AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT

DISCLAIMER These slides are part of a training package that includes a Trainers Manual, User Guidelines and a CD-ROM with references and presentations The production of this package was commissioned in 2014 by the Office of the Prime Minister, as part of the Northern Uganda Agriculture Livelihoods Recovery Programme (ALREP) The training package was produced by consultants of the Makerere University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences The contents of the package do not necessary reflect the views and opinions of the Government of Uganda and the European Union

Session Objectives To understand the agricultural impacts on environment (social and bio-physical) To examine ways of carrying out sustainable and profitable agriculture

DEFINITIONS OF AGRICULTURE Agriculture is the tilling of the soil, growing and harvesting crops, breeding and raising livestock, fishery and forestry activities Agriculture is the production, processing, marketing, and use of foods, fibers and byproducts from plant crops and animals (what do think about these definitions, are they sufficient and broad enough?)

EXAMPLE: Passion fruit growing High value crop. Can be done on small acreage

Low-tech furrow irrigation High-tech overhead sprinkler irrigation Organic agriculture, intercropping Discuss the impact of all systems on the environment and human wellbeing

CATEGORISATION OF AGRICULTURE Smallholder semi-subsistence mixed farming. Generally low input – low output farming, whereby soil fertility is maintained through fallow and some import of manure from livestock. Farm size is between 1-10 acres, of which 1-4 acres are farmed. Smallholder semi-commercial farming: larger focus on markets, for instance sesame, rice, soybean, maize, cotton. Use of fertilizer, pesticides and improved seeds on a relatively small scale Transhumant herding – as practiced by the Karimajong. Livestock is following rain and grass availability over relatively long distances. Livestock ranching, for example the Aswa Ranching Scheme Extensive, mechanized cultivation (cotton, sugar cane, rice) (Participants may expand the list)

NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE ON ENVIRONMENT Land transformation (Due to the use of land to yield goods and services) CAUSES Deforestation to create gardens Drainage of wetlands to grow crops like rice Landscape degradation through activities like road construction for transport of agricultural produce

DEFORESTATION FOR AGRICULTURE FOREST TRANSFORMED INTO AN AGRICULTURAL LAND

NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE ON ENVIRONMENT IMPACT 2. Land degradation (the long-term decline in ecosystem function and productivity) CAUSES Soil erosion Soil exhaustion Soil salinisation Overgrazing Frequent burning Loss of soil biodiversity due to use of agrochemicals

SOIL EROSION IN A MAIZE GARDEN

NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE ON ENVIRONMENT 3. Water pollution CAUSES Soil erosion and agrochemicals (fertilizers & pesticides) from agricultural fields Effluents from agro - processing factories Soil from infrastructure development (eg road construction)

NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE ON ENVIRONMENT 4. Loss of biodiversity CAUSES Slash and burn Use of agrochemicals Monoculture cropping Water eutrophication from agricultural fertilisers Genetic engineering

MONOCROPPING LEADS TO LOSS OF AGRO- BIODIVERSITY AND IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO PEST INFESTATIONS

CROP DIVERSITY HELPS TO KEEP PESTS UNDER CONTROL AND ENSURES FOOD SECURITY

NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE ON ENVIRONMENT 5. Atmospheric pollution CAUSES Burning (bush and garden clearance) Use of fertilizers – produces GHG Rice growing and keeping of cattle and other ruminants – which produce methane gas (a GHG)

NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE ON ENVIRONMENT 6. Marginalisation of small –scale farmers CAUSES liberalization of agricultural trade under WTO legalizing the use of export subsidies Use of agricultural subsidies for inputs by developed countries

STRATEGIC AGRICULTURAL PLANNING Aware of Agriculture Sector Development Strategy and Investment Plan: 2010/11- 2014-15 The Plan is inclusive of ALREP with Component 1.7.4 being on “Access to Markets” with the lion’s share of Shs 28.5 billion of the Total ALREP budget of Shs 68.5 billion However, this is basically access to local markets

ACCESSING INTERNATIONAL MARKETS BY SMALL FARMERS Requires strategic planning that involves increased production of traditional cash crops like cotton, coffee and tea, and non-traditional ones like simsim, soybean, bird eye peppers, maize

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE Opportunities for organic agriculture because of expanding international markets and premium prices It is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances ecosystem health, including biological cycles and soil biological activity Is based on minimising the use of external inputs, avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides Usually more labour intensive Requires soil fertility imports in the form of manure

% share of organic certified land in Africa Uganda 38% Tanzania 17% South Africa 14% Zambia 6.5% Ghana 6% Tunisia 6% Egypt 5% Morocco 4% Cameroon, Mozambique, Madagascar 3%

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN UGANDA The number of small holder farmers in Uganda certified to international standards and linked to export markets grew from 40,000 by beginning of 2005 to 206,803 by mid 2008 It is led by National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU) – an NGO As a result of NOGAMU leadership, facilitation and coordination: - The value of organic exports increased by 124% between 2005 and 2008 from USD 10 million to USD 22.8 - The number of organic export companies/ projects increased from 17 at the beginning of 2005 to 38 by mid 2008

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION