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

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these woodlots. However, in most cases a balanced approach is most successful. For instance, an early attempt to work exclusively with a women’s group on agroforestry in Kabale was not successful until the group was reformulated as the 2-Wings group which included men. • No major changes in farmers’ practices Replacing a variety with a new one that does not require any other changes in the farming practice makes adopting relatively easy. There are a number of examples where new varieties spread from farmers to farmers without significant external effort when varieties are easy to multiply and clearly superior to the traditional varieties. On the other hand, new enterprises that require a major change in farming practices must be accompanied by training and technical support. Ideally, new technologies should be build upon existing farming practices (supporting or complementing them). • Intensive extension effort More intensive extension efforts are usually required to introduce new innovations that need significant new areas of knowledge and changes in farming practices. Most innovations in Natural Resources Management as well as changes in land-use systems fall under this category. To overcome initial resilience and to build knowledge and confidence intensive and longer-term efforts are required. Demand driven technologies sometimes may make extension service self supporting in sense that farmers are willing to pay for services. • Contract farming Contract farming, providing inputs on credit and a guaranteed market are very attractive to smallholder farmers. Success cases at hand are: smallholder tea producers in Bushenyi or cotton farmers in Kasese. The pyrethrum contract farming in Kabale is less successful, probably because the income from the labour - intensive work is not very attractive. • Subsidy Clonal robusta coffee seedlings and arabica coffee seedlings are currently distributed in many areas free of costs. Some other agricultural inputs are distributed free of charge by departments and NGOs. This is highly appreciated by farmers and leads to rapid adoption. It entices farmers to invest in areas they previously may not have liked to invest in. Although most subsidies are on non - edible cash crops, they may have an impact on food security as well, since farmers may use the income to buy inputs for food crops or buy food directly. An important question however is whether subsidies do not in the medium - term discourage farmers own initiatives and the development of undisturbed markets for agricultural products or inputs. 5.2.3 Opportunities for providing appropriate intensification options to farmers in SW Uganda The survey found a number of opportunities in SW Uganda that support the intensification of farming in the area, such as: • Priority areas under the PMA The southwestern highlands are a priority area in the PMA for cotton, coffee, tea, horticulture, potato, livestock and fish. These commodities have improved funding to support research and dissemination efforts. The marketing issues are also being handled and hence these commodities have better opportunities. 60
• Local leaders and farmers are aware of their problems. Discussions with farmers and local leaders as well as key documents at the districts (District Environmental Action Plans, District Development Plans) had clear evidence that key problems in the areas have been identified. Clusters of problems were: a) Lack of markets, low prices; b) Environmental degradation, declining soil fertility c) Few improved agricultural production technologies being adopted Farmers are open to new approaches and technologies. Local leaders are ready to invest time and local resources to improve farming and natural resources in their areas. • Improved technologies available At research stations in Uganda and in East Africa a range of technologies are available to improve highland farming. The urgent need in Uganda is for multilocational, adaptive and participatory on-farm research to test and adapt the innovations with full farmers involvement. Without this component, only a fraction of the potential benefit from agricultural research is achieved. • Suitable approaches available After nearly two decades of development, a wide range of participatory research and development tools are available and well tested. While all organizations in SW Uganda would claim to conduct their work in a participatory manner, there appears to be a strong need to go beyond the semantics. As indicated earlier, Uganda didn’t play a significant role in the development and institutionalization of these methods in the late 70s and early 80s. Not more workshops on participatory methods but practical field training and experimentation with participatory planning, research and extension methods are required. Experienced practitioners of truly participatory methods work in Uganda and in the region and could lead a practical training and field experimentation programme in participatory methods. • Institutions available Uganda has in place a good set of development policies and corresponding institutions that are well placed to support intensification of agriculture in SW Uganda. a) ARDC, NAADS, NGOs NARO’s new strategy acknowledges the need for decentralized research services and for a research – development continuum. To support the strategy, 12 Agricultural Research and Development Centres (ARDC) have been established. Their mandate is to prioritize agricultural research and development needs, conduct adaptive research, multiply seed and provide demonstration and extension support. The ARDCs work in close partnership with other institutions supporting agriculture in the region. Unfortunately only Kachwekano ARDC (in Kabale district) covers the highland areas of the southwest. The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) are also based on a decentralized approach within which subcounties play the important role of identifying needs and requesting for advisory services. The level of NGO support to rural development varies widely within SW Uganda with Kabale and Kisoro Districts having a high coverage with NGO programmes while Bushenyi District has hardly any NGO support for its rural development programme. Coordination of the activities of the players and a broad sense of common goals and approaches are important but often not easy to achieve. Local government and the ARDC are well placed to support the coordination of the activities in their areas. 61
Page 1 and 2:
REPORT ON A SURVEY TO IDENTIFY SUIT
Page 3 and 4:
TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page 5 and 6:
LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1: Area and
Page 7 and 8:
1. Introduction 1.1 Background USAI
Page 9 and 10:
the intensification of agriculture.
Page 11 and 12:
development options to support deve
Page 13 and 14:
20: Rwenzori Footslopes and Fort Po
Page 15 and 16: Wood products from forests, plantat
Page 17 and 18: Table 2.3: Food crops in Southweste
Page 19 and 20: The intensity of agricultural exten
Page 21 and 22: years, reported by Bolwig et. al (2
Page 23 and 24: movements as other areas. This may
Page 25 and 26: matoke, for instance. Aside from su
Page 27 and 28: o Input availability, costs and kno
Page 29 and 30: ange of niches for production of co
Page 31 and 32: Description is a brief description
Page 33 and 34: personnel, and farmers. Data on mar
Page 35 and 36: Enhanced productivity Quantity Qual
Page 37 and 38: Cash inputs required Land inputs re
Page 39 and 40: 4. Technology inventory To generate
Page 41 and 42: Table 4.2: Annual crops in SW Ugand
Page 43 and 44: Improved maize varieties are availa
Page 45 and 46: African Growth and Opportunities Ac
Page 47 and 48: Coffee (arabica) This crop thrives
Page 49 and 50: o Citrus: can best be grown at alti
Page 51 and 52: A major problem is lack of continuo
Page 53 and 54: o Many interventions in natural res
Page 55 and 56: in the southwest, but it is used pr
Page 57 and 58: Description Technology Environmenta
Page 59 and 60: Description 1. Contour hedgerows Te
Page 61 and 62: Description Wetland farming Farm wo
Page 63 and 64: delineate areas where new technolog
Page 65: Overall, there is little scope for
Page 69 and 70: 5.2.4 What next ? To make options f
Page 71 and 72: These biological conservation measu
Page 73 and 74: We did observe examples of these du
Page 75 and 76: • Dual-purpose goats (produce mil
Page 77 and 78: ulking and distribution while with
Page 79: NARO 2001: Scientific Conference
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