Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Uganda: A Case Study of the Lango Subregion

Abstract

Conservation agriculture (CA) is based on three principles: minimum soil disturbance, maintaining a soil cover through mulching with crop residues or planting cover crops, and practicing crop rotations. CA is practiced in many parts of the world for its benefits to soil and ability to improve yields, among others. There is little documented information on the status of CA adoption in the Lango region in mid-Northern Uganda. This study aimed at determining the extent of CA adoption in relation to the socioeconomic status of the farming population and suggesting relevant strategies for accelerating CA uptake specific to this region. A non-discriminative snowball-sampling technique was used to gather data from 417 households spread over three districts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using household questionnaires. Farmers' uptake of CA was related to information gained from training and the benefits that were observed in their fields. Some farm-level constraints in the region included the diminutive ratio of shared tools and equipment; the minimum presence and involvement of extension services; and seasonal rural markets that are dominated by middlemen. The impact that was attributed to the use of CA at the household level was improved yields. The strategy that was used to spread CA information to farmers also played a key role in increasing CA uptake in the region. This information is important for increasing CA adoption in this context given the socioeconomic status of the region.

Synergies and Determinants of Sustainable Intensification Practices in Pakistani Agriculture

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Barriers Affecting Sustainable Agricultural Productivity of Smallholder Farmers in the Eastern Free State of South Africa

“…Previous studies across the African continent indicated that socio-economic factors, farm characteristics and agro-climatic zone characteristics were the main factors influencing adoption of SAPs by smallholder farmers [18][19][20][21]. Therefore, factors influencing adoption of SAPs varies with countries and regions as a result of differences in cultural and political ideologies, natural resources community access to education, adequate information on the technical details of the SAPs, extension services, credits and infrastructure [13,22,23].…”

Effectiveness of Costa Rica’s Conservation Portfolio to Lower Deforestation, Protect Primates, and Increase Community Participation

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