Organic farmers carry out mulching in the garden using dry grass. PHOTO/MICHAEL J SSAL
Uganda is a land rich in biodiversity and agriculture. However, the increasing threats of climate change—manifesting in prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and soil degradation—are putting immense pressure on farmers.
In response, many are turning to indigenous farming techniques, honed over generations, to counter these environmental challenges. These time-tested methods not only sustain livelihoods but also play a crucial role in conserving the environment.
The challenges
According to Samson Luwagga, an agronomist, Ugandan farmers face several key climate-related challenges that threaten agricultural productivity and food security. These include:
- Unpredictable rainfall
- Prolonged droughts
- Changes in seasonal patterns
- Pest outbreaks such as fall armyworms and crop diseases
- Declining water sources and inefficient irrigation systems
- Lack of timely, regional, and site-specific weather forecasts
- Limited knowledge, resources, and access to technology
These challenges highlight the urgent need for climate-smart agriculture and adaptive strategies to build resilience and ensure sustainable food production in Uganda.
Climate-smart practices
In Uganda, various climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies are being promoted and implemented across farming communities and agro-ecological zones. Mr. Benard Mugisha, a climate-smart agriculturist and lecturer at Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, recommends several practices:
Drought-tolerant crops: Varieties like Longe 5 and Longe 7H maize.
Agroforestry: Integrating trees like Calliandra and Grevillea to provide shade, reduce soil erosion, and improve soil fertility.
Rainwater harvesting: Tanks and drip irrigation systems for year-round crop production in districts like Isingiro.
Mugisha notes, “One of the most effective indigenous practices combating climate change in Uganda is agroforestry. Farmers cultivate trees like Grevillea alongside their crops because they act as windbreaks, prevent soil erosion, and enhance soil fertility by fixing nitrogen.”
Conservation agriculture
Conservation agriculture techniques are also being adopted, such as:
Crop rotation
Mulching
Use of green cover crops
Intercropping: Combining coffee-banana and legumes with other crops.
Community-based adaptation: Practices like terracing and tree planting in regions like Kigezi to combat soil erosion and landslides.
Mulching
Mulching is another widely used indigenous technique where farmers cover the soil with organic materials like banana leaves, dried grass, and maize stalks. This practice conserves soil moisture, prevents weed growth, and regulates soil temperature.
A farmer uses dry maize stalk for mulching his garden. PHOTO/FILE
As the organic matter decomposes, it enriches the soil with nutrients, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers that contribute to environmental degradation.
Mugisha adds, “Intercropping enhances soil fertility and reduces pest infestations. For example, Ugandan farmers often grow beans alongside maize, as the beans fix nitrogen into the soil, benefiting the maize. This method also ensures food security and income stability in the face of climate variability.”
Terrace Farming
In Uganda’s highland regions, particularly in areas like Kabale and Mount Elgon, farmers use terracing to prevent soil erosion. By creating stepped levels along slopes, they slow water runoff, reduce soil loss, and retain water for crops. This ancient practice is essential in maintaining soil fertility and mitigating the risk of landslides, which have become more frequent due to deforestation and heavy rains.
Water Harvesting
Water scarcity is a growing challenge in many parts of Uganda. Indigenous farmers have long practiced water harvesting by collecting rainwater in ponds and storage tanks. Some also dig small trenches around crops to trap and retain water. These techniques help maintain crop growth even during dry spells, reducing the impact of droughts on food production.
Zai pits, small dug-out holes filled with organic matter, are also used to retain water and nutrients. This method, originating in West Africa, is particularly effective in arid and semi-arid regions of Uganda, where soil degradation is a major challenge.
Traditional Pastoral Practices
Traditional Ugandan pastoralists, such as the Karimojong and Banyankole, have long practiced rotational grazing, where livestock are moved periodically to prevent overgrazing. This method allows pastureland to regenerate, preventing soil degradation and desertification. Manure from livestock also enriches the soil, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.
Renewable Energy Solutions
Additionally, solar-powered systems and biogas are being used to enable year-round crop production with renewable energy. Bio-slurry is being piloted with promising results. In livestock management, forage conservation through hay and silage production helps cattle farmers during the dry season. Hydroponics is also emerging as a viable option for zero-grazed animals.
Luwagga explains, “These CSA practices are demonstrating significant potential to improve resilience, productivity, and sustainability in Uganda’s agricultural sector.”
Indigenous Seeds and Biodiversity
Climate change has led to unpredictable weather patterns, making it difficult for farmers to rely on modern hybrid seeds that often require specific conditions. Indigenous farmers preserve traditional seeds, such as millet, sorghum, and native beans, which are more resilient to drought and pests. These heirloom seeds ensure biodiversity and reduce dependency on commercial seeds that may not be adaptable to local climate shifts.
The proper handling and use of livestock dung for biogas production are also contributing to climate change mitigation, while the bio-slurry from these systems is being tested as an organic fertilizer to enhance crop productivity.
A Future Built on Indigenous Wisdom
Indigenous farming techniques in Uganda have stood the test of time, proving their effectiveness in building climate resilience. These methods not only ensure food security but also contribute to environmental conservation, reducing the effects of climate change.
As the world seeks sustainable solutions to modern agricultural challenges, Uganda’s traditional knowledge stands as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that sometimes, the best way forward is to look back at the wisdom of the past.
How Practices Mitigate Climate Change Effects
Indigenous knowledge is a cornerstone of sustainable farming, providing time-honored practices deeply embedded in local ecosystems and cultural traditions. Methods such as intercropping, crop rotation, and traditional water harvesting have been refined over generations to improve soil fertility, conserve water, and minimize reliance on chemical inputs.
By blending indigenous knowledge with modern scientific advancements, farmers can create comprehensive, context-specific solutions that tackle both immediate and future climate change impacts, ensuring long-term food security and environmental health.
Mugisha summarizes, “Agroforestry builds resilient ecosystems. Trees offer shade, prevent soil erosion, sequester carbon, and provide additional income through fruits, timber, or medicinal products.”
Techniques like small dam construction, terracing, and contour planting conserve water and reduce soil erosion, ensuring water availability for crops in drought-prone or rainfall-heavy areas.
Mulching with organic materials retains soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and improves soil health, while organic manure enriches soil nutrients, reduces dependency on synthetic fertilizers, and enhances carbon sequestration.
Luwagga concludes, “Indigenous crop varieties, often more resistant to local pests, diseases, and climatic stresses, are preserved throu
