ASSESING THE CAUSES OF LOW AGRICULTURAL OUT PUT IN RURAL AREAS OF UGANDA, A CASE STUDY OF KALONGO VILLAGE, KALUNGU

SUB-COUNTY IN KALUNGU DISTRICT.

BY
AMINA
A FIELD WORK REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE AWARD OF REQUIREMENT OF BACHELORS DEGREE IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES OF MUTEESA 1 ROYAL UNIVERSITY

2012

CHAPTER ONE GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.0 INTRODUCTION The study was carried out to asses the causes of low agricultural output in rural areas; the study area was Kalongo village, Kitamba parish, Kalungu sub-county, Kalungu County in Kalungu district. Kalongo village is found in Kitamba parish, Kalungu sub-county, Kalungu County in Kalungu district. Its about 3km from the district headquarters and about 35km from Masaka town. 1.1Background of study area Kalongo village is found in Kitamba parish, Kalungu sub-county, Kalungu County in Kalungu district. Its about 3km from the district headquarters and about 35km from Masaka town. The village is boarded by the following villages Kaseesa village in the north, Kikukumbi in the west, Kitamba in the south and Nattita in the East.it has got an estimated population of about 500 people children being the majority in the village. The major languages spoken in the area includes luganda, Lunyarwanda, Lunyankole and Lukiga with tribes like Baganda who take about 73% of the village, Banyarwannda (15%), banyankole and Bakiga who take 8% and 4% respectively. The dominant sects here includes Catholics (45%), Protestants (30%) followed by Muslims and traditionalists the major economic activities in the area includes subsistence agriculture, small scale business and trading. The village has got two primary schools, there is no government hospitals expect private clinics. Government programs in the area include NAADs programs, PMA, there area also a number of NGOs in the area like, HEIFA, Caritus Maddo which have help people in this village socially and economically. 1.2 Background to the Study In Uganda, agriculture is the source of livelihood for 90% of the countrys population, 95% of which are resource-poor small-scale farmers. Declines in soil fertility, low availability of land, scarcity of fuel wood, and new unpredictable rainfall patterns have reduced food production and the ability of households to generate food and income.

In Uganda most of the population lives in rural areas and depends directly on rain-fed small farms with little agricultural input use (NARO, 2001). Yet agriculture is the main source of livelihood, income, food, employment, and foreign exchange and supplies raw materials for domestic industries. This means that any slight variability in rainfall is reflected in the productivity of agricultural systems and pronounced variability results in far-reaching negative physical, environmental and social economic impacts. Rainfall is unreliable and highly variable contributing to very low crop yields. In addition, use of rudimentary implements, poor crop husbandry practices and lack of precise information on rainfall onset, duration, amounts and cessation make smallholder farming a risky business. 1.3 Statement of the Problem Since most of the population who live in rural areas depends directly on agricultural which acts as the main source of livelihood, income, food, employment, and foreign exchange and supplies raw materials for domestic industries and the government has put up many programs to improve agriculture in rural areas, programs like NAADs (National agricultural advisory services), PMA (plan for modernization of agriculture), NARO (national agriculture research organization) with all these programs in place rural areas would be battling with little harvest at the end of the season thus the need to find out the causes of low agricultural output amidst all government programs in place. 1.3 General Objective To assess the existence of low agricultural out put in kalongo village in kalungu district 1.3.2 Specific Objectives To explore the causes of low agricultural out put in kalongo village To explore the effects of low agricultural output in kalongo village To establish solutions to low agricultural out put in kalongo village 1.5 Research Questions What are the causes of low agricultural out put in kalongo village? What are the effects of low agricultural out put in kalongo village? What are the possible solutions to low agricultural out put in kalongo village?

1.6 literature review

In Uganda most of the population lives in rural areas and depends directly on rain-fed small farms with little agricultural input use (NARO, 2001). Yet agriculture is the main source of livelihood, income, food, employment, and foreign exchange and supplies raw materials for domestic industries. This means that any slight variability in rainfall is reflected in the productivity of agricultural systems and pronounced variability results in far-reaching negative physical, environmental and social economic impacts. Rainfall is unreliable and highly variable contributing to very low crop yields. In addition, use of rudimentary implements, poor crop husbandry practices and lack of precise information on rainfall onset, duration, amounts and cessation make smallholder farming a risky business. In most instances, farmers start opening land after rainfall onset and therefore valuable moisture is lost before they finally plant. In reality, potential production is never attained due to a mismatch of the optimum moisture conditions and the peak water requirement stages of crops. Furthermore, prevalence of competing weeds, pests and diseases, low nutrient status of the soils and poor agronomic management practices usually cause additional reduction in crop and livestock production potential directly by influencing the health status of the crops and animals and indirectly through unavailability of quality pastures. Farming is prone to high risks because of the seasonal distribution and the highly variable nature of rainfall in space and time, coupled with its unpredictability. Extreme climate variability such as floods, drought, and frost among others has severe impacts on agricultural production often leading to instability in the agricultural production systems (Ogallo, 2002). Poor rains severely affect pastures and livestock in most pastoral areas of the country resulting into migration of thousands of people and animals in search of water and food. Excessive rains both in intensity and duration lead to water logging conditions that negatively affect crops and pasture. These conditions are also detrimental for post harvest handling and storage. It is therefore very essential to generate seasonal characteristics to guide informed decision-making in rain dependant systems.

1.7 METHODOLOGY 1.7.1 Study Area

The study was carried out in Kalongo village, Kitamba parish, Kalungu sub-county, Kalungu County in Kalungu district. Its about 3km from the district headquarters and about 35km from Masaka town. 1.7.2 Data Collection Methods. These are methods that the researcher used for collecting data in the field. The researcher used the following methods for collecting data in the field.

Observation Method
This is the method where the researcher used naked eyes to collect the information. The researcher would reach the household and look at the members of the households and their gardens as well as their harvests..

Interviewing Method
This is the method which involved interaction between the interviewer and interviewee. The researcher interacted with various members of the house holds. The researcher would ask the questions and they would give appropriate answers for the questions the researcher would ask. The researcher used this method in various households that helped to collect data because the researcher got first hand information. Data Collection Tools/ Instrument These are the tools that the researcher used to collect the information. They include the following; Questionnaire This is the method that the researcher used in which the researcher set some questions and gave to the respondents to answer the questions this tool enabled the researcher to get the required information. However this tool was a bit trickier because some people were not willing to answer the questions that were set. 1.8 Challenges Faced when carrying out the Study The researcher also faced a challenge of harassment that some respondents were very rude and harsh so they were not willing to give the information needed. The researcher also faced a problem of bad weather that is to say sunshine at times heavy rains that could hinder movements.

The researcher faced a challenge of food shortage that most of the time the researcher would stay without food because the food available was too expensive. The researcher also faced a challenge of walking for a long distance so as to get the required information that would make the researcher tired and hence fall sick the next day.

CHAPTER TWO PRESENTATION OF THE FINDINGS

2.1 Background characteristics of respondents The study was gender sensitive in that, it gave opportunity to both male and female respondents. Out of 40 respondents, 24 (65%) were female who are always active in farming/agriculture. The remaining 16 (35%) were mainly men who help researcher to obtain some vital information on the causes of low agricultural output.. Table 1 showing the age of respondents Age of respondents 18-22 23-27 28-32 33 and above Frequency 15 07 05 13 Percentage (%) 37.5 17.5 12.5 32.55

Table 2 showing marital status of respondents Marital Status single divorced married widow Frequency 06 09 22 03 Percentage 15 22 55 07

Table 3 showing the educational level of respondents Educational level Never went to school primary secondary Beyond secondary Frequency 05 20 12 03 Percentage 20 50 30 07

According to the information in the table above, researcher found out 05(20%) of the population was illiterate due to lack of finances, ignorance about universal primary education thus more concentration on agriculture other than education, 20(50%) of the respondent had attained primary education, 12(30%) of the respondents had at least reached secondary level and 03(07%) had reached high institution of learning. This according to the respondent was not as a result of having more access to finance but the interest of individuals to study Table 4 showing the religion of the respondents Religion Catholics protestants Frequency 32 08 Percentage 80 20

Table 5 showing the nature of house holds TYPE OF HOUSE HOLD Permanent Semi- permanent Temporally FREQUENCY 12 17 11 PERCENTAGE% 30 50 20

From the table above, the researchers focused her observation on the nature of the household with the following types of house hold, namely permanent, semi- permanent and temporally. The researcher found out that among the 40 house holds s interviewed 12(30%)had the permanent structures built with bricks, sand, poles and iron sheets , 17(50%)house holds were semi permanent built with mud ,bricks ,iron sheets and poles while 11(20%) were temporary built with poles ,mud, grass, banana fibers and reeds. 2.2 crops grown in Kalongo village Table 6 showing crops grown in kalongo village Crops Frequency FOOD CROPS Bananas 40 Maize 32 Beans 40 Cassava 23 Potatoes 20 CASH CROPS Coffee 36 Vanilla 12 Totals may exceed 100% due to multiple responses Percentage 100 80 100 58 50 90 30

2.3 factors leading to low agricultural output in kalongo village With face to face interaction between the researchers and her respondents during the field work research, the researcher enriched her research with the ways on how different house hold in Kalongo village make production possible and also various factors affecting agricultural production, she assessed the land factors, the tools, capital, ownership, productivity, topography and even labor aspects and her research had the following; 2.3.1 LAND FACTOR Graph 1 .show s the nature of land owner ship. KE Y 6040Customary Land

Free hold

2010050-

Squatters Lease land kibanja

0 Customary Land Free hold Squatters Lease land Kibanja

The problem of low agricultural out put has been boosted by nature of land owner ship i.e. Customary /mile land, free hold, squatter, lease land and kibanja, the researcher found out that among the sampled house hold, 44% of the respondents were on customary, 01% were on free hold, 25% were squatters ,5% were on lease land and finally 20% are of kibanja. The researcher found out that 20% of the respondents said that land tenure system does not posse any problem towards agricultural output and 80% of the respondents said that land tenure system hinders agricultural out put. . Other problems brought up by land towards agriculture out put are land is exhausted, salty, infertile, rocky to mention but a few, on the other hand to those say no that land tenure system does not pass any problem reasons being which in the long run keeps the land tenure fertile. Table 7 Shows land accessibility in Kalongo village Frequency
15 11 08 06 (f) 40

they used

good methods of farming such as terracing, mulching , cover cropping, etc

Land in acres
Less than an acre 1-5 5-10 Above 10 Total

Percentages
40 27 20 13 100

From the table, above, the researcher also found out that among the interviewed household heads in Kalongo village they had or posed. land ranges from less than an acre to 10 acres and above ,still among the respondents 15 [40%] had land less than an acre ,11[27%] posed land from 1-5 acres, 08[20%] posed 5-10

acres

and finally

06[13%] possess land above

10 acres

from 30 interviewed

households. Land utilization was also assessed and 75% of the respondents were practicing over cultivation because they used land for farming yet their pieces of land were small, and over grazing was also happening on the same land which negatively affected the productivity of the land. The size of the respondents fully utilized the land with even effective proper methods of farming while the 20% could not put all the land to use due to financial constraints, saltiness of the land, hilly topography and there fore most of their land was reluctant and they were even not willing to give it out to those who had the potential and will to use it. 2.3.2 TOOLS / EQUIPMENT When it came to the tools used on various farm activities by the people in Kalongo village, the field work research found out that 100% of the respondents had local farm tools for example hand hoes, pangas, slashers and the rest of the respondents possessed no modern tools. However with this, there was no doubt that the respondents were mainly producing only for local markets, another reason among the rest is the problem of few tools, lack of financial among others. Such tools can not give back much to the farmers thus low produce at the end of the season. From the sampled households, The researcher asked the household heads whether they used any modern tools 88% of the respondents said No basing on the arguing that they are too expensive for example tractors. Also there was lack of clear accessibility and disabilities to afford them. However,12% of the respondents said that they have ever used modern tools like spray pump among others others as away to boost food crop production. 2.3.3 THE LABOUR ASPECTS. The researcher found out that children took a largest number of members in every households. Among the 40 interviewed household heads ,they said that,50% were children ,30% were women, and only 20% men. and they also explained that they applied modern fertilizers like agricultural chemicals and

Table 8 shows People that constantly participate in agriculture production among the sampled house holds. Gender Men Women Children All Total Frequency 10 18 03 09 (40) Percentages 23 50 4 23 100% households, 18

More to that, the researcher found out that ,Among 40 sampled

[50%] of the respondent said that women are the ones who constantly carries out food crop production,10[23%] said men, 03[04%] said children, and also 09[23%] of the respondents said that all members in the households constantly participate in food crop production. According to the type of labor used by the households, the researcher found out that 10[33%] of the respondents used family labor, only 08[27%] used hired labor only, and 12[40%]used both hired and family labor in order to boost food crop production. The researcher found out that 80% of the respondents had health problems like diseases which includes malaria, ulcers,. And this impart negatively towards agriculture production and in long among house holds. 2.3.4 THE CAPITAL USED When it came to the source of capital used by the house holds in order to boost food crop production, the researcher found out that most of the respondents got their capital after the sale of coffee and other crops like matoke, cassava, sweet potatoes to the near by primary and secondary schools as well as markets after they re-invest in food crop production. 2.3.5 THE MARKET The problems related to or associated with marketing as identified by farmers included; low prices for their produce, high taxes especially for traders who transport bananas to Kampala, high costs of transport, variations in price depending on seasonality, poor road networks, poor quality products, internal competition among farmers and middle men who take half of the profits and leave the farmer with very low prices. At the time of research, a bunch of bananas was costing Ushs 15,000 (approx 7 US dollars) in Kampala whereas in run re duce on the levels of out put

the research area it was Ushs 5,000 (approx 3 US dollars), 3 times lower than the cost price. This has discouraged farmers in this village to concrete on farming.

Fig 2: Matooke being loaded from Kalongo in Kalungu District to be taken to Kampala

2.3.6 Gender Issues On the issue of marginalization, men raised gender related problems in only 5 areas affecting them whereas the women cited 9 areas of gender marginalization. Top on the womens list of gender problems was lack of control over land and proceeds from the bananas yet they are the ones who take care of the plantations. Women farmers are unable to take decisions on how to utilize the land and the proceeds obtained from the bananas. Domestic violence was also cited by women as a gender problem affecting them. The gender differences in this community are so sharp that women have nothing to do with the marketing of the bananas.

Fig 3: A man taking bananas for sale in Masaka town from Kalungu district 2.5 Measures to improve agriculture Productivity Measures stable price adequate marketing facilities Change of land tenure system provision of cheap credit modern inputs like fertilizers provisions of education 2.6 STRENGTH, CHALLENGES at times dries up Frequency Percentage (%) 23 58 34 85 32 80 18 45 20 50 12 30 AND OPPORTUITIES TO THE VILLAGE season of

climatic changes as a result of seasonal changes of rain fall, strong sun shine which house holds crops for example ,in the pervious January such crops were dried maize, beans, ground nuts among others. From the interviewed house holds 80% said that per now there was no solution for strong sun shine position and 20% of the respondents to construct dams to be used said for that they should irrigating their pre pare their be in in dry crops gardens in time, early planning, and also the government of Uganda should

seasons , rain seasons also rots the seeds before germination, seasonal changes like prolonged droughts which all times lowered the crop production successfully.

Soil erosion is a gradual process that occurs when the impact of water or wind detaches and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deteriorate. Soil deterioration and low water quality due to erosion and surface runoff have become severe problems in this area. The problem becomes so severe that the land can no longer be cultivated well and must be abandoned. Many agricultural civilizations have declined due to land and natural resource mismanagement, and the history of such civilizations is a good reminder to protect our natural resources. On the marketing side , among the 30 interviewed house holds .The researcher found out that about 80% of the respondents transport had to problems such problems includes price fluctuation, poor systems market centers , limited

markets for agricultural produces among others. Agro-ecological Interventions; What is done here is that Old banana orchards, having lost their productivity, are being abandoned and new ones were being established at the expense of forested areas. The trees and banana stems were thinned and underground stems removed to reduce competition for water and space. The soil was improved using compost and legume cover crops which provided green manure. The main pest, the banana weevil, was controlled using traps and through the general maintenance of good plant health. Other pests and disease were kept in check with cultural practices.

Examples of Agro-ecological Interventions Photo showing old banana orchards

Photo showing new banana orchards

CHAPTER THREE DISCUSSION

Independence and autonomy; Reliance on external inputs has been reduced. For example, seed production and seed selection of local varieties by individual farmers is increasing. The use of homemade botanical pesticides and repellent companion plants is proving to be a viable substitute to commercial pesticides. For tree planting needed for agro-forestry, individuals are relying on their own production of tree seedlings in individual or community nurseries. Food security; Increases in local food production have been observed. The total production of local vegetable varieties is increasing. Very few households are now seen buying fresh vegetables. The adoption of soil-building, water-conserving, crop protection and post harvest protection methods are resulting in increased yields. Environmental recovery and conservation; Rehabilitation of abandoned banana plantations has relieved pressure on forest lands, thus arresting deforestation. Dissemination and diffusion; All NGOs operating in this area cannot meet all the demand for training from communities located beyond their focal areas. Training is thus also offered to NGOs in other districts to promote sustainable agriculture activities. Some of these people have become trained development cadres who constitute a mobile training team. Partnerships; To increase their effectiveness, rural farmers and NGOs have linked with existing national networks. JESE, for example, acts as coordinator for the Kalungu Association of Voluntary Organizations Network, which is an umbrella organization for all NGOs and Community-based organizations in the district. When feasible, farmers and NGOs work with government institutions and take advantage of funds available through the governments Poverty Alleviation Scheme. JESE for example, uses these funds in the form of credit to provide financial, technical and material assistance to less advantaged individuals and groups. As a rule, the loans must be paid back at the end of one year with an interest of 12%. To date, 257 loans have been given out with a 78% recovery rate. There is also collaboration between NGOs and government agricultural extension. Recently, extension workers have been accompanying TCC staff in their follow-up visits to

farmers, and training on agro-ecology for extension workers by TCC staff took place in Masaka district the neighboring district.

Relationships with research institutions are also being developed. TCC, for example, has a collaborative agreement with the Soil Sciences department of Makerere University. Enabling policy environment; This area needs to be developed in the future. Past evaluations of the lighthouse projects concluded that staff in the three NGOs could benefit from education to develop skills in the area of political economic analysis.

CHAPTER FOUR CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

4.1 CONCLUSIONS. Kalongos favorable soil conditions and climate have contributed to the village's agricultural success. This area usually receives plenty of rain. In some years, small areas of the southeast and southwest have averaged more than 150 millimeters per month. In the north, there is often a short dry season in December and January. Temperatures vary only a few degrees above or below 20 C but are moderated by differences in altitude. These conditions have allowed continuous cultivation in the south but only annual cropping in the north, and the driest northeastern corner of the village has supported only pastoralist. Although population growth has created pressures for land in a few areas, land shortages have been rare, and only about one-third of the estimated area of arable land was under cultivation. 4.2 RECOMMENDATIONS. The researcher recommend the significance that, in order for Kalongo village to be developed the following should be put into consideration due to the fact that it is a rural setting The government of Uganda should be in position to provide agriculture extension services to farmers or among house holds in rural development since they were found insufficient. In this case programs like NAADS should operate within this area since these people have the potential to utilize the resources from NAADS. The government should also construct feeder roads to link production areas to market centers for easily transportation food crop production in order to open up bigger links between rural areas and urban centers with bigger market. Since Kalongo village is far away from the market centers in cities such roads could promote such produces thus export promotion and foreign earnings thus boosting their income. More to that ,there is need for the government of Uganda to introduce more and improve standards of education by constructing more primary schools, secondary universal education programmers which in long run to reduce o the levels of illiteracy, but since crop production is mainly under the adults therefore the government need to introduce FAL programs to these people so as to acquire more skills in farming, to

improve their health, know how to balance profits and losses and keep records of their daily activities. There is also need to sensitize people through community seminars and work shops by agricultural workers or officers in order to educate the general public on how to apply good methods of farming and also on how to solve the incoming and existing pests and diseases affecting food crop production since households are interested. Therefore the Agricultural extension workers in conjunction with NAADS they should introduce this to the community. The government should create micro credit services and also mobilize people to access micro credit of which are of a low interest rent charges.