Academic submissions (CAES)

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https://dissertations.mak.ac.ug/handle/20.500.12281/4081

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Browsing Academic submissions (CAES) by Subject "Agriculture"
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    Analysis of past and future precipitation extremes in Uganda’s climate
    (Makerere University, 2018) Abigaba, Claire
    Analyzing long term changes in precipitation extremes is of great importance to the welfare of human beings as well as the entire ecosystem. Increase in maximum number of consecutive wet days can lead to more and worse floods while high maximum number of consecutive dry days can pose a threat to the drought problem that greatly affects water sources and soil moisture. The occurrence of dry spells (consecutive dry days) within a rainfall season greatly affect agriculture and other sectors such as tourism and fisheries. This study addressed the past and future changes in extreme rainfall over Uganda using the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment model outputs for the two rainy seasons of March-May and September-November. The analysis was performed for two time periods: historical/past (1986-2015) and future(2021-2050). Downscaled data from CanESM for RCPs 4.5 and 8.5 was used. The significance in the time series trend was tested using Mann-Kendall test and the results were analyzed using python software. The results indicated that there was no significant trend in historical time series for both consecutive dry days and consecutive wet days.The future trends were non-significant with very mixed spatial patterns of positive and negative trends. There were no significant trends in historical time series for both consecutive dry days and consecutive wet days for both rain seasons with constant number of consecutive wet days over most parts of the country. For September-November season, maximum number of consecutive dry days increased while number of consecutive wet days decreased. Projections show that maximum number of consecutive dry days will increase while number of consecutive wet days will decrease for most parts of the country but with no significant trends for both rain seasons.
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    Determinants of youth participation in tomato production and marketing in Mukono District
    (Makerere University, 2018) Mutumba, Robert Ssebuliba
    This study sought to establish the determinants of youth participation in tomato production and marketing in Mukono district, Uganda. It was guided by the following objectives: To assess the influence of productivity, socio-economic and institutional factors on youth participation in tomato production and marketing in Mukono district. The purpose of the study is therefore to assess and document the most important socio-economic and institutional factors that influence tomato production, and marketing in Mukono district. In addition to this, it would commit the government to fulfilling its national obligations in development of the youth in relation to the National development plan, the Uganda constitution and Vision 2040. This study employed a descriptive survey design, as it is focused on collecting data to explore, find out and explain the determinants of youth participation in tomato production and marketing in Mukono district. The sample size of this study was 50 respondents. Primary data was collected by administering a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data. The study found that economic factors such as inadequate land limited youth participation in tomato production and marketing in Mukono district. Further, majority of the youth indicated that they participated in production due to drop out of school. Access to credit had minimal effects on youth participation. The study recommends that the local government should assist in creating ready markets and facilitating linkages to other markets, for agricultural produce, this will encourage the youth to participate in farming activities since they are assured of making sales and increasing their profits which will contribute to employment, improved income and household food security.
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    Impact of soil erosion on the physicochemical properties and productivity of the soil in Wanale Sub-county, Mbale District
    (Makerere University, 2018-08) Rubongoya, Solomon
    It is estimated that worldwide about 80% of the current degradation on agricultural land is caused by soil erosion and in Uganda, 66 of the 112 districts are exposed to an overall mean erosion risk rate >1 tha−1y−1. Soil erosion deteriorates chemical properties of soil by loss of organic and minerals containing plant nutrients that are necessary for life support system of soil resource as it brings changes in physical properties. As a result, more and more soil erosion studies in Uganda are carried out in order to get better understanding about why the phenomenon happens and what could be done to solve the problems but the studies have not focused on comparing the physio-chemical soil properties and crop yields obtained from soil erosion affected gardens and those that have no soil erosion history. Therefore a study was conducted in Wanale Sub-county to investigate the effect of soil erosion on the chemical and physical properties of soil at different landscape positions in Wanale and to assess the effect of soil erosion on crop yields so as to enable farmers and policy makers to make informed predictions on the future productivity of the soils and required agricultural inputs and suitable land management practices to replenish the lost productivity of affected soils. In the study, soil samples were collected from eight sampling gardens at 4 different points in atop sequence (Top, Middle, base, and valley) along a hill in Buwasu village, Wanale sub-county and taken to the soil science laboratory in the school of agricultural sciences, Makerere University for subsequent processing and analysis. It was observed that soil erosion significantly impacted the soil pH and depth while the concentration of macro nutrients (Total Nitrogen, Potassium, Calcium) and Organic carbon in gardens affected by soil erosion were not significantly different from the concentration in soil samples from gardens without history of soil erosion but were lower than their respective required critical levels in the soil. And when analyzed with topography, Organic carbon and Nitrogen percentages showed significant differences between the middle block and all other blocks. Poor crop yields were also recorded in gardens without erosion history and they did not significantly differ from those obtained from erosion affected sites and this was attributed to continuous nutrient mining in gardens without history of erosion by agricultural activities. Nutrient replenishment strategies into the soil should therefore focus on both erosion affected and those gardens not affected by soil erosion as the study concluded that both areas are deficient of macro nutrients necessary for plant growth.
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    Impacts of Agricultural Land Use on Crater Lake Water: A Comparison between Lake Nkuruba and Saka in Kabarole District
    (Makerere University, 2019-08) Amanyire, Madrine
    ABSTRACT Most freshwater lakes in developing countries are experiencing a challenge of impaired water quality and ecological imbalances originating from human activities. Land use for agriculture has been suggested as a major threat to aquatic biodiversity. Two volcanic freshwater crater lakes (Nkuruba and Saka) in western Uganda were thus studied to evaluate the extent agricultural use in the surrounding landscape was impacting on quality of water. The forested lake (Nkuruba) was used as a control because it has less amounts of agricultural land use around its wall as compared to Lake Saka. The study revealed that agricultural land use has negative impacts on the quality of water. In particular: turbidity (SD) was less than 0.5m in the agricultural lake; Dissolved Oxygen levels in the agricultural lake were very high on the surface compared to the forested one, but greatly decreased with depth due to high algal growth on the surface; High Electrical Conductivity was observed in both lakes but maximum concentrations of ions were observed in the agricultural lake. However, pH and temperature values from both lakes seemed to be neutral when compared to results that were observed by other researchers. Therefore conservation strategies such as afforestation, reforestation, minimal use of pesticides and fertilizers, and regular assessment of water need to be adopted for better conservation and management of freshwater ecosystems
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    A study on maize production and profitability in Buhimba Sub-County Hoima District
    (Makerere University, 2018) Tumwesige, Gilbert
    The study was to assess the productivity and profitability of maize production in Buhimba sub-county Hoima district. Well-designed questionnaires were used to collect data from 80 maize farmers. The respondents were selected by random sampling so as to avoid bias in the study. These data were coded and entered into SPSS (version 16.0) computer software for analysis. Results of this study show that out of the 80 farmers, majority (57.5%) of farmers were males while only 42.5% were females. Analysis of the marital status showed that (70%) of them were married, singles, (21.25%) and only 8.75% were separated. This means that most people who were married engaged themselves maize production probably due to the fact they have responsibilities and families to take care of as compared to single and separated people. The average gross margin is 160,034.98Uganda shillings implying that the profitability in maize enterprises is still low due to the various factors that influence the level of maize production like education level, experience and also extension services maybe lacking hence the low average gross margin between the respondents. Household size, experience, distance to the market, size of land under maize production and access to credit had a significant effect on the quantity of maize produced by farmers. The major problem the farmers are facing during production is the pest and disease prevalence which has a frequency of 47 and 87% of the respondents mentioned it as their first challenge. Then too much sunshine that can possibly lead to scorching of the plants had a frequency of 35 and 64.8% of the respondents saying it’s one of the challenges that is had to control because it’s natural. Based on the results the study recommend the government of Uganda and other relevant authorities targeting agricultural development and food security focusing on smallholder maize production and marketing with the aim of improving the welfare of the farmers out to adopt recommendations such as improving on the maize marketing system especially the pricing to improve the profitability of the crop in the smallholder farmers and ultimately luring more farmers to cultivate the staple crop. The study recommends the government to recapitalize the grain marketing institution, to improve its operations.
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    Vulnerability to climate change for food security of small holder farmers in mahyoro sub-county, kamwenge district, uganda
    (Makerere University, 2018-06) Kobusinge, Rose
    Sub-Saharan Africa ranks among the most vulnerable regions to climate change and variability. It has the largest proportion of food insecure people where 20% of people are undernourished. Agriculture is the major economic activity for Uganda employing more than 80% of the population, 69% of which practice subsistence agriculture as their main source of livelihood. Agriculture performance fluctuates with changes in weather conditions. This study explored the vulnerability of smallholder farmers and adaptation options to climate change. This study was carried out in Kanyabikere and Katanga villages Kamwenge districts with the objectives of i) to establish the impact of climate change on food security of small holder farming community and ii) To identify existing coping and adaptation measures of smallholder farmers to the impacts of climate change on food security. The data was collected using structured questionnaires. The results of the study indicated that all respondents were aware about climate change mainly through personal observations and mass media such as radios. All respondents reported droughts, crop pests especially fall armyworms and bean weevils, abnormality in seasons, increasing temperatures and generally decreased rainfall as major climate change shocks and stresses they experience. These resulted into crop damage, food scarcity, declined yields and water conflicts among others. Respondents practice a wide range of coping and adaptation options such as planting early maturing crop varieties, change in planting dates, and use of pesticides. The limitations to adaptation were; lack of relevant information, materials, and technology to use such as water pumps and limited skills. Respondents appeared to be highly exposed to climate change. Therefore this study concluded that Kanyabikere and Katanga like many other African farming communities are vulnerable to climate change and food insecurity.