Technologies

Local Rabbit Keeping for Manure Production and Household Income [Uganda]

Gwoko Apwoyo pi cetgi me medo moc ngom

technologies_2890 - Uganda

Completeness: 92%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Key resource person(s)

land user:

Onen Geoffrey

0793874904 / 0776492280

onen@yahoorocket.com

Ongako Farmers group

Omoro District, Ongako Subcounty, Kal Parish, Kal Village

Uganda

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Uganda Landcare Network (ULN) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

24/05/2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

Nee

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Local rabbits are kept in a shade made of wood, iron sheet and wire mesh for manure production with the aim of obtaining animal manure for soil fertility improvement thus increasing vegetable and fruits production and household income.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Local rabbit keeping for manure production is a common practice promoted by farmers in Northern Uganda with the aim of obtaining animal manure for soil fertility improvement, increasing agricultural production and for securing household income.

Through the promotion of this technology the farmer uses animal manure because soils have low fertility, coupled with low productivity and hence low crop yields caused by degradation due to mono-culture, overgrazing and bush burning.

To obtain animal manure, local rabbits are kept within the compound for easy monitoring, minimum protection against predators and easy collection of manure. After manure is collected, it is filled into a decomposing pit. From there the manure is later applied to agricultural fields, vegetable and fruit gardens.

Important to note is that this technology is appropriate for small scale farmers with land size holding of 0.5-2 acres. it requires little amount of money at the time of establishment, it is not labour intensive and provides high nutrient manure since the rabbits are fed mainly on local feeds.

Usually manure is collected around the rabbit house on a weekly basis to be used as compost manure which is then applied to the garden. Following steps are required : Site clearing, collecting manure and digging compost pits for manure decomposition and manure application to the garden. Material required is timber, wheel barrows, hoes, nails, wire mesh and iron sheets. The compost manure pit is dug to 1 meter depth and 1 meter width. Rabbit dung is collected to fill up the pit.

To maintain the technology, land users need to clear the bush around the house for easy collection of the dung and turning the decomposing manure weekly for proper decomposition.

Usually it takes one month for a pit to fill up and the decomposition period is three months. The compost manure is then collected using a wheelbarrow and spread into the vegetables and fruits gardens of lemon grass, green peas, green pepper and fruits (tangerine, oranges).

After applying on his garden, the farmer continues to collect the surplus manure which he sells to other farmers at a rate of 2,000 shillings per spade of organic manure. This practice is usually appreciated by land users because it enhances soil fertility, increases crop production and rehabilitates badly degraded land by adding manure nutrients to the soil.

What is not liked about this technology is that the manure takes somewhat a long time to accumulate due to the small number of rabbits kept in addition to long time to decompose for application on the garden.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

Comments, short description:

Video showing rabbit keeping for increased manure production and household income.

Date:

24/05/2017

Location:

Kal Village , Kal Parish, Ongako Subcounty,Omoro District, Northern Uganda

Name of videographer:

Betty Adoch

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Uganda

Region/ State/ Province:

Northern Uganda.

Further specification of location:

Kal Village, Kal Parish, Ongako Subcounty,Omoro District, Northern Uganda

Comments:

Kal Village, Kal Parish, Ongako Subcounty, Omoro District, Northern Uganda

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2016

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:
  • through land users' innovation
  • through projects/ external interventions
Comments (type of project, etc.):

Local rabbit keeping project for animal manure

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • improve production
  • reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
  • preserve/ improve biodiversity
  • create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
  • Perennial (non-woody) cropping
  • Tree and shrub cropping
Main crops (cash and food crops):

Vegetables, fruits

Unproductive land

Unproductive land

Specify:

Degraded lands

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Cereals cropland and grazing fields.

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:
  • rainfed
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 1

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • integrated crop-livestock management
  • beekeeping, aquaculture, poultry, rabbit farming, silkworm farming, etc.

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

  • A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
structural measures

structural measures

  • S9: Shelters for plants and animals
management measures

management measures

  • M1: Change of land use type

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
chemical soil deterioration

chemical soil deterioration

  • Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)
physical soil deterioration

physical soil deterioration

  • Pu: loss of bio-productive function due to other activities
biological degradation

biological degradation

  • Bc: reduction of vegetation cover
  • Bh: loss of habitats
  • Bq: quantity/ biomass decline
Comments:

The application of this technology helps repairing the soil from human-induced degradation.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • prevent land degradation
  • reduce land degradation

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Author:

Betty Adoch

Date:

24/05/2017

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The technical drawing shows a rabbit house (hutch). This hutch was made simple and affordable to the farmer. The hutch was constructed around the compound for easy monitoring from danger by the farmer. The farmer constructed the hutch out of wood, iron sheets for the roofing and a wire mesh door that can be opened and closed.
However, when constructing a hutch, the measurements tend to vary depending on the number of rabbits a farmer wants to rear.
The technical drawing shows that the width of the hutch is six (6) meters and having a depth of 1,5 metres. The wall of the hutch is made of wood of about 1 meter high supported by a raised platform. That platform offers protection against dangerous reptiles such as snakes that prey on rabbits.
The hutch has lower and upper levels, partitioned into smaller rooms big enough to accommodate a pair of rabbits. The sizes of the rooms are four times bigger than the size of the rabbit's length. This is to provide ample space for the rabbit to run around and stretch as well as a place to hide while playing.
A hutch is constructed in a way that protects the rabbit from adverse weather conditions such a too windy weather that usually kills or makes the rabbit to become too sick as well as to provide shade to the rabbits.
However, hutches can be difficult to clean and also rabbits may be able to escape if the wire mesh isn't tightly secured.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology area
Indicate size and area unit:

2 acres

other/ national currency (specify):

UGX

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

3500.0

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

3000shs

4.4 Establishment activities

Activity Type of measure Timing
1. Site clearing Agronomic Dry and wet season
2. Digging pits Structural Dry and wet season
3. Collecting rabbit dung Management Dry and Wet season
4. Pilling the dung in the pit Management Dry and Wet season
5. Applying manures to the garden Agronomic Wet season
6. Constructing the hutch Structural Dry and Wet season
Comments:

Easy to establish the technology because it requires less capital.

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour Labour persons day 2.0 3500.0 7000.0 100.0
Equipment Hoes piece 3.0 12000.0 36000.0 100.0
Equipment Wheelbarrows piece 1.0 90000.0 90000.0 100.0
Equipment Spade piece 1.0 30000.0 30000.0 100.0
Construction material Nails pics 30.0 500.0 15000.0 100.0
Construction material Poles pics 10.0 5000.0 50000.0 100.0
Construction material Wire mesh Roll 1.0 30000.0 30000.0 100.0
Construction material Iron sheets pics 2.0 32000.0 64000.0 100.0
Construction material Timber pics 10.0 12000.0 120000.0 100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 442000.0
Comments:

Land user can afford to pay the workers during during construction, compost manure making and labour for transporting the manures to the garden.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Type of measure Timing/ frequency
1. Turning the compost Management During dry and wet season
2. Cleaning the hutch Management During dry and wet season
3. Digging around the hutch Management During dry and wet season

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour Clearing around the hutch perso per dayn 1.0 3000.0 3000.0 100.0
Labour Cleaning the hutch person per day 4.0 3000.0 12000.0 100.0
Labour Clearing around the manure pit person per day 1.0 3000.0 3000.0 100.0
Labour Adding manure to the garden persons per day 1.0 3000.0 3000.0 100.0
Equipment Hoe pic 1.0 12000.0 12000.0 100.0
Equipment Spade pic 1.0 30000.0 30000.0 100.0
Equipment Wheelbarrow pic 1.0 150000.0 150000.0 100.0
Equipment Hard broom pic 1.0 500.0 500.0 100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 213500.0
Comments:

Maintenance activities do not require much capital.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Inputs such as timber, wheel barrows, hoes, nails , wire mesh and iron sheets affect costs most.

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Specify average annual rainfall (if known), in mm:

1500.00

Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

Rainy seasons from april, may, june, july, august, september and october. Dry seasons from november, december, january, febuary and march.

Indicate the name of the reference meteorological station considered:

Gulu weather station.

Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid

Tropical savanna climate

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • not relevant

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

5-50 m

Availability of surface water:

good

Water quality (untreated):

good drinking water

Is water salinity a problem?

Nee

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Nee

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • high
Habitat diversity:
  • high

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial
Off-farm income:
  • less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • manual work
Gender:
  • women
  • men
Age of land users:
  • youth
  • middle-aged

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • small-scale

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:
  • individual, not titled
Land use rights:
  • individual
Water use rights:
  • communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Manure adds nutrients into the soil thus increasing crop productions

crop quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Manure add nutrients to the soil fertile soils improving crop quality

land management

hindered
simplified
Comments/ specify:

Due to application of manure which is locally obtained.

Income and costs

farm income

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Some of the surplus manure is sold to generate income @ spade at UGX 2000 to the neighbourhood

Ecological impacts

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Vegetation cover

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

low quantity before SLM

Quantity after SLM:

high quantity after SLM

Comments/ specify:

Vegetable crop growing improved due to manure applications into the soil.

biomass/ above ground C

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Dense vegetation cover provides above ground carbon sink.

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change
Season Type of climatic change/ extreme How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature increase moderately
annual rainfall decrease moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Biological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases not well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • single cases/ experimental
Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 90-100%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Ja

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:
  • changing markets
Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

Improved rabbit species being reared by the farmers that fetch high market prices.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The technology is good at providing locally available materials such rabbit dung/animal manure that is less cost intensive and locally obtained.
Good at improving soil fertility by applying manure, rewarding in the short, medium and long term and can be replicated by other small scale farmers in other areas.
Provides income after sale of manure.
Very appropriate for men and children/youth since it does not involve a lot of moving from one place to another for feeds.
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology is multipurpose (good at improving soil fertility by applying manure, provides income after sale of manure).
Easy to replicate.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
Leaching due to excessive rainfall. Dig the manure pit under shade/shelter.
Liked by thieves. Fencing, provision of security.
Rabbits consume lots of feeds. Grow relevant local feeds near the homestead such as grass, maize plant.
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Negative attitude by other community members. Involve them in the process of manure preparation and hutch constructions.
Long period required for manure to decompose. Dig pit under shade for fast cooling of the compost and enhancement of decomposition.
Low rabbit dung collection for manure since they are kept in less numbers. Expand the number of rabbits to generate manure.

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

1

  • interviews with land users

1

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

The potential of rabbit production in improving household incomes in Nankoma Sub-county, Bugiri District, Uganda E K Ndyomugyenyi and O D Otiengino

Available from where? Costs?

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289674867_Ndyomugyenyi_E_K_and_Otiengino_O_D_2013_The_potential_of_rabbit_production_in_improving_household_incomes_in_Nankoma_Sub-county_Bugiri_District_Uganda_Livestock_Research_for_Rural_Development_25_8_htt

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Rabbit Farming In Uganda, Rearing Tips, Farmers Association, Market, Urine, Feeds & Cages

URL:

https://www.aboutuganda.com/agriculture/rabbit-farming-in-uganda

Links and modules

Expand all Collapse all

Modules