Research Project on Climate Change Adaptation
SLINT-Uganda is participating in a collaborative research and training project entitled: "Adapting to Climate Change through Integrated Water and Nutrient Management for Increased crop Yields". The project, which is funded by USAID through the Livelihood Enterprises for Agricultural Development (LEAD) program, is being implemented in partnership with Makerere University and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO). In this collaboration, SLINT – Uganda is responsible for developing a coping mechanisms for farmers in the face of climate change.
The project focuses on adaptation to climate change through synchronizing planting dates in such a way that there is soil moisture during the most critical growth stages in rain-fed cropping systems. It explores ways of minimizing nutrient losses and increasing nutrient inputs using a low-cost approach. The goal of the project is to increase commercial and household agricultural production and build professional capacity in adapting to climate change.
The project adopted an academic training and research oriented approach in which four graduate students researchers have been enrolled and trained at Master’s level at Makerere University to build their capacity to conduct applied field research. Under the close supervision of their academic supervisors the graduate students have: (i) developed simple decision support tools for determining the onset of the planting season, (ii) analysed the growth-enhancement potential of rhizobia through legume inoculation and proper crop rotations for increased yields, (iii) studied how local communities are coping with changes in climate and nutrient depletion and (iv) identified the factors that determine the adoption and maintenance of soil and water conservation technologies and increase water storage and utilization efficiency. Each student handled one objective of the project.
The training and research will culminate in the development of optimum soil moisture conservation technologies for farmers to avert the effects of droughts. The ultimate impact of the project will be improved livelihoods of farming communities in Uganda through soil health improvement, better incomes and food security. Specific results expected include: (i) Simple techniques for use by farmers for predicting the onset of the rainy season developed and disseminated. This is expected to result into reduced crop losses owing to rainfall unreliability; (ii) Increased crop yields in the farming communities owing to the utilization of biological nitrogen fixation to reduce N deficiencies; (iii) Four junior researchers trained at MSc level with competences in adaptation to climate change, soil nutrient and water optimization under rain fed systems; (iv) Reduced crop susceptibility to drought due to reduced runoff and increased soil moisture storage in the project areas; and (v) Strengthened partnerships between rural communities and researchers.
The gains made by the project will be sustained through farmer education using participatory approaches such as the Farmer Field Schools (FFS), on-farm demonstrations and farmer field days. SLINT–Uganda will work closely with collaborating organisations in disseminating their findings.
By October 2010, the project had set up 20 field experiments in Lira and Iganga districts and a series of field visits had been made to the two districts by the core research team, the Project coordinator, collaborators, academic supervisors and students. A baseline study on the socio-economic characteristics in the project area was also conducted. The project purchased and distributed six bicycles to the Field Assistants.
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