Abstract:

Conservation agriculture (CA) is based on three principles: minimum soil disturbance,
maintaining a soil cover through mulching with crop residues or planting cover crops, and practicing
crop rotations. CA is practiced in many parts of the world for its benefits to soil and ability to
improve yields, among others. There is little documented information on the status of CA adoption
in the Lango region in mid-Northern Uganda. This study aimed at determining the extent of CA
adoption in relation to the socioeconomic status of the farming population and suggesting relevant
strategies for accelerating CA uptake specific to this region. A non-discriminative snowball-sampling
technique was used to gather data from 417 households spread over three districts. Semi-structured
interviews were conducted using household questionnaires. Farmers’ uptake of CA was related to
information gained from training and the benefits that were observed in their fields. Some farm-level
constraints in the region included the diminutive ratio of shared tools and equipment; the minimum
presence and involvement of extension services; and seasonal rural markets that are dominated by
middlemen. The impact that was attributed to the use of CA at the household level was improved
yields. The strategy that was used to spread CA information to farmers also played a key role in
increasing CA uptake in the region. This information is important for increasing CA adoption in this
context given the socioeconomic status of the region