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| Title: | A situation analysis of priority farm enterprises and technology adoption status in the South West highlands of Uganda |
| Authors: | Nanyeenya, W. N.
Mugisha, A.
Turyamureeba, Gad
Ssali, A. |
| Keywords: | Situation analysis
Technology adoption
Farm enterprises
Farm productivity
Uganda
Farming systems |
| Issue Date: | 7-Jul-2009 |
| Citation: | Nanyeenya, W.N., Mugisha, A., Turyamureeba, G., Ssali, A. (2009). A situation analysis of priority farm enterprises and technology adoption status in the South West highlands of Uganda. Journal of Applied Biosciences, 19 |
| Abstract: | The study was motivated by the fact that despite availability of technologies capable of solving farmers’ constraints,
adoption of relevant technology has been insufficient to address the constraints. Situations of low and in some cases
declining productivity and incomes therefore contradict the national economic development objective of ‘prosperity for
all’ that aims at developing a modern, market oriented and commercialised agricultural sector. This paper presents
the results from a study that set out to examine prospects of agricultural technology in enhancing farm productivity,
rational resource utilization and farmers’ livelihoods. Qualitative data used were obtained using semi-formal and
formal studies from seven sub-counties selected from Kabale, Kanungu, Kisoro and Rukungiri districts. Informal
survey data heavily relied on PRA techniques. These were supplemented by secondary data, key informant
interviews and direct observations. The situational analysis survey relied on formal data collection procedure using a
questionnaire. Data collected focused on: local farming systems and major enterprises; farm domestic resources
and constraints; current mechanisms for technology packaging and dissemination; gender related and spatially
oriented technology practices, needs and challenges; benefits of improved technology; and effectiveness of different
technology packaging techniques and dissemination approaches in various farm typologies.
Findings from both the qualitative and questionnaire survey showed that Solanum potatoes, bush beans, climbing
beans, vegetables, bananas, coffee and sweet potatoes are the major crop enterprises in the region. With respect to
livestock enterprises, local breeds under traditional management systems characterized the common species raised
in the zone, and Goats and cattle are the dominant livestock species kept in the region. Notably exotic dairy cattle
breeds were raised as a priority enterprise in less than 20 per cent of the households sampled. . Technology
adoption was more prominent for priority crops compared to priority livestock enterprises. In crops, technology
adoption emphasized crop rotations, spacing, pesticide application and soil and water conservation aspects of
production as opposed to pre-production and post harvest management. Low prices for milk, banana and Irish
potatoes, lack of improved and clean planting materials for especially bush and climbing beans, sweet potatoes and
Irish potatoes grossly constrained production. Regular deworming was the dominant livestock technology adopted.
Livestock production was particularly constrained by lack of improved breeds, feeding, housing and health
management technologies. Improved feeding and breeds were however the key technology gaps for livestock.
Farmer exchange visits and trainings were the most effective technology dissemination approaches. Small scale
irrigation was proposed as a remedy to counter effects of water stress especially for vegetable production. Findings
on the sex of decision makers in the households suggest that both women and men farmers should be targeted for
technology intervention. It was noted that whereas there exists relevant technologies from NARO that can address
farmers’ constraints there is general lack of information about their existence. It was suggested that NARO publishes
a list of all technology packages and provide copies to all districts. It is recommended that technology promotion be
refocused to address gaps in raising yields of improved seed and planting materials as well as post harvest handling
for crops. Due attention be accorded to the livestock technology gaps particularly lack of improved feeds and breeds.
Attainment of higher farm incomes to achieve the ‘prosperity for all’ objective should be addressed by fostering
sustained adoption of productivity enhancing technologies and tripling of sales to gain escape velocity from poverty .
This should be done mainly by combining farmer training and exchange visits. These should be supplemented by
simple radio messages, posters, leaflets and brochures tailored to technology gaps relevant to priority enterprises in
the sub-county targeted. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1501 |
| ISSN: | 1997-5903 |
| Appears in Collections: | Research Articles (Vet)
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| nanyeenya-mugisha-vet-res.pdf | | 687Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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