Cattle corridor may be no more
The cattle corridor, part of Uganda’s natural grasslands is “facing serious mismanagement†by farmers, a study report by Makerere University’s Faculty of Agriculture has said.
By Kikonyogo Ngatya
The cattle corridor, part of Uganda’s natural grasslands is “facing serious mismanagement†by farmers, a study report by Makerere University’s Faculty of Agriculture has said.
The report published in November notes that desperate measures must be taken to save the grasslands that feed over five million heads of cattle and about six million sheep and goats. This is in addition to a cross section of wildlife and medicinal plants.
The corridor stretches across vast grasslands from Rakai district in southwestern to Kotido district in northeastern Uganda. The study found that food security in the affected areas is compromised, due to high soil nutrient depletion resulting from the mismanagement.
The study “Restoration of degraded natural grasslands to enhance soil fertility, pasture and animal productivity†says farmers need to be sensitised on the risks of bush fires. The farmers use the method as a means of getting rid of dry grass for fresh grass to flourish.
Natural causes including frequent severe droughts, invasion of new weeds, overgrazing and human encroachment were also cited by the study.
In some districts in the eastern part of the country, a witch weed, the striga is killing some grasses and also food crops. It releases a toxic chemical that suffocates the crops and grasses to stop them from competing for food. Iganga, Busia, Bugiri are some of the affected districts, according to Dr Twaha Kalule, an entomologist and cereals researcher at Namulonge Agricultural Research Institute.
“ The trend is likely to affect livelihoods of majority of pastoralists who depend on these grasslands,†the study notes.
It found that the condition was also directly affecting the livelihoods of the pastoral communities in food security and health. The study noted that when farmers are sensitised, they could improve milk and beef production with increased and better nutritious forage.
Researchers at Serere Agricultural Research Institute (SAARI) in Soroti district are working on a programme to encourage farmers to grow nutritious forage for the animals.
Jolly Kabirizi, an animal nutritionist said calliandra and other forage with high nutrient contents have been introduced to farmers.
The study recommends that pastoralists be encouraged to grow nutritious pasture. The pastures also fix nitrogen in soils, which would support crop growing in the affected areas.
Ends
The cattle corridor, part of Uganda’s natural grasslands is “facing serious mismanagement†by farmers, a study report by Makerere University’s Faculty of Agriculture has said.
The report published in November notes that desperate measures must be taken to save the grasslands that feed over five million heads of cattle and about six million sheep and goats. This is in addition to a cross section of wildlife and medicinal plants.
The corridor stretches across vast grasslands from Rakai district in southwestern to Kotido district in northeastern Uganda. The study found that food security in the affected areas is compromised, due to high soil nutrient depletion resulting from the mismanagement.
The study “Restoration of degraded natural grasslands to enhance soil fertility, pasture and animal productivity†says farmers need to be sensitised on the risks of bush fires. The farmers use the method as a means of getting rid of dry grass for fresh grass to flourish.
Natural causes including frequent severe droughts, invasion of new weeds, overgrazing and human encroachment were also cited by the study.
In some districts in the eastern part of the country, a witch weed, the striga is killing some grasses and also food crops. It releases a toxic chemical that suffocates the crops and grasses to stop them from competing for food. Iganga, Busia, Bugiri are some of the affected districts, according to Dr Twaha Kalule, an entomologist and cereals researcher at Namulonge Agricultural Research Institute.
“ The trend is likely to affect livelihoods of majority of pastoralists who depend on these grasslands,†the study notes.
It found that the condition was also directly affecting the livelihoods of the pastoral communities in food security and health. The study noted that when farmers are sensitised, they could improve milk and beef production with increased and better nutritious forage.
Researchers at Serere Agricultural Research Institute (SAARI) in Soroti district are working on a programme to encourage farmers to grow nutritious forage for the animals.
Jolly Kabirizi, an animal nutritionist said calliandra and other forage with high nutrient contents have been introduced to farmers.
The study recommends that pastoralists be encouraged to grow nutritious pasture. The pastures also fix nitrogen in soils, which would support crop growing in the affected areas.
Ends