Weeds are among the major production constraints of maize globally. Farmers in Uganda predominantly depend on conventional tillage and they are not aware of alternative means of controlling weeds. Therefore the main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of weed control strategies on weed management and maize performance. Conventional tillage, preemergence herbicide application weed control strategies (and a control of no weeding) were tested for their efficacy in controlling weeds in maize. Seeds of Longe 5 maize variety were planted on 20/04/2021 in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the data of this study showed that weed control strategies had no significant effect on number of rows per cob, cob length and number of leaves per plant. Nonetheless, weed control strategies significantly increased plant height, number of ears per plant, number of grains per row, 1000 grain weight and maize grain yield. Whereas, weed vigour and weed density per square metre were reduced significantly. Conventional tillage produced the tallest plants, highest number of ears per plant, highest number of grains per row, highest 1000 grain weight, highest grain yield and lowest weed vigour and density per square metre. However, values for plant height, number of grains per row, grain yield and weed density were statistically similar to those obtained in herbicide treatment. The results of conventional tillage were opposite to those of the weedy check. Conventional tillage was the most effective weed control strategy among the three weed control strategies of this study. I therefore recommend that the farmers use conventional tillage as the most effective strategy for controlling weeds in maize since it produced the highest values for maize growth and yield parameters.

Despite the importance of the diary sector in improving livelihoods of people through income generation, it is still faced by numerous challenges such as low milk prices, post-harvest losses, poor transport networks, poor animal breeds and the biggest of all is poor milk marketing facilities and channels. Although, formal milk marketing through cooperatives has been advocated for, the milk marketing sector has remained largely informal. To understand why the informal milk marketing is still popular, the study sought to the profitability of milk marketing channels by dairy farmers and understand the drivers of choice of informal versus formal milk marketing channel. The study was conducted in Mbarara district and 120 households were randomly selected to participate in the study. The results showed that farmers who sell to formal channels (cooperative) were mainly from male headed households, married, attained primary education as highest level of education, and keep large cattle herds. Moreover, they participate in other income generating projects as compared to farmers to the informal milk marketing channels. Probit model analysis results revealed that the significant determinants for choice of marketing channel are milk selling price, total milk volumes sold, age of farmers, payment period, source of market information, gender, participation in other income generating projects and education levels of farmers. The gross margin analysis results revealed that formal channels were the most profitable with an average monthly gross profit of Shs 1,415,088.9/= per farmer for 1000 litres of milk sold compared to Shs 991,206.3/= per households in the informal channels. The probit model indicated that age, milk volumes, engagement in off-farm work and milk prices significantly influenced farmers’ decision to sell milk to the formal channel. This study concludes by recommending provision of loans to enable farmers acquire good diary breeds so as to enable them produce high milk volumes that motivate them to sell to the formal channel as well as establishment of cooperatives at sub county level to ease access to the formal marketing channels by all farmers.

Water quality is needed to maintain the integrity of a river system and depends on the preservation of natural (chemical and biological) conditions of the water and the surrounding environment. Unsustainable use and pollution through various human activities can impair the ecological state of a natural ecosystem by altering its chemical composition and the biological communities that naturally occur in it. To identify the human activities carried out on river Mpanga, Assess the effect of these human activities on river Mpanga and finding out the level of awareness of legislations concerning rivers among the community within river Mpanga, a study was conducted where survey data was collected and chemical analyses were carried out. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods for data collections, Simple random sampling was used to draw a sample from residents operating and living within Mpanga catchment in Fortportal City. The survey results indicated that various activities carried out within the Mpanga catchment including farming, improper waste and sewage disposal have a large influence on the physical and chemical water quality of the river. These human activities had negative effects on River Mpanga including; siltation, Eutrophication, water hardness, toxicity etc. Laboratory analysis was done on the River water at different points and Using GenStat software, data was analysed at 5% significance level. The results indicated that there was a significant difference in the pH, P, K, BOD and COD level at different points along the stream (p<0.05) . However, there was no significant difference for the levels of N, Ca and Na in the water at different points along the stream (p>0.05). It was concluded that human activities have led to increased pollution of this river and was due to lack of information and knowledge about laws concerning rivers. The study recommended that people should be sensitized on the values, uses, guidelines and laws for sustainable use of rivers.

The study was carried out to investigate the profitability of coffee production among the youth in Kirumba Sub County, Kyotera district. It was to characterize the production and marketing systems used by the youth coffee farmers, compute the profitability of coffee production and also determine the factors that influence the profitability of coffee production. Primary data sources were used which included a questionnaires and interviews. The target population was 60 youth farmers that is 30 coffee, 16 bananas and 14 beans from Kirumba Sub County, Kyotera district. Random sampling technique was employed to compare the view of the youth farmers from four villages which were randomly selected. The data was analyzed using Ordinary Least Squares. A linear regression was run to analyze coffee profitability. Data presentation was inform of tables and figures to help interpret the findings and generate conclusions that aided solution to the identified challenges. The research established that sex, land size, time spent growing coffee, access to extension services, distance from the market and herbicide use greatly affected the profitability of coffee among the youth. The study recommended that there was need for more youth farmer groups, ICT integration so as to ease information access and also more farmer trainings should be done so that the youth can adjust to the ever changing coffee sector. This will help increase coffee profitability among the youth

The study assessed the association between Intra-household food distribution and nutritional Status of children under five years in Otumpili village, Alerek sub-county, Abim district. The study objectives were; 1) to assess the factors influencing intra-household food distribution, 2) to examine the nutritional status of children under five years among the households, and 3) to assess the relationship between intra-household food distribution and the nutritional status of children under five years in the study area. The applied crossectional quantitative design associated with positivist philosophy. Data were collected from a sample of 106 respondents using questionnaires. Data was analyzed quantitatively using SPSS V24. The findings revealed that the factors that significantly influence intra-household food distribution are; occupation (P=0.021), family type (P=0.001), household head (P=0.000). Age of the spouse, household size, number of children and number of visitors were insignificantly related to intra-household food distribution. The nutritional status of children under 5 years, results indicated that majority of the children (44.3%) were normal, 20.8% were stunted, and 18% underweight, 9.4% wasted and the least 7.5% were overweight. Only household food type consumed (P=0.053) had influence on the nutritional status. The study concluded that malnutrition of under five in Otumpili village, Alerek sub-county, Abim district is moderate. The study therefore recommends that further research should be done determining the overall prevalence of malnutrition of under 5 so as to help the government to understand the state of nutrition and plan well while budgeting for food relief for the sub-county/district, similar study should also be done country wide to know the nutritional status of children such that the country can plan how to have a healthy population as most economists have said that a flourishing economy is characterized by a health population and new study should be done to isolate food types associated with each of the malnutrition condition such that information can be availed to nutritionists which would help them to draw an informed child’s nutrition plan

Background: Anaemia is one of the major causes of death among children under five years in Africa, with a prevalence of 64.6% among pre-school children. This study was conducted in Hoima Regional Referral Hospital in mid-western Uganda to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with anaemia among children aged 6 to 59 months. Methods: A total of 100 children aged between 6 to 59 months were enrolled. Venous blood samples were collected by finger or heel prick to estimate the haemoglobin level using a haemocue analyser. Anthropometric data including age, weight and height was collected for each child. A structured questionnaire was administered to the mother or an adult caregiver to collect household data. Ethical approval was sought and granted from the hospital director. Anaemia cut-off points were defined according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards for children aged 6–59 months. Data was analyzed using GENSTAT computer package. All correlations were run to assess how all the variables relate over time. Descriptive summary statistics such as frequencies, means, medians and standard deviations were used to describe the characteristics of the study population .Inferential statistics such as odds ratio, confidence interval, and p-value were used to determine association between variables. Results: The prevalence of anaemia was high (83.0%) and was highest among children aged 37 to 59 months (100%) and females (92.3%).females were 1.3 times more prevalent than their male counterparts. Children aged 37 to 59 and 25 to 36 months were more likely to be anaemic poverty, lack of access to cheap food, lack of cooking skills and equipment, comprised maternal level of education, poor dietary diversity, anti-nutrient intake, child birth order, maternal parity, mother’s age, child’s age, and other infections like malaria among others were significantly associated with anaemia. Young mothers generally have challenges with child care due to limited resources and experience with child care and their children were more susceptible to anaemia thus poorer health outcomes than those children from older and more experienced mother. Conclusion: Anaemia is highly prevalent among children and there is need to invest in measures such as promoting maternal health, providing mothers with information about anaemia and a balanced diet, routine screening and management of anaemia may help in controlling anaemia incidence especially among children 37 to 59 months. Anaemia intervention programmes in children under five years should target younger and unemployed mothers as well as the intensification of maternal education on good dietary diversity for children.