Abstract:

A study to assess rice growing as an income-generating strategy of the local communities in Kachonga Sub-county of Tororo district was conducted between August 2002 and March 2003. The purpose was to determine the implications of using paddy rice growing as a strategy to alleviate poverty among communities living adjacent to wetlands. A questionnaire was administered to 240 farmers in order to obtain an overview of the situation regarding rice growing in the area. An in-depth study involved 60 small-scale farmers from two parishes. Overall, the study was carried out using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), interviews, focus group discussions, document analysis, field observations and the use of questionnaires. The PRA tools that were used included problem identification and ranking, resource mapping, transect walks and trends analysis. The specific objectives were to: (i) Compare the incomes from rice growing of farmers from the Scheme, out-growers and those in outlying wetlands. (ii) Assess the contribution of rice growing to family welfare (iii) Assess rice production trends in Doho and the outlying wetlands. (iv) Identify the major factors that constrain rice production in the area. (v) Assess the influence of rice growing on the production of other food crops. (vi) Determine what the local communities consider to be other viable options for income generation. The study established that rice is the main source of income for the majority of farmers living adjacent to the Kachonga wetlands.