Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Practices in ... - Horizont3000

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Table of Contents: 1 CONTEXT .................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 NATIONAL CONTEXT ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 LOCAL CONTEXT ............................................................................................................................ 3 1.3 SECTOR, AREA OF WORK .................................................................................................................. 4 1.4 INSTITUTION CONTEXT .................................................................................................................... 4 1.5 PARTICIPANTS OF THE SYSTEMATISATION EXPERIENCE ........................................................................... 5 1.5.1 Caritas MADDO Team ....................................................................................................... 5 1.5.2 Project beneficiaries.......................................................................................................... 5 1.6 THE THEORETICAL APPROACH ........................................................................................................... 5 1.6.1 Integrated programme approach ..................................................................................... 5 1.6.2 Sustainable agriculture ..................................................................................................... 5 1.6.3 Methodology .................................................................................................................... 6 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS ................................................................................................... 7 3 ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................................. 10 3.1 LESSONS LEARNT ......................................................................................................................... 10 3.1.1 Labour pooling and working together ............................................................................ 10 3.1.2 Selection of lead farmers ................................................................................................ 11 3.1.3 Setting standards for everyone to follow ........................................................................ 11 3.1.4 Competition within the groups ....................................................................................... 12 3.1.5 Training before input support ......................................................................................... 12 3.1.6 Use of farmer trainees before electing and training CBEAs ............................................ 12 3.1.7 Democratic election of CBEAs ......................................................................................... 13 3.1.8 Extension and facilitation skills of the WASIP team ........................................................ 13 3.1.9 Use of experienced farmers to mentor groups of the WASIP project ............................. 13 3.1.10 Group strengthening, including formation of by-laws and leadership ........................... 14 3.2 RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................................... 14 2
1 Context 1.1 National Context Uganda‟s economy performed remarkably well from independence in 1962 up to 1970. Between 1970 and 1985 the country experienced both economic and political instability; however, the situation changed after 1986. Since then the country has experienced relative political stability and satisfactory economic progress evidenced by among many things, the significant increase in both foreign and local investment flows into the economy (National Development Plan 2010/11-2014/15). Agriculture remains the most important sector of Uganda‟s economy with the majority of Ugandans deriving their livelihood from it. Despite the importance of the agriculture sector to the economy, its performance has not been impressive since 1997. Statistics by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) indicate a decline in the sectors growth since 2000/01, with the sectors contribution to the GDP declining from 50% in early 1990s to 23.7% in 2008/09 especially in the crop, livestock as well as fisheries sub-sectors. Reasons for the decline in crop production are attributed to limited extension services and inadequate funding of the sector, declining prices, lack of transport and equipments, and negative attitude of farmers towards change in farming practices. In the face of inadequate provision of agriculture extension services to communities, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industries and Fisheries (MAAIF) designed farmer-led agricultural extension strategies that hinge on private sector involvement in service provision. Although, the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) was established as one of the main pillars of the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA) to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of agriculture extension services and boost agriculture production and productivity, the implementation of these programmes have remained a challenge. Additionally, the growth in Information Communication Technology (ICT), along with the dynamic consumer markets, has improved accessibility to information by the rural farmers. 1.2 Local Context Rakai district is located in the central part of Uganda. It has a total area of 4,973 square kilometers, of which land area is 3,889 and a total population of 383,501, with an average number of 7 persons per household. Since the insurgency from the 1979 war that ousted President Idi Amin, this region has enjoyed peace and stability, with a favourable environment that has enabled people to actively participate in the WASIP project. However, the District is one of the most hit by HIV/AIDS in Masaka Diocese, which effects burden the rural households today. The rainfall distribution for Rakai has been known to range between 1000–1500mm per year; distributed between two rainy seasons, March to May and September to November. Temperature ranges between 22 0 C – 30 0 C. However, that effect of climate change is evident in the district with some seasons experiencing longer drought, and generally the climate condition becoming unpredictable. This has in some instances negatively affected agriculture production and productivity. The district has passable access roads, although some roads are inaccessible during rainy seasons. The soils are sandy loam in the sub counties of Lwanda, and Nabigasa and turn clayey and stony towards Dwaniro sub-county. Although suitable for crop production, much of soil has been over utilized leading to low production. In Rakai district, crop farming is the major economic activity, engaging 83.3 % of the land. Coffee and bananas are the main cash crops in the district. Other seasonal crops grown 3
Page 1: Systematisation of Experiences “A
Page 5 and 6: 1.5 Participants of the systematisa
Page 7 and 8: 2 Description of the process The se
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Page 11 and 12: farmers in the group to benefit fro
Page 13 and 14: 3.1.7 Democratic election of CBEAs
Page 15: led to closer farmer-to-farmer shar

Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Practices in ... - Horizont3000

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