Browsing by Author "Joyfred, Asaba"

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Constraints to agricultural transformation in Yumbe district, Uganda
(Springer Link: Agriculture and Ecosystem Resilience in Sub Saharan Africa., 2019-05-23) Wambede, N. Muhamud; Joyfred, Asaba; Alule, R. Jimmy
This book chapter analysed the constraints to agricultural transformation, focussing on Yumbe district in Uganda. Since the 1980s, many resources have been devoted to agricultural sector by the government and donor community with the aim of transforming it from predominantly subsistence to one where farmers produce for the market. This was expected to take place with increased farmers’ adoption of modern farming technologies. Scientists developed a number of technologies with a hope that once they are introduced to the farmers,they would be readily adopted. This has not been the case. The uptake of the modern technologies has not been impressive. Even where adoption has taken place, it is on a piecemeal basis. Therefore there is a need to examine the factors that have led to the low rate of technology uptake and hence limited agricultural transformation in the country. The data collection methods used in this study included questionnaires, interviews, direct observation and document review. The study covered the social and economic conditions of the farming communities that are hypothesised to be limiting the uptake of technologies that would lead to agricultural modernisation. The study analysed the relationship between the socio-economic factors and adoption to modern farming technologies. The chi-square test was used to establish whether there were significant differences in education level, membership to farmer organisations/farmer groups, family size, etc. between adopters and non-adopters of modern farming technologies and hence agricultural transformation. Multiple regression was used to establish the most important factors influencing agricultural transformation in the area. The findings indicated that the most important factors influencing farmers’ adoption of modern farming technologies and hence agricultural transformation are membership to agricultural organisation and cost of inputs. It can be concluded that the government and other organisations promoting agricultural modernisation should encourage farmers to form groups where they learn modern methods. It should also provide subsidies to farm input so that they are affordable to the farmers.
The efficacy of the soil conservation technologies adopted in mountain agro-ecosystems in Uganda
(Springer Link :Agriculture and Ecosystem Resilience in Sub Saharan Africa., 2019-05-23) Nabalegwa, Wambede Muhamud; Joyfred, Asaba
This study examined the efficiency of soil conservation practices, under current cropping systems in Kasese district, Mt. Rwenzori. A longitudinal transect design was used in this study. Transects of 100 m wide were drawn on 6 selected ridges, within which 102 peasant farms with different conservation technologies were selected. The severity of erosion on the selected farms, assessed from the areal extent of physical erosion indicators, was used to determine the efficiency of the soil conservation technologies in controlling erosion. The results indicate that terracing, found on 57.8% of the selected peasant farms, was the most dominant soil conservation practice on the Rwenzori Mountain slopes, followed by trash bunds, water diversion channels, water collection ditches, and mulching. It was, however, evident that despite the adoption of soil conservation practices by some farmers, soil erosion remained high, especially on farms where one conservation practice was solerly used. It is therefore recommended that a more comprehensive soil conservation strategy, involving the use of agronomic soil management and mechanical methods of soil conservation, be emphasized in the Rwenzori highlands.
Water hyacinth’s extent and its implication on water quality in Lake Victoria, Uganda
(The Scientific World Journal, 2023-03) Hussein, Kiyemba; Bernard, Barasa; Joyfred, Asaba; Paul, Makoba Gudoyi; Gertrude, Akello
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) degrades and obstructs the integrity of freshwater ecosystems. However, little attention has been paid to monitoring water hyacinth’s spatial extent, its determinants, and its efects on water quality in Lake Victoria, Uganda. Te specifc objectives of this paper are to (i) assess the spatial extent and distribution of water hyacinth; (ii) examine the determinants of water hyacinth distribution, and (iii) assess its impact on water quality. High-resolution satellite images (2016–2019) were obtained and used to monitor the spatial extent of the water hyacinth, a household survey was conducted to examine the determinants of the water hyacinth’s extent and patterns while water samples were drawn and analysed for physicochemical properties. Results show that the coverage and distribution of water hyacinth varied over space and time. Water hyacinth coverage primarily increased with a decrease in water surface area. Te perceived factors that triggered the water hyacinth spread included the morphology of the Bay, efuent discharge, strong winds, speed of water current, water-level changes, ferry navigation, and construction activities at the shore. Water parameters signifcantly impacted by hyacinth were pH, TP, BOD, COD, DO, turbidity, and transparency. Tis study recommends the strict development and implementation of integrated weed control measures, catchment management plans, and point and nonpoint pollution source control.