TAFSA Beneficiaries - Student Profiles and Research Across Universities
Name: Christopher Mwangata Mwavuna
University: Gulu University, Uganda.
Program: Master of Science in Agri-Enterprises Development
Research Study Title: Analyzing the Role of Relationship Quality in Enhancing Goat Supply Chain Performance in Northern Uganda.
Research Summary:
Within the agriculture sector, supply chain performance is usually influenced by the positive interactions between various actors in the chain. Their cooperation and coordination in the supply chain are vital in minimizing uncertainties and opportunistic behavior, which impede the performance of the supply chain. In Uganda, particularly, there is dissatisfaction among goat farmers because of the low prices offered by the traders. Such a scenario suggests that goat market actors might not be exhibiting sound relationship quality. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the role of relationship quality among market actors in enhancing the performance of the goat supply chain in Northern Uganda.
Name : Ademati Akeem Oladele
University: Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Program : PhD in Agricultural and Applied Economics
Title of Study : Population Growth, Sectoral Outputs, Agricultural Practices, Institutional Quality, and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions across East Africa
Research Summary
My research explores how population growth, economic activities, and agricultural practices influence greenhouse gas emissions across East African countries. Using econometric modeling and system dynamics, the study examines the interactions between demographic pressure, energy use, and institutional quality. The goal is to identify emission tipping points and pathways toward sustainable growth. Findings will inform policies that balance development needs with climate resilience in the region.
Name: Kenneth Kidega
University and Program: University of Pretoria
Title of Study: Improvement of nutritional quality and consumer acceptability of ground beef products using long-horn edible grasshopper and soybean.
Research Summary:
Using a combination of long-horn edible grasshopper, soybean and food spices to improve the nutritional quality and consumers acceptability of ground beef products (minced beef and sausages) hence reducing the risk of developing nutritionally related non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases) linked with the consumption of such beef products.
Name: Adesina Grace Omobola
University: University of Pretoria
Program: PhD in Food Science and Technology
Title of Study: Effects of Chicken Eggshell Powder Fortification on the Quality of Wheat Flour and Chapatti
Research Summary:
Massive number of eggshells generated due to increased production and consumption of chicken eggs contributes immensely to environmental problems. My research aims to utilize chicken eggshell-based calcium to improve calcium content of wheat flour and chapatti by assessing their physicochemical and sensory properties.
Name: Reine M. W. Olanignan
University: Makerere University
Program: Master of Agribusiness Management
Title of Study: climate finance in the East Africa Community: understanding flows, drivers, and the influence of donor funding (2000-2020)
Research Summary : The study investigates the dynamics of climate finance within the EAC, focusing on sources, distribution patterns, temporal trends, and the determinants shaping flows for both mitigation and adaptation. The research seeks to address three central questions: Who are the major donors? How is finance distributed across member states? What factors influence donor behavior? Using secondary data from 2000–2020 (OECD, World Bank, ND-GAIN, UN Comtrade, UNFCCC), the research applies descriptive statistics and a Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) econometric model to assess allocation drivers. The findings from distribution and trend analysis indicate that the United States is the most prominent donor for both adaptation and mitigation finance in the region. Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are the most funded recipients, whereas fragile states such as Burundi, Somalia, and South Sudan remain severely underfunded. Adaptation finance is particularly unstable, often driven by external shocks, whereas mitigation finance is more consistent but disproportionately concentrated in a few countries. Econometric results reveal that donor decisions are influenced by varying factors, including GDP per capita, population size, bilateral trade relationships, and governance quality. These outcomes highlight the heterogeneity of donor motivations and underscore the need for improved institutional capacity and equitable finance distribution within the EAC.
Eric Emmanuel Pluato
Program Completed: MSc. Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
Title of Study: Determinants of post-harvest losses in rice production amongst smallholder farmers in Liberia
Research Summary:
Demand for rice remains high in Liberia, with low farm-level productivity resulting from post-harvest losses. Insects and rodents, as well as spoiling, bruising, disease attack, spillage, contamination, and poor storage practices, are major factors influencing rice yield. Rice output has continuously declined, with post-harvest losses accounting for about 10 to 40%. The ability of smallholder rice farmers to improve output levels and attain sustainable yield depends on efficient post-harvest operations at the farm level, and hence, technical post-harvest efficiency. The study described post-harvest losses along the rice value chain, determined the factors influencing post-harvest rice loss, and estimated the impact of post-harvest losses on the Gross Margin of smallholder rice farmers in Liberia. A one-way ANOVA was used to describe PHL along the rice value chain, whereas a logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors influencing post-harvest rice loss among smallholder rice farmers in Liberia. The study revealed that rice farmers incurred higher post-harvest losses, particularly at the harvesting and packaging stages of the rice value chain, whereas age, Household Size, Post-Harvest Training, Climatic Season, Storage Method, and Harvesting Techniques are potential determinants of post-harvest losses in Liberia. Furthermore, Lofa, Bong, Nimba, and Grand Bassa counties incurred higher costs, thus reducing their gross margins. The average gross margin of post-harvest loss was LRD 3,512.475, much lower than the average gross margin without loss, LRD 8,826.114. This implied a 39.79% reduction in the gross margin of smallholder rice farmers due to post-harvest loss valued at over 2.8 million Liberian Dollars. The study also found birds, climatic conditions, and rodents to be major causes of postharvest rice loss. Therefore, improvement of old-age practices and the development of new technology through organized research efforts are necessary to prevent huge postharvest losses of rice to meet the demand for food. There is an intense need to reduce PHL while promoting efficient resource utilization to improve the livelihood and gross margin of smallholder rice farmers in Liberia.
Name: Mercyline Jerusa Ong’ayo
University: Gulu University
Program: Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Applied Biosciences
Research Title: Farmer Participation and Effectiveness of Agricultural Cooperative Services in Northern Uganda
Research Summary:
Despite their critical role in supporting smallholder farmers across Africa, agricultural cooperatives face persistent challenges in mobilizing meaningful member participation and patronage, which undermines the effectiveness of collective services. This research examines how cooperative structure, farmer socioeconomic status, and cognitive factors influence participation and effectiveness in key cooperative services (collective input procurement, produce marketing, savings, loans, and training), while also investigating gender disparities in participation. By exploring these dynamics, the research advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on poverty alleviation, zero hunger, and gender equality, as cooperatives empower farmers to improve food security, economic resilience, and equitable access to resources. The study offers novel insights to inform policies and strategic interventions aimed at revitalizing agricultural cooperatives and strengthening African food systems.
Name: Nathalie Finagnon Kiki
University: Makerere University
Program: Master of Science in Applied Human Nutrition
Research Title: Nutrition-sensitive determinants of anemia among women of childbearing age in eastern Uganda: A secondary analysis to inform nutrition programme
Research Summary:
Anaemia remains a major public health concern, affecting approximately 30% of women aged 15 - 49 globally and 21% in Eastern Uganda, posing significant risks to maternal and child health. Addressing this issue requires understanding how nutrition is linked to broader health, social, and economic development initiatives. This study examines the relationship between nutrition-sensitive determinants—including household food insecurity, minimum dietary
diversity for women, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions— and anaemia. Descriptive and logistic regression analysis employed to explore the nutrition-sensitive determinants of anemia among women revealed that anemia prevalence was significantly associated with several factors (12) including the nutrition-sensitive variables such as minimum dietary diversity for women, handwashing, and wealth index and the prevalence.
Name: Kiptui Brenda Jemutai
University and Program: Makerere University & Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme
Title of Study: Performance of Improved Indigenous Chicken Reared on Sorghum-Based Rations under Three Production Systems in Western and North-Rift Regions, Kenya
Research Summary: The Improved Indigenous Chicken (IIC) play a vital role in meeting nutritional needs, providing socio-cultural benefits and enhancing the welfare of smallholder farmers. However, the high cost of feed due to the reliance on maize as an energy source, poses a significant challenge. This study explored the use of low-tannin sorghum (RUC26 variety) as an alternative in formulating rations for IIC. The results indicated that a ration comprising 50% RUC26 sorghum inclusion not only met the minimum standard requirements for IIC but also led to significantly higher weight gain, an improved feed conversion ratio and enhanced feed intake. Furthermore, incorporating RUC26 sorghum in the feed reduced production costs.
Name: FASSINOU Finagnon Toyi Kevin
University and Program: Gulu University / Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Applied Biosciences
Title of Study: Improving carbohydrate quality of polished maize flour using heat moisture treatment
Research Summary: Polished maize flour, consumed by more than 90% of Ugandan households, has low resistance starch (low carbohydrate quality), making its high consumption a risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Among many methods used to modify starch and reduce its digestibility, heat moisture treatment (HMT) is preferable and extremely attractive method due to its effectiveness, low cost and flexibility in relation to heat sources. The overall objective of this study, therefore, was to improve the resistance starch content of polished maize flour using heat moisture treatment. The findings revealed that HMT is an effective method to decrease the starch digestibility in polished maize flour. The optimal HMT conditions designed varied across maize varieties and increased the slowly digestible starch and resistance starch content by 8 to 14% in the polished maize flour. These optimal conditions had no significant effect on the physicochemical composition of the maize grains predicting the acceptance of the flour. However, HMT affected some techno-functional properties of the maize grains, which were subsequently improved through polishing. This study reveals that HMT could be applied simultaneously with optimized polishing condition to achieve both desirable high carbohydrate quality and acceptable maize flour, and these could be a promising approach to prevent non-communicable diseases, particularly where maize is considering as staple food.
Name: Felix Manuel Abreu
University: University of Pretoria
Program: PhD in Agricultural Economics
Title of research: Impacts of digital transition on agrifood markets in Mozambique
Research summary: The research aims to assess the changes and contributions made so far by the adoption of digital solution within the agrifood markets, as well to determine patterns of underlying elements of digital transition, and the factors influencing the adoption of the digital application in the agrifood market.
Name: Adongo Immaculate
University: Eduardo Mondlane University
Program: MSc. Agricultural Economics.
Title of research: Drivers of Irrigation technology adoption and Impact on maize productivity among smallholder farmers in Mozambique
Adongo Immaculate is a student at Eduardo Mondlane University Pursuing a master’s of science in Agricultural Economics. She is currently conducting her research on ‘Drivers of Irrigation technology adoption and Impact on maize productivity among smallholder farmers in Mozambique. In the face of climate change, it’s important for farmers to adopt climate smart agriculture and climate change adaptive strategies. Irrigation stands as a cornerstone of agriculture that can improve crop productivity supporting food security, and poverty alleviation, especially against surging populations and shifting climates. However, the uptake of irrigation technologies by small-scale farmers in Mozambique is very low, swayed by factors that affect the farmers’ capacity to implement them. This study analyzed the socio-economic, institutional and Farm drivers of irrigation technology uptake and impact on maize productivity among smallholder farmers in Mozambique.
Name: Darda Ali Mohamud
University: Makarere University
Program: Master of Agribusiness Management (MABM)
Research Title: Effects of Market Access on the Welfare of Smallholder Farmers in Mahadaay, Middle Shabelle, Somalia.
Research Summary:
This research investigates the critical impact of market access constraints—physical, economic, and institutional—on the welfare of smallholder farmers in Mahadaay, Middle Shabelle, Somalia. The study aims to determine how improved market access can enhance total household income and food security in this post-conflict setting. Having successfully defended the proposal, the research is currently in the data collection stage, gathering primary evidence to inform context-appropriate policy and programmatic interventions. The findings will provide a nuanced understanding of the mechanisms through which market access translates into better livelihood outcomes for the region's agricultural community.
Name: Asiimwe Mary Gorrette
University: Eduardo Mondlane University
Program: MSc. Agricultural Economics.
Title of Study: Adoption of Bundled Drought-Tolerant Maize and Index Insurance in Manica Province, Mozambique.
Summary: As the frequency and intensity of droughts continue to increase, smallholder maize farmers in Mozambique are encouraged to adopt climate adaptation strategies, such as drought-tolerant maize (DTM) and index insurance (II), to mitigate the risks associated with drought. However, while DTM can sustain yields under moderate drought conditions, its effectiveness declines under severe drought. On the other hand, II provides financial protection against various forms of drought losses, but its uptake is constrained by the relatively costly insurance premiums. Thus, a combination of these two technologies, referred to as bundled DTM and II for my study, offers a more affordable and comprehensive risk management strategy that addresses both moderate and severe drought impacts. In this study, I analyse the adoption of bundled DTM and II as an innovation that enhances farmer resilience in Manica Province, Mozambique. Specifically, I examine the factors that influence farmers’ decisions to adopt this bundle and evaluate how adoption affects maize yields. The results from this study are valuable insights for policymakers as they develop evidence-based policies to promote the adoption of this bundle in communities vulnerable to drought.
Nom et prénom : AMADOU ARIFA Ousseini
Major: Agricultural and Food Sciences and Technologies
Host University: Université d’Abomey Calavi
Topic : Fermentative ability of yeasts and lactic acid bacteria and their inhibitory effect on undesirable microorganisms during soy cheese production (Glycine max)
Résumé des travaux de recherches :
Soy cheese production, specialy the "Amon soja», holds a prominent place among soy-based foods in Ouest africa and particulary in Benin. Our study therefore looked at improving the microbiological quality of soy cheese through the use of efficient fermentation strains that inhibit undesirable microorganisms. The results showed that the stages of whey fermentation and cheese storage in water were the important points of contamination and microbiological development. The inhibition test performed with yeasts strains showed that the inhibition of enterobacteria during cheese storage in water was not significative.
IRAGI Basengezi Christella
Program Completed: MSc. Food Science and Technology,
Host University : Faculty of Agronomy at the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin
Title of Study: Optimising fermentation during the production of rice ablo, a moist steamed bread
Research Summary:
Ablo is a moist, steamed bread with an acidic, sweet taste that is very popular to Beninese. It was originally made with maize flour, but the technology used to make it has evolved, from the partial incorporation of rice flour into the maize flour to the total replacement of maize by rice. In general, some of the rice flour is replaced by wheat flour. However, it's possible to make Ablo with rice flour only. Ablo processing without wheat flour requires a relatively long fermentation time (6 to 12 hours), which could be optimized for a good Ablo valorization. In this context, our research was conducted to optimize fermentation conditions for the production of gluten-free rice-based Ablo that would be acceptable to regular consumers. After a preliminary survey, three non-consecutive Ablo production trials were carried out, enabling us to identify and characterize two technological variants for Ablo production. Optimal fermentation conditions were investigated using a composite centered experimental design on two factors (fermentation time and proportion of fermenter/kg of rice flour). Gas expansion, pH of the fermented dough, density and texture of the Ablo were used as responses to search for combinations of fermentation factors optimising Ablo quality. The optimum combination of 8-hour fermentation with 157.57 g of ferment (fermented dough from previous production) / kg of rice flour reduced the fermentation time to 4 hours less. Ablo resulting from the optimization of fermentation conditions had average values for density, pH, gas expansion, firmness, stickiness and chewability of 0.59 g/cm3 ± 0.05; 4.3 ± 0.02; 60.34% ± 0.41; 30.97 N ± 1.24; 11.70 N ± 1.86 and 11.95 N ± 2.29 respectively. The attributes of optimised Ablo and traditional Ablo were significantly different. However, the overall acceptability score of the optimised Ablo was not significantly different from the traditional one. The use of locally produced rice in Benin for the production of gluten-free Ablo rice and the dissemination of the backslopping fermentation method to female Ablo rice producers would be the subject of another study.