The iron and steel industry is one of the main contributors to the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of most developing countries in Africa and is key for both domestic and global markets. The holistic approach to Industry 4.0 needs a wider look at the transition taking place in the area of marketing. The paper aims at investigating the impacts of Industry 4.0 on marketing activities and strategies of iron and steel companies in developing countries by identifying which consideration factors are relevant when adopting industry 4.0 in relation to the cost of doing business, then propose strategies and possible solutions that could be considered. A research by survey method through distributes descriptive and deductive approach to collect primary data in questionnaire format. The results show statistical evidence to explain impact of industry 4.0 on marketing activities and strategies such as; effects of rapidly evolving technological capabilities, product quality, quantity, and raw material, increased supply chain and channel strategy, value addition, organizational realignments to integrate physical and digital technologies, positioning in the market, pipeline management, illicit trade practices, skills gap, research and innovation, website foundation, technology stack, content strategy, lead generation, pipeline management, and data analysis (analytic tools). Steel companies should adopt new technologies to improve productivity and standardization, and call for enhancement of regulatory mechanisms to remove incentives for illicit trade practices such as tax evasion, falsification and substandard products.

This paper examines the extent to which improved cassava varieties contribute to improvement in income of smallholder farmers in the Northern agro-ecological zone of Uganda. In order to achieve the objective, data was collected from PRELNOR supported farmers’ fields, other farmers’ fields and baseline cassava fields. Consequently, descriptive statistics, gross margin and stochastic frontier analysis were adopted during analysis. Results from the analysis revealed that higher yields per hectare were registered within PRELNOR supported farmers’ fields and yield from NAROCAS1 surpassed all the varieties (37.3 tons per hectare). Location specific results revealed that Gulu had better yields (34.5 tons per hectare) while Kitgum registered the lowest average (24.1 tons per hectare). Gross margin indicated that every Shilling invested in improved variety earned profit 1.3 to 1.8 times above the local variety and each shillings invested in PRELNOR supported fields generated 5.6 times above the baseline fields. The parameter estimate for profit function revealed that planting material, other production related costs, NAROCAS1, NASE14 and NASE19 were positively correlated with profit but labour and baseline field had negative correlations. Conversely, profit efficiency grew by 40% under improved varieties against local varieties. This study suggests that the difference in yields and profit between locations was caused by biophysical characteristic; disease tolerant varieties can tremendously improve profitability and income; meanwhile the profit gaps were partly attributed to inefficiency. This study recommends fast tracking adoption of pest and disease tolerant varieties and integrated research and development approach throughout the cassava value chain.

Cassava viral diseases particularly cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD) have put pressure on cassava breeders to develop varieties that are resistant/tolerant to them. Several cassava varieties have been rolled out to farmers with the latest being NAROCASS series that are tolerant to these diseases. The yield performance of these new varieties have not been documented in some sub zones like Adjumani district that falls within a major West Nile agro-ecology of Uganda. Therefore this study sought to established yield performances of, reactions to major diseases, and farmers’ preference to these newly released cassava varieties in Adjumani. Results showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences among cassava varieties and experimental sites for all the parameters evaluated. Average yield performance by varieties were in the order of a local cassava—Alifasia (8.7 t/Ha) lowest, NAROCASS 2 (18.55 t/Ha), NASE 14 (33.97 t/Ha), NASE 19 (41.26 t/Ha), and NAROCASS 1 (41.71 t/Ha) highest. CMD foliar symptom was present at all sites on a local cassava—Alifasia, and on NAROCASS 1 in Ayiri parish, Ukusijoni sub-county. CBSD foliar symptoms were observed on off-types (TME 14) in the plot of NASE 14 in Miniki Parish only whereas CBSD root necrosis was observed at all sites on the local cassava—Alifasia, and on NASE 19 in Maaji parish, Ukusijoni sub-county. Cassava root rot disease was localised in Ukusijoni sub-county only. Farmers’ preferences to these newly released cassava varieties were in the order of NASE 19 (40.96%), NAROCASS 1 (24.86%), NAROCASS 2 (15.82.28%), NASE 14 (15.54%), and a Local cassava—Alifasia (2.83%). Result from this study strengthens the information gap in the breeding process towards developing a cassava variety with farmer-preferred attributes, and can also inform the utilisation of these improved cassava varieties in Adjumani district.

Groundnut production in Uganda is constrained by groundnut rosette disease (GRD), the main cause of yield loss experienced by farmers. We conducted the current study to assess the responses of improved groundnuts to diseases (rosette and late leaf spot) and yield under local conditions. Four released groundnut genotypes (Serenut 5R, Serenut 8R, Serenut 9T and Serenut 14R) were evaluated in four locations in northern Uganda for two seasons in 2019. We established the experiment following randomised complete block design with three replications. GRD severity (harvest) and late leaf spot (LLS) severity (harvest) on the four genotypes were not significantly (P > 0.05) different but positively correlated with the Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC). Genotype-by-location interaction for LLS AUDPC, GRD AUDPC and dry pod yield were significant (P < .001). Season-by-genotype interaction was not significant (P = 0.367). Days to 50% flowering were also not significant (P > 0.05). Highest and lowest yields were recorded for Serenut 9T in the Omoro district (1,291 kg/acre) and the Amuru district (609 kg/acre), respectively. Dry pod yield was significantly (P < 0.001) negatively correlated with GRD severity and GRD AUDPC. Yield performance of the four genotypes was not significantly (P < 0.05) different in the districts, except for Kitgum, where yields of Serenut 9T and Serenut 8R were significantly (P < 0.05) higher. These genotypes could be used to manage GRD by smallholder farmers in Northern Uganda. Special consideration should therefore be given to these four groundnut genotypes for GRD management in the Acholi sub-region.

The prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) remains high in Uganda among children under 5 years and women of reproductive age. The readily bio-available sources of vitamin A such as liver, organ meats and fish oils are too expensive for the majority of the population to consume regularly. Sweet potato is a major staple food in the country and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) being rich in beta-carotene offers an alternative source of Vitamin A to the low income section of the population. This study was conducted to assess the contributions of OFSP to household vitamin A intake in Gulu district, Northern Uganda. The cross sectional study was conducted over a period of six months in purposively selected four rural sub-counties and the Municipality. A total of 250 randomly selected households participated in the study. Using Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ), data on the contributions of different food items to Vitamin A intake was collected. OFSP contributed 68% of the daily Vitamin A intake at household level. However, OFSP alone is not adequate to meet the vitamin A requirements of all household members. It is therefore important for households to include other sources of Vitamin A in their daily diets to adequately cater for the vitamin A requirements of all its members. To realize the full potential of OFSP or any other food based intervention in addressing malnutrition in a population, it is important to consider other factors such as the health status of individuals, access to health services, sanitation, feeding and care practices since they all play critical roles in determining the overall effect of the intervention on the population.