Lutaaya, Noah2025-06-302025-06-302024-11Lutaaya, N. (2024). Effect of desert locust outbreaks on agricultural production of smallholder farmers in Karamoja region, Uganda. Kyambogo University.https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12504/2545xiii, 87 p. ;The 2020 desert locust invasions invoked fears in Eastern Africa, including Uganda, but more so in the Karamoja region, due to their potential to devour crop fields and pasturelands, which are major livelihood sources for agro-pastoralists. This research assessed the duration and timing of the invasions by desert locusts, the impact they had on agricultural output, and the efficacy of the control strategies put in place in the districts of Amudat, Abim, Moroto, and Nakapiripirit. Specifically, it was intended to analyze the time of invasion and length of stay of the locusts in that area, determinant factors for the invasions, effects on cropland and pastureland for livestock, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures that were applied. To gather more than one data from households and local leaders in the same study, a cross-sectional sh1dy approach was employed. This was guided by the need to capture a snapshot of the locust invasions' impact over a single period, which allowed for the efficient collection and comparison of diverse responses from affected communities. With the assistance of well-trained research assistants well versed with the karamojong local languages, a questionnaire for a household survey was administered to 183 respondents who included elders, youths, opinion leaders, and local council 1 chairpersons chosen by sampling technique. The views on the subject matter from the local leaders and small holder farmers in Amudat and Moroto were gathered through two corresponding focused group discussions. Numeric data was analyzed using multiple response, chi-square, and paired t-test techniques, whereas qualitative data underwent content analysis techniques. The findings reveal that the most favorable factors that attracted the pests were vegetation type, strong dry winds, and soil type (sandy) (P <0.05). The effects of the invasions reported include destruction of trees (43%) and grass cover (39%), increased replanting costs (28%), interference with plant flowering (26%), and shifts in season planting (24% in the locales of the invasions). Desert locusts significantly (P < 0.05) affected livestock and crop production by reducing grass and tree vegetation that cattle feed on and destroying sprouting crops. These culminated in a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in household income, an increase in the need for food purchases, and the use of less land (74%) for agriculture. In response to the invasions, ground spraying (68%) and aerial spraying (29%) were the most effective measures for desert locust control. To enhance resilience among agro-pastoralists against future invasions, the study recommends support for acquiring specialized spraying equipment to enable more effective and timely control efforts.enDesert locustAgricultural productionFarmersKaramoja regionUgandaThesis