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

2. Agroecological Zones of Southwestern Uganda
2.1 Agroecological zones of southwestern Uganda
Southwestern Uganda is home to over 3
million people living on about 14,500
km 2 of land, leading to an average
population density of 287 people km -2
(see table 2.1). As mentioned in the first
chapter, the densely populated area with
bimodal rainfall, relatively fertile soil
and in general moderate to good access
to markets is well suited for
intensification of all farming enterprises
with only few potential conflict “hot
spots” with protected areas.
Uganda’s southwest exhibits a good
number of common features: bimodal
rainfall, hilly terrain, relatively
productive soils, moderate to high
Table 2.1: Area and population data of southwestern
Districts
Uganda
total
area
[sqkm]
settled
area *
[sqkm]
total estim.
population
by 2001
population
density
Kisoro 730 702 260,000 370
Kabale 1,827 1,779 642,000 361
Rukungiri /
Kanungu
2,752 2,583 584,000 226
Ntungamo 2,055 2,012 417,000 207
Bushenyi 4,026 3,656 805,000 220
Kasese 3,206 1,207 409,500 339
Total 14,596 11,939 3,117,500
Average 287.3
* = total area – National Parks - Lakes
population density etc. However, local climate, soil and terrain interacted with farmers’
traditions, preferences and markets, results in varied agricultural systems and land-use practices
(Wortmann and Eledu 1999).
Aggregation of these farming systems can be conducted at various scales. At national level,
NARO bases its agricultural research and development work on 12 zones for the whole country of
which 3 are present in the southwest: the southern and western highlands and the southern
lowlands. The areas suitable for intensification are however the highland areas.
For this study in the southwest of Uganda we found the farming systems delineation (33 for
Uganda) described by Wortmann and Eledu (1999) particularly useful. A summarized description
of the systems in the southwest is found in figure 2.1. Wortmann and Eledu considered three
climatic variables, six soil variables, two population variables, four land-use types and ten food
crops for the delineation. For planners with district-level responsibilities, this aggregation is still
too coarse and various forms of district farming system maps were found or easily produced by
the district extension staff. Two examples are presented in figure 2.2.
The southwest of Uganda is characterized by the Kigezi and Rwenzori mountain ranges separated
by the Western Rift Valley. From the north to the south, average altitude increases from 1235
m.a.sl. to 2169 m.a.sl., which influences temperature and rainfall regimes.
Most land in southwestern Uganda is under household control (save for large portions of wetlands
and some hilltops) and 80-90% is permanently held (the rest are seasonal rentals). Average farm
sizes are from 1 to 2 hectares with half of the permanent plots being purchased and half being
inherited (Bamwerinde and Place, 2000). A key feature is that households have many scattered
plots throughout the landscape, averaging 8-10 in Kabale District. Rights are mainly with men,
though some women buy land.