Scaling - up Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices by small holder farmers: working with agricultural extension to identify, assess and disseminate SLM practices

REPORT ON FARMER TO FARMER LEARNING VISITS TO

DEMONSTRATION SITES IN NORTHERN UGANDA

Intercropping; Mulching Gulu District

By

Funded by

September 2019

1

Table of Contents

Introduction, Welcome remarks and brief highlights ……………………………………………………………………….2

Lessons learnt by the group members (Melon) ...................................................................................... 8

Lessons learnt by the visiting group ..................................................................................................... 10

Emerging issues and Observations ....................................................................................................... 10

List of Tables

Table 1: list of acronyms ......................................................................................................... 1

Table 2: Participants by group and gender in Gulu District Visit ...................................... 3

Acronyms Table 1: list of acronyms

ACODEN Action for Development Network

LGs District Local Governments

KTB Kenya Tool Bar

OWC Operation Wealth Creation

NARO National Research Organization

PRELNOR Project for Restoration of Livelihoods in Northern Region

ULN Uganda Landcare Network

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Introduction

Uganda Landcare Network (ULN) with partners organised farmer to farmer learning visits

during the 4th quarter of 2019 with the aim of enhancing farmer to farmer learning, acquiring

knowledge and skills for scaling up SLM practices on farm.

The visits targeted participating districts in the project including Nwoya, Agago, Gulu,

Kitgum, Omoro and Pader in Acholi region and Adjumani District in West Nile region. The

following categories of stakeholders participated Farmers, Policy makers, Researchers,

Extension Workers and Private Sector.

Table 1: Demonstrations in Gulu District

No Technology Host farmer District Extension worker

responsible /Institution

1 Intercrop (Maize and Soya) Mrs Angee Doreen Gulu Janet Otto

(PLELNOR)

2 Mulching + Melon +

Agroforestry

Mr. and Mrs Bono

Hellen

Gulu Janet Otto

(PLELNOR)

3 Compost manure + Mulching

tomatoes + Agroforestry

Mr and Mrs Tabu

Geoffrey

Gulu Janet Otto

(PLELNOR)

Kanya farmers group waiting for their fellow group and non-group members

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Visiting farmer group boarding taxis for a visit in Gulu (Photo Issa Aliga)

Visit 1: Tii Ki Adaa farmers group (Soya beans) in Asanyi village, Pagik Parish, Paicho Sub-

County

The visit was opened by a prayer led by Achora Margaret. The group chairperson then

highlighted on how the group was initiated in 2013 by ACODEN with a focus on Saving and

Loans as a key component to support their farming activities.

In 2018, a team of from Kampala headed by Agricultural officers at the District level and

PRELNOR trainers supported our group with a training in Amuru District where 3 of our

members attended and selected crops to demonstrate in our group and we selected beans

which we are growing now in this gardens

Table 2: Participants by group and gender in Gulu District Visit

No Details Technology No

participants

Gender Group

members

Non group

members

Males Females

1 Group that visited

other group

Beans and Maize 31 8 23 18 13

2 Groups that were

visited

Soya beans +

Maize

11

6 5 8 3

Total 42 14 28 26 16

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Farmers visit a garden of soya bean and maize. Photo by Isa Alga

Listening to a farmer explain details of the demo

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Farmers inspecting a garden of soya bean and maize. Photo by Issa Aliga

Uganda Landcare Network supplied 30 kgs of seed to the farmer and paid for labour for

clearing land, planting and weeding. This demonstration is doing well compared to others and

Some people come to ask us whether we used fertilizer.

Planting in rows is good because it eases weeding. It’s good to work in groups because many

organisations like supporting groups and there is a lot of learning and sharing knowledge.

Questions

When did you prepare the garden and plant? February (1st and 2nd ploughing) but was

affected by the doves. This is second planting. The second season started in August. So more

farmers are planting

Does the group have an ox-plough? How did you manage to cultivate all this garden? Group

has no ox –plough but rely on group labour.

Do you still do VSLA? Yes, our group is growing and have more than 5 million being lent

out to members on a 3 % interest per month to members and for non-group members we

negotiate the interest depending on who has come and for what purpose.

How much seed did you plant and how much do you expect during harvest? We planted 30

Kg and harvested 250 Kg

Any problems? Doves at first, drought not too much and also roaming animals which graze

on our crops.

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Visit ended with a vote of thanks given by one of the visiting group member (Atto Lilly) who

appreciated the work that the group was doing and mentioned that they have learnt a lot.

The secretary for Kanya farmers group in Amuru shared their group activities and how they

have been supported by similar organisation in (Agroforestry +Beans (Phaselous Vulgaris). He

appreciated how the soya and Maize was doing well despite the heavy sunshine which has affected

their beans although not harvested.

“For our group we planted trees and beans and the trees (Grevillea, Calliandra and Sasanian) are

doing well compared to the beans” This was affected by drought. We plan to try again in the next

season and see how trees do with crops during a drought season and in case there is no drought. We

will plan well the planting season. Mentioned by Taboo Richard.

Visit 2: Mrs Abwoono Hellen (Mulched Water melon)- Ogen Lutela wu

group The second visit started with a prayer led by the Chairperson of the group (Mrs Abwono

Hellen) followed by self-introductions and brief highlights on the group activities including

planting Watermelon and mulching supported by extension workers. Hellen mentioned that

the group chose Watermelon and mulching because mulching saves time for weeding, keep

water for some time especially during the dry season, water melon is a fruit which the family

can feed on and bring income when sold. She also mentioned that when leaves litter, they rot

and add fertility to the soil. This is the first time the group is growing water melon and they

are happy with the way the melon is looking in the garden.

Farmers visited one of the mulched water melon garden supported by ULN. Photo by Isa

Aliga

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Farmers sharing one of the ripe water melon from a mulched garden. PRELNOR

Extension worker cuts a melon with Helen Obwoono as the visiting team and group

members look on. Photo by Issa Aliga

The group received SUCARI FI seed from ULN in time and planted in time but spraying

was not done early. This affected the first flowering. What is seen now is second flowering

Why did you do Mulching? Mulching was done to reduce the weed and increase yield

because it keeps the water during the dry season.

Do you see any difference with this demonstration plot? Yes, the demonstration has acted as

a training centre for our group and non-group members and some other farmers from the

District came to learn about this water melon. The only problem is that it was not sprayed in

time.

Why do you have two different portions of planted water melon? We planted two portions

(One mulched and the other one not mulched) to compare the yield? How do you observe the

yield? Mulched portion looks better and the yield is more compared to the one that is not

mulched.

How did you come to know about growing melon? We were trained by PRELNOR

extension worker (who is here with us) and other staff from other organisations like NARO

and Local government workers

How old is this garden? 3 months’ now

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How do I know that the melon is ready or mature for harvesting? You lightly palm knock the

fruit and if it sounds hollow, when you can tell it’s ready. But also within 3 months it should

be ready for harvesting.)

One of the farmers showing a good mulched water meron. Photo by Issa Aliga

Why did you not weed the garden? Weeding affects the stalks and once the stalks are broken

Melon can’t survive that’s why we left them unweeded.

How much do you expect to harvest and sell? The price depends on the size, quality, locality

and the demand and need for the money but it can be between 4000-5000/=

How much do you expect to get from this garden? 500 head from the mulched garden and

100 from the un mulched garden

So 600 x4000= 2,400,000 as expected income for the group

What is the spacing of water melon? 2m x 2 m?

Is the group happy with this demo? The group is happy and intend to plant more next season

(next year). How about non-group members?

Many will be planting next season

Lessons learnt by the group members (Melon)

When planting melon, one has to first mulch

One can also Plant, weed after 2 -3 weeks and then mulch

Spraying early is necessary (at least twice a week)

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There is a lot of learning when farmers are in groups (planting, spacing and spraying)

Mulched melon does well compare to un mulched melon. However, the high costs of

mulch material (purchase and transport) is a problem

A garden of unmatched water melon. Photo by Issa Aliga.

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Lessons learnt by the visiting group

To succeed in growing water melon and soya beans, the group must have in place, land

and labour which must be provided by group members

Melon does not need to be put in nursery bed first before planting. One can just plant the

seed without putting in a nursery and it grows well

Melon does not require only big land. Those with less than an acre of land can also grow

melon

Mulched melon gives higher yield than unmulched melon

Closure of the visit: Mr Okello Chairman LC 1 for Kanya Village who thanked the teams

visited and the visitors for showing a good sign of learning and sharing knowledge. He

thanked organisations supporting the farmers.

“This is what the government wants. Reaching the grassroots people and empower them to

do things with the purpose of learning. I will talk about this when we are called in council

meetings by the Local Council 3 at the sub-county next month and this is adding weight to

our work as leaders. He officially closed the visit and farmers travelled back”

Emerging issues and Observations

Although one group (Amuru) was made to visit two other groups outside their District

(Gulu), there was a lot of learning and experience sharing.

Involvement of non-members demonstrated opportunities for scaling up among non-

group members (Melon)

“Next season I will grow water melon in my garden” How can I get seed? mentioned

by Angee Irene- Non host group member

Seed can be bought in Gulu town. Walter will give you the number of the shop that

sells water melon seeds.

High yield (Melon) with over 400 fruits,

Market available @ 400-5000/=each

Mulched melon yields better than un mulched melon. High cost of mulching material but very

good at weed control and soil fertility improvement

Visiting group to have at least two members in the group start on the technology. Support

from ULN, LG NARO and PRELNOR

Learning across the two groups on how to Mulching and the benefits of mulching.