Browsing by Author "Ngom, Khady"

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From organic farming to agroecological farming, what challenges do organic farmers face in central Uganda?
(Ecological Organic Agriculture - Growing Sustainability, 2023-03-30) Akowedaho, Dagoudo Bienvenu; Ssekyewa, Charles; Ssekandi, Joseph; Ngom, Khady; Moumouni, M. Ismail
Introduction - Based on environmental protection and providing healthy and safe foods to the population, organic agricultural production is considered an opportunity to create new agri-food systems for agricultural production. Agroecological farming is considered sustainable agriculture which focuses on ecological production for agrobiodiver-sity protection and food sovereignty through using multiple and diverse crops or animals, relying on biological processes for building soil fertility and controlling pests and diseases, etc. Does organic agricultural production entail agroecological farming? This paper explores the challenges faced by organic farmers in agroecological practices through agroecological principles. Methodology - The study was carried out in Central in Central Uganda mainly in 5 districts: Wakiso, Masaka, Bukomansimbi, Ssembabule, and Kyotera. These districts belonged to the agroecological zone called Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (ZARDI). The multiple-stage stratified sampling procedure was used to select 310 organic farmers by proportional random sampling in the 8 counties. The visit to the farm is essential for gathering fieldwork material that is generated through qualitative interpretive methods like interviews and participant observation. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the respondents, agroecological variables, and the Pearson correlation coefficient as a measure of the significant relationship between agroecological variables. Results & Discussion - The study focuses on organic farming analysis through an agroecological approach that emphasizes four agroecology principles: diversity, synergies, recycling, and resilience. The finds highlighted that the majority (52,9%) of organic farmers respondents have more than 3 crops adapted to local and changing climatic conditions and 58.71% of organic farming has Medium integration (animals are mostly fed with feed produced on the farm and grazing, their manure is used as fertilizer). The seeds and animal genetic resources are self-produced or exchanged, although some specific seeds are purchased from the market by 51.61% of organic farming. The re-sult revealed that the local environment can suffer from climatic shocks, but the system has a good capacity to adapt to climate change in 40.65% of organic farming. In organic farming that participates in this research, 50%of the soil is covered with residues or cover crops, with the majority at 61.61%. Most residues and by-products are recycled, with a little waste discharged or burned in 37.1 % of organic farming. In organic farming, 34.52%of organic farming have one type of equipment for water harvesting or saving (e.g., drip irrigation, tanks). Ac-cording to the findings, 47.74% of organic farmers’ income is declining, production varies from year to year (with constant inputs), and income and production mostly recover after shocks or perturbations. The correla-tion test revealed that the diversity crops affect positively diversity activities, products and services (r =+ 0.523, p<0.01), the diversity animals affect positively crop-livestock integration (r = +0.674, p<0.01), and the water har-vesting and saving influence positively the environmental resilience and capacity to adapt to climate change (r = +0.546, p<0.01). Conclusion - This empirical research addressed the agroecological principles implemented by organic farmers in Central Uganda. It focuses on diversity, synergies, recycling, and resilience, which are the agroecological principles that contribute to producing healthy and safe food for society and building resilient and sustainable local food systems through agrobiodiversity protection, food sovereignty, adaptation to climate change, and participation in the green economy.
From organic farming to agroecology farming, what challenges do organic farmers face in Central Uganda?
(Springer Nature Link, 2024-07-16) Dagoudo, Akowedaho, Bienvenu; Ssekyewa, Charles; Ssekandi, Joseph; Ngom, Khady; Naigaga, Hellen; Moumouni, Ismail M; Noba, Kandioura
Revealed as a production system that does not use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, organic farming is recognized as ecological production and has been institutionalized in Uganda. Organic production continues to face the challenges of what is considered agroecology farming, which is viewed nowadays as an opportunity for creating new value chains and food systems for agricultural production based on protecting the environment and supplying nutritious and safe foods to society. This paper focuses on agroecology farming indicators to assess organic farming in order to highlight the challenges organic farmers face in implementing agroecology practices. The data collection was carried out in 5 districts in Central Uganda: Wakiso, Masaka, Bukomansimbi, Ssembabule, and Kyotera. A multiple-stage stratified sampling was used to select 310 organic farmers in 5 districts. Various representations and correlation analyses of agroecology indicators have been conducted using descriptive statistics and correlation tests. The findings show that 51.9% of organic farmer respondents have at least three crops produced in the local climate for a long time, and 58.71% of organic farming has medium integration (animal feed is mostly self-produced and grazed, and their manure is used for compost and fertilizer). It highlights that seeds and animal genetics are self-produced, neighbor farms exchange them, and some specifics are purchased at local markets for 51.61% organic farming. The results revealed that 61.61% of organic farms visited had half of the arable soil covered with organic residues. The correlation test revealed that there is a significant positive correlation between diversity animal genetics and crop and livestock integration (r = 0.674, p < 0.01), between harvesting and saving water systems and resilience and adaptability to climate variability (r = 0.546, p < 0.01), and between diversity crops and diversity activities and services (r = 0.523, p < 0.01). Despite the interdependence of organic farming's agroecology practices, most residues and waste are not recycled or reused as organic fertilizer, and organic farmers have limited equipment to harvest and save water for production. This is an opportunity for organic stakeholders to invest in organic residues and waste recycled equipment in order to create a new value chain for organic production by producing organic fertilizers and biopesticides.
Roles of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on soil fertility and its importance in phytoremediation of polluted soil
(Uganda National Council for Science and Technology & Research Education Network of Uganda, 2021) Fofana Fall, Abdoulaye; Nakabonge, Grace; Ssekandi, Joseph; Founoune, Hassna; Obeng Apori, Samuel; Ndiaye, Abibatou; Badji, Arfang; Ngom, Khady
A single paragraph Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish symbiotic relationships with many crops. These soil microbiotas improve the soil fertility through the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. extending the root absorbing area. In return, the symbiont receives plant carbohydrates for the completion of its life cycle. AMF also helps plants to cope with biotic and abiotic stresses such as extreme temperature, heavy metal, diseases, and pathogens. For soil physical properties, the mechanisms used by AMF are the production of a glycoprotein, glomalin, which creates a high quality of soil macro-aggregations. These macro-aggregations control soil erosion, nutrients and organic matter losses. For soil chemical properties, AMF produce acids and an enzyme called phosphatase. This enzyme hydrolyzes the inorganic phosphorus and the rock phosphate (RP) hence making P available in the soil for plant uptake. AMF also are involved in soil nitrogen, carbon and trace element cycling. Regarding the biological component of the soil, AMF influence the composition, diversity and activity of microbial communities in the hydrosphere. They also work in synergy with others soil microorganisms to improve soil fertility, plant growth and resistance against some diseases. In this review, we present the contribution of AMF on soil fertility and importance in polluted soils.