Soil and Water Conservation Technologies in the Upper Rwizi Microcatchment of Southwestern Uganda

Abstract

The continuing decline of agricultural productivity in many areas in Uganda, particularly in the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB), has been attributed to land degradation and, as a consequence, farmers encroach on forests, wetlands, and marginal steep slopes (NEMA, 2009; Mugonola, 2013c). Cultivation of these areas using unsustainable agricultural production methods contributes to increased soil erosion, loss of buffering capacity, sediment deposition, and pollution of water bodies. Degradation of farm and rangeland has on-farm and off-farm effects. On-farm, it leads to reduced current and future land productivity and land values, while off-farm, soil erosion results in environmental degradation, desertification, siltation of waterways, and flooding, among others.