Farmers’ Coping Mechanisms for Common Bean Production under Water-Logged Soil Conditions in Uganda-Rwanda Boarder Region
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Date
2013
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Abstract
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a staple food and income crop in eastern Africa, especially within the
Uganda-Rwanda boarder region where it constitutes a major component of food security. Unfortunately, bush beans are severely
affected by frequent water-logging which persists over a considerable period of the year. In spite of this, farmers have continued to
cultivate bush bean though with miserable yields. The study aimed to identify farmers’ indigenous coping mechanisms to the climatic
predicament, as a foundation for nurturing and subsequently designing appropriate management strategies for improved bean
production in the region. A household survey was conducted in Kisoro district, in a location representative of the ecological
conditions of Uganda-Rwanda region. 96 respondents were selected randomly at village level from a list of 500 households provided
by the extension workers. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Findings showed that farmers possess vital coping
mechanisms including construction of ridges, fertiliser application and chemical control of pests and diseases to expedite plant
growth, and construction of drainage channels. It is clear that farmers’ indigenous coping mechanisms need further nurturing and
refining to improve their performance in dealing with water-logging crisis in the region
Description
Keywords
Ridges, manure, drainage channels, bush bean.
Citation
Athanase, C. R., Tenywa, J. S., Makooma, M. T., Okiror, J. J., Leonidas, D., Mupenzi, M., & Augustine, M. (2013). Farmers' Coping Mechanisms for Common Bean Production under Water-Logged Soil Conditions in Uganda-Rwanda Boarder Region. Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering. B, 2(1B), 46.