Factors influencing utilization of municipal solid waste compost among urban farmers in western Uganda
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
CABI Agriculture and Bioscience
Abstract
Effective management of solid waste is one of the most serious environmental problems confronting
urban governments in developing countries due to insufficient financial resources and institutional capacity to
provide basic solid waste management infrastructure, impoverished urban populations, low rates and coverage of
collection, and rising food consumption rates. Composting has been touted as the most economical solution for
reducing organic fraction of urban waste volumes while releasing vital nutrients for the soils. However, there is a paucity
of information on utilization and associated factors of urban wastes in Uganda. This study aims to assess the level
of utilization of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) compost produced from Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) plants
and associated factors among farmers in Fort Portal and Mbarara Municipalities, western Uganda.
Methods: Data was collected using a cross-sectional survey from 359 and 361 randomly selected farmers in Mbarara
and Fort Portal, respectively. A semi-structured questionnaire was employed to collect quantitative data and analyzed
statistically using SPSS and STATA statistical programs. Probit model was used to determine factors that influence
farmers’ decisions to utilize MSW compost as a soil conditioner.
Results: The findings revealed a very low level of utilization in both municipalities, 1.7% in Fort Portal and 2.2% in
Mbarara. The results indicated that annual farm income, access to other soil conditioners, experience with the use of
fertilizers, membership to a farmers’ group and the cost of MSW compost significantly influenced farmers’ decision to
use MSW compost.
Conclusions: The findings call for government investment in policies aimed at increasing the level of utilization of
the MSW compost by improving accessibility to soil conditioners, creating opportunities for maximizing household
incomes, farmer-to-farmer experience sharing, dissemination of information through extension programmes and
other innovative communication approaches, operationalization of farmers’ groups and introduction of subsidy
schemes on the price of compost through operational tax waivers in urban areas of Uganda. Finally, to guarantee
quality and to improve the adoption of compost generated at the CDM plants, there is a need for research to assess
the quality of MSW compost, undertake a supply chain analysis and cost–benefit study and set a price commensurate
with the quality, and develop guidelines and rates of application of the MSW compost.
Description
Keywords
MSW compost, Urban areas, Solid waste management
Citation
Kabasiita, J. K., Malinga, G. M., Odongo, J. C., & Opolot, E. (2021). Factors influencing utilization of municipal solid waste compost among urban farmers in western Uganda. CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, 2(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-021-00067-2