a) An analysis/synthesis of the key environmental and socio-economic problems <strong>for</strong> the <strong>SW</strong>, both at household/farm scale and at village/catchment scale. This <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation is required <strong>in</strong> order to be able to identify “w<strong>in</strong>-w<strong>in</strong>” technologies – that is <strong>for</strong> what problems are we seek<strong>in</strong>g “w<strong>in</strong>ners”. For example, a practice might contribute to soil fertility improvement but not to soil erosion prevention. b) Key condition<strong>in</strong>g factors <strong>for</strong> agriculture <strong>in</strong> the <strong>SW</strong>. For <strong>in</strong>stance, most of the <strong>SW</strong> has similar small farm hold<strong>in</strong>gs. But <strong>in</strong> some places the extent and severity of land fragmentation is much greater than <strong>in</strong> others. Such types of differences will have a bear<strong>in</strong>g on what technologies/practices are feasible or desirable <strong>for</strong> areas with<strong>in</strong> the <strong>SW</strong>. The condition<strong>in</strong>g factors will also guide extrapolation from <strong>SW</strong> to other parts of <strong>Uganda</strong>. c) F<strong>in</strong>ally, it is important to characterize common farm<strong>in</strong>g enterprises and practices so that there is a basel<strong>in</strong>e 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 <strong>for</strong> this study to a survey team of 4 scientists: Dr. F. Place (Economist, ICRAF) Mr. T. Raussen (Agronomist, consultant, <strong>for</strong>mer ICRAF scientist <strong>in</strong> <strong>Uganda</strong>) Mr. W. Bamwer<strong>in</strong>de (Forester, Economist, NARO - FORRI) Mr. F. Alacho (Agronomist, NARO Secretariat [outreach]) Other ICRAF and NARO scientists assisted <strong>in</strong> various aspects of the study. The study was implemented between November 2001 and February 2002. Activities <strong>in</strong>cluded: Review of relevant literature. Discussions with specialists <strong>for</strong> the various commodities to reveal recent developments <strong>in</strong> science and development work. Visits to the 7 districts of southwestern <strong>Uganda</strong>: Kasese, Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Kanungu, Kabale and Kisoro. Dur<strong>in</strong>g 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, cover<strong>in</strong>g aspects of demography, farm<strong>in</strong>g, technology, and natural resources, which <strong>for</strong>med the basis of the assessments. A midterm brief<strong>in</strong>g / discussion at the USAID mission <strong>in</strong> Kampala that was attended by various stakeholders who contributed and commented on the prelim<strong>in</strong>ary results. Assessments of the technologies regard<strong>in</strong>g their potential productivity ga<strong>in</strong>s, welfare implications, environmental impacts and recommendation doma<strong>in</strong>s. Compilation of the report. 1.4 Outl<strong>in</strong>e of report Chapter 2 describes the farm<strong>in</strong>g systems of <strong>SW</strong> <strong>Uganda</strong>, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the biophysical and socioeconomic constra<strong>in</strong>ts and potentials. Appendix 1 conta<strong>in</strong>s the companion District Profiles. Chapter 3 <strong>in</strong>troduces and discusses the assessment framework that is used <strong>in</strong> the study. Chapter 4 applies the assessment framework to major promis<strong>in</strong>g technologies <strong>in</strong> the <strong>SW</strong>. This provides detailed recommendations on the suitability of agricultural and natural resources-based
development options to support development towards rural sector growth. This is complemented by a more comprehensive and systematic treatment <strong>in</strong> Appendix 2. F<strong>in</strong>ally, chapter 5 provides a summary of the usefulness of the framework and our technology assessments, which lead to detailed recommendations on potential w<strong>in</strong>-w<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>terventions..
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