Assessment of waste management practices in backyard livestock farming systems in Kira municipality Wakiso district

Abstract

Globally the rate of urbanization is high and it is estimated that two thirds of the world will be residing in urban areas by 2050. Sub-Saharan Africa more so Uganda has illustrated this through the bursting populations in its major cities and metropolitan areas such as the Kampala Metropolitan Area. With the rapid urbanization comes changes and competition among different land use types such as agriculture, transport, accommodation, business and so many others in urban and peri-urban areas. Livestock production in these areas has faced a challenge of waste management which poses environmental and public health risks. This study aimed at characterizing backyard livestock farming systems, assessing waste management practices in these livestock systems and assessing attitudes of neighbouring residents towards livestock production activities in residential areas of Kira municipality in Wakiso District. A cross-sectional study design was used in which two sets of questionnaires were prepared that is for farmers and neighbouring residents. A total of 67 livestock keeping households (LKH) and 136 residents the three divisions of Kira municipality were interviewed in the study. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics in Microsoft Excel and Stata software. The results indicated that LKH kept mainly dairy cattle (67.2%), goats (41.8%), sheep (7.5%), pigs (26.9%) and poultry (37.3%) in mostly (74.6%) intensive system of production. The study further indicated that LKH collected mainly faeces (100%), urine (86.6%) and feed remains (59.7%) as wastes from the farms. This research also revealed that neighbouring residents had a generally negative attitude towards livestock production activities highlighting accumulation of filth and foul smell from waste generated as major concerns. Most residents (94%) revealed that livestock waste is a problem in their neighbourhood. The findings indicate that livestock waste management is major challenge to farmers thereby posing environmental and public health risks to the population. This calls for a need for a policy framework by metropolitan authorities to promote development of sustainable urban and peri urban livestock production systems.