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

Cotton (in Kasese) and coffee (except in Kabale and Kisoro) are important cash crops. Tea is of
significant importance in Bushenyi and Rukungiri. Where tea is grown on smallholder farms, it
offers a regular (monthly) income while tea plantations also provide employment. In addition, tea
factories buy firewood and offer markets for woodlot owners.
Livestock plays an integral part in all farming systems. Most households own some small
ruminants and poultry. Rabbit keeping is common in some areas and seen as an activity for the
youth. Cattle keeping varies greatly between areas, where the largest numbers are found in the
drier areas of Bushenyi and Ntungamo Districts. Dairy farming is an important feature although
the recently low farmgate prices of well below 200 U Shs per liter have frustrated farmers. Still,
dairy and tea growing appear to be the only enterprises with a relatively regular, monthly income.
In all districts, milk collection points were available, although the number and availability of
coolers varied, i.e. moderately high in Bushenyi but low in Kisoro. Bee keeping is an increasingly
important activity and there are encouraging initiatives of local processing and joint marketing.
Remnants of silk production initiatives are found at a number of sites, but interest in this
enterprise is rather low and successes are rare.
While fish catch in the natural lakes is reported to have decreased dramatically (i.e. in Kasese
District from 13,000 t [1978] to 2,200 t year -1 [1994]), fishponds have gained importance.
However, (re)stocking is a major concern as fingerlings are not readily available. Informal
exchange or sale of fingerlings between farmers is functional in some areas and is an attractive
income source (100 U Shs per fingerling).
Table 2.4: Livestock numbers in 7 districts of southwestern Uganda. Source: district profiles (6.1)
Livestock production by District
Kisoro Kabale Rukungiri /
Kanungu
Ntungamo Bushenyi Kasese Total numbers
Cattle 27193 69000 73000 183791 173756 49580 576.320
Goats 45210 194688 112000 20660 64227 10500 447.285
Sheep 25100 51610 28000 5460 22495 600 133.265
Pigs 7100 6000 4500 350 6306 1500 25.756
Poultry 510000 500000 290000 30890 15088 62000
(exotic) (exotic)
1.407.978
Fishponds 102 236 211 68 544
(351 farmers)
436
1.597
Rabbits 3000 Ms Ms MS Ms MS 3.000
Bee keeping 2500 hives Ms 6494 hives 1465 hives
Ms
145 beekeepers
On 850 farms
Silk farming Ms Ms MS 12 units On 80 farms Ms
Lw = low; Ms = missing; Nn= none / negliable; Sources: District Development Plans;
personal comm.. with District Technical staff.
Farmers depend mainly on rainfed agriculture. However, there are two alternative options in the
region. The first is the relatively abundant wetland resources that dissect the many mountain and
hill ridges. Before the 1960’s, very few wetlands were used for cultivation. Since then a large
proportion of wetland area has been converted to agriculture. Among the earlier conversions,
were several wealthy farmers who established medium to large scale dairy enterprises. Now,
many smallholders also have claimed, appropriated, or have purchased wetland plots for intensive
cultivation. In most of the cultivated wetland areas, some investment in irrigation can also be
found – mainly in form of canals. Outside of the wetlands, there is hardly any other investment in
irrigation, but a major scheme in the lower elevation of Kasese District is an exception. There,
horticultural crops and dairy farming are the key enterprises, with some commodities being
exported to Europe (chillies).
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