The United Nations classifies Kenya as a water-scarce country since it has less than 1000 m 3 per capita of renewable freshwater supplies. Numerous factors including global warming, contamination of drinking water, and a lack of investment in water resources have aggravated the water crisis in Kenya. Estimates indicate that only about 56% of its population has access to safe water supply. Like many developing countries, Kenya recognizes the crucial role of water in realizing its development goals. Its economic performance and poverty reduction are critically dependent on clean water availability for agriculture, industrialization, energy production and tourism among others. Similar to most developing countries, Kenya suffers from lack of human, monetary and institutional capabilities to efficiently provide clean and sufficient water to its citizens. The water shortage in the major cities is acute and chronic and has continued to worsen with increasing urbanization, water pollution and encroachment of water catchment areas by humans and invasive plant species. Despite the water challenges facing the urban populations, Kenya possesses sufficient water resources to meet demand if the available resources are properly managed. Several initiatives are being put in place in Kenya to mitigate the water challenges and protect water resources in Kenya. These include enacting of water policies to protect water catchment areas, reduce pollution and enhance access to clean water.
Background Finger millet blast disease, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, is a serious constrain of finger millet production which is threatening global food security especially to the resource poor smallholder farmers in arid and semi-arid regions. The disease adversely affects finger millet production and consumption due to its wide distribution and destruction in all finger millet growing areas of southern Asia and eastern Africa. Here, we present a study that investigated the occurrence, impact, risk factors and farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of finger millet blast in Kenya. Methods We surveyed blast disease occurrence and interviewed farmers in Bungoma and Kisii Counties of Kenya during March–April 2019. Data were analysed using SPSS statistical program. Descriptive analysis was done by calculating means, percentages, frequencies, and standard errors. Comparative statistics, chi-square and t-tests, were used to evaluate differences existing among the farm characteristics and socio-demographics and the knowledge and perceptions of blast disease and its management practices. Results Our results show that blast disease is prevalent in all surveyed areas and adversely affects the productivity of the crop leading to poor yields. The disease occurrence varied from 92 to 98%, and was significantly higher in the major finger millet growing areas compared to the minor ones. Blast occurrence was associated with rainfall, altitude, planting density, intercropping and other farming practices. In all the surveyed regions, farmers had little knowledge about blast disease identification, its detection and spread. Further, the farmers’ awareness of blast disease control was inconsistent with established practices. Conclusions Our results show mitigation of finger millet blast disease should aim at improving farmers’ adoption of best practices through development of acceptable blast-resistant finger millet varieties, use of sustainable disease management practices, fostering linkages and creating new partnerships in the production-supply chain and maintaining a functional seed system. Findings from this study provide essential insights for effective decision making and management of the disease. This is fundamental to sustainable and secure food and income for finger millet growing farmers in Kenya.
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a highly nutritious and less-caloric fruit, commonly consumed for its minerals and vitamins and hence may help in controlling obesity and abdominal discomforts. The present study investigated the hypolipidaemic effects of papaya juice extract on male Albino Wistar rats (7 weeks old; 185 ± 17 g) fed on a high fat and fructose diet (HFFD) for 6 weeks. The rats were divided into groups I–IV of five rats each and fed on either a HFFD (i.e. the Control), HFFD + 200 mg papaya, HFFD + 350 mg papaya or a HFFD + 500 mg papaya. On day 34, after an overnight fast, blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture under 99⋅8 % Chloroform anaesthesia for the determination of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and high-density cholesterol (HDL-c). The atherogenic (AI) and coronary risk (CRI) indices were also calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA where means were separated using Tukey's HSD test. Resulted showed that all rats given papaya juice had an increasing, non-significant HDL-c and reduced LDL-c levels while rats fed on HFFD had the highest TC (53⋅2 mg/dl) and TG (37⋅6 mg/dl) levels. Papaya juice statistically reduced the AI and CRI of the rats. In conclusion, consumption of HFFD + 500 mg was the most effective in the reduction of rats’ blood lipids and fats, due to its anti-obesity and hypolipidaemic properties, thus can be used in the management of dyspilidaemic disorders.
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