Browsing by Author "Mutumba, C."

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    Farm resources, gender and water use practices in livestock-based livelihood systems of Kiruhura district, South western Uganda
    (Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 2009-06-15) Nanyeenya, W.N.; Mutumba, C.; Mutyaba, C.; Wanyama, J.
    Uganda’s south-western rangelands have capacity to improve farm productivity but are hampered by scarcity of water. The purpose of this study was to establish the current status of farm crop and livestock enterprise management systems, gender allocation of livestock, crop and human watering activities and assess prospects for using improved technology for livestock and domestic water storage, conveyance and utilisation, and small scale irrigation. One hundred households were selected from two sub-counties to represent crop-livestock and semi-transhumant cattle systems using purposive, multi-stage and systematic random sampling procedure. Findings of the study indicate that cattle contribute up to 89% of household livelihoods, banana is a dominant crop enterprise in Kazo (5.3 acres) and sweet potatoes are common in Kikatsi (1.4 acres). The main water catchments in the community are by roof catchment (41%) and sloping surfaces (36%). Of the households with the potential to harvest from their roof tops only about 50% exploit this option. The main sources of water for domestic uses, however, are own dams and shallow wells at 34 and 21%, respectively. Regarding gender and water collection, results show that all household members contribute towards water collection but where males are concerned they rely on bicycles (48%) whereas girls and women mostly (75%) carry water on their heads. Livestock watering is largely communal as only about 40% of the farmers have own individual valley dams. The need to have affordable and sustainable water storage and utilization systems particularly for livestock production was determined. By improving water collection and storage at household level not only will labour be released for other activities but the drudgery to which the female folks are exposed will be reduced. Due to increasing sedentarised cattle keeping coupled with extended fencing and exclusion, trespass is a serious offence in the area. Individual valley tanks should therefore be promoted in place of communal dams. The current watering systems that promote siltation of storage systems due to widespread use of mud troughs should be addressed by improved water storage, lifting/pumping and distribution systems. The technologies that may be explored to improve water storage on the farms include roof catchment and surface run off harvesting using ferrocement and polyethene tanks, and individual household preferably polyethene lined valley dams/tanks. Lifting water from storage systems could be enhanced by windmills and treadle (foot) pumps.
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    Profiling agricultural engineering technologies for mechanizing smallholder agriculture in Uganda
    (Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 2016) Wanyama, J.; Banadda, N.; Kiyimba, F.; Okurut, S.; Zziwa, A.; Kabenge, I.; Mutumba, C.; Tumutegyereize, P.; Komakech, A. J.; Kiggundu, N.
    Developing countries are grappling with numerous challenges including feeding rapidly growing populations, alleviating poverty, protecting the environment, and mitigating adverse impacts of climate change. For the coming years, one of the main agricultural development agenda for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) should be to increase agricultural productivity and production to achieve food security through agricultural mechanization with Agricultural Engineering Technologies (AETs) as major inputs. However, there is paucity of information on the status of existing AETs and their contribution to mechanizing smallholder agriculture which is crucial to effective planning and strategy formulation. Therefore, the overarching objective of this paper is to review the past and present status, the constraints to adoption and future of AETs in Uganda in the context of mechanizing smallholder agriculture. Several proven AETs developed through research institutions and universities have been profiled in different areas of farm power and mechanization systems, agro-processing for value addition; renewable energy systems; and water harnessing and utilization. Availability and prudent use of these AETs along the value chain has the potential to enhance labor use and efficiency, provide greater precision and timeliness in farm operations, reduce postharvest loses, contributing to adding value to products and profitability of farming through proper handling, drying, cleaning, grading, processing, preservation, packaging and storage. The future of AETs in Uganda is hinged on addressing the aspects on appropriateness of the AETs in the smallholder agriculture context and standardizing of AET. Furthermore, human resource capacity development through enhancement of technical skills in AE, increased private sector engagement, economic incentives and innovation protection should be an integral part of the future strategies for development and increased adoption of AETs.