Browsing by Author "Akwango, Damalie"

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    Effect of drought early warning system on household food security in Karamoja subregion, Uganda
    (Agriculture & Food Security, 2017) Akwango, Damalie; Bonton Obaa, Bernard; Turyahabwe, Nelson; Baguma, Yona; Egeru, Anthony
    Drought is regarded as a leading cause of food insecurity affecting about 220 million people in sub- Saharan Africa. Drought early warning systems (DEWSs) have the potential to strengthen capacity of communities in managing and reducing drought effects through building preparedness and providing coping strategies. The Karamoja subregion is the only region with a functional DEWS in Uganda. The subregion suffers from effects of recurrent episodes of drought with negative impacts on food security. Despite having DEWS in place, the subregion remains the most food insecure in the country. The extent to which DEWS has contributed to household food security in the subregion remains unclear. This study determined the effect of DEWS on agro-pastoral household food security in the subregion. The study was conducted in Nakapiripirit and Kotido districts of the Karamoja. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 305 participating and non-participating households in DEWS. The effect of participating in DEWS on food security was analyzed using the generalized linear model. The level of food security and nutrition were measured using the household food insecurity access score and household dietary diversity score (HDDS), respectively. Results: Findings showed that all respondents had experienced food insecurity during the course of the year. Drought was indicated as the main cause of food insecurity in the households. Participation in DEWS significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the threat of food insecurity by 23.7% and increased the level of household nutrition by 30%. Better nutrition was realized in DEWS participating households (HDDS = 9.0) compared to non-participating households (HDDS = 6.6). Conclusion: Owing to intermittent drought events in the Karamoja subregion, DEWS contributes to household food security and nutrition by providing households with information on timely planting, crop diversification, farm equipment, drought management and drought-tolerant crop varieties. There is need for DEWS practitioners to focus on information dissemination, provision of drought-tolerant crops and provision of training opportunities to communities for increased production in semi-arid areas.
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    Making Agri-Food Systems Work for the Rural Poor in Eastern and Southern Africa
    (National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI), 2011) Odongkara, Konstantine; Kalunda, Patrick; Akello, Beatrice; Ntakyo, Prossy; Mbilingi, Bwambale; Akwango, Damalie; Kaidhiwa, Michael; Nasuuna, Agnes; Omadi, Robert; Mutenyo, Helen; Biso, Godfrey; Alaso, Agnes
    The overall goal of the project is improved food security and sustainable natural resource management in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region, to be achieved through enhanced adaptation of pro-poor agri-food system innovations. The specific objectives and outputs are: i) To identify and promote local innovations and adaptation strategies that work for the poor rural men and women to cope with food security vulnerabilities. ii) To adapt and scale up technology and market innovations for promoting orphan crops that enhance food security, increase incomes and ecosystem integrity in selected areas of Malawi, Kenya and Uganda. iii) To analyze and promote specific policies and governance mechanisms for sustainable agri-food systems. iv) To determine mechanisms for scaling up agri-food systems and sustainable agriculture. Several interventions have been implemented to address food security in the region. However, what is new in this project is that it takes the holistic agri-food system approach, has a pro-poor focus, emphasises ‘orphan’ crops and integrates natural resource, market and governance aspects within the approaches. The significance of the ‘orphan’ crops approach is that they are important for food and nutrition of poor farmers; provide income opportunities for the vulnerable groups, particularly the women; help to diversify the farming systems and spread risks and are usually more resilient to seasonal and climate change. In Uganda, the project has been implemented in three districts, namely Tororo, Mukono and Ntungamo. Among the districts, Tororo is considered a highly food insecure area, while Mukono is considered a food secure area. Ntungamo may be described as moderately food secure with food security being threatened by widespread ecological and demographical changes.