Meru Universty of Science and Technology International Conference (MUSTIC)

Precision Agriculture Adoption in Smallholder Vegetable Farming Systems in Developing Countries: A Review

Moses Njoka — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Precision Agriculture (PA) technologies have the potential to transform smallholder vegetable farming in developing countries, by improving yields, improving resource use, and enhancing climate change. However, despite these benefits, many farmers have not adopted these technologies. This review examined the main challenges that prevent smallholder vegetable farmers in developing countries from using PA technologies. The study used a systematic approach to analyze 60 peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and case studies published between 2010 and 2025. The review found that several factors limited adoption, including high costs, lack of locally adapted technologies, low digital literacy, weak extension services, and poor policy support. In addition, the results indicate that smallholder farmers also struggle with limited access to modern equipment, financial resources, and training. However, the study found that affordable, simple PA technologies, farmer education and strong collaboration among governments, researchers, and private sectors can improve adoption rates. Practical solutions such as mobile-based advisory services, low-cost soil sensors, and community-based learning programs have shown promising results. For PA to benefit smallholder vegetable farmers, it is crucial to develop policies that support research, provide financial incentives, and strengthen agricultural extension services. This review highlights the need for tailored solutions that fit local conditions and farmers’ needs, ensuring that PA contributes to food security, sustainability, and economic growth in developing countries.

Assessment of nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practice of mothers or caregivers with children under five years and relationship to child nutritional status

Josphat Koech, ERICK AWUOCHE, Alfred Mugambi Mariga — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Malnutrition results from a mismatch between nutrient need and intake such as protein-energy in children in many developing countries. In the entire world, undernutrition is believed to be responsible directly or indirectly for at least two-thirds of deaths in children under the age of five years. Interventions that address child malnutrition are needed and should focus among others on enhancing the knowledge, attitude, and practices of mothers or caregivers of these children. However, nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practices of mothers or caregivers of children are unknown in Meru county. Thus, this study aims to determine mothers' or caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to nutrition and how this affects the nutritional status of their children aged 0-5 years. The study will adopt a cross-sectional analytical study design and will be carried out in four major hospitals in four Sub-counties in Meru County; namely Miathene level four Hospital, Muthara level four hospital, Githongo level four hospital, and Meru teaching and referral hospital in Tigania West, Tigania East, Imenti Central and Imenti North, respectively. Data will be collected by anthropometric measurements and the researcher administered questionnaires and focus group discussions. Anthropometric measurements will be analyzed using WHO anthro which will convert raw anthropometric data into anthropometric indices of WAZ, WHZ, and HAZ and compare them with the WHO reference data. Data collected in the questionnaire will be statistically analyzed for frequency, descriptive statistics, correlation, and chi-square to evaluate associations in SPSS. It is envisaged that data from this study will provide important information especially when designing and implementing malnutrition mitigating initiatives or programs.

The inter-relationships between community-based conservation governance arrangements and lion conservation in Amboseli ecosystem, Kenya

Margaret Muriuki, Jane Mutheu Mutune, Prof. Thuita Thenya — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Livestock predation by lions poses huge costs to the poor, leading to retributive killing. Protective conservation is considered an underlying cause. There is, however, scarcity of literature on the effects of governance arrangements on lion conservation. Using mixed methodology including key informant interviews, focused group discussions, and household surveys, governance capacity of ommunity-based lion conservation in the Amboseli ecosystem was evaluated. The results indicate that the effects of policy arrangement approach variables including discourse, financial capital, natural capital, rules monitoring, on lion conservation are serially mediated by linking capital and congruence. The community lacks financial capital, which they acquire by collaborating with welllinked NGOs. Congruence was a strong positive predictor of lion conservation, indicating the importance of stability in community based conservation (CBC) policy arrangements. Residents of Selengei group ranch had positive perceptions of lion conservation compared to other areas due to the diversity of actors involved. The discourse of coexistence between lions and people is largely shared by NGOs, the state agency, Kenya wildlife service, community leaders and people who benefit most from conservation but not by majority of the community who feel left out in decision making and benefit sharing. Compliance to the rules and natural capital had significant negative relationship with lion conservation. Moreover, natural capital had a significant and negative indirect effect on lion conservation through linking capital and congruence. Communities perceive local-level organizations, which are major links to the larger institutional context to be imposing downward natural resource access restrictions, and rules directly related to lion conservation resulting in negative attitudes toward conservation. Communities should therefore be meaningfully involved in formulation and implementation of rules to increase legitimacy, and control of conservation and its benefits to avoid opportunistic behaviors particularly lion killing. Involvement of diverse actors to inject more resources in CBC is also recommended.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME - 2025

Conference MUSTIC — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The 4th Meru University of Science and Technology International Conference on INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT: Addressing Global Challenges and Sustainable livelihoods
Meru, 25th to 27th June 2025

OUTLINE
KENYA NATIONAL ANTHEM..................................................................... 2
EAST AFRICAN ANTHEM............................................................................ 3
ITALIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM.................................................................... 4
VICE CHANCELLOR’S WELCOME NOTE .................................................... 5
GUEST LIST.................................................................................................... 6
SESSION CHAIRS .......................................................................................... 8
RAPPORTEURS............................................................................................... 9
UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT BOARD..........................................................10
CONFERENCE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE .................................................10
CONFERENCE SUB-THEMES ........................................................................12
PRE-CONFERENCE AND CONFERENCE PROGRAMME SUMMARY............13
PRE-CONFERENCE PROGRAMME (SUMMARY) ...........................................14
PRE-CONFERENCE DETAILED PROGRAMME ...............................................15
AGRICULTURE & PURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES.........................................15
EDUCATION & BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS ..............................................17
HEALTH SCIENCES & NURSING .....................................................................19
ENGINEERING & ICT.........................................................................................22
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME (SUMMARY)......................................................24
CONFERENCE OPENING CEREMONY..............................................................25
PARALLEL SESSIONS .........................................................................................26
THEMES 1 & 2: AGRICULTURE & PURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES..................26
THEMES 3 & 4: BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS & EDUCATION ........................29
THEMES 5 & 6: NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES...............................................32
THEMES 7 & 8: ENGINEERING & ICT.................................................................35
THEME 9: PRECISION AGRICULTURE................................................................38

VICE CHANCELLOR’S WELCOME NOTE

Prof. Romanus Odhiambo, Ph.D. — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Ladies and gentlemen,
Warm Greetings and Shared Purpose
To our distinguished guests, researchers, faculty, students, community partners, and champions of progress: a heartfelt
welcome to MUSTIC 2025. It is an honor to open this pivotal gathering, where brilliant minds unite under a theme that defines
our mission: Innovative Research for Community Empowerment. This is not merely a slogan it is our shared commitment to
ensuring knowledge transcends academia and becomes a catalyst for tangible, grassroots transformation. Your presence reaffirms our collective resolve to place communities at the heart of discovery.

The Imperative of Empowerment-Driven Innovation
True innovation demands more than technical novelty; it requires purpose. Our theme challenges us to direct creativity and rigor toward solving real-world struggles health inequities, economic fragility, climate vulnerability, and digital exclusion. Empowerment is not charity; it is the co-creation of tools, agency, and resilience with communities, enabling them to shape their own futures. Research must be rooted in deep listening, cultural humility, and collaboration. In an era of complex global challenges,
this community-centered approach is not just relevant—it is urgent.

MUSTIC 2025: A Crucible for Change
This conference is designed as a dynamic platform for this vital work. Through pioneering research showcases, panels with community leaders, and interactive workshops, we will explore how interdisciplinary innovation spanning technology, social sciences, environment, and humanities drives measurable empowerment. MUSTIC 2025 is more than a forum: it is a launchpad for partnerships that translate ideas into scalable, sustainable action. Here, academia and community wisdom converge to ignite solutions that uplift.

Our Call to Collective Action
As we begin, I urge every participant: engage boldly. Listen intently to community voices. Seek unconventional collaborations. Ask not only “Is this research novel?” but “Who does this empower, and how?” Together, let’s design research that transforms lives and places agency where it belongs—within communities. The potential here is profound. I am confident that MUSTIC 2025 will spark connections, ideas, and actions that build empowered, resilient futures.

Prof. Romanus Odhiambo, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor
Meru University of Science and Technology