Research Output

1. Publications from Internally Funded Research Projects 

a) Enhancing Productivity of the Maize-Cowpea intercropping system in the coastal lowland Kenya through Drought Tolerant Varieties and Improved Resource Research Team: Dr. J. Ndiso (PI), Mr. J. Owino, Ms Dorothy Sila and Mr. Humphrey Mwajoha

Grant: KSh. 500,000

Publications:
  • Ndiso, B. 2015. Enhancing performance of maize-cowpea based cropping systems in coastal lowland Kenya through stress resilient varieties and soil moisture conservation practices. PhD Thesis. University of Nairobi.
  • Ndiso B., G.N. Chemining’wa, F.M. Olubayo and H.M. Saha. 2016. Participatory Selection of Cowpea Varieties in Kilifi County of Kenya. Int. J. Plant & Soil Sci., Vol. 9, No. 2 pp. 1-10
  • Ndiso B., G.N. Chemining’wa, F.M. Olubayo and H.M. Saha. 2016. Effect of Drought Stress on Canopy Temperature, Growth and Yield Performance of Cowpea Varieties. Int. J. Plant & Soil Sci., Vol. 9, No. 3 pp. 1-12.
  • Ndiso B., G.N. Chemining’wa, F.M. Olubayo and H.M. Saha. 2017. Effects of variety and insecticide spray application on pest damage and yield of cowpea. Int. J. Agric. Sci. Vol. 7(2), pp. 1248-1257.
  • Ndiso B., G.N. Chemining’wa, F.M. Olubayo and H.M. Saha. 2017. Effects of cropping system on soil moisture content, canopy temperature, growth and yield performance of maize and cowpea. Int. J. Agric. Sci. Vol. 7(3), pp. 1271-1281.
  • Ndiso B., G.N. Chemining’wa, F.M. Olubayo and H.M. Saha. 2018. Effect of Cowpea Crop Residue Management on Soil Moisture Content, Canopy Temperature, Growth and Yield of Maize-Cowpea Intercrops. International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Bioresearch. Vol. 3(5), pp. 231-250.

---------------------------------

b) Estimating prevalence and survival rates of Women diagnosed with Breast cancer in Kilifi

Research Team: Dr. Leonard Kiti Alii

Grant: KSh. 475,000

Publications:
  • Alii, K. 2017. Misconceptions and Perceptions on Breast Cancer Risk in Kilifi South Sub-county. J Biom Biostat 8:1-5. doi:10.4172/2155-6180.1000336.

---------------------------------

c) Open access publishing in Kenyan Universities: Academic researchers’

Research Team: Dr. Wanyenda Chilimo-Muoki (PI), Mr. Nicholas W.O. Ajwang and Ms Mary Maina

Grant: KSh. 400,000

Publications:
  • Wanyenda 2016. Sharing insights from National Institutional Repositories: Awareness and self-archiving practices of academic researchers in selected Public Universities in Kenya. Paper presented at the 4th CODESRIA Conference on Electronic Publishing: "Open Access Movement and the Future of Africa's Knowledge Economy", Dakar, Senegal, March 30 - 31, April 1, 2016. http://www.codesria.org/spip.php?article2564&lang=en
  • Wanyenda Chilimo; Nicholas Walter Otieno Ajwang’; Mary Maina; Aggrey (?). Kenyan scholars’ perceptions of open access journals and the author pay model. Submitted to: Mousaion - South African Journal of Information Studies. 

2. Publications from Externally Funded Research Projects 

a)Strengthening Agri-Entrepreneurship and Community Engagement Training in East, West and North Africa (AgriENGAGE)


PU Team
Dr. Elisha Otieno Gogo - Project Manager (e.gogo@pu.ac.ke); Dr. Florence Gachango- Trainer (f.gachango@pu.ac.ke); Ms. Bahati Addallah- Technical Staff (b.abdalla@pu.ac.ke); Mr. Job Mbiti- Administrator (jobithibu@gmail.com)


Total Budget: € 994,811.00
Project Duration: 3 years
Start Date: 15 Jan 2021
End Date: 14 Jan 2024

Click here for more details


b) Integrating Mucuna Pruriens, Cowpea (Vigna Unguilata) and Striga Resistant/Tolerant Maize (Zea Mays) for the Control of Striga Asiatica.

Research Team: Prof. M.K. Tsanuo (PI), Dr. H.M. Saha, Dr. J.G. Gethi and Prof. H. Shauri

Grant: KSh. 2,932,897

Publications:
  • A map showing the areas infested by Striga asiatica in coastal Kenya.
  • Tiny Witch Weed Threatens Food Security in Coastal Farmers Pride magazine. August-Sept. 2011 Issue.
  • Saha, H.M. and B. 2011. Information on the witch weed (Striga asiatica) and its effect on maize production in coastal Kenya. Extension Leaflet. 2011.
  • Tsanuo, K., H.M. Saha, H. Shauri and J.G. Gethi. 2011. The extent of infestation of maize fields by the witch weed (Striga asiatica) in coastal lowland Kenya. Poster presented at the ASK Mombasa Show, 2011.
  • Abdallah, , H.M. Saha and M.K. Tsanuo. 2015. Control of Striga asiatica through the Integration of Legume Cover Crops and Striga Resistant Maize. Int. Pure Appl. Sci. Technol, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 42-53.
  • Abdallah, , H.M. Saha and M.K. Tsanuo. 2015. Integrating striga resistant maize and spatial arrangement of intercropped cowpea in the control of Striga asiatica. Int. J. Agri. & Agri. R, Vol. 7, No. 6, pp. 25-33.

---------------------------------

c) Evaluation of Cover Cropping Systems and their Effects on Soil Properties and Productivity of Orange Crop in Coastal

Researcher: Mr. J.M. Mulinge

Grant: KSh. 1,045,000

Publication:
  • Mulinge, M. 2017. Effects of legume cover crops on soil properties and productivity of grafted oranges (Citrus sinensis) in the coastal lowlands of Kenya. PhD Thesis. Pwani University.
  • Mulinge, M., H.M. Saha, L.G. Mounde and L.A. Wasilwa. 2017. Effect of legume cover crops on soil moisture and orange root distribution. Int. J. Agric. Sci. Vol. 7(3), pp. 1271-1281.
  • Mulinge, M., H.M. Saha, L.G. Mounde and L.A. Wasilwa. 2018. Effects of Legume Cover Crops on Orange (Citrus sinensis) Fruit Weight and Brix. International Journal of Plant & Soil Sci. Vol. 21(4): 1-9

3. Innovations

a) Sustainable utilization of agro-industrial wastes through integration of bio-energy and mushroom production, a BioInnovate Research Project, with funding from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

Research Team: Dr. S. Hashim (PI) and Dr. M.J. Amana

Collaborator: Kilifi Plantations Ltd

Grant: USD 366,667

Achievement(s):
  • Commissioning of the Bio-Innovate Mushroom Pilot Plant at Kilifi Plantations

          This activity was carried out on Thursday, 19th March 2015. The pilot plant is a joint venture between Pwani University and Kilifi Plantations Ltd. The plant was set up under the                  BioInnovate Research Project.

  • One PhD
  • Publications:
    • M Muthangya, A M Mshandete, J M Amana, S O Hashim, and A K Kivaisi (2014). Nutritional and antioxidant analysis of Pleurotus HK 37 grown on Agave Sisalana saline solid International Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics 2014; 4(2): 5-12
    • M Muthangya, A M Mshandete, S O Hashim, J M Amana, A K Kivaisi (2013). Evaluation of Enzymatic Activity during Vegetative Growth and Fruiting of Pleurotus HK 37 on Agave sisalana Saline Solid Journal of Chemical, Biological and Physical Sciences. Vol 4 (1)1: 247-258.
    • Muthangya M, Hashim SO, Amana JM, Mshandete AM and Kivaisi AK (2013). Optimization of Pleurotus mushroom cultivation on Saline Sisal Solid World Applied Science Journal 23 (9): 1146 -50.
    • Muthangya M, Hashim SO, Amana JM, Mshandete AM and Kivaisi AK (2013). Auditing and Characterization of Sisal Processing Waste - A bioresource for value ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science 8(7): 518- 524. 
  • Key Outputs:
    • Protocol for oyster mushroom cultivation using saline sisal leaf decortication waste
    • Local mushroom market survey report covering coastal Kenya
    • Pre-technoeconomic feasibility study of the project
    • Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Project Report
    • Certification to produce oyster mushrooms from sisal leaf decortication waste by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) 

4. Achievements in Research Collaborations 

a) Enhancing Productivity of the Maize-Cowpea intercropping system in the coastal lowland Kenya through Drought Tolerant Varieties and Improved Resource

Research Collaborators: Pwani University (PU) and Technical University of Munich (TUM); supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Grant: 399,198.16 EURO

Achievements:

i) Conferences:

A project kick off conference was held at Pwani University on 2nd and 3rd December 2014, while the closing conference was held from 28th to 30th November 2016.

The PU Project Team participated in other three international conferences held in Nairobi (Kenya), London (United Kingdom), and Munich (Germany).

ii) Exchange of staff and students

Since the inception of the project, the two institutions have exchanged 32 students and 8 members of staff. This has been possible through the Summer School Programmes that were conducted during these exchange visits. Prof. Dr. Halimu Shauri from Pwani University, Department of Social Sciences has also participated twice in the Visiting Professor Programme hosted by TUM and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

iii) Modules on Disability, Livelihood and Empowerment

The following four modules were developed between 2013 and 2016:

  • Module I: (Basic module) on (Dis)ability, Participation and Community
  • Module II: Education and (Dis)ability
  • Module III: Livelihood and (Dis)ability
  • Module IV: Empowerment and (Dis)ability

iv) Book Collections on Disability Studies

The project has developed a collection of more than 100 titles on disability issues. These resources were handed over to the university library at the close of the project activities. 

---------------------------------

b) Innovative Ways of Learning, Demonstration farming and water management for enhanced food security and income generation in Coastal regions; through the Netherlands Initiative for Capacity Development in Higher Education (NICHE) project (NICHE/KEN/212), an initiative supported by

Research Collaborators: Pwani University (PU) and NUFFIC.

Grant: 1,304,650 EURO

Achievements:

i) Model Farm:

A model farm has been developed at the University farm. This will be used as a demonstration farm in livestock and crop production, water management for training, research and outreach. Through this farm, the University will demonstrate farming as a business, for enhanced food security, health and income, and poverty alleviation.

ii) Capacity building at Masters and Doctoral level

Selected University staff will acquire key technical skills through training at masters and PhD levels. Currently, eight (8) members of staff are undergoing PhD training while nine (9) are on MSc programme at various local and international universities.

One member of staff is receiving training, at MSc level, on water desalination and management at the University of Delft, Netherlands to enable the University tackle the water supply challenges for use by students as well as for irrigation for research and food production. 

---------------------------------

c) The Galana -Kulalu Research

Research Collaborators: Pwani University (PU) and the University of Dublin, Ireland.

Achievements:

i) Student Exchange:

The University received two students from the University of Dublin, Ireland who joined three PU students to undertake Field Research at Galana -Kulalu in 2016. 

---------------------------------

d) Isaac Kyalo, a lecturer in the Nursing Department of Pwani University, visited Pavia University Centre for International Coop. & Development (CICOPS) for a 10 Weeks Research Attachment.


5. Research Recognition

a) The Union Radio-Scientifique International (URSI) Young Scientist

Dr. Joseph Olwendo of Pwani University is a recipient of the Union Radio-Scientifique International (URSI) Young Scientist Award from the International Radio Science Community, for his contribution on electromagnetic field research.