Relative levels of eLearning readiness, applications and trainee requirements in Botswana’s Private Sector | Nleya | Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology / La revue canadienne de l’apprentissage et de la technologie

Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology

The rapid growth and modernization of economies in developing countries like Botswana creates new and unmet demands for certain kinds of educated and skilled labour. The expansion of secondary and tertiary school systems has also created a problem of unemployed school leavers. The growth of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), globalization and the digital divide likewise, have together put new pressures on developing countries to accelerate their development to meet these demands. This paper reports the results of a survey that sought to assess levels of eLearning readiness, applications and trainee requirements in Botswana’s private sector. Such baseline data can inform policymakers and researchers and promote the transformation required of private sector companies to become learning organizations. The findings suggested that eLearning readiness (eReadiness) levels were moderate to low, and that archaic technology (i. e., overhead projection) was used by more than half of the private sector organizations for training (with far less than half using digital eLearning applications). While the overall findings suggested low levels of eLearning readiness, applications and trainee requirements in Botswana’s private sector, seventy percent of trainers reported that their organizations encouraged them to acquire basic computer skills to facilitate eLearning. The current eLearning situation in Botswana, and the literature reviewed, demonstrates that the integration of ICTs in both developing and developed countries was a gradual process. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) have expedited the change process in developed countries. However, several limitations are associated with such partnerships and this renders lessons for developing countries to emulate.

The information environment of agricultural stakeholders in Botswana

The study surveyed the agricultural information needs, information sources used and the awareness of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA)’s products and services by the various agricultural stakeholders in Botswana. The survey covered 52 agricultural researchers/educators, 30 extension agents, 54 students, 12 commercial farmers, and 45 subsistence farmers. Data collection instruments used for the study were the questionnaire, interview and focus group discussions. The findings reveal that the agricultural stakeholders in Botswana had a wide range of information needs, especially on government programmes, farm problems and identification of market for agricultural products. The prominent information sources used were the Internet, journal articles and technical papers. The study also revealed that most of the stakeholders were not aware of CTA’s products and services and that the Spore magazine was the product mainly used. The Question and Answer Service was rarely used by the stakeholders. The study recommends that the Botswana College of Agriculture (BCA) Library should be selected as the agency to provide agricultural information services to all the stakeholders in Botswana, given its rich information resources in agriculture, and that CTA should reappraise its services in Botswana by ensuring that its services are well utilized by agricultural information stakeholders.

It is too early for salary increment - Khama

Mmegi Online

Addressing a Kgotla meeting here yesterday, Khama said people must understand that though there was a slight improvement, Botswana still had a deficit. "Remember that we still have a deficit," he said. "The key thing is that we do not want to lay workers off. Take note of this before making any proposal for an increment."

MORINGA (MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM.): A REVIEW (V.E. Emongor)

Acta Horticulturae

The moringa tree (Moringa oleifera Lam.) is the most “underutilized” multipurpose tropical crop. The leaves, tender pods and seeds could serve as a valuable source of nutrients for all age groups. The leaves, tender pods and seeds are sources of vitamins, minerals and proteins. The leaves and branches can be used as feed for livestock and fish. Due to the high nutrient content of the leaves, moringa can be incorporated into the mulching system. The dry seed suspension is a known natural coagulant and coagulant aid with antibacterial activity. Dry moringa seeds can be used in place of alum to treat turbid water and reduce bacteria in drinking water. Moringa leaf powder can be used as a supplement to boost or stimulate the immune system of HIV/AIDS positive people. Moringa seed contain oil that can be used for various industrial purposes and as vegetable oil for human consumption or as biofuel. Global industrialization and the increasing demand for environmental friendly products make moringa have great potential as a source of pharmaceuticals, dyes, biofuel, human food, animal and fish feed, and water purification products.

Forage resources’ utilization for livestock and game farming in Botswana

Forage resources’ utilization for livestock and game farming in Botswana (A.A.Aganga , U.J.Omphile and  K. Dipheko)

An overview is given of forage resources as utilized by  grazing livestock and game  animals in Botswana.  The forage resources of Botswana comprise mostly natural rangelands with little cultivated pastures and they are classified into three different types including, 1. Grasses and grass like plants, 2. Forbs and weeds, and 3.  Shrubs and trees. The value of these forage plants varies widely and is influenced by many factors, some of which are fixed and others controllable.  Grazing animals in Botswana have been maintained on feedstuffs that come from natural rangeland. Forage utilization within the communal zones is uncontrolled, while the commercial system follows "reasonably acceptable levels of management. Natural pastures serve as pre-requisite for cattle production and therefore the same importance attached to cattle production should also be attributed to rangeland resources. Unfortunately, there is considerable evidence to indicate that the productivity of the range is declining rather than increasing to match the steadily increasing livestock population.

HIGH LEVELS OF RAPD AND SSR MARKER DIVERSITY IN LANDRACES OF WATERMELON (CITRULLUS LANATUS) IN SOUTHERN AFRICA (C. Mujaju, G. Werlemark, L. Garkava-Gustavsson, H. Nybom)

HIGH LEVELS OF RAPD AND SSR MARKER DIVERSITY IN LANDRACES OF WATERMELON (CITRULLUS LANATUS) IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Previous studies have reported relatively low levels of genetic diversity in cultivated watermelon. The investigated material has, however, consisted mainly of US plant introductions and modern watermelon cultivars linked to breeding programmes for disease resistance. By contrast, germplasm maintained in the putative centre of origin in southern Africa, could be expected to display considerably higher variability. Three different sampling strategies have been used to collect plant material of both wild and cultivated forms of cow-melons (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) and of sweet watermelons (C. lanatus var. lanatus, only known from cultivation); (1) in-depth sampling in the fields of one village in Zimbabwe, (2) medium-scale sampling across the water-melon growing districts in Zimbabwe, and (3) broad-scale sampling across southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe). Two molecular markers have been, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and simple sequence repeats (SSR) also known as microsatellite DNA. Similarity matrices obtained with RAPD and SSR, respectively, were highly correlated, suggesting that for some applications, the less demanding RAPD can be a useful alternative, especially in developing countries. Considerable amounts of genetic diversity was found at all levels, including within-accessions (half-sib families), and sweet watermelon accessions appear to contain almost as much variability as cow-melon accessions.

PRELIMINARY NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS OF MARULA (SCLEROCARYA BIRREA) FRUITS FROM TWO KENYAN PROVENANCES (H. Jaenicke, M. K. Thiong'o)

PRELIMINARY NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS OF MARULA (SCLEROCARYA BIRREA) FRUITS FROM TWO KENYAN PROVENANCES

Sclerocarya birrea, the marula tree, is a medium-sized dioecious tree, indigenous to the miombo woodlands of Southern Africa and the Sudano-Sahelian range of West Africa. The local populations value the yellow, aromatic and fleshy fruits, which are eaten fresh or processed into juices and alcoholic beverages. The seed kernels are high in protein and fat and constitute an important emergency food. We have initiated a thorough nutritional analysis of S. birrea fruits and seeds (nuts). Initial results from bulked samples from the Kitui and Kibwezi provenances in Kenya show similar to higher values for vitamin C, protein, important nutritional minerals and carbohydrates than values published for fruits from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Our study suggests that the Kenyan material is of equal quality to the fruits marketed in Southern Africa. This finding has interesting implications for the future development of widespread commercialization by small-scale farmers. The study also gives an indication of the wide genetic variability of wild material from which superior provenances or individuals can be selected for further improvement of the species.

THE EFFECT OF PLANTING DATE, SET SIZE, AND SPACING ON THE YIELD OF ONION (ALLIUM CEPA) IN BOTSWANA (M.E. Madisa)

THE EFFECT OF PLANTING DATE, SET SIZE, AND SPACING ON THE YIELD OF ONION (ALLIUM CEPA) IN BOTSWANA

Experiments with planting dates and with sets of different sizes were carried out in Botswana in order to increase the yield and to reduce the seasonality of short-day onions. The mid-March planting gave the highest yield of 43.0 t/ha compared with 23.6 t/ha for the February planting and 31.2 t/ha for the April planting. The February planting produced 24% bolting plants, whereas, the March planting gave 7% and the April planting gave no bolters. Although late planting reduced bulb disorders, it also reduced bulb sizes and consequently led to low yield. In an experiment comparing three sizes of onion sets for planting, the optimum size was 0.75–1.0 in. with a yield of 45.4 t/ha. The 0.5–0.75 in. size gave 30.6 t/ha while 1.0–1.25 in. gave 37.6 t/ha. In a spacing trial with cultivars Granex 33 and Texas Grano, the treatments had no effect on yield, but influenced the bulb size.