Photo showing Orchard of mangoes and oranges for food and income security (Rick Kamugisha)
Growing mangoes and oranges is becoming a common practice among farmers in Northern Uganda for food security and increased household income. As seasons become shorter and erratic, failure of traditional crops like beans and maize is increasing. Mangoes and oranges are more adapted to sub-humid conditions and can endure longer dry spells yet yield well. Thus, farmers are taking on improved varieties of mangoes and oranges developed by the National Agricultural Research System. The mango and orange seedlings are planted with only spot weeding to maintain the grass cover for soil moisture. The activities involved in establishing the orchards include (1) linking up with the extension worker for information on what varieties and how to plant on which type of soils (2) site selection (3) buying seedlings (4) planting and (4) watering if planted during the dry season with the following input requirements seedlings, hired labour of at least 2-3 people paid on monthly basis and watering can. At the time of planting the land user digs a hole up to a depth of about 0.5 metres using a fork so that the roots are allowed to grow out easily and plant the fruit trees spaced at 10 metres x 10 metres allowing the grass to grow without removing or cutting. If planting is done in the dry season and the ground is too dry the farmer applies water once a week slowly using a bucket so that it has time to sink in the soil. If the land user plants during the wet season, watering is not necessary. This practice is liked because yields are high due to leaves litter as well as the demand for fruits in addition to being easily fertilised using organic fertilizer locally obtained and treated . In the long run, the high costs incurred at the time of establishment in buying seedlings and paying labour. The presence of fruits from the orchard provides both food and income to the household, which should be other crops such as maize and sim fail due to drought. What is not liked about this technology is that the grass grown in the garden is liked by livestock during the dry season. Herdsmen searching for pasture drive their animals into the gardens, resulting into constant conflicts between livestock owners and the land user. The grass also poses a risk of fire during the dry season. Additional efforts to put in place a community bylaw on controlled grazing would reduce conflicts and free range grazing of animals contrarily to fencing which may be an additional benefit to sustainably managing land by the land user.
Lugar: Amuru District, Northern Region,Uganda, Uganda
No. de sitios de Tecnología analizados: un solo sitio
Difusión de la Tecnología: distribuida parejamente sobre un área (approx. < 0.1 km2 (10 ha))
¿En un área de protección permanente?:
Fecha de la implementación: 2012; hace menos de 10 años (recientemente)
Tipo de introducción
| Especifique insumo | Unidad | Cantidad | Costos por unidad (UGX) | Costos totales por insumo (UGX) | % de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras |
| Mano de obra | |||||
| Labour | persons | 3,0 | 5000,0 | 15000,0 | 100,0 |
| Equipo | |||||
| Hoe | Pieces | 1,0 | 10000,0 | 10000,0 | 100,0 |
| Spray pump hire for a week | Pieces | 1,0 | 35000,0 | 35000,0 | 100,0 |
| Panga | Pieces | 2,0 | 7000,0 | 14000,0 | 100,0 |
| Material para plantas | |||||
| Seedlings | Kgs | 42,0 | 2500,0 | 105000,0 | 100,0 |
| Fertilizantes y biocidas | |||||
| Pestcide | Litres | 0,5 | 15000,0 | 7500,0 | |
| Fertilizer | 2,0 | 1,0 | 2,0 | ||
| Organic fertilizer (weekly) | bags | 2,0 | 30000,0 | 60000,0 | |
| Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología | 246'502.0 | ||||
| Especifique insumo | Unidad | Cantidad | Costos por unidad (UGX) | Costos totales por insumo (UGX) | % de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras |
| Mano de obra | |||||
| Labour for on daily basis | Persons | 3,0 | 5000,0 | 15000,0 | 100,0 |
| Equipo | |||||
| Hire of spray pump for one week | Pieces | 7,0 | 5000,0 | 35000,0 | 100,0 |
| Indique los costos totales para mantenecer la Tecnología | 50'000.0 | ||||
Due to leaves litter.
due to grass cover and maintaining soil fertility.
Mangoes and oranges.
Only paying for for labour to do simple weeding.
From sale of fruits.
Fruits - oranges and mangoes.
Selling mangoes and oranges and buying food.
Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) / National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS).
Use of grass cover and littered leaves.
Conflicts caused by roaming animals searching for pasture.
Due to grass cover.
Due to grass cover.
Due to grass cover and leaves.
Due to mulching.
Due to permanent grass cover.
Due to allowed growth of the vegetation cover.
Due to presence of vegetation cover.
