Berecha, Gezahegn; Alho, Carlos Brazao Vieira; Brummelhuis, Amber; Kajobe, Robert; Langi, Sandra; Malingumu, Richard; Nabulime, Maureen Norah
    Food systems in East Africa are under pressure. Climate change, biodiversity loss, natural resource depletion, and declining soil health are having an impact. Hunger continues to grow. Recent developments, such as the increasing price of inputs like mineral fertilisers, make the need for change even more urgent. Many agree that to reverse these trends requires a fundamental change. We need a transition towards Regenerative Inclusive Food Systems. In another booklet we describe what Regenerative Inclusive Food Systems may look like, why we need them and what lessons we have learned in the REFOOTURE project on the transition towards such food systems.
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    A healthy diet for a growing population: a case study of Arua, Uganda
    (Springer Nature, 2023-01-27) Hermelink, Marleen I.; Pittore, Katherine H.; Álvarez Aranguiz, Adolfo; Pereira da Silva, Fatima I.; Roefs, Marlene M. I.; Kajobe, Robert; Malingumu, Richard; Hengsdijk, Huib
    It is uncertain whether Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2), a healthy diet for all, can be achieved in East Africa given its strong population growth, low agricultural yields, and the high perishability of nutrient-dense foods. We examine the consequences of a locally produced healthy diet on land use in a case study of the Arua district in Uganda. This type of analysis can alert policy makers to looming nutrition gaps and support the selection of alternative solution strategies. Using a linear programming (LP) model and three population growth projections, we estimate the minimum agricultural area needed in 2040 to produce a healthy diet that follows EAT-Lancet dietary diversity guidelines and supplies the average requirements of calories, proteins, Iron, and vitamin A. We also compare in scenarios to what extent i) production intensification, ii) food loss reduction, iii) by-product consumption, and iv) vitamin supplementation could reduce the required agricultural area. Results show that the necessary area to produce a healthy diet in 2040 is 160% larger than Arua’s current crop area and would greatly exceed the district’s total area. We also show that none of the changes proposed in our scenarios allows a sufficient increase in food production, suggesting that a mix of even more drastic changes across sectors will be necessary. The results underline the challenge for rural areas in East Africa like Arua to provide a healthy diet to its fast growing population, requiring integrated food system changes and policy coordination to orchestrate the increased availability of diverse and nutritious foods.
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    Moving towards regenerative inclusive food systems
    (Wageningen University & Research, 2023) Froebrich, Jochen; Groot, Annemarie; Adokorach, Molly; Aranguiz, Adolfo Alvarez; Andeweg, Karin; Omedo, Bockline Bebe; Beekman, Gonne; Kajobe, Robert; Langi, Sandra; Malingumu, Richard; Nabulime, Maureen Norah
    The food systems in which people in East Africa produce and consume their daily meals are in crisis. Hunger continues to grow. Climate change, biodiversity loss, depletion of natural resources and declining soil health are the factors making the lives of farmers and other actors in these food systems increasingly difficult. This booklet is about Regenerative Inclusive Food Systems. These are based on the idea that for the food system to change for the better, fundamental changes are needed in society – in the agricultural sector and among both consumers and policy makers. There are already many initiatives that aim to improve the current situation by focussing on sustainable outcomes, most of which are based on technology and economics. Regenerative Inclusive Food Systems approach go beyond this, by focussing on how to get to these outcomes, where the capacity to regenerate is key. Regenerative Inclusive Food Systems are about the motivation and capacities of people in the food system, starting from local communities: about their motivation and capacities to reflect on the situation, to create a common vision, and to inspire others to make a change. With this approach, interpersonal relationships will become stronger, as people take care of each other and pursue paths for equal opportunities in transforming their food systems, while leaving no one behind. Moreover, in Regenerative Inclusive Food Systems, people are seen as being embedded in nature and their relationship with nature is therefore fundamentally different. The ecosystem is regenerated, including the rich life in the soil beneath our feet.
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    REFOOTURE: A project to advance regenerative inclusive food systems
    (Wageningen University & Research, 2023) Froebrich, Jochen; Groot, Annemarie; Adokorach, Molly; Aranguiz, Adolfo Alvarez; Andeweg, Karin; Omedo, Bockline Bebe; Beekman, Gonne; Bennink, Viola; Kajobe, Robert; Langi, Sandra; Malingumu, Richard; Nabulime, Maureen Norah
    Despite all the efforts in recent decades, food insecurity, poverty and nature degradation are on the rise in East Africa. The REFOOTURE project believes fundamental change is needed to solve these issues. They can only be solved by transforming food systems into Regenerative Inclusive Food Systems. In Regenerative Inclusive Food Systems, people are seen as part of nature, nurturing nature rather than exploiting it. In these food systems, nature and social relationships are regenerated, supporting food security and resilient livelihoods. The REFOOTURE project, which was launched in 2020 with funding from the IKEA Foundation, aims to foster Regenerative Inclusive Food Systems in three East African countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. The key idea behind REFOOTURE is that innovation is crucial to fostering social, technological, and institutional transformation towards Regenerative Inclusive Food Systems. These innovations should be place-based, rooted in the specific characteristics of a place which is in some way meaningful to the people living there. Local communities, their territory and their surroundings determine the place-based potential for innovations.