Ethnobotanical Leaflets 14: 366-80. 2010.

Farmers Attitudes Towards On-Farm Cultivation of Indigenous Fruit Trees in Adwari Sub-County, Lira District, Uganda

Jacob Godfrey Agea¹, Joseph Obua², Daniel Waiswa³, Clement Akais Okia¹ and J. B. L. Okullo²

¹Department of Community Forestry and Extension

²Department of Forest Biology and Ecosystems Management

³Department of Forest Management

Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda

E-mail:

Issued March 1, 2010

Abstract

This study was conducted in Adwari sub-county, Lira district to (i) determine the conservation status and threats to indigenous fruit trees (IFTs), (ii) assess farmers attitudes towards IFT cultivation, (iii) documents local knowledge on propagation and management of IFTs, and (iv) identify opportunities and constraints to promotion of IFTs cultivation. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to a total of 120 randomly selected respondents. MINITAB statistical package was used to analyze the data. Logistic regression analysis was performed to show the influence of socio-economic characteristics on farmers towards their attitudes to plant IFTs. The population of IFTs was found to be generally declining. The major reasons for decline were charcoal burning and firewood collection. Although, majority of farmers had positive attitudes towards cultivation of IFTs, their attitudes were influenced by gender, education level, farm size and occupation status. Lack of clear markets for indigenous fruits, unclear information about their food values, lack of seedlings in local nurseries, and dearth of information propagation techniques were the major hindrance to cultivation of IFTs. There is a need especially by local governments and local councils to formulate clear strategies on conservation of IFTs for example by establishing a community nursery and propagation center for IFTs. There is a need to address the issue of marketing and pricing of indigenous tree fruit products. Lastly, there is a need of further study to analyze the market environment for indigenous tree fruits compared with alternative possibilities such as exotic fruits or agricultural crops.

Key words: Domestication, wild fruits, farming systems, food security, Uganda.

Introduction

Indigenous fruit trees (IFTs) can contribute to cash economy of small-scale farmers (Okafor, 1988). Some of the fruits can be processed to make juice, wine, jam, chutneys and animal-feed concentrates. With increased climatic instability causing frequent agricultural crop failure, the role of indigenous fruit in providing nutritional supplement to mankind is gaining recognition (Maghembe, 1995). During drought periods indigenous food plants provide food and income rural households (Eriksen and Mutimba 1998). Fruits such as Adasonia digitata provide dietary supplement and are often sold in local markets (Arum, 1989). According to Campbell (1987), IFTs are not normally included in agricultural policies and have been neglected by research and extension programmes by many developing countries. They have faced a great danger in the recent past due to high population growth, which exerted high pressure on woodland resources (Ondachi, 1999). For a long time, mankind has relied on these resources without managing them or putting in any effort to propagate them. This, coupled with lack of ex situ conservation strategies, has led to their loss in the natural woodlands and forests (Ondachi, 1999). It is no longer possible to leave such strategies to nature to provide the genetic resources. Planting of IFTs on-farm therefore not only has the potential of improving food security but also conservation of biodiversity on-farm (Brownrigg, 1985).

In Uganda, however, little research has been undertaken on IFTs. Moreover, there is a dearth of information on IFTs that can be incorporated in the farming practices. Under the proposed programmes for improved delivery of agricultural and forest services, each district will be expected to work within the framework of the National Forest Plan (NFP), Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA) and National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS). In the NFP, districts will be expected to develop and advise on agroforestry technologies (FSCS, 2002). The promotion of on-farm tree planting and indigenous fruit tree domestication will be prominent features in the delivery of service to farmers. However, this will be hampered by lack of information on the fruit trees that can be selected for domestication. The specific objectives were to (1) determine the conservation status and threats to IFTs, (2) assess farmers attitudes towards IFTs cultivation, (3) document indigenous knowledge on propagation and management of IFTs, and (4) identify the opportunities and constraints to promotion of IFTs cultivation in Adwari, Lira district.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted in Adwari sub-county found in Otuke county, Lira district in the northern part of Uganda. Adwari is located between 2 25- 2 47 N and 33 02 - 38 38 E (LDSOER, 1997). The largest part of the sub-county has acidic and deeply weathered soils with low cation exchange capacity (LDSOER, 1997). The average minimum and maximum temperatures are 22.5 C and 25.5 C respectively. The average annual rainfall is 1200 mm. The sub-county is covered with wooded savanna. Large areas of original tree-savanna occupied areas have been taken over by farming and grazing. About 82% of the total population and 79% of the households derive their livelihood from farming.

Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to a total of 120 randomly selected respondents. The purpose was to capture data on the socio-economic profile of the farmers, their attitudes and willingness towards indigenous fruit tree cultivation, indigenous knowledge on propagation and management of IFTs, opportunities and constraints to promoting cultivation of IFTs. The area was stratified into seven administration units (parishes) and respondents from each unit were selected systematically for the interview. The number of respondents selected from each unit ranged from 15 to 17, relative to the size of its population. MINITAB statistical package was used to analyze the data. Logistic regression analysis (Green, 1995) was performed to show the influence of socio-economic characteristics on local farmers attitudes and willingness to plant IFTs.

Results and Discussion

Demographic and socio-economic characteristics of respondents

The majority (66%, Table 1) were aged between 20-40 years. Seventy four percent of the respondents were male and 75% were subsistence farmers. Eighty five percent were married; the majority had attained either primary or secondary education and the average family size was seven people per household. About 68% of the respondents had an average annual income ranging from Shs. 101,000 - 200,000. About 72% had more than 6 ha of land and 60% of the land, had less than 25% tree cover.

Conservation status and threats to IFTs

The population of the 10 most preferred indigenous fruit tree species is declining in Adwari sub-county (Figure 1). This decline is a challenge to the National Forest Plan (NFP) and Plan of Modernization of Agriculture (PMA) when considering cultivation of IFTs as the wild populations would be the major source of planting materials. The main threats to IFTs are tree cutting for charcoal and firewood, reported by 68% and 55% of the respondents respectively. Wild fires in the dry season and clearing agricultural land are other important threats (Figure 3). Exploitation of wood for making mortars, timber and house construction, beehives and inability of some trees to sprout are the other threats to conservation of IFTs.

Farmers' thoughts about IFTs cultivation

Generally, there were positive feelings towards IFTs cultivation. Majority (89%) of the respondents were willing to plant the fruit trees as long as planting materials are available. Most of them value IFTs for food, cash, building materials, local medicine and firewood (Table 2). The logistic regression (Table 3) indicates that gender, education, farm size and occupation influences farmers attitudes towards planting IFTs. Gender significantly influenced local their willingness to plant IFTs (R = 0.18, P = 0.01). The marginal change on the willingness to plant the fruit trees as a result of gender was 0.16 indicating that the probability of planting of IFTs by female increases by 16%. There is an incentive to encourage women to invest their labour in IFTs planting.

Education level had positive influence on farmers perception to plant IFTs. The marginal effect of 0.14 of the willingness to plant IFTs as a result of education implies that there is a 14% chance of planting these trees if the respondent had formal education. This finding is consistent with other reports that education increases peoples environmental awareness and appreciation of the value of trees (Agea et al., 2009; Agea et al., 2005; Obua et al., 1998). The marginal change on the willingness to plant these fruit trees as a result of occupational status was 0.17 implying that the probability of planting IFTs increases by 17%. Farmers usually attach values to trees and withstand high risks associated with planting and managing trees on their farms. Farmers willingness to plant the IFTs was also influenced by farm size (R = 0.16, P = 0.04). The larger the farms the more willing people are to plant IFTs. Age, family size, income, land ownership and marital status did not have significant influence on peoples attitudes and willingness to plant IFTs.

Local knowledge of propagation and management of IFTs

Table 4 revealed that farmers generally do not manage IFTs. Only a small number (21%) of the respondents indicated they were carrying out some form of management such as pruning, weeding, pollarding, fire, and termite control. Knowledge on propagation was very low among the respondents. Only 25% said they were practicing some form of artificial propagation (Table 4). It is clear that farmers still regard IFTs as wild and God given. There has been little effort to plant IFTs. Lack of awareness and unavailability of seedlings were said to be major constraints to planting IFTs.

Constraints and opportunities to planting and managing IFTs

Lack of clear market for indigenous fruits, limited knowledge by farmers to plant and manage IFTs, inadequate information about food values of wild fruits; lack of planting materials, slow growth and lack of money to buy planting materials hindered on-farm plantings (Table 5). Lack of a developed market for indigenous fruits could be explained in part by the fact that many people have free access to wild fruits and do not perceive them as commodities that can be sold. The other reason for lack of a developed market for indigenous fruits could be related to consumers taste and preference for exotic fruits like apples and avocado.

Many urban consumers perceive indigenous fruits as food for the poor and famine stricken households. This perception affects the market demand and consumption of the fruits. Development of markets for indigenous fruits is a challenge that needs to be addressed under PMA. Farmers also fear competition of trees with agricultural crops. Many said fruit trees attract birds, which destroy their crops. The finding compares closely with those of Maghembe et al. (1998) who reported similar constraints as hindrances to planting of IFTs by farmers in southern Africa.

In spite of the numerous constraints, there are opportunities to planting IFTs e.g. land availability, interest in and willingness to plant IFTs, time availability, increasing support by the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and the district agricultural extension agents and willingness of the local people to be trained on indigenous fruit tree propagation techniques. As noted by Chweya (1997), such opportunities could be used as an incentive to lure people to plant indigenous food plants on their farmlands

In conclusion, the population of IFTs is generally declining. This is a major concern at a time when the currently government is trying to show case its achievements in all most sectors. The major driving forces behind the decline are charcoal burning, firewood collection, clearance of land for agriculture and wild bush fires. Attitudes towards cultivation of IFTs were influenced mainly by gender, education level, farm size and occupation status. Lack of clear markets for indigenous fruits, lack of awareness on the need to plant and manage IFTs, unclear information about their food values, lack of seedlings in local nurseries, and dearth of information propagation techniques were the major hindrances to cultivation of IFTs. There is a need especially by local governments and local councils to formulate clear strategies on conservation of IFTs for example by establishing a community nursery and propagation center for IFTs. There is a need to address the issue of marketing and pricing of indigenous tree fruit products. Lastly, there is a need of further study to analyze the market environment for indigenous tree fruits compared with alternative possibilities such as exotic fruits or agricultural crops.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the financial support from the Network of Ugandan Researchers and Research Users (NURRU) that funded the study that leads to this paper.

References

Agea, J.G., Nansereko, S., Obua, J., Waiswa, D., Buyinza, M. and Yikii, F. 2009. Attitudes of Out-of-School Youths towards Tree Planting Activities in Central Uganda: A Case Study of Masaka. Discovery and Innovation 21(1&2): 111-118.

Agea, J.G., Obua, J., Namirembe, S. and Buyinza. M. 2005. Agroforestry potential of AcaciaSenegal in the rangelands of Luwero and Nakasongola districts. Uganda Journal of Agricultural Sciences 11: 34-39.

Arum, G. 1989. Baobab, Adansonia digitata. Indigenous Trees Training Series, 24pp.

Brownrigg, L. 1985. Homegarden in international development: what literature shows. League for International Food Production, Washington, D.C.

Campbell, B. M. 1987. The Use of Wild Fruits in Zimbabwe, Food and Nutrition 12:38-44.

Chweya, J. A. 1997. Production and utilization of traditional vegetables in Kenya. Progress and Prospect in Kenyas Horticultural Development towards the Year 2000 and beyond. Workshop Proceedings. JKUAT and JICA. Pp. 33-39.

Eriksen, S. and Mutimba, S. 1998. Climate change adaptation in Kenya. A review of current policies. ACTS Discussion Paper. Global Biodiversity Forum, November 1998, Buenos Aires.

FSCS. 2002. District Forestry Services, Forest Sector Coordination Secretariat, Forest Sector Newsletter 15, Kampala.

Green, W. H. 1995. LIMDEP Users Manuel, Version 7.0. Econometric Software, Inc., Plainview, New York.

LDSOER. 1997. Lira District State of Environment Report, National Environmental Management Authority, Kampala, Uganda.

Maghembe, J, A. 1995. Achievements in establishment of indigenous fruit trees of Miombo woodlands of Southern Africa. In: Maghembe, J. A., Chirwa, P. W. and Ntupanyama, Y. M. (Eds.). Field performance of indigenous fruit trees three years after planting at Makoka, Malawi.

Maghembe, J. A., Simons, A. J., Kweisga, F. and Rarieya, M. 1998. Selecting indigenous fruit trees in southern Africa. ICRAF, Nairobi.

Obua, J., Banana, A. Y. and Turyahabwe, N. 1998. Attitudes of local communities towards forest management practices in Uganda: the case of Budongo forest reserve. Commonwealth Forestry Review 77 (2): 113-118.

Okafor, J.C. 1988. Domestication and conservation of indigenous fruit trees in Africa. Paper presented at the workshop on utilization and exploitation of indigenous and often neglected plants and fruits of Eastern and Southern Africa, Zomba, Malawi.

Ondachi, P.W. 1999. Nutritional studies of indigenous fruit trees in support of conservation. Annual Research Report Part 1. African Academy of Sciences. Nairobi, Kenya.

Table 1. Demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the respondents (N = 120).

Table 2. Farmers attitudes and their reasoning towards IFTs cultivation in Adwari Sub-county (N=120).

Table 3. Logistic regression of socio-economic characteristics that influences the local peoples attitudes and willingness to plant IFTs in Adwari Sub-county.

Table 4. Local knowledge of propagation and management of IFTs in Adwari Sub-county (N = 120).

Table 5. Constraints to planting and managing IFTs in Adwari Sub-county (N = 120).

Figure 1. Conservation status of IFTs in Adwari Sub-county.

Figure 2. Conservation threats to IFTs in Adwari Sub-county.