http://repository.mocu.ac.tz/xmlui/handle/123456789/56 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:24:29 GMT 2026-06-26T20:24:29Z http://repository.mocu.ac.tz/xmlui/handle/123456789/2241 Early identification of Tuta absoluta in tomato plants using deep learning Mkonyi, Lilian.; Rubanga, Denis.; Richard, Mgaya.; Zekeya, Never.; Sawahiko, Shimada.; Maiseli, Baraka.; Machuve, Dina. The agricultural sector is highly challenged by plant pests and diseases. A high–yielding crop, such as tomato with high economic returns, can greatly increase the income of small- holder farmers income when its health is maintained. This work introduces an approach to strengthen phytosanitary capacity and systems to help solve tomato plant pest Tuta ab- soluta devastation at early tomato growth stages. We present a deep learning approach to identify tomato leaf miner pest ( Tuta absoluta ) invasion. The Convolutional Neural Network architectures (VGG16, VGG19, and ResNet50) were used in training classifiers on tomato image dataset captured from the field containing healthy and infested tomato leaves. We evaluated performance of each classifier by considering accuracy of classifying the tomato canopy into correct category. Experimental results show that VGG16 attained the high- est accuracy of 91.9% in classifying tomato plant leaves into correct categories. Our model may be used to establish methods for early detection of Tuta absoluta pest invasion at early tomato growth stages, hence assisting farmers overcome yield losses. This is Research Article Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.mocu.ac.tz/xmlui/handle/123456789/2241 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.mocu.ac.tz/xmlui/handle/123456789/2240 Dehairing of animal hides and skins by alkaline proteases of Aspergillus oryzae for efficient processing to leather products in Tanzania Zekeya, Never.; China, Cecilia.; Mbwana, Suleimain.; Mtambo, Madundo. The leather industry is one among the most vital sectors for economic development contributing to high earnings. However, tanning of hides and skins is constrained by primitive technology and the use of hazardous chemicals that contribute to environmental pollution. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of alkaline protease on dehairing animal hides and skins under different conditions. Alkaline protease was extracted from Aspergillus oryzae MG429773 cultured by solid state fermentation with a medium containing rice husks supplemented with 1% mineral solution incubated at 30 to 35°C for 7 days at pHs ranging from 7.5 to 9.5. The filtrate was used as a crude enzyme solution and also partially purified for a dehairing bioassay. Four pieces of cattle hide and goat skin (10 cm × 10 cm) were soaked or sprayed with enzyme solutions for a maximum of 5 days. Percentages of depilation of the hides and skins were recorded at 6 and 12 h intervals. Enzyme produced by A. oryzae showed the highest dehairing activity from 15 to 20% concentration of partially purified enzyme whereby 100% of goat and cattle hairs were removed within 24 and 48 h, respectively. For 5 and 10% enzyme concentration, 93.75 and 68.75% of hide and skin depilated in 72 h, whereas for the control 0.0 to 6.5% depilation was achieved in 72 h in hide and skins, respectively. Application of the A. oryzae protease by spray method was superior over a dipping method that released hair in effluent and caused skin decay after 5 days of exposure. This study indicates that enzyme extracted from cheaply available resources is efficient for dehairing by a spray method could be a potential technology for application by local tanners to improve the leather industry in Tanzania. This is Research Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.mocu.ac.tz/xmlui/handle/123456789/2240 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.mocu.ac.tz/xmlui/handle/123456789/2199 Economic Viability of Micro-Irrigation Technologies in Smallholder Horticultural Farming Absanto, Gerald This study investigated the economic viability of Micro Irrigation Technologies (MITs) compared with traditional furrow irrigation in smallholder horticultural farming in northern Tanzania. Using a quasi-experimental cross sectional design, data were collected from 540 farmers, divided into adopters and nonadopters of MITs. Economic metrics, including net present value (NPV), the benefit‒cost ratio (BCR), and the internal rate of return (IRR), were analysed over a five-year investment horizon through statistical methods in SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The results indicate that MITs, particularly drip and sprinkler systems, increase the productivity and profitability of high-value crops such as onions and tomatoes, yielding significantly higher NPVs than furrow irrigation does. Despite their high initial costs, these technologies demonstrated long-term economic benefits, including improved water efficiency and labour cost savings. Regression analysis further revealed that both crop type and irrigation technology significantly influence economic outcomes. Onions and tomatoes under MIT presented the highest financial returns, whereas peppers under furrow irrigation achieved better cost efficiency. This study underscores the transformative potential of MITs in enhancing horticultural productivity and sustainability in water-scarce regions. The study recommends targeted interventions, including subsidies, financial incentives, training programs, and policy support, to scale up the adoption of MITs. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.mocu.ac.tz/xmlui/handle/123456789/2199 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.mocu.ac.tz/xmlui/handle/123456789/2196 Toward an Ideal Framework for Assessing Economic Viability of Micro-Irrigation Technologies Absanto, Gerald; Mkunda, Josephine; Nyangarika, Anthony Micro irrigation technologies (MITs), such as drip and sprinkler systems, have been recognized as transformative solutions for enhancing agricultural productivity, optimizing water use, and promoting environmental sustainability. However, their adoption among smallholder farmers remains limited due to a complex interplay of economic, social, technical and environmental constraints. Traditional frameworks for assessing economic viability of these technologies often focus narrowly on financial metrics, neglecting critical factors such as water availability, market dynamics, and the technical and socioeconomic contexts. A systematic review of the literature from 2014 to 2024 was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles were sourced from major databases, including Scopus, Taylor and Francis, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science, yielding a final dataset of 69 relevant studies from an initial pool of 719 articles. The analysis of selected studies highlights key trends, including a growing focus on economic and water management aspects and the role of institutional and policy support in MIT adoption. A novel framework is proposed that integrates dimensions such as water availability and management, market dynamics, socioeconomic factors, and environmental sustainability. This comprehensive approach addresses limitations in traditional financial metric-based evaluations, offering actionable insights to policymakers and stakeholders. The findings aim to advance the adoption of MITs by aligning technical and market strategies with the needs of smallholder farmers, contributing to global food security and environmental goals. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.mocu.ac.tz/xmlui/handle/123456789/2196 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z