Persistence of draught animal power in the farming households of Eastern Uganda: A comparative study of Kumi and Kapchorwa Districts

Abstract

This study investigates the persistence of draught animal power (DAP) in Eastern Uganda, with a comparative analysis of Kumi and Kapchorwa districts. Despite advancements in mechanized agriculture, draught animal power remains a significant component of farming practices in these regions. The study aims to investigate the proportions of households that own, access, and use Draught Animals (DA) to understand the rate of decline in ownership and use compared to other previous studies as a way of assessing its persistence. It will further explore the socio-economic, cultural, and environmental factors contributing to the continued use of DAP. A cross-sectional design was employed mainly utilizing surveys and field observations to collect data from smallholder farmers in both districts. The findings reveal that ownership in Kapchorwa of oxen is 30% (30.4%, n =112) and donkeys (10.3%, n = 112) more than in Kumi district (32.4%, n=188) of farmers owning oxen and (0.0%, n = 112) of donkeys. The findings showcased the mode of acquisition of DAP, where most farmers acquire ownership of DAP through purchase and those that don’t own access through hire either way indicating the importance of DAP as a source of income for the household. The findings reveal that in Kumi, District, the use of draught animals persists primarily due to Tradition and cultural views followed by a lack of alternative machinery while in Kapchorwa it is due to the topography containing steep hills and deep valleys. However, their persistence is threatened by land fragmentation which either reduces the size of the garden or reduces communal grazing ground., they are becoming expensive to hire, have rampant disease outbreaks, and high demand for their use which delays the agricultural season, and the level of poverty of the house hinders their access to its use, etc. It also showcases a very low level of mechanization adoption rates among households indicating various factors. The study concludes that there is limited awareness of mechanization meaning, DAP continues to play a crucial role in the agricultural landscape of Eastern Uganda, influenced by a complex interplay of economic, cultural, and environmental factors. The persistence of DAP underscores the need for tailored agricultural policies that consider the unique contexts of each district, promoting a balanced approach to agricultural modernization that supports both traditional and modern methods of farming.