Abstract:

About 99% of all farmland is small-scale. A household survey in 1995-96 shows that
each household in Uganda farms about 1.63 ha in a single season. This is scattered in
plots of 0.2ha on average. These kind of people are not likely to possess resources to
grow commercial forest plantations. However, they can grow trees on their farmlands
as scattered trees among crops, along field boundaries and around homesteads.
Many farmers prefer planting trees in linear arrangement along external and/or
internal boundaries and along contours within the farm. However, the compatibility
of the tree chosen with the companion or adjacent crops in terms of shading and
competitive effects should be considered.
These trees are in most cases multipurpose offering a wide spectrum of benefits
ranging from acting as windbreaks, soil improvement/conservation to provision of
various tree products. The trees grown are used for timber, poles and firewood