Patroba Bwire Masatu

Patroba Bwire Masatu

 

My name is Patroba Bwire Masatu (34 years old), I hold a BSc. Agriculture General (2010-2013) and MSc. Crop Science majoring in crop protection (2017) both from Sokoine University of Agriculture Morogoro (SUA), Tanzania. Currently I’m a third year PhD- student at Sokoine University of Agriculture Morogoro, Tanzania.

My PhD research deals with the development and testing of an agroecological approach to management of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) infesting cucurbit crops in Morogoro region in Tanzania. The main objective is to enhance the sustainable production of cucurbit crops in the region. This research is supervised by Dr. Abdul B. Kudra (SUA) and Dr. Jean-Philippe Deguine (CIRAD).                                    

Specific Objectives of my research are:

  1. To determine the Circadian rhythms of cucurbit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in cucurbit crops.
  2. To compare the effects of selected agroecological and conventional practices on management of fruit flies (Diptera:Tephritidae) in cucurbit crops.
  3. To determine the effects of selected agroecological and conventional practices on species diversity of beneficial insects in areas under cucurbit production.
  4. To evaluate the cost-benefit analysis between agroecological and conventional practices in cucurbit crops producing areas.

The research study is financed by the support of the Belgian Development Cooperation, through the framework agreement with the Royal Museum for Central Africa, to the AGROVEG project. The field research activities commenced in 2020 and is expected to end in 2023.