Blog

Dr. Peter Onauphoo Siyao has set a record to be the first PhD graduate at the Department of Information and Records Studies (DIRS) after his successful PhD public defence on 15 April 2021. Dr. Siyao (BA Hons, MA- LIS UDSM & PhD SUA) is an Academic Librarian at Mzumbe University since 2006. He registered for PhD programme at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in the Department of Information and Records Studies of Sokoine National Agricultural Library in December 2015.

Thesis Title: Role of newspapers in the dissemination of climate change information in Tanzania

Dr. Peter Siyao during his public defence

Dr. Siyao discovered a low contribution of newspapers in the dissemination of climate change information in Tanzania, despite the media having a high ability in providing detailed developmental information such as climate change issues to the community for awareness creation. During the period of study, Dr. Siyao managed to publish four research articles in peer-reviewed and internationally recognized journals. The first article analysed the level of attention given to climate change information by Tanzanian newspapers. It was found that little was reported on climate change issues in comparison with other topics such as politics, sensational issues, crimes and advertisements. The second article focused on the priority given to climate change information by the local Tanzanian newspapers which turned out to be very low.

The third published article assessed the sources of climate change information used by newspaper journalists in Tanzania. In this article, it was found that 64 per cent of climate change experts and 34.1 per cent of daily events such as community meetings and other social gatherings were the main sources of climate change information consulted by newspaper journalists in Tanzania. These sources are interactive – enabling journalists to obtain climate change information – and easily accessible, and use and provide instant responses. It was also reported that newspapers encounter a number of challenges in acquiring climate change information in Tanzania. The fourth article assessed the use of newspapers by peri-urban newspaper readers in accessing climate change information.  The findings show that newspapers (65%) are important sources used by peri-urban newspaper readers to access climate change information.

Dr. Siyao successfully defended his PhD thesis in the viva voce held on 15 April 2021 after A panel of five scholars was satisfied with his work. Dr. Siyao was supervised by Prof. Alfred Sife who is currently a Vice-Chancellor at Moshi Cooperative University (MoCU) and assisted by  Dr. Wulstan Mtega.(Head department of Informatics and Information Technology)

Dr. Siyao celebrating his success with his wife Victoria Siyao and Son Brian Siyao

As it was announced in the past few weeks, Sokoine University of Agriculture received support for subscription to the ScienceDirect [Elsevier database] through the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) which is coordinated by Prof. Gerald Misinzo at SUA. The ScienceDirect [with 186 full-text journals] is among very high profile Databases offered by Elsevier.

Sokoine National Agricultural Library (SNAL) has now made this available in the list of subscribed e-resources for use by its community members. Remember, you can only access this through SUA Local Area Network (when you are connected to SUA internet service). 

To get the list of journals that you can access through ScienceDirect click HERE

The Sokoine University of Agriculture has received support for subscription to the ScienceDirect [Elsevier database] through the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) which is coordinated by Prof. Gerald Misinzo at SUA. The Science Direct [with 186 full-text journals] is among very high profile Databases offered by Elsevier.

Sokoine National Agricultural Library (SNAL) is arranging with the publisher in question to get access credentials [to be shared soon] so that the SUA community start benefiting from the database in question.

To get the list of journals that will be made accessible to SUA through Science Direct click HERE

Department of Information and Records Studies (DIRS) invites applications for admission into Master by Research and Thesis in Information and Communication Science and Master by Research and Thesis in Records and Archives Management. 

How to apply

Eligible applicants are required to complete the online admission through this link: Online Application (Postgraduate)

Deadline for applications

Applications for the two courses have no fixed deadlines (apply at any time)

For more information on non-degree and degree programmes offered by DIRS please visit: https://www.lib.sua.ac.tz/dirs/index.php/courses

Mkulima Collection is part of the agricultural information services provided to the general public (farmers in particular) by Sokoine National Agricultural Library (SNAL) which is found at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA).

The Collection was established in 2016 and comprised of hard copies held in the library building (Edward Moringe Campus) and electronic collection of publications accessed at https://www.lib.sua.ac.tz/mkulima/. The aim of this collection is to cater to the information needs of the farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector within and outside the country.

Part of Mkulima Collection (print collection) held at SNAL building

SNAL has two roles, first, is to serve as a university library thus, serving the academic community information needs which support teaching, learning, research and consultancy. Secondly, is to serve as a national agricultural library by an Act of parliament no. 21 of 1991 which gives the mandate to provide agricultural information services to farmers community in the country.

Documents that form Mkulima Collection highly result from the research projects conducted by SUA researchers and discipline-specific professionals.  The documents are written in a simple and direct language which allows an average literate farmer to access and use the information presented. Mkulima Collection has been an important tool of information to farmers of all types of crops and livestock keepers in the country. Information acquired in this collection is to broaden farmers’ understanding of various agricultural activities, get updated knowledge and direct solutions to the problems encountered in their field of production.

The collection is mainly made up of the documents in the Swahili language; however, there are some publications in the English language. So far, the online collection has almost 600 documents in different agricultural fields which can freely be accessed and downloaded for use by farmers.

Document acquisitions in Mkulima Collection highly depend upon voluntary contribution by researchers and experts.  Therefore, SNAL encourages researchers and experts from and outside SUA to voluntarily deposit their research and project write-ups for effective communication of new innovations and updated information to farmers. The writing should be tailored for use by an average literate farmer, unlike the current trend which mostly favours academic and research activities.

Mkulima Collection (digital collection) accessed on the website

SNAL call upon researchers and experts to leave a legacy in the agricultural sector in the country by voluntarily sharing their professional knowledge through publications deposited in Mkulima Collection. The knowledge shared through publications in Mkulima Collection has a significant contribution to the improved production, quality of the production and increased income of majority farmers in the country.

Mkulima Collection has been participating into various agricultural outreach and exhibitions services such as Nane Nane, Sabasaba, Sokoine Memorial Week and research stations as a means of marketing and creating awareness to the general public and agriculture stakeholders.

SNAL management is also working out to develop a Mobile App for Mkulima Collection in a near future. This is to improve access as farmers can either use the Mobile App or access the collection via Mkulima Collection webpage (as it is right now).