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Adopting processing technologies and innovative food preservation is crucial for improving the food security and nutritional status of rural populations in Tanzania and other countries in the Global South. However, low adoption rates among smallholders highlight the need for a better understanding of farmers’ decision-making processes. The aim of this study is to examine extrinsic and intrinsic factors influencing smallholders’ decision-making processes in the adoption of innovative food processing and preservation techniques (specifically, pigeon pea flour-based products, threshers, dehullers) in Mitumbati and Mibure in the Lindi Region in Tanzania. Primary data on 555 farm households were collected using a standardized survey. Extrinsic influential factors were analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis. The results on internal decision-making are based on an analysis of barriers and motivations identified by farmers in relation to the uptake of the different innovations. Training and awareness emerged as the most significant factors positively associated with the adoption of all innovative processing and preservation techniques. Moreover, the results show that the primary drivers for smallholders in the study region to adopt innovative technologies were the potential health benefits and time savings they offered. The main challenge they faced was a lack of knowledge about the innovations. The results indicate that disseminating knowledge is crucial for the successful adoption of innovative processing technology in the study region. Improving and expanding training programs to be more inclusive can help to create incentives and overcome barriers, leading to increased adoption., Peer Reviewed

Maize (Zea mays L.) productivity in Kenya has witnessed a decline attributed to the effects of climate change and biophysical constraints. The assessment of agronomic practices across agroecological zones (AEZs) is limited by inadequate data quality, hindering a precise evaluation of maize yield on a large scale. In this study, we employed the DSSAT-CERES-Maize crop model (where CERES is Crop Environment Resource Synthesis and DSSAT is Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) to investigate the impacts of different agronomic practices on maize yield across different AEZs in two counties of Kenya. The model was calibrated and evaluated with observed grain yield, biomass, leaf area index, phenology, and soil water content from 2-year experiments. Remote sensing (RS) images derived from the Sentinel-2 satellite were integrated to delineate maize areas, and the resulting information was merged with DSSAT-CERES-Maize yield simulations. This facilitated a comprehensive quantification of various agronomic measures at pixel scales. Evaluation of agronomic measures revealed that sowing dates and cultivar types significantly influenced maize yield across the AEZs. Notably, AEZ II and AEZ III exhibited elevated yields when implementing combined practices of early sowing and cultivar H614. The impacts of optimal management practices varied across the AEZs, resulting in yield increases of 81, 115, and 202 kg ha−1 in AEZ I, AEZ II, and AEZ III, respectively. This study underscores the potential of the CERES-Maize model and high-resolution RS data in estimating production at larger scales. Furthermore, this integrated approach holds promise for supporting agricultural decision-making and designing optimal strategies to enhance productivity while accounting for site-specific conditions., Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001655, PhD scholarship for HK, Peer Reviewed

The Kenyan mango value chain faces high post-harvest losses due to poor market access alongside a lack of storage technologies and processing facilities. Thus, using fruit processing methods, like solar drying, can enhance shelf life and help smallholder farmers access new markets, diversifying income and livelihoods. Nonetheless, the processing of both indigenous and grafted mango fruits is not a very common practice. This study was conducted to support product development targeting processing and marketing to link farmers to both local and export markets. Four independent consumer testing and sensory evaluation rounds on Kitui’s dried mango flakes were conducted in Germany and Kenya. Data were collected via a group tasting by 31 randomly selected participants and an online questionnaire of 304 randomly selected participants. All participants were given samples of different varieties of dried mango flakes with and without additives. Results show that high-quality mango cultivars, like Ngowe, receive high hedonic scores without any additives (honey, sodium metabisulfite, or ascorbic acid). Some varieties positively respond to the treatments and achieve higher scores, e.g., Van Dyke or the indigenous variety Kikamba. The consumers testing in Germany show that extrinsic attributes, such as organic production, fair trade, cooperative, and sustainable labelled flakes open up new opportunities for farmers who aim for the export market. Against findings derived from German panellists, in Kenya, consumers do not show a higher willingness to pay despite having a positive attitude toward sustainability. Thus, the local market should focus on cost-reduction strategies rather than introducing standardisation.

The Kenyan mango value chain faces high post-harvest losses due to poor market access alongside a lack of storage technologies and processing facilities. Thus, using fruit processing methods, like solar drying, can enhance shelf life and help smallholder farmers access new markets, diversifying income and livelihoods. Nonetheless, the processing of both indigenous and grafted mango fruits is not a very common practice. This study was conducted to support product development targeting processing and marketing to link farmers to both local and export markets. Four independent consumer testing and sensory evaluation rounds on Kitui’s dried mango flakes were conducted in Germany and Kenya. Data were collected via a group tasting by 31 randomly selected participants and an online questionnaire of 304 randomly selected participants. All participants were given samples of different varieties of dried mango flakes with and without additives. Results show that high-quality mango cultivars, like Ngowe, receive high hedonic scores without any additives (honey, sodium metabisulfite, or ascorbic acid). Some varieties positively respond to the treatments and achieve higher scores, e.g., Van Dyke or the indigenous variety Kikamba. The consumers testing in Germany show that extrinsic attributes, such as organic production, fair trade, cooperative, and sustainable labelled flakes open up new opportunities for farmers who aim for the export market. Against findings derived from German panellists, in Kenya, consumers do not show a higher willingness to pay despite having a positive attitude toward sustainability. Thus, the local market should focus on cost-reduction strategies rather than introducing standardisation., Peer Reviewed

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The lack of adequate techniques for food processing is among the reasons underlying food losses and high levels of hunger in Sub-Saharan Africa; the application of solar energy to dry agricultural products is one potential solution. However, the total replacement of traditional uses of solar energy is still far from reality. Therefore, in this study, we systematically review the academic literature testing passive solar drying systems in order to assess their performance. Then the main limitations and challenges for passive solar dryers developed in Sub-Saharan Africa are derived. The literature search reveals very limited research and a lack of standardized methods to assess solar dryer performance. Studies mainly report parameters related to dryers’ thermal performance and physical features, thus neglecting parameters related to the quality of dried products and economics. Standardized and robust methodologies are urgently needed for more accurate conclusions and comparability of study results. Moreover, successfully applying passive solar dryers as an alternative to the traditional use of solar energy requires overcoming challenges such as time consumption, limited quantities of dried products, and the periodic nature of solar radiation. Thus, given its ability to significantly improve the self-life of food and overcome the current limitations for effective utilization of solar dryers in SSA, the use of mixed mode passive greenhouse dryers is proposed., The lack of adequate techniques for food processing is among the reasons underlying food losses and high levels of hunger in Sub-Saharan Africa; the application of solar energy to dry agricultural products is one potential solution. However, the total replacement of traditional uses of solar energy is still far from reality. Therefore, in this study, we systematically review the academic literature testing passive solar drying systems in order to assess their performance. Then the main limitations and challenges for passive solar dryers developed in Sub-Saharan Africa are derived. The literature search reveals very limited research and a lack of standardized methods to assess solar dryer performance. Studies mainly report parameters related to dryers’ thermal performance and physical features, thus neglecting parameters related to the quality of dried products and economics. Standardized and robust methodologies are urgently needed for more accurate conclusions and comparability of study results. Moreover, successfully applying passive solar dryers as an alternative to the traditional use of solar energy requires overcoming challenges such as time consumption, limited quantities of dried products, and the periodic nature of solar radiation. Thus, given its ability to significantly improve the self-life of food and overcome the current limitations for effective utilization of solar dryers in SSA, the use of mixed mode passive greenhouse dryers is proposed., Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100005908, Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V. (3493), Peer Reviewed

Post-harvest losses are one of the major livelihood challenges for farmers in the Global South. The use of drying technologies to preserve agricultural products has been promoted as a particular solution to address this challenge. In this regard, we designed and tested a passive indirect solar dryer for drying agricultural products as an alternative to open sun drying (OSD) in Gurue district, Central Mozambique, using amaranth leaves and maize. In addition, a sensorial analysis was conducted by randomly selecting a group of 60 adults who evaluated the texture, aroma and color of dried amaranth and maize grains. Compared to OSD, the passive indirect solar dryer reduced drying time and increased the thermal efficiency. Evaluation of sensory quality attributes showed that passive indirect solar drying outperforms OSD., Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100005908, Peer Reviewed

Berrang-Ford, L., Siders, A. R., Lesnikowski, A., Fischer, A. P., Callaghan, M. W., Haddaway, N. R., . . . Abu, T. Z. (2021). A systematic global stocktake of evidence on human adaptation to climate change. Nature Climate Change, 11, 989-1000. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-021-01170-y