Integrating Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge into Modern Agricultural Practices for Sustainable Rural Household Food Security in Uganda

Abstract

Background to the Study Food security is an essential part of the international development agenda, as stated in the Rome Declaration of the World Food Summit in 1996 and reaffirmed by the participants in the World Food Summit five years later (FAO,1996 & FAO, 2001). The Millennium Declaration reflected the World Food Summit target by making hunger part of the first Millennium Development Goal (UN, 2009). UN has echoed food security once again by making it Goal number 2 of the 17 Post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) at the Rio+20 conference (UN, 2014). Food security is a fundamental human right (UN, 1997) and the most crucial of all basic needs (UN, 2009). It is upon this that 16 th October every year is World Food Day and the World Food Day theme for 2014 was Family Farming: "Feeding the world, caring for the earth" (FAO, 2014).This shows how food security continues to be a major global challenge and the need to address it especially in Sub Saharan Africa where the levels of food production are declining. The 2017 theme focused on investment in food security and rural development (FAO, 2017). Emphasis was put on combined strategies and application of indigenous knowledge being one the strategies. Any investment towards food security and rural development without considering IAK is likely to fail as (Brokensha, Slikkerveer, & Warren, 1995)put that ignoring people's knowledge is almost to ensure failure in development. Globally 2 billion people lack food security; about 1 billion people are hungry at any time in the world and of these 254 million people are found in

Covid-19 impact on food insecurity in Uganda: a dynamic analysis

“…The base observation was made with the Uganda Household survey 2019/2020, to which high frequency bimonthly surveys were added. We found considerable chronic levels of food insecurity, which is in line with previous studies (Mugume & Muhumuza, 2021; Rwangire & Muriisa, 2021; Kansiime et al, 2020). Also, using the dynamic features of our model, we discover that two-thirds of those in severe food insecurity in one month are likely to be severely insecure two months later and an increased command of economic resources (measured as log consumption per person) reduces the probability of severe food insecurity.…”

“…Although the economic and welfare effects of these lockdowns on households are still being studied, the early studies show that it has had adverse effects on the people in several ways from both the demand and supply sides (Rwangire & Muriisa, 2021; Mahmud & Riley, 2020; Kansiime et al, 2020).…”

Contribution of Dry Spell Adaptation Technologies to Crop Productivity in Isingiro Town Council, Isingiro District, Uganda

“…This study was aimed at investigating the contribution of extended dry spell adaptation technologies (EDSATs) implemented at the HH level to crop productivity among farmers of Isingiro Town Council, Isingiro District. All technologies confirm Rwangire's (2019) assertion that dry spell adaptation that leads to improved agricultural productivity involves making the best use of nature's goods and services as functional inputs. This involves optimal utilisation of rains, water harvesting, irrigation, conservation agriculture and organic farming, which are enshrined within the farmers' definitions of Extended Dry Spell Adaptation.…”

“…Fallowed soils enable vigorous crop performance giving 130.6% improved bean productivity. Rwangire (2019) affirms that planting on fallow land adds green manure to the soil, which in turn conserves moisture. According to Saleh et al (2018), irrigation treatment can increase green bean productivity and improve pod quality due to increased moisture availability during EDSs.…”

Agricultural sustainability through smart farming systems: A comparative analysis between the Republic of Korea and Republic of Uganda

“…In the Financial year 2019/2020, the agricultural sector contributed 23.7 of gross domestic product (GDP) and 33% of export earnings. This is largely attributed to farming (food crops and livestock) productivity (Milton and Robert 2019). Republic of Uganda's 11 farming systems (as indicated in Fig.…”