Abstract:

Agroforestry research and development project operates under the agroforestry program of the Forestry Resources Research Institute (FORRI) of the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO). The goal of the project is to contribute to improved livelihoods and the natural resource base. The project aims at improving land productivity, tree products and services for small scale farmers. This is through identification of tree species suitable for incorporation on farm; development of appropriate management techniques for trees in agroforestry systems; dissemination of agroforestry technologies in the various agro-ecological zones of the country and assessing adoption rates and impacts of the agroforestry technologies and practices. The current phase of EU finding to the agroforestry programme started in 2002 as a four year bilaterally funded project with the Government of Uganda through the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) implemented by the Forestry Resources Research Institute (FORRI). The project activities focused on four agro-ecological zones namely: - Eastern lowlands (Tororo, Iganga and Kumi districts), Eastern highlands (Mbale and Sironko districts), Southern rangelands (Ntungamo and Mbarara districts). This report presents, under five result areas, the project's activities and outputs achieved in the period between April 2004 and March 2005 as well as the 3 months extension period of April to June 2005. In the first result, the project has built capacity of researchers to conduct agroforestry research through short term training and MSc training. Result two of the project has addressed research on evaluating appropriate agroforestry practices focusing on tree species for wood and energy production, improved fruit trees, soil fertility management, soil and water conservation, improved fodder technologies and indigenous methods of termite control. Under result three, the project has identified, developed and applied a range of dissemination approaches and materials. Activities on result four focused on building the capacity of service providers, NGO's, local councils, CBO's and other stakeholders to interface with clients in agroforestry activities. The program has sought to put in place an effective joint coordination, monitoring and evaluation mechanism in agroforestry research and development programs.