Browsing by Author "Masinde Peter"

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    Enhancing Partnerships for Industry-Led Vocational Training and Education (E-Pivot) in the Horticulture Value Chains of Kenya
    (Meru University of Science and Technology, 2022-06) Odhiambo Romanus; Masinde Peter; Arimi Joshua; Owiti Beatrice; Maitethia Daniel; Nawiri Peter; Wesonga John; De Groote Bram; Koomen Irene
    Horticulture is the fastest growing sub-sector in Kenya. It is expected to contribute the most towards the envisioned poverty reduction, and overall food security. It is generally a labour-intensive industry with high demand of skilled workers, trained supervisor and professional managers. Over six million Kenyans are directly and indirectly employed in horticulture, women constitute 75% of the labour force in the horticulture industry. Some of the limiting factors to the sector are availability of water and climate change. The current ATVETs and associated education institutions have a very general focus and there is lack of specialized workforce in horticulture. Through a consortium of 6 ATVETS and MUST we aimed to close those gaps, strengthening the capacity of the ATVETs through a strong collaboration between the education institutions and the private sector, strengthening linkages among the various actors to enable practical learning and innovation in the horticulture sector. This is being done through integrating the curriculum for horticulture, water and climate to suit the needs of the students and tailoring it to the local context. Each of the participating colleges invested in hands-on training through dedicated agricultural innovation hubs and creating strong links with the local stakeholders. To compliment curricula developed by the Curriculum Development Assessment and Certificate Council (CDACC), training manuals have developed for selected courses. The manual provides a practical way of integrating competence based training principles. In addition, tutors have been trained to enhance their capacity to design, deliver and evaluate competence based education. Problem based learning in the Kenyan context as well as joint learning session between Kenyan and Dutch students are non-traditional pedagogy methodologies being explored. While the project is still ongoing working in a consortium led by MUST is highly beneficial to the colleges and surrounding communities, and the quality of the teaching. There has increased interactions between the ATVET tutors and partners within the partnerships created by the project. Additionally, the ATVETs also created more partnerships relevant to their training and practical work.
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    The Effect of Biochar from Rice Husks on Evapotranspiration, Vegetative Growth and Fruit Yield of Greenhouse Tomato Cultivar Anna F1 Grown in Two Soil Types
    (African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2022-03) Masinde Peter; Wahome Bernard M.
    Biochar made from crop residues has been shown to improve soil texture, soil porosity and soil structure. It can enhance fertilizer utilization, reduce leaching loses and hence improve nitrogen supply for plant growth. Utilization of biochar in preparation of potting substrates can enhance growth and yields of greenhouse tomato. A study was carried out to test the influence of rice husks biochar on substrate properties, growth and yield of greenhouse tomato. The experiment was carried as a factorial in completely randomized design with two factors: four biochar levels and two soil types, replicated three times. The biochar levels were volume ratios of 0 biochar: 1 soil (0Biochar), 0.25 biochar: 0.75 soil (0.25Biochar), 0.5 biochar: 0.5 soil (0.5Biochar) and 0.75 biochar: 0.25 soil (0.75Biochar). The two soil types used were the well drained deep red friable soil and imperfectly drained dark brown clay soil obtained from the University farm. Tomato Anna F1 was grown in four-liter plastic pots containing about 3 kg of soil-biochar mixture. Data were collected on the plant growth parameters of plant height, number of leaves per plant and plant dry weight upto the 8th - 9th week after transplanting, when fruit ripening began. The chlorophyll index of the leaves were measured using the SPAD meter. At harvesting, fresh weight and number of the fruits were determined. Incorporating biochar into potting substrate at 0.25-0.75 levels significantly increased evapotranspiration during early vegetative growth. This was indicative of biochar changing substrate properties mainly through significant reduction of bulk density and possibly increasing porosity. Biochar levels of 0.25-0.75 resulted in significant increases in vegetative growth and fruit yield of tomato. Adding biochar to the pot substrate increased tomato plant height, plant dry weight and fruit fresh weight by 21-34%, 50-64% and 49%-56%, respectively. The increase in vegetative growth and fruit yield at 0.25-0.75 biochar levels was attributed to the positive effect of biochar on substrate physical properties. Plant height and number of leaves per plant had a significant linear relationship whose slope, the rate of increase in plant height with increase in number of leaves was not influenced by biochar levels. Biochar number of leaves of tomato. It is concluded that incorporation of biochar made from rice husks at 0.25 level can enhance greenhouse production in both red and clay soils.