OVERVIEW OF POST-HARVEST TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION IN UGANDA | Journal of Basic and Applied Research International

 Agriculture is the mainstay for over 70% of Uganda’s population, contributing 22.5% of the national GDP through exports and employment. However, the sector experiences a series of challenges. Besides the production challenges like drought, pests, and disease, over 40% of the overall yield at the end of the season is lost due to poor postharvest handling methods. To plan interventions that enable improve the utilization of postharvest methods, it is important to understand what is currently being done. The purpose of this paper was therefore to assess the available post-harvest handling technologies utilized in Uganda. The study also captures extension service to farmers, benefits, and challenges associated with the use of post-harvest technologies across all regions in Uganda.

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BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS IN Anopheles gambiae BREEDING HABITATS AS A POTENTIAL TOOL TO FIGHT MALARIA IN CENTRAL UGANDA

Background: There is a high risk of malaria infection in Uganda due to availability of conducive conditions in breeding habitats of An. gambiae s.l., the vectors for Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether the abundance and distribution of macro-invertebrates and An. gambiae s.l. are influenced by water physico-chemical parameters.

Methods: In this study, habitats were classified as ponds, streams, temporary pools and roadside ditches. From these habitats, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, temperature and pH were measured in-situ in the morning and afternoon between October and December 2017. Macro-invertebrates and An. gambiae s.l. larvae were sampled, preserved, morphologically identified and counted.

Results: There was a strong association between An. gambiae s.l. with land use, habitat types and water physico-chemical parameters. Baetidae, Coenagrionidae, Aeshnidae, Nepidae, Lymnaeidae and Hirudidae were highly abundant in streams. Notonectidae, Haliplidae and Elmidae were dominant in ponds while Dytiscidae, Culicidae, Chironomidae, Sphaerolichidae and An. gambiae s.l. were abundant in temporary pools. Carabidae were abundant in roadside ditches.

Conclusion: Water physico-chemical parameters, land use and habitat types influenced the abundance and distribution of macro-invertebrates including An. gambiae s.l. We recommend that studies should be conducted to establish the mechanisms through which these factors influence abundance and distribution of An. gambiae s.l. and other macro-invertebrates.

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