49 research outputs found
Networks among agricultural stakeholders in the southwestern highlands of Uganda
The aim of this study was to explore the interactions that exist among agricultural stakeholders in the southwestern highlands of Uganda as a way of identifying opportunities and gaps for operation of Innovation Platforms (IPs) under the proof of concept of Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) research project. The specific objectives were to (i) characterize the agricultural stakeholders in the study sites (ii) determine the nature, diversity and relative importance of horizontal and vertical networks that exist among stakeholders in the Southwestern Highlands of Uganda. Data were collected from both stakeholder analysis and household interviews in Kabale and Kisoro Districts. Results show that extension staff, local governments and farmer groups accounted for approximately 75% of all categories of stakeholders in the area. Most of these organizations started after 10 to 15 years ago following the return of relative political stability in Uganda. Generally, stakeholder interactions in site with limited ARD intervention are more limited compared to their high-intervention counterparts. Sites with “good” market access have more institutions operating there but majority are isolated from each other. At household level, an individual household has networks with approximately two different organizations most of which are farmer groups or credit associations. The greatest proportion of horizontal networks that a household has is with fellow farmers. In order to make the value chain complete, establishment of IPs should pay special attention to including the private sector such as input and produce dealers. Facilitating IP actors to identify critical challenges and opportunities, and effectively articulate them will ensure cohesion. It is also critical to periodically monitor and evaluate stakeholders in terms of the quality of the networks to minimize conflict situations
Dynamics of forest cover conversion in and around Bwindi impenetrable forest, Southwestern Uganda
Forest cover has been converted to agricultural land use in and around
the protected areas of Uganda. The objectives of this study were; to
examine the dynamics of forest cover change in and around Bwindi
impenetrable forest between 1973 and 2010 and to identify the drivers
of forest cover change. The trend in forest cover change was assessed
by analyzing a series of orthorectified landsat imageries of 1973, 1987
and 2001 using unsupervised and supervised classification. Land
use/cover map for 2010 was reconstructed by analyzing 2001 image,
validated and/or reconstructed by ground truthing, use of secondary
data and key informant interviews. A series of focused group
discussions and key informant interviews were also used to identify
drivers of land use/cover change. Policies and institutional
arrangements that could have affected forest cover change for the
studied time period were also identified. Results showed that protected
forest and woodlot in unprotected area had declined by 7.8% and 70.7%
respectively as small scale farming and tea plantations had increased
by 13.9% and 78.3% respectively between 1973 and 2010. The conversions
were attributed to land use pressure due to population growth, change
in socio-economic conditions and institutional arrangements. The severe
loss of woodlot outside the protected area not only poses a potential
threat to the protected forest but also calls for intervention measures
if efforts to mitigate climate change impacts are to be realized
Limiting nutrients for bean production on contrasting soil types of Lake Victoria Crescent of Uganda
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most important grain
legumes in East Africa, but its yield has remained below the genetic
potential. Declining soil fertility is among the primary constraints to
bean production in most East African bean producing regions. Often
existing recommendations are generic and inept to guide farm level
decision making on nutrient replenishment. A greenhouse nutrient
omission study was conducted to determine the limiting nutrients in
three soils of Masaka District, commonly cropped to beans:
\u201cLiddugavu\u201d a Phaeozem, \u201cLimyufumyufu\u201d a
Cambisol and \u201cLuyinjayinga\u201d an Umbrisol soil. Nine
treatments; (i) complete nutrient treatment, (ii) N omitted, (iii) P
omitted, (iv) K omitted, (v) Mg omitted, (vi) S omitted, (vii) Ca
omitted, (viii) Micronutrients omitted and (ix) control without
nutrients. Each treatment was randomly assigned to the three soils and
replicated three times using a completely randomised design. Nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium were limiting nutrients for bean production in
Umbrisol (Luyinjayinja) while in Cambisol (\u2018Limyufumyufu), common
bean production was most limited by soil acidity. The performance
varied with soil types, with beans grown on the Phaeozem registering
greater leaf number and growth, confirming both scientist\u2019s and
local farmer\u2019s knowledge that this soil has greater potential
than the other two soils.Le haricot commun (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) est un des l\ue9gumes
\ue0 grains les plus importants en Afrique de l\u2019Est, mais son
rendement reste toujours en dessous de son potentiel
g\ue9n\ue9tique. La baisse de la fertilit\ue9 du sol est parmi
les contraintes primaires \ue0 la production du haricot dans la
plupart des r\ue9gions productrices de l\u2019Afrique de
l\u2019Est. Le plus souvent, les recommandations sont
g\ue9n\ue9riques et inad\ue9quates pour guider la prise de
d\ue9cision au niveau champ sur le r\ue9approvisionnement en
nutriment. Une \ue9tude sous serre sur l\u2019omission de nutriment
a \ue9t\ue9 conduite pour d\ue9terminer les nutriments limitants
dans les trois sols du district de Masaka, commun\ue9ment
utilis\ue9s pour produire du haricot\ua0: \u201cLiddugavu\u201d
un sol du Phaeozem, \u201cLimyufumyufu\u201d un sol du Cambisol et
\u201cLuyinjayinga\u201d un sol du Umbrisol. Neuf traitements, (i)
traitement complet de nutriments, (ii) N omis, (iii) P omis, (iv) K
omis, (v) Mg omis, (iv) S omis, (vii) Ca omis, (viii) micronutriments
omis et (ix) control sans nutriments. Chacun des traitements a
\ue9t\ue9 al\ue9atoirement distribu\ue9 aux trois types de sols
et r\ue9pliqu\ue9 trois fois dans un dispositif compl\ue8tement
al\ue9atoire. Azote, phosphore, et potassium ont \ue9t\ue9 les
nutriments limitants pour la production du haricot dans Umbrisol
(Luyinjayinja) tandis que dans Cambisol (\u2018Limyufumyufu), la
production du haricoct commun a \ue9t\ue9 limit\ue9e par
l\u2019acidit\ue9 du sol. Les performances varient en fonction des
types de sols, avec le haricot produit sur le Phaeozem comptant plus de
feuilles et de croissance, confirmant \ue0 la fois les connaissances
des scientifiques et des populations locales qui stipulent que le sol a
un potentiel plus \ue9lev\ue9 que les deux autres sols
REGIONAL CLIMATE MODEL PERFORMANCE AND PREDICTION oF SEASONAL RAINFALL AND SURFACE TEMPERATURE oF UGANDA
Knowledge about future climate provides valuable insights into how the
challenges posed by climate change and variability can be addressed.
This study assessed the skill of the United Kingdom (UK) Regional
Climate Model (RCM) PRECIS (Providing REgional Climates for Impacts
Studies) in simulating rainfall and temperature over Uganda and also
assess future impacts of climate when forced by an ensemble of two
Global Climate Models (GCMs) for the period 2070-2100. Results show
that the models captured fairly well the large scale flow signals
influencing rainfall and temperature patterns over Uganda. Rainfall and
temperature patterns were better resolved by the RCM than the GCMs. The
rainfall and temperature patterns differed among the three seasons.
Rainy season March to May (MAM) is likely to experience increment in
both surface temperature (0.9\ub0 C) and rainfall (0.2 mm day-1). For
September to october (SON) rainy season, an opposite trend in the two
climate parameters, temperature and rainfall, will be registered with
the former increasing by 0.9 \ub0C and the latter dropping by 0.7 mm
day-1. For the dry season, June to August (JJA), both temperature and
rainfall are projected to decrease by 0.3 \ub0 C and 0.4 mm day-1,
respectively.La connaissance du climat de demain fournit un aper\ue7u sur la
mani\ue8re dont les d\ue9fis pos\ue9s peuvent \ueatre
adress\ue9s. Cette \ue9tude a \ue9valu\ue9 la comp\ue9tence
du Mod\ue8le Climatique R\ue9gional (RCM) PRECIS du Royaume Uni
(fournissant des climats r\ue9gionaux pour des \ue9tudes
d\u2019impacts) dans la simulation de la pluviom\ue9trie et la
temp\ue9rature en ouganda et, d\u2019autre part, \ue9tudier les
impacts des climats une fois forc\ue9e par un ensemble de deux
Mod\ue8les Climatiques \ue0 l\u2019\ue9chelle de l\u2019Univers
(GCMs) pour les p\ue9riodes 2070-2100. Les r\ue9sultats montrent
que les mod\ue8les ont raisonnablement saisi une large \ue9chelle
du flow des signaux qui influencent la tendance de la pluviom\ue9trie
et la temp\ue9rature en ouganda. Les tendances de la
pluviom\ue9trie et la temp\ue9rature \ue9taient mieux
d\ue9termin\ue9es par RCM que GCMs. Les tendances de la
pluviom\ue9trie et la temp\ue9rature diff\ue9raient au cours des
trois saisons. La saison pluvieuse Mars \ue0 Mai (MAM) connaitra
probablement une augmentation de la temp\ue9rature (0.9 \ub0C) et
de la pluviom\ue9trie (0.2 mm jr-1). Pour la saison de pluie de
Septembre \ue0 octobre, une tendance contraire dans les deux
param\ue8tres climatiques sera enregistr\ue9e avec la m\ueame
augmentation de 0.9 \ub0C et une diminution de 0.7 mm jr-1de pluie.
Pour la saison s\ue8che de Juin \ue0 Ao\ufbt (JJA), les
projections montrent une diminution de la temp\ue9rature et de la
pluie de 0.3 \ub0C et 0.4 mm jr-1, respectivement
LAND USE/COVER CHANGE PATTERNS IN HIGHLAND ECOSYSTEMS OF LAKE BUNYONYI CATCHMENT IN WESTERN UGANDA
Land use and cover changes influence the livelihood and degradation of
fragile ecosystems. The extents of these changes in pattern were
investigated in Lake Bunyonyi Catchment which lies in the South Western
Highlands of Uganda. The dynamics and magnitude of land use and cover
changes were assessed using Landsat (TM/ETM+) satellite images and
collection of socio-economic data through interviews. The images were
processed and analysed using the mean-shift image segmentation
algorithm to cluster and quantify the land use and cover features. The
study noted that in the assessment period 1987-2014, the small-scale
farmlands, open water and grasslands remained quasi constant; while the
woodlots followed a quadratic trend, with the lowest acreage
experienced in 2000. The tropical high forests and wetlands cover types
experienced significant decline over the years (P<0.05). Patches of
small-scale farmlands, woodlots, and wetland interchangeably lost or
gained more land dependant on climate variability. Even though the
tropical high forest lost more than it gained, it only gained and lost
to small scale farmland and woodlots; while grassland mainly lost to
small scale farmland and woodlots.L\u2019occupation du sol et les changements de couverture influencent
la subsistance et la d\ue9gradation des \ue9cosyst\ue8mes
fragiles. La tendance des niveaux de ces changements \ue9taient
\ue9valu\ue9e dans le basin versant du lac Bunyonyi qui relie les
r\ue9gions montagneuses du Sud-Ouest d\u2019Ouganda. Les dynamiques
et l\u2019 envergure d\u2019utilisaton de la terre et les changements
de couverture \ue9taient \ue9valu\ue9es en utilisant les images
du satellite Landsat (TM/ETM+) et la collecte des donn\ue9es
socio-\ue9conomiques \ue0 travers des interviews. Les images
\ue9taient trait\ue9es et analy\ue9es en utilisant
l\u2019algorithme de segmentation de passage-moyen-d\u2019image pour
grouper et quantifier les occupations du sol et les
caract\ue9ristiques de la couverture. L\u2019\ue9tude a
montr\ue9 que dans la p\ue9riode d\u2019\ue9valuation de
1987-2014, la petite \ue9tendue de terres cultivables, l\u2019eau
libre et les prairies sont demeur\ue9es quasi constantes; tandis que
les terres bois\ue9es ont suivi une tendance quadratique, avec la
plus petite superficie observ\ue9e en l\u2019an 2000. Les grandes
for\ueats tropicales et les zones humides ont exp\ue9riment\ue9
un d\ue9clin significatif au cours des ann\ue9es (P<0.05). Les
petites parcelles de terres agricoles, les terres bois\ue9es, et les
zones humides indistinctement ont perdu et gagn\ue9 plus de terres
d\ue9pendamment de la variabilit\ue9 climatique. Bien que la grande
for\ueat tropicale aie perdu plus qu\u2019elle en a gagn\ue9e;
elle a seulement perdu de tr\ue8s petites \ue9tendues de terres
agricoles et bois\ue9es; alors que les prairies ont principalement
perdu de tr\ue8s petites \ue9tendues de terres agricoles et
bois\ue9es
Agricultural innovation platform as a tool for development oriented research: Lessons and challenges in the formation and operationalization
The emergence of Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) presents an opportunity to address any development problem. It involves innovative principles and an integrated research agenda while recognizing the need for greater organizational capacities among stakeholders in agriculture. Operationalization of IAR4D revolves around successful establishment and operation of an Agricultural Innovation Platform (AIP). Agricultural Innovation Platforms are being implemented in Lake Kivu Pilot Learning Site (LKPLS) of the Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Programme, covering three countries (Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo) with widely differing social political environments to address agricultural development challenges. This paper presents the processes, general guidelines lessons and experiences pertaining to “good practices” for organising and forming AIPs in the LKPLS. The life of AIPs covers three phases, namely; pre-formation, formation and post formation. The lessons and experiences are shared across 6 stages of AIP formation, namely; Identification of a research and developmental challenge(s), Site selection, Consultative and scoping study, Visioning and Stakeholder analysis, Development of action plans and Implementation of the action plans. Emerging lessons highlight AIPs as grounds and pillars for multi-level, multi-stakeholder interactions to identify, understand and address a complex challenge, concomitant emerging issues and learning towards achieving the agreed vision. Agricultural Innovation Platform formation is a dynamic, highly context specific process that incorporates all essential ingredients for successful innovation at once and provides an opportunity for local innovations to bear while at the same time nourishing on introduced innovations. In AIP formation, the recognition and value of indigenous knowledge and capitalization on prevailing policy, institutional setting and involvement of local leadership is vital. The form, nature and time taken by AIP formation process depends on both the conceptual and local context, quality of facilitation, socio-economic, culture, biophysical, political environment in which a common challenge and/or opportunity is identified and on the capacity of stakeholders to comprehend the Innovation Systems Approach (ISA). The process of AIP formation was faster in creating win-wins when market led. Strong leadership, strategic partnership, information flow, interactions and dealing with recurrent challenges during the AIP formation process are critical in fostering innovations. The major challenges included capacitating the stakeholders in requisite skills and dealing with persistent “handout-syndrome”