Technologies for intensification in SW Uganda ... - Foodnet - cgiar

a) An analysis/synthesis of the key environmental and socio-economic problems for the
SW, both at household/farm scale and at village/catchment scale. This information is
required in order to be able to identify “win-win” technologies – that is for what
problems are we seeking “winners”. For example, a practice might contribute to soil
fertility improvement but not to soil erosion prevention.
b) Key conditioning factors for agriculture in the SW. For instance, most of the SW has
similar small farm holdings. But in some places the extent and severity of land
fragmentation is much greater than in others. Such types of differences will have a
bearing on what technologies/practices are feasible or desirable for areas within the
SW. The conditioning factors will also guide extrapolation from SW to other parts of
Uganda.
c) Finally, it is important to characterize common farming enterprises and practices so
that there is a baseline from which one may evaluate the potential success of new
techniques and practices.
1.3 Implementation of the study
The leader of ICRAF’s programme 1 ‘Natural Resource Problems, Priorities and Policies’
assigned core responsibilities for this study to a survey team of 4 scientists:
Dr. F. Place (Economist, ICRAF)
Mr. T. Raussen (Agronomist, consultant, former ICRAF scientist in Uganda)
Mr. W. Bamwerinde (Forester, Economist, NARO - FORRI)
Mr. F. Alacho (Agronomist, NARO Secretariat [outreach])
Other ICRAF and NARO scientists assisted in various aspects of the study. The study was
implemented between November 2001 and February 2002. Activities included:
Review of relevant literature.
Discussions with specialists for the various commodities to reveal recent developments
in science and development work.
Visits to the 7 districts of southwestern Uganda: Kasese, Bushenyi, Ntungamo,
Rukungiri, Kanungu, Kabale and Kisoro. During these visits, discussions were held
with district officials, NGO representatives and farmers. Relevant literature and
statistics were collected and field visits conducted.
Compilation of district profiles, covering aspects of demography, farming, technology,
and natural resources, which formed the basis of the assessments.
A midterm briefing / discussion at the USAID mission in Kampala that was attended
by various stakeholders who contributed and commented on the preliminary results.
Assessments of the technologies regarding their potential productivity gains, welfare
implications, environmental impacts and recommendation domains.
Compilation of the report.
1.4 Outline of report
Chapter 2 describes the farming systems of SW Uganda, including the biophysical and
socioeconomic constraints and potentials. Appendix 1 contains the companion District Profiles.
Chapter 3 introduces and discusses the assessment framework that is used in the study. Chapter 4
applies the assessment framework to major promising technologies in the SW. This provides
detailed recommendations on the suitability of agricultural and natural resources-based