A photo showing an optimum intercropping pattern of maize (zea mays) and groundnuts (arachis hypogaea) (Jalia Namakula)
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has been promoting smart intercropping patterns in Nwoya District, Northern Uganda. The inter crops promoted are based on maize-legume sustainable intensification farming systems with focus on conservation farming as a technology. This technology is promoted because it reduces management inputs costs such as labour for weeding and application of fertilizers which results into sustainable systems and if efficiently used to potentially replenish natural resources.The demonstration/ trial is located in Alero Sub County, Nwoya District, which on average receives 1200 mm of rainfall annually established on a reddish soil with relatively low soil organic matter on a plot size of 180 m2 planted with groundnuts as the major crop spaced at 30cm×10cm and maize intercrop at a spacing of 225 cm×60cm, such that within every 5 lines of groundnuts one line of maize is planted.
The groundnuts (local red variety called red beauty) are locally obtained from the nearby local market, while the maize is an open pollinated variety (Longe 5) bought from the local agro input dealer. The inter crop was planted to increase productivity and reduce the risk of total crop failure.
Prior to establishment, Riber farmers group selected a site close to the road to act as there demo/plot.The plot was slashed, sprayed with glyphosate and then marked using 60-cm pegs to get the correct spacing and proper plant population. Ground nuts were planted first then the maize planted a fortnight later using the following inputs 3 kg of maize bought at UGX 1500, 15 kg of groundnuts bought at UGX 5000 and 1 litre of liquid fertiliser at UGX 15000 and 1 litre of glyphosate bought at UGX 20,000.
Inter cropping is majorly preferred by farmers because it enhances maximum utilization of land, reduces risk of total crop failure, and increases income and food security. It also acts as a means of weed management. In some inter cropping systems, the legumes act as soil cover and fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, and promote product diversity for food security and income generation.
However weeding an inter crops is challenging compared to weeding a pure stand and encourages competition for resources such as soil nutrients, moisture and light, which may affect crop productivity. Its therefore recommend that the farmer keep in touch with the extension worker for advisory services ( proper management, pests and diseases management)
Lieu: Bwobo nam, Alero Sub-county,Nwoya District, Northern Uganda, Ouganda
Nbr de sites de la Technologie analysés: site unique
Diffusion de la Technologie: répartie uniformément sur une zone (approx. < 0,1 km2 (10 ha))
Dans des zones protégées en permanence ?:
Date de mise en oeuvre: 2016; il y a moins de 10 ans (récemment)
Type d'introduction
| Spécifiez les intrants | Unité | Quantité | Coûts par unité (UGX) | Coût total par intrant (UGX) | % des coût supporté par les exploitants des terres |
| Main d'œuvre | |||||
| Slashing | People | 15,0 | 3000,0 | 45000,0 | 100,0 |
| Ploughing | People | 15,0 | 3000,0 | 45000,0 | 100,0 |
| Field Marking | People | 15,0 | 3000,0 | 45000,0 | 100,0 |
| Planting | People | 15,0 | 3000,0 | 45000,0 | 100,0 |
| Equipements | |||||
| Strings | Piece | 1,0 | 8000,0 | 8000,0 | 100,0 |
| Planting Pegs | bundle | 2,0 | 5000,0 | 10000,0 | 100,0 |
| Tape Measure | Piece | 1,0 | 25000,0 | 25000,0 | 100,0 |
| Matériel végétal | |||||
| Groundnuts | kg | 15,0 | 2500,0 | 37500,0 | 100,0 |
| Longe5 (maize) | kg | 3,0 | 1500,0 | 4500,0 | 100,0 |
| Engrais et biocides | |||||
| Liquid fertiliser (DI grow) | Ltr | 1,0 | 15000,0 | 15000,0 | 100,0 |
| Coût total de mise en place de la Technologie | 280'000.0 | ||||
| Spécifiez les intrants | Unité | Quantité | Coûts par unité (UGX) | Coût total par intrant (UGX) | % des coût supporté par les exploitants des terres |
| Main d'œuvre | |||||
| Weeding | people | 15,0 | 3000,0 | 45000,0 | 100,0 |
| spraying | people | 1,0 | 3000,0 | 3000,0 | 100,0 |
| Equipements | |||||
| knapsacks sprayer | Piece | 1,0 | 55000,0 | 55000,0 | 100,0 |
| Coût total d'entretien de la Technologie | 103'000.0 | ||||
