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Mbeya University of Science and Technology Repository (MUST Repository) is an open-access digital platform dedicated to the collection, preservation, management, and dissemination of the University’s official scholarly and institutional resources. Authorized by the University and aligned with national academic and research objectives, the repository ensures that valuable institutional knowledge remains securely preserved and easily accessible to researchers, students, staff, and the wider public.
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Improved maize seeds and farm profitability in Tanzania: Evidence from the National Sample Census of Agriculture 2019/20
(CABI, 2026-08-18)
Background: Maize plays a critical role in ensuring food security and supporting rural livelihoods in Tanzania. However, smallholder maize farmers continue to face persistent profitability challenges driven by low productivity, high input costs, and market inefficiencies. Although the government has prioritized promoting improved seed varieties across various agricultural development initiatives, evidence of their actual economic benefits in smallholder farming conditions remains limited. Understanding how different seed types affect farm profitability across agroecological zones is essential for informing sustainable agricultural policy and investment decisions. Methods: This study used a non-parametric stochastic simulation approach with nationally representative data from the 2019/20 National Sample Census of Agriculture (NSCA). The analysis estimated income distributions for three seed types (local, improved, and recycled) while accounting for yield variability, maize prices, and production costs. Profitability was assessed using two income thresholds: a minimum threshold of TZS 0.6 million/ha and an optimal benchmark of TZS 1.2 million/ha. Simulations were disaggregated by agroecological zone to capture spatial differences in cost structures, productivity, and market dynamics. Results: The findings indicate that improved seeds modestly increase the probability of achieving profitable outcomes but, on their own, are insufficient to lift most farmers above the optimal income threshold. Nationally, 64% of improved seed users earned below the minimum profitability level, compared with 67% of local seed users and 77% of recycled seed users. Only 14% of improved seed users exceeded the profitability benchmark. Regional variations were substantial: the Lake and Southern Zones recorded relatively better profitability due to lower input costs and favorable maize prices, while the Eastern and Western Zones remained largely unprofitable across all seed categories. Conclusion: Although improved seeds are essential for enhancing maize productivity, they do not guarantee profitability in the absence of complementary inputs and supportive market conditions. Multiple interacting factors, including production costs, yield variability, and market access, shape profit outcomes. The study recommends integrated, zone-specific interventions, including bundled input support, targeted subsidies, and investment in rural infrastructure, to improve farm-level returns. These insights contribute to SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 12(Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting more resilient and inclusive agricultural systems in Tanzania.
Challenges Facing the Adoption of Online Banking Services in Tanzania
(Aditum, 2026-08-12) Mwidege, Asheri; Chuwa, Gasper
Time is a fragile resource and a central variable to economic activities. Thus,
Banks in Tanzania adopted online banking services so as to save time and
energy. However, little information was available on the challenges facing
customers on the online adoption of online banking services. A qualitative
research design and stratified sampling technique were used to select a
sample of 80 customers using a questionnaire in cross-sectional data
collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics from the SPSS
program. Results showed that customers’ adoption was due to awareness,
accessibility and ease of use. Though, failure to adoption was due to online
cybercrime and transaction cost. Thus, it was concluded that awareness,
accessibility and ease of use influenced online banking while cybercrime and
transaction cost influenced the dis-adoption. Therefore, the study
recommended that banks should use the free trial and reduce costs for first-
time customers.
Socioeconomic importance, utilisation patterns and climate resilience potential of Mikoche (Hyphaene spp.) in Pangani District, Tanga, Tanzania
(Elsevier, 2026-06-27) Fweja, Leonard; Ahmed, Amina
This study examines the potential of the Mikoche tree (Hyphaene spp.), an indigenous palm species found in
Pangani District, Tanzania, as a critical natural resource that can contribute to both ecological and socio-
economic resilience amid changing environmental conditions. The study employed a mixed-methods approach
involving household surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory rural appraisal
techniques to assess the distribution, utilisation patterns, value addition opportunities, and challenges associated
with Mikoche. Data were collected from Kimang’a and Madanga wards, where the species is commonly found.
The findings indicate that local communities primarily use Mikoche for traditional construction materials,
handicrafts, fencing and occasional consumption of its fruit. However, its potential for producing flour, cooking
oil, and other value added products remains largely unexplored. The study further reveals significant differences
in the utilisation and economic benefits derived from Mikoche between Kimang’a and Madanga wards, despite
their similar ecological settings. Key barriers to wider utilisation include limited awareness of value-addition
opportunities, inadequate processing technologies, poor market access, and a lack of supportive policies and
institutional frameworks. The findings demonstrate that Mikoche has considerable potential to contribute to food
security, income generation, and climate-change adaptation in coastal Tanzania. To realise this potential, tar-
geted interventions are needed, including community capacity building, investment in processing infrastructure,
market development, and policy support for sustainable resource management.
The effects of π-spacer on electronic properties, charge transfer, and chemical reactivity in D-A′-π-A configured molecules: Computational approach
(Journal of Chemical Research, 2026-05-06) Abubakari1, Ismail; Sanama, Michael Kennedy; Tsere, Melkizedeck Hiiti
In this work, a systematic modification of the π-spacer was carried out to evaluate its influence on molecular geometry,
electronic structure, charge transport properties, and global chemical reactivity descriptors in a series of D-A′-π-A
organic molecules (M1–M4). Density functional theory was employed to analyze key parameters including dihedral angles,
highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energies, natural bond orbital interactions,
reorganization energies, ionization potential, electron affinity, chemical hardness, chemical potential, electronegativity,
and electrophilicity index. The results reveal that M4 demonstrates the most favorable combination of properties,
exhibiting the energy gap, reorganization energy, ionization potential, and chemical hardness of 1.4896, 0.4580, 4.8300,
and 0.7127 eV, respectively. M4 also shows the highest chemical potential, electronegativity, and electrophilicity index
of −4.1174, 4.1174, and 11.8938 eV, respectively. These results demonstrate the critical role of π-spacer engineering in
adjusting the electronic behavior of D-A′-π-A systems and suggest that M4 is a promising candidate for high-performance
organic semiconducting and optoelectronic uses.
Optimizing control strategies to reduce east coast fever spread in livestock–wildlife interface communities
(ELSEVIER, 2026-07-20) Chinyoka, Mirirai; Muchatibaya, Gift; Helikumi, Mlyashimbi; Murambiwa Shingirai T; Jambwa, Prosper; Mushayabasa, Steady
East Coast Fever (ECF) poses a significant threat to livestock in sub-Saharan Africa, leading to
substantial economic losses primarily due to animal mortality. While buffalo are recognized as
natural reservoirs of the disease, the role of the livestock–wildlife interface in the transmission
dynamics of ECF remains poorly understood. To address this gap, a comprehensive mechanistic
model incorporating this interface was developed, calibrated with empirical data collected from
Zimbabwe between 2014 and 2020. Using this model, future ECF cases were projected up to
the year 2030. Analysis of various control measures — including vaccination, acaricide use,
and habitat management — indicates that, although these strategies can effectively reduce
disease prevalence, they are unlikely to completely eradicate ECF within a single year when
implemented individually. These findings underscore the importance of adopting integrated
control approaches that combine multiple strategies, including biological methods, to achieve
sustainable and long-term disease management. The results emphasize the need for continued
research and coordinated efforts to effectively combat ECF and mitigate its impact on livestock
and local economies in the region.