Browsing by Author "Ssekyewa, Charles"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

Biotechnology in Organic Agriculture in Africa: Myth or Oversight?
(African Journals Online, 2009) Ssekyewa, Charles; Muwanga M. Kiggundu
Biotechnology refers to scienti fi c methods and practi ces that are based on biological systems or components. Its applicati ons vary from simple system to amino acids (i.e. DNA and RNA) based applicati ons and are relevant to many stages of commodity value chains. Whereas the simple applicati ons are well understood, contemporary advancements into these applicati ons have gone to deeper levels of innovati on, dealing with cells, chromosomes, nucleoti des and genes. Since these determine the cellular functi ons that infl uence behaviour and inheritance, any biotechnological method applied at this level is very sensiti ve, because it might result into undesirable alterati ons in the traits and behaviour of organisms. Notwithstanding its likely contributi ons, therefore, this level of innovati on raises scepti cism against biotechnology among the organic agriculture community in Africa. Thus, this paper examines the applicability of these innovati ons in the development of organic agriculture on the conti nent.
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.
Molecular Characterization of Tomato Leaf Curl Disease-Causing Viruses in Uganda
(African Journals Online, 2009) Ssekyewa, Charles; Van Damme P.; Steele K. A.
In this study, Tomato Leaf Curl Disease symptom-bearing samples were collected from dry savannah (Eastern and Northern) and wet equatorial/tall grass savannah (Central and Western) agro-climati c zones of Uganda. Their total DNA was extracted using a modifi ed Dellaporta protocol. Virus DNA was amplifi ed with fi ve diff erent primer pairs for Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV-Sic) and Tomato leaf curl Uganda virus (TLCUV) as well as their combinati ons. The results indicated that there is wide variati on in the tomato leaf curl viruses in the Country. The viruses were grouped into 24 categories and three (3) disti nct virus genomes, namely, Tomato leaf curl Uganda virus-Soroti , Tomato leaf curl Uganda virus- Iganga (Pallisa) and Tomato leaf curl Arusha virus-Mubende, were characterized. Parti al results indicated occurrence of viruses related to TYLCV and TYLCSV-Sic in wet agro-climati c zones. Genomic variati on was detected within isolates and recombinati on was suspected.
Overcoming Poverty: Accounting for Stagnation and Upward Mobility in Central Uganda
(Kisubi Brothers University College, 2012) Ssempebwa, Jude; Ndagire, Abisagi Kasoma; Kule, Abraham; Ssekyewa, Charles; Nnyanzi, David; Kisolo, Gelvan; Nyende, Jeremiah; Masereka, Joseph; Nambuubi, Juliet; Otaala, Laura; Akello, Lucy Dora; Odong, Moses; Okullo, Nellie Florence; Kanyandago, Peter; Lugemwa, Peter; Ouma, Richard; Akabwai, Steven
Poverty in Uganda has been the subject of extensive scholarship and policy attention. Subsequently, several poverty alleviation programmes/ projects have been implemented in the country over the last five decades. Although successive surveys have reported notable improvements in the quality of life, there is evidence that many households are still stagnating in poverty. Why? How come the poverty alleviation programmes/ projects that are enabling some households to transit poverty are not working for the households stagnating in poverty? This study delved into these questions, taking the case of Central Uganda. The findings were that the households that are stagnating in poverty suffer from a broad syndrome of disadvantage, which affects their capacity to transit from poverty. However, it was also found that, despite their indisputable challenges, many of them are stagnating in poverty because they don’t feel that they are poor. Differences were noted between their view of poverty and the traditional view of poverty (by which they are characterized as poor). It was concluded that poverty alleviation programs/ projects have not transformed them because the interventions delivered under the programmes/ projects are based on the traditional view of poverty. Thus, it is recommended that those designing/ implementing these programs/ projects synchronize their view of poverty with the views of the poor whose poverty they are working to alleviate.