Uganda Journal of Agricultural Science (UJAS)
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Client orientation of agricultural research in Uganda: the Namulonge experience
Get PDFIn the 1960’s andl970’s research in Uganda and other developing countries was top down approach where the technology was developed on research stations by researchers and then turned over to extension for demonstration and diffusion to farmers. Farmers were not consulted on what type of technologies were suited to their systems. Hence there was a catch-phrase in agricultural development i.e “yield gap”. Farmers could not attain yield comparable to those at experiment stations. Therefore due to those problems an important trend in the last decade has been increasing attention paid to the client i.e client orientation. The gap now is between the research-clients.
There is therefore need to close this gap i.e researcher-client gap. It has been shown that to be successful agricultural research has to respond to demand for assistance in solving agricultural problems. This paper presents how Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute (NAAR1) through its different research programmes has addressed the gap between researchers and the clients. It is the experiences through this work that is presented in form of case studies
Variation in the Bacterial Blight Pathogen (Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum) and its Implications on Cotton Breeding in Uganda
No full textBacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas Campestris pv. malvacearum is an important disease found throughout cotton growing areas in Uganda. Its symptoms known as seedling blight, angular leaf spot, black-arm and bacterial boll rot are all found in Uganda. Aset of 8 upland cotton cultivars developed by Hunter et al. (1968), i.e. differential varieties, were used to determine the variants or races of the blight pathogen found in Uganda. Results indicated race 10 or 18 as the commonest, followed by race 7. Races 6 and 16 were also identified. About 23% of the isolates caused symptoms on all differential varieties indicating the presence of a new virulent race of the pathogen, which may be race 20. The existence of several races and appearance of new ones has implications on breeding resistant cotton lines and some of these are discussed in this paper
Technique of re-hilling sweetpotato mounds to reduce Cylas spp. weevil infestation and improve sweetpotato yield in Soroti district, North Eastern Uganda
Get PDFCylas brunneus and C. puncticollis (Coleoptera: Apionidae) are the economic pests of sweetpotato in Uganda and contribute to low crop yield and quality. On-farm work was done in Soroti district, a major sweetpotato growing area, to test integrated crop management (ICM) techniques to improve yield and reduce weevil damage. Two ICM components were evaluated, that is, improved varieties and re-hilling of mounds. The latter treatment was applied to cover cracks, the entry points that weevils use for accessing storage roots. Yield of improved varieties, namely, NASPOT 1 and 1927, compared favorably with that of the control variety, Haraka. In general, re-hilling treatment resulted into significant crop yield increment and low weevil attack on most of the test materials. Results showed that spot re-hilling done when soil cracks appear was sufficient for reducing weevil infestation
Participatory evaluation of improved technologies with farmers: the case of bean technologies
Get PDFThe National Beans Program has carried out on-farm bean variety evaluation trials since 1986 to-date using the conventional approach in addition to using farmer participatory approach from 1992 with more farmer involvement as partners in the research process. In either approach, it was noted that farmer involvement was a key to successful technology evaluation. It was also noted that yield was not the only factor farmers consider in adopting new bean varieties. Yield had to be accompanied by other variety attributes like preference for seed colour and size, good taste, tolerance to insect pests and diseases and other adverse conditions, marketability, shorter cooking time and maturity period. Both approaches have their successes and limitations. Making both approaches very efficient requires more farmer involvement in technology development and testing. There is need for training of farmers and extension agents in on-farm management and technology testing. Dedication and devotion of all parties involved in technology development and testing is important. There is need for increased funding for technology testing with more farmer involvement. The way forward is to make both approaches more participatory with more involvement
of the farmers and all other stakeholders
Characteristics of rural chicken production in Apac and Kumi districts of Uganda
Get PDFAcross - sectional survey was conducted to establish the characteristics of rural chicken production in Apac and Kumi districts. This was necessary to establish a baseline benchmark against which the impact of the NARO/DFID chicken project could be gauged. Systematic sampling techniques were applied to 120 households to capture the necessary baseline data. The study revealed that farmers keep indigenous chickens mainly for food, cash and gifts and use eggs mainly for hatching chicks. Most people keep 2-10 hens and 1 breeding cock, and in a family, the majority of chickens are owned by the husband and w ife. The production indices obtained were typical of African rural chicken production systems and most chickens depended mainly on vending for themselves. Lack of proper housing and diseases were cited as major constraints and few farmers ever vaccinated their chickens. Traditional medicine is greatly used in disease control. Selection for genetic improvement is not commonly done although occasionally farmers buy new cocks. While women care for chickens, the decisions on sales and cash are jointly taken by the husband and wife. The results indicated that rural chicken production is still at subsistence level and the production indices still low, implying that the system is amenable to improvement in order to raise household incomes
Current distribution, abundance and population structure of the fish stocks in Lake Victoria and options for their management
Get PDFDuring the last 30 years, changes (physical, chemical and biological) have occurred in Lake Victoria and, consequently, the fish stocks of the lake have been modified. The extent of the modification of these fish stocks is not fully known. A total of 793 hauls (of 30 minutes duration) were taken during experimental bottom trawl surveys in the Uganda sector of Lake Victoria during the period November 1997 to December 2000 to estimate composition, distribution and abundance of the major fish species in waters 4 to 60 m deep. Seventeen fish groups were caught with Lutes niloticus (Nile perch) constituting the largest biomass (87.8%) followed by Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) (8.6%). Haplochromines and L. niloticus occurred in all areas sampled while O. niloticus and other tilapiines were restricted to shallower waters (<20 m). In waters deeper than 40 m, fish was rarely recorded during bottom trawling: the echosounder indicated no fish at the bottom: the fish signals were concentrated in the depth zone 10-20 m from the surface. The mean trawl catch rate in the zone where artisanal fishermen operate (i.e. in waters <30 m depth) was 195.2 kg hr-1, of which 87.9% was L. niloticus. Species diversity and relative abundance of the fish caught decreased withincreasing water depth from 232.2±38.7 kg hr-1 for all fish species in the 4-10 m depth zone to 7.7 kg hr-1 at 40-50 m depth zone during the survey period 1997-2000. From the swept area method, the abundance index lor all fish species in the 4-40 m depth zone in the Uganda portion of the lake was estimated at around 142,000 tonnes during the period 1999-2000. The abundance index for L. niloticus and O. niloticus were estimated around 121,000 and 15,000 tonnes, respectively, during the period 1999-2000; 307,000 tonnes was estimated for L. niloticus in the Uganda sector of the lake. Only 29.3% of 121,000 tonnes estimated for Nile perch during 1999-2000 was for mature fish (>50 cm total length) and the rest were juveniles. Estimated yield from the Uganda sector is around 107,000 tonnes annually, of which about 72,000 tonnes is Nile perch suggesting cropping ot at least 40,000 tonnes of immature fish. This calls for urgent management measures
Adaptive studies on a Walking Tractor for Smallholder Farming Operations
Get PDFMechanisation of farm operations translates into improved labour productivity, land use and timeliness of desired operations. A single axle Walking Tractor (and its accessories) is being adaptively developed at AEATRI as one way of improving mechanisation of farm operations at small-scale level. The first prototype was designed, fabricated and tested to adaptively develop it to suit the prevailing physical set up of the small fragmented acreage typical of the Ugandan farmers. Data to determine performance characteristics was collected and assessed after testing the walking tractor on tillage of the heavy clay soils in Luwero District and on lighter sandy loam soils in Kumi District. Results from the tests indicate that major changes to decrease the strenuousness of operating the tractor will require extensive modification and fabrication of many parts and components. It is, therefore, practical to design and construct more prototypes along recommendations of all essential stakeholders. This implies extensive modification of the present prototype. Successful development and dissemination of the single axle-walking tractor will increase the level of mechanisation of farm operations on typical small-scale Ugandan farms there by contributing to the Plan
for Modernisation ofAgriculture (PMA)
Introduction of improved techniques of Feed Resource utilisation on Smallholder Dairy Farms in Uganda
Get PDFSmallholder dairy farmers in Masaka have identified feed shortage especially in the dry season as the most critical factor limiting milk production in the district during diagnostic surveys carried out in 1999. Screening of identified potential solutions led to the development of a project for implementation in the district with three strategies. These were: feed conservation and fodder bank technologies and strategic utilisation of crop residues . A preliminary study was undertaken to verify the farmers’ reports and this was followed by introduction of the strategies on farms in Masaka district. The study revealed that protein and energ
Improving feed resources availability on smallholder dairy farms: A case of Kasenge parish, Mukono district
Get PDFKasenge parish is located in Mukono district, Central Uganda. Poor knowledge of research recommendations by farmers and limited research efforts to improve dairy production systems are some of the factors which have contributed to inadequate feed resources and poor management of dairy cattle in the parish. Besides, animal production, extension workers put more emphasis on disease control with very little attention on animal nutrition. This explains the current milk yield that is far below realistic potential levels given the farmers’ investment in inputs and grade anmals. Poverty among dairy farmers remains rampant in the parish. As improved forages have potential to contribute significantly to improved feeding of dairy cows, efforts were taken to identify existing forages and the effect of season on their feeding value. Suitable elephant grass varieties were then tested on-farms with full participation ofthe farmers. This paper presents results of a survey carried out in Kasenge parish to identify available feed resources and the effect on protein content and fibre fractions during the wet and dry seasons. Results of biomass yield and crude protein content of three varieties of elephant grass are also presented. Results showed that during the wet season crude protein content of all the feeds was higher than the recommended level for lactating dairy cows, however, the levels reduced (by about 10%) during the dry season. On-farm testing of three elephant grass varieties (Pennisetum var. Kawanda 4; Pennisetum var. 99 and the Pennisetum var. local) showed that Pennisetum 99 produced higher levels of CP (11.2% ) and herbage biomass yield (17 Mt/ha) than Kawanda 4 (9.8% and 14 Mt/ha) and the local variety (7.6% and 9 Mt/ha). On smallholder dairy farms where land is a major constraint, forage which produce high herbage biomass yield and high levels of CP such as Pennisetum var. 99 are recommended
Farmer field schools approach, a viable methodology for technology development and transfer
Get PDFFarmer Field Schools is a systematic and continuous method of training and working with farmers under real life field conditions. The method was initiated in South East Asia nearly ten years ago under a mono crop rice culture and basically focusing integrated pest management (IPM). In Uganda the method was slightly modified and made to apply not only on a number of crops but also for use in livestock, fisheries and natural resources management activities. Through the use of this methodological approach, farmers in the Kacaboi and Kasenge parishes of Uganda have been fully empowered to manage their own development. For the last four years farmer groups have kept increasing in number and keeping intact. Farmers have been able to multiply the scarce improved crop varieties over 50-fold within a mere three years. Communities have consequently been able to address their own household food security and indeed move towards focusing improvements in household incomes as a wider means of attaining sustainable livelihood. This method is flexible and lends itself well to being applied in research, technology dissemination as well as in a number of development initiatives. The paper outlines the methodological approach and recommends its wider applicability in the NARO research syste