Browsing by Author "Kalibwani, Rebecca M."

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    Factors Limiting the Adoption of Climate-Resilient Agricultural Practices in and Around Oruchiga Settlement
    (African Journal of Climate Change and Resource Sustainability, 2023) Beinomugisha, Boris; Atwongyeire, Doreen; Kalibwani, Rebecca M.
    This study was conducted to establish the potential factors limiting the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices in and around the Oruchiga settlement. It was a descriptive study employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches for data collection and analysis. Information was gathered from a sample of 322 respondents and other key informants using questionnaires and interviews. Data was analysed using Microsoft EXCEL and SPSS Version 21.0 to generate both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study identified the different climate-resilient agricultural practices used by smallholder farmers including agroforestry, the use of improved crop varieties and livestock breeds, water-smart technologies, soil fertility management, the use of compost and organic pesticides and small-scale irrigation. The study also found that age, family size (labour), size of land, gender, off-farm activities, group membership and access to credit were some of the potential factors limiting the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices in the camp. In conclusion, the study confirmed that different climate-resilient agricultural practices are being used by farmers in the area, and these practices have significantly supported food production systems. Despite their great role in agricultural production, the adoption is still constrained by several factors. The study therefore, recommends government to introduce policies that enable farmers to own and cultivate large-scale farms to increase output. Revisiting land policies is paramount if farmers in the area must increase production through adopted climate-resilient agricultural practices. Small-sized land was one of the reasons farmers failed to use recommended practices; therefore, increasing production per unit area through opening new arable land areas would mean that farmers have enough space to try new technologies/practices. The study also recommends that the government 1) consider the farmers’ willingness and factors impeding their practice before introducing climate-resilient agricultural practices; 2) create awareness among the farmers about the overall benefits and challenges of climate-resilient agricultural practices; 3) integrate newly introduced practices with farmer-friendly indigenous practices; and 4) follow down-top approach and include farmers in any decision-making processes.
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    Institutional Factors and Technology Adoption amongst Smallholder Coffee Farmers in Kanungu District South-Western Uganda
    (Preprints, 2022) Nabaasa, Edgar; Kalibwani, Rebecca M.; Ssemakula, Edward; Mujuni, Boaz
    The use of improved agricultural technologies has been reported as the major strategy to increase agricultural production, increased household incomes and addressing poverty. However, adoption of such improved technologies by smallholder coffee farmers has been slow and this has contributed to the low coffee productivity in the country and the poor performance of the coffee sub sector. The study was meant to examine the effect of institutional factors including extension services, access to market and access to credit on technology adoption among smallholder coffee farmers in Kanungu District, Uganda. The study collected both quantitative and qualitative data from 289 smallholder coffee farmers and 8 key informants respectively in major coffee growing sub counties in Kanungu district. The study revealed that access to extension services and access to market have a positive significant influence on agricultural technology adoption while access to market has no significant influence on agricultural technology adoption. The study concluded that there is a positive significant relationship between institutional factors and technology adoption among smallholder coffee farmers in Kanungu district.
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    Participation in gardening activity and its association with improved mental health among family caregivers of people with dementia in rural Uganda
    (Preventive medicine reports, 2021) Ainamani, Herbert E.; Bamwerinde, Wilson M.; Rukundo, Godfrey Z.; Tumwesigire, Sam; Kalibwani, Rebecca M.; Bikaitwaho, Evard M.; Tsai, Alexander C.
    Evidence from high-income settings suggests that gardening is associated with reductions in depression,anxiety,and stress. The benefits of gardening are less well understood by mental health practitioners andresearchers from low- and middle-income countries. Our study estimated the association between participation in gardening and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among caregivers of people living with dementia in rural, southwestern Uganda. In a cross-sectional study, we interviewed 242 family caregivers of people with dementia to elicit their gardening activities; symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales); and caregiving burden (Zarit Burden Interview).Linear multivariable regression models estimated the association between participation in gardening and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Out of 242participants, 131(54%) caregivers were involved in gardening. Severe to extremely severe symptoms of depression were less prevalent among those who were involved in gardening compared with those who were not (0 [0%] vs. 105 [95%], P < 0.001), as were severe to extremely severe symptoms of anxiety(36 [27%] vs.110 [99%], P < 0.001) and stress (2 [2%] vs. 94 [85%], P < 0.001).In regression models adjusting for covariates,we foundstatistically significantassociations betweenparticipation in gardening and symptoms of depression (b = -18.4; 95% CI,20.5 to −16.3), anxiety (b = -16.6; 95% CI, −18.6 to –14.6), and stress (b = -18.6; 95% CI, −20.6 to –16.6).Caregivers of people with dementia who participate in gardening have lower symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Gardening interventions in this at-risk population may ameliorate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.