Agroforestry improves land productivity
Jul 22, 2009
<b>Harold Turinawe</b><br><br>This week, all roads lead to Jinja for the annual Source of the Nile agricultural show. This year’s theme calls for promotion of value-addition in agricultural production for poverty eradication. The show comes at a time
Harold Turinawe
This week, all roads lead to Jinja for the annual Source of the Nile agricultural show. This year’s theme calls for promotion of value-addition in agricultural production for poverty eradication. The show comes at a time when the population is faced with hunger and malnutrition.
Value-addition in agricultural systems does not simply mean promotion and use of complicated technologies, but rather any enhancement supplementary to the current processes of production, processing and marketing, with the aim of increasing the economic value of products.
For example, the inclusion of selected trees in the traditional farming systems, qualifies as value-addition to the production process at the primary level. This technology is popularly referred to as agroforestry.
The solution to hunger and poverty partly lies in the promotion of simple, but effective technologies such as agroforestry at the primary level, alongside the establishment of the backbone infrastructure for development at the tertiary levels. This includes agroprocessing facilities, road and rail networks, markets and electricity.
With agroforestry, the issue of land scarcity does not arise; selected trees can be grown along boundaries and on farmland, following specific patterns and spacing.
Such trees can serve multiple functions; act as wind-breakers and moderate the micro-climate, thus protecting the soil. The leaves can be used for fodder and mulching, while the trees can be a source of firewood and poles.
Value-addition technology would create opportunities for income-generation at household level, substantially increase the number of plants available to farmers per unit area of land. It can also lead to development of new agricultural commodities to cover for seasonal variations in agriculture production.
Agroforestry leads to increased land productivity, farm incomes, food security and household energy security, which significantly contribute to poverty alleviation.
I urge everyone to visit the National Agricultural Research Organisation stall at the show grounds to learn about affordable value-addition technologies.
This week, all roads lead to Jinja for the annual Source of the Nile agricultural show. This year’s theme calls for promotion of value-addition in agricultural production for poverty eradication. The show comes at a time when the population is faced with hunger and malnutrition.
Value-addition in agricultural systems does not simply mean promotion and use of complicated technologies, but rather any enhancement supplementary to the current processes of production, processing and marketing, with the aim of increasing the economic value of products.
For example, the inclusion of selected trees in the traditional farming systems, qualifies as value-addition to the production process at the primary level. This technology is popularly referred to as agroforestry.
The solution to hunger and poverty partly lies in the promotion of simple, but effective technologies such as agroforestry at the primary level, alongside the establishment of the backbone infrastructure for development at the tertiary levels. This includes agroprocessing facilities, road and rail networks, markets and electricity.
With agroforestry, the issue of land scarcity does not arise; selected trees can be grown along boundaries and on farmland, following specific patterns and spacing.
Such trees can serve multiple functions; act as wind-breakers and moderate the micro-climate, thus protecting the soil. The leaves can be used for fodder and mulching, while the trees can be a source of firewood and poles.
Value-addition technology would create opportunities for income-generation at household level, substantially increase the number of plants available to farmers per unit area of land. It can also lead to development of new agricultural commodities to cover for seasonal variations in agriculture production.
Agroforestry leads to increased land productivity, farm incomes, food security and household energy security, which significantly contribute to poverty alleviation.
I urge everyone to visit the National Agricultural Research Organisation stall at the show grounds to learn about affordable value-addition technologies.