ENHANCING AGRICULTURAL RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA Key Findings and Recommendations for Uganda Drake N. Mubiru, Jalia Namakula, William Nanyeenya, James Lwasa, Godfrey Otim, Joselyn Kashagama and Milly Nakafeero 1 Contents Agriculture in Uganda A New Approach to Agriculture 4 Project Overview 5 SIMLESA-Uganda 6 Strategic Approach 6 Project Sites 7 Partners 7 Key Findings 8 Smallholder Farmers’ Food Security, Productivity, and Incomes Levels 9 Strategies to Improve Resilience, Reduce Risks and Protect Natural Resources 9 Gender and Equity 10 Supporting Mechanisms and Partnerships 10 Achievements Farmer Reach and Adoption 11 Improved Varieties Released 11 Capacity Strengthening 11 Opportunties for Integrating the New Approaches into Maize Farming Systems 12 Packages for Farmers 12 Factors Preventing the Widespread Adoption of CASI Technologies 14 Successes to Date 16 A Sustainable Future for Farming and Food Systems 17 Scaling the New Approaches 17 What is at Stake? 15 Conclusion 15 References 16 2 List of Figures 1. Conservation agriculture based on sustainable intensification 4 2. SIMLESA-Uganda project sites: Lira and Nakasongola districts and the cattle corridor 7 3. The impact of different tillage practices on bean grain yields, with and without fertilizer 10 4. The impact of different tillage practices on maize grain yields, with and without fertilizer 10 List of Tables 1. Summary of CASI options for two of Uganda’s agroecological zones 13 List of Acronyms ACIAR Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research AIP(s) agricultural innovation platform(s) CASI conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture CIMMYT International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations GDP gross domestic product ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics ILRI International Livestock Research Institute MAAIF Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (Uganda) NARO National Agricultural Research Organisation (Uganda) NGOs nongovernmental organizations QAAFI Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, (Australia) SIMLESA Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa 3 AGRICULTURE IN UGANDA Agriculture is vital to the development goals of and variability — including severe drought, flooding, promoting growth and reducing poverty in Uganda. The storms, and epidemics of pests and diseases [4] — have sector contributes 25 percent to gross domestic product increased the risks associated with farming and left (GDP), and provides employment for about 72 percent rural households highly vulnerable to food insecurity of the working population [1]. In addition, about 73 and poverty [3]. According to a report by the Food and percent of households primarily derive their livelihoods Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), from agriculture [2]. In absolute terms, of a population about 4 million Ugandans are severely food insecure of 35 million people, about 6 million Ugandans engage [5]. Although Uganda has the capacity to produce in smallholder/subsistence agriculture [1]. sufficient food, much of the population faces the threat of hunger, and 70–80 percent of children survive on Despite its importance, agriculture in Uganda is a diet of limited nutrients and inadequate diversity. characterized by low production and productivity With a diverse agricultural production system, Uganda due to poor land management, depleted soils and produces a variety of crops, including bananas, root total dependence on rainfall [3]. The production crops, cereals and legumes [6]. As primary staples for system is predominantly small scale and is limited much of the population, maize and beans are major by rudimentary production tools and low use of contributors to food and nutrition security. improved seed, agrochemicals and fertilizer. These factors, coupled with the impacts of climate change Agriculture contributes It provides employment And for about 25% 72% 73% to gross domestic of the working of households primarily product population derive their livelihoods from agriculture 4 A New Approach to Research Organisation (NARO); CGIAR centers, such as the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), A New Approach to Agriculture Agriculture the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi- Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and the International Livestock Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Research Institute (ILRI); and the Queenland Alliance Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) of the Africa (SIMLESA) was a project implemented between Africa (SIMLESA) was a project implemented between University of Queensland, Australia. 2010 and 2018 in five African countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, 2010 and 2018 in five African countries (Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania) and two spillover Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania) and countries (Rwanda and Uganda). The project’s goal Project Overview two spillover countries (Rwanda and Uganda). The was to increase African smallholders’ food security, SIMLESA undertook onfarm research in different agro- project’s goal was to increase African smallholders’ productivity and income levels by integrating sustainable ecological zones to assess the benefits of conservation food security, productivity and income levels by intensification practices to increase productivity, agriculture-based sustainable intensification and to de- integrating sustainable intensification practices to while simultaneously protecting the natural resource velop appropriate technology packages for smallholder increase productivity, while simultaneously protecting base. The particular mix of technologies developed farmers. The project succeeded in increasing the range the natural resource base. The particular mix of by SIMLESA are known as “conservation agriculture- of maize, legume and fodder/forage varieties available, technologies developed by SIMLESA are known based sustainable intensification,” or CASI (Fig. 1). By and involved farmers in seed-selection trials so they as “conservation agriculture-based sustainable utilizing these technologies, SIMLESA sought the dual could identify their preferences. SIMLESA helped es- intensification,” or CASI (Fig. 1). By utilizing these outcomes of sustainably raising yields by 30 percent, tablish agricultural innovation platforms (AIPs) to prog- while decreasing the risk of crop failure by 30 percent. ress members — including farmers, seed producers, In short, SIMLESA focused on and promoted maize and agro-input dealers, nongovernmental organizations legume cropping systems to improve food and income (NGOs) and extension workers — along the value chain. security and resilience to climate change on African The platforms serve farming communities, help mobi- farms. lize resources, and support up- and out-scaling. SIMLE- SA also provided training and capacity strengthening The project — financed by the Australian Centre for for national agricultural research systems and worked International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) — was led with government, business and civil society organiza- by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement tions to provide an enabling environment for the bene- Center (CIMMYT) in collaboration with numerous fits of the newly introduced technologies to be realized partners, including national agricultural research by farmers. institutes (NARIs), in this case, the National Agricultural Figure 1. Conservation agriculture based on sustainable intensification Note: Improved agronomy includes the use of fertilizer and herbicide; crops and livestock include fodder and forage. The project — financed by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) — was led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in collaboration with numerous Conservation Sustainable partners, including national agricultural research institutes (NARIs), in this case, National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO); CGIAR centers, such as the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the Agriculture Intensification International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI); and the Queenland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) of the • Reduced tillage • Improved agronomy University of Queensland, Australia. • Intercropping/rotation CASI • Improved varieties • Residue and mulch • Crops and livestock SIMLESA undertook onfarm research in different agroecological zones to assess the benefits of conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification and to develop appropriate technology packages for smallholder farmers. The project succeeded in increasing the range of maize, legume Source: SIMLESA-Uganda. Note: Improved agronomy includes the use of fertilizer and herbicide; crops and livestock include fodder and forage. and fodder/forage varieties available, and involved farmers in seed-selection trials so they could identify their preferences. SIMLESA helped establish 5 agricultural innovation platforms (AIPs) to progress members — including farmers, seed producers, agro- input dealers, nongovernmental