Abstract:

This study summarizes the results from a study conducted in Masindi district, Uganda to evaluate soil fertility management practices in market oriented agricultural production. A series of policy and institutional reforms designed to modernize and increase productivity of the economy in general, and more specifically the agricultural sector are being implemented in Uganda. The mission of the Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA) is poverty eradication through the transformation of the agricultural sector, especially by shifting poor farmers from subsistence to commercial production in order to improve household incomes. The strategy is to encourage households to specialize in what they can produce economically in order to increase the share of what they produce for sale. Expansion of agricultural production into previously forested or fallow land in an effort to commercialize agriculture and help mitigate poverty is growing rapidly. It is envisaged that market oriented agricultural production provides incentives for reinvestment in soil fertility management to sustain increased productivity and available market options. However, there is need to understand whether more market orientation empowers fanners to invest their additional income in soil fertility improvement to sustain production in the long run or priority is given to other livelihood needs like school fees, health care, nutrition, business investments, housing and savings. It is also important to understand what factors influence farmers decisions to re- invest in soil fertility improvements. There are variations across areas, crops, gender, wealth categories, age, level of education and occupation. The study also explored how adoption and use of improved soil fertility management technologies by Ugandan fanners can be enhanced to sustain increased agricultural productivity. Understanding the complex relationship between increased agricultural production and sustainable resource use for economic gains in market oriented agriculture are key issues central to identifying effective strategies that will sustainably transform the livelihoods of rural Ugandans thereby reducing poverty levels.