Completed Research Projects

S.N

Project title

PI and members

Objectives

Project duration

Project donor

1. Evaluation of grafting compatibility between rootstock and local tomato cultivars
2. To assess plant growth, yield and fruit quality under a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses of Tanzanian tomato cultivars grafted onto ‘Hawaii 7996’ and ‘EG195’ rootstocks
3. To produce rootstock seeds by rooting shoot tips removed from rootstock seedlings during grafting
4. To train farmers on tomato grafting, good agricultural and postharvest handling practices.

1. Determine the major diseases constraining tomato production in the Morogoro and Babati (Kiteto and Kongwa) regions of Tanzania.
2. Determine soil quality parameters and the profile of beneficial soil microorganisms and endophytes in tomato fields in three production areas and isolate and identify microorganisms that are antagonistic to local pathogens, and improve tomato health or disease resistance.
3. Determine the adaptability of currently available open-pollinated and hybrid tomato germplasm with known disease resistance characteristics to local conditions and pathogen populations in the Morogoro region.
4. Establish real-time communications system within the project and develop educational programs for project participants.  Extend project results to farming and scientific communities.

1. To determine the properties, level of elements present in different soil types and uptake by plants in Morogoro.
2. To identify conditions as well as agricultural practices that facilitates or inhibits optimal synthesis of nutrients by plants.
3. To determine the nutrient profile of foods grown in different types of soils.
4. To examine the level of adequacy of nutrients in meeting the nutritional needs of consumers.
5. To develop a conceptual framework for elucidating the linkage between agriculture and nutrition.

1. Protocol optimization, screening, evaluation and identification of  mutant lines/germplasm for heat tolerance using morphological traits
2. To characterize selected mutant lines/germplasm from field and screen house conditions using heat shock proteins – HSP 90 and HSP 70  in comparison to non mutated normal plants
3. To develop of markers and identify genes associated to heat tolerance for MAS in breeding for heat tolerant rice deploying the QTL seq technique
4. 4.Conduct adaption and yield  trials in multiple locations for the selected mutant lines

1. Carry out on-farm inter and intra-specific diversity studiesUnderstand vulnerability and assess the impact of climate change on selected crops.
2. Understand vulnerability of farmers to climate change adaptation.

1. Map out the distribution and relative importance of Chromolaenaodorata in Serengeti district and adjoining landscapes;
2. Develop/demonstrate technologies for sustainable utilization of   Chromolaenaodorata for increased crop and livestock production;
3. Establish a participatory programme for community level management of the weed to curtail build up of the  weed seed bank in the soil;
4. Disseminate publicity material (video, information leaflets, etc) on Chromolaenaodorata to create awareness on potential options for management and sustainable utilization of the weed.

Other members:
i. Dr E. Lazaro, FoA
ii. Mr. J. Gama, TOAM
iii PhD students (3)
iv. MSc students (2)

1. Develop and test new agro-ecological methods for improved agricultural productivity and growth in a value chain perspective, based on challenges related to integrated organic production including soil and livestock components, quality and pest management in a value chain perspective.
2. Develop strategies for improved understanding of OA agribusiness development, modern food chains and strategies to overcome challenges suggested for sustainable growth and development in existing and new OA value chains involving smallholder farmers in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
3. Train young researchers from participating universities in discipline oriented research methods and their relevance for OA chain development
4. Strengthen capacity or participating universities to collaborate with the private sector in development of organic value chains.

1. Introduce, develop and optimize weaver-ant Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in cashew and mango in Benin and Tanzania.
2. Develop agribusiness by increasing yield and quality (allowing organic certification) of these crops, and stabilize the production to facilitate export
3. Establish links between farmers, processing facilities, organic certification agencies and European retailers to strengthen value chains and access to export
4. Increase African small holders´ access to protein by introducing South-East Asian techniques to harvest weaver ant queens as a food source and/or for export.
5. Implement the proposed method via training of extension workers and by producing teaching materials and manuals
6. Build research capacity (PhD program) at the university level for further development of sustainable production methods.

1. Determine host preference of Bactrocera cucurbitae
2. Distribution of C. rosa types along an altitudinal transect
3. Mating compatibility of Ceratitisrosa entities
4. Developmental biology of Ceratitisrosa types

1. To develop a sustainable system for managing diseases in banana production
2. To build the capacities of various actors to ensure the efficiency in the banana value chain in Mkuyuni
3. To establish effective partnerships & collaborative mechanisms in the banana value chain in the study area
4. To establish a system for documenting & sharing lessons learnt from the banana innovation platform in Mkuyuni

1. To facilitate the establishment of farmer-managed seed farms for maize crop aiming at producing large quantities of seeds at affordable cost by smallholder farmers;
2. To train selected smallholder farmers on production, grading, cleaning, treating, packaging, distribution and marketing of improved maize seeds through farmer field schools (FFS).
3. To provide technical backstopping in on farm production of improved maize seed in collaboration between researchers, farmers and extension officers to enhance participatory approach;
4. To establish an improved community-based maize seed bank, formulate appropriate distribution channels through dealers in inputs and promote public-private partnership in seeds dissemination.

1. To determine the incidence and severity of SRMD and SYRSD in farmers’ fields
2. To identify the causal agents of SRMD and SYRSD
3. To determine the nature of transmission of these viral diseases.
4. To determine the nature of spread of SRMD and SYRSD