Traditional home garden agroforestry for household incomes, food and nutrition security in Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso District.

Abstract

This study examined traditional home garden agroforestry being practiced in Entebbe municipality with a view to improving the productivity, food and nutrition security to the farming households. The objectives of the study were; i.To examine the practices of home garden agroforestry among households in Entebbe municipality. ii.To assess the tree-crop-livestock combination in the home gardens. iii.To determine the contribution of home garden agroforestry to households‘ incomes and food and nutrition security. Data were collected from 60 respondents interviewed using a structures questionnaire. Photographs were taken to provide visual evidence of the home garden agroforestry in Entebbe Municipality. Questionnaire responses were coded, entered in SPSS to create a data file and later generated statistical summary. Results reveal that The majority of respondents being above 40 years showed that the respondents were mature and could make decisions about land use including on-farm tree planting. Most on farm tree planters owned land less than 5 acres. The major crops grown were basically for domestic consumption and these were cassava grown by 93.3% of the respondents, maize, beans, matooke, potatoes among others. All the respondents grew coffee, cocoa, and wheat for commercial purposes. Among the 10 species of trees grown, Persia americana (10%) and Mangifera indica (25%) were the most preferred species and Most of the households in Entebbe municipality do not have a stable food supply from their home gardens and the major reasons for this were low fertility of soils, shortage of land and small size of land in the municipality It is concluded that home garden agroforestry contributed to household food security and nutrition as trees grown are not only a source of household income but also provide income to buy additional food for the household among others. Home garden agroforestry supplements on the household income and Tree-crop-livestock combinations in home gardens ensure a stable food supply and alleviate food insecurity in the households. Farmers planted several tree species including Persia americana, Markhamia lutea , Moringa oleifora and Mangifera indica. Farmers get products such as fruits, firewood, poles and herbal medicine from the trees some of which were sold for incomes. Farmers appreciate the social, economic and environmental contributions of agroforestry and trees planted on farms. The following recommendations have been made, there should be strategies or programs such as trainings and community sensitization on benefits of home garden agroforestry to encouraging more participation of people in home garden agroforestry farmers so as to increase tree planting which is recommended as form of agricultural land conservation, improving on the climatic conditions and ensuring sustainable food security in the municipality and the country as a whole.