Impact of Deforestation on Food Production in Kamengo Sub-County, Mpigi District.

Abstract

LUBEGA GERALD (2011-M152-20012) Impact of Deforestation on Food Production in Kamengo Sub-County, Mpigi District This study was conducted in Kamengo sub-county in Mpigi district. It was titled, “The Impact of deforestation on food production.” The study was guided by three major objectives that is; to establish the rate of deforestation at household level, the relationship between deforestation and food availability at household level and, the ways in which people at household level have coped with this increasing deforestation in the area. This study, therefore, was conducted as an historical research designed on household level. The data were collected from farmers in the area who proved to have spent good years in the area. Therefore, in the course of the study, it was established that the deforestation rate in the area stood at 12% and it was majorly caused by farmers who want to expand their land for agriculture. So, it was established that agriculture had caused 42% of the deforestation in the area. This had impacted the environment majorly through water loss, strong winds which blew down most of the crops as well as soil erosion. Therefore, at the end it was established that deforestation had a negative contribution to food production in the area. Many farmers had started reacting by terracing their land, seeking for greener pastures in other economic activities like cattle keeping and afforestation. The study concluded that there is a need for a community-based intervention to fix the overall problems of deforestation in the area. Key words: Deforestation, Food