Abstract:

Supporting smallholder farmers with production technologies for improving crop productivity was and still being one of the major aims towards achieving food security particularly among farming communities in Karamoja. Financial and technical knowledge supports were provided by RWANU and NabuinZARDI respectively. Farmer groups located in Iriri and Apeitolim (Napak District), Kakomongole (Nakapiripirt District), Nadunget (Moroto District) were selected based on the previous participatory performances in evaluating crop varieties for adaptability and subsequent production. Farmers were introduced to appropriate crop production and management technologies for adoption and implementation during subsequent production. Implemented production technologies included method of planting (row/ broadcasting planting method, timing of planting dribbling method of sowing and depth of seed sowing) for both improved and indigenous early maturing crop varieties. Farmer groups in Kakomongole (Nakapiripirit District) andIriri (Napak district) were selected to implement the adopted crop management practices while their counterparts in Apeitolim (Napak District) and Nadunget (Moroto District) were introduced to idea of selected crop demonstration in the view of alluring them for variety selection and adoption.