Traditional biomass utilization is connected with negative environmental and human health impacts. However, its transition to cleaner cooking fuels is still low where the household’s fuels preferences play an important role in the process. To examine the factors that influence the household’s cooking fuel choice in Northern Sudan, a multinomial logit model (MNL) was used to analyze data collected from Kassala state in two selected districts, New Halfa and Nahr Atabara. The findings show that the most utilized fuels are still firewood and charcoal, which are used by 63.4% of all respondents. The results also revealed that socioeconomic factors have an impact on household fuel choice, where one additional unit of credit access may boost the possibility of choosing LPG by 22.7%. Furthermore, one additional level of education would reduce 5.4% of charcoal users while simultaneously raising 10% of current liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) users. Therefore, the study suggests initiating mobilization and training programs to raise awareness and encourage the usage of cleaner fuels. This study will provide policymakers with information on household cooking energy utilization while designing and developing policies related to energy. It will also contribute to the expanding body of literature concerning the transition to clean cooking fuels from traditional biomass.

Dairy cooperatives should have a significant impact in the future in terms of regenerating rural life. The pressing need in the Cooperative sector in the era of liberalized environments is to seize every opportunity available for the country. Diary co-operatives mainly from cattle production played a vital role in our country’s economy in the previous era and will do so in years to come. This study aims to assess the impact of dairy cooperatives on milk producers’ revenues in the Gicumbi district of Rwanda. The total sample involved in this research was 974, from four cow milk producers, namely Bukure MCC-Cooperative d’Elevage Moderne de Bukure (COOPEMOBU), Koperative Zamuka Mworozi (KOZAMGI) and Borozi Twisungane Kabuga-Nyamiyaga and Giramata, which form the cooperative union of Ihuza Aborozi ba Kijyambere Bafatanyinje (IAKIB). The total sample size to be taken from three cooperatives and other recorded local farmers supplying their milk to the nearest Milk Collection Centres, as preselected, is 260 milk producers, including 187 participants and 73 non-participants of dairy cooperatives. The study used a descriptive survey design, encompassing three cooperatives and other dairy producers not members of cooperatives from Gicumbi district. Descriptive statistics, t-test, Standard Deviation, means, frequency and percentages, as well as a Propensity Score Matching model were used to analyse the results of the study. The study findings show that the average total gross revenue was 551,113 Rwandan francs for these farmers, while the mean difference between dairy cooperative participants and non-participants ranged from 50,146 Rwandan francs to 168,145 Rwandan francs as program impact. This is an indication that participants in dairy cooperatives gain more compared to their factual group. The study recommends that small holder dairy producers should be supported to enable them to produce surplus milk for markets and reduce local milking cow numbers by replacing them with crossbred cows. It is recommended that governments should also strengthen milk processing cooperatives and improve their infrastructure facilities to reduce the transportation cost for small-scale dairy producers.

Agricultural swamps are among the major fruitful and exposed to heavy metals deposition and contributes to ecological concerns. Heavy metals are mainly pollutants to deteriorate water quality and affect plant health through leaching and seepage process from industrial services, anthropogenic activities, erosion and mining activities. The study aimed to assess heavy metals, water quality and their effect on plant growth along Kanzenze Swamp of the Akagera Upper Catchment. The total of Sixteen chemical parameters of water including Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, pH, Electrical Conductivity, Sodium Adsorption Ratio, Magnesium hazards, Kelly Index and Soluble Sodium Percent were analyzed and observed values were thereafter compared with international standards values recommended by Food and Agriculture Organization. Photometric methods and Atomic Adsorption Spectrometer machines were used to detect the heavy metals while analytical. Descriptive analysis and Principal Components Analysis techniques were used to correlate water quality parameters for similarities and dissimilarities through cluster analysis. All statistical analysis were performed by using Statistical Package for Social Science version 22.0. The study findings shows that most water use for irrigation is polluted by heavy metals with maximum values compared to Rwanda national and international permissible standards for irrigation. The heavy metals with highest content included Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper, Manganese, Cadmium and Chromium. Hence farmers relaying on this water may be disposed to health hazards issues and other environmental concerns. Therefore some effective measures like water treatments are compulsory vital needed to boost the quality of water for irrigation purpose.

No abstract