Potential contribution of farm forestry systems to wood productionin greater Mubende, central Uganda

James, Galandi and Nabanogga, G. and Namaalwa, J. and Kongai, H. (2022) Potential contribution of farm forestry systems to wood productionin greater Mubende, central Uganda. International Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and Plantation (Malaysia), 12. pp. 138-150. ISSN 2462-1757

Limited consideration of small and medium tree planters by most researchers in academic and programme based research has remained a great limitation to promoting Farm Forestry in most developing countries over the years. Despite the contribution from small scale tree farmers in reducing wood products supply gap, major scientific research attention has always been directed to large scale tree farmers resulting into limited scientific information on how small and medium scale tree farmers contribute towards wood supply in Uganda and beyond. This study aimed at diagnosing the contribution of Farm Forestry Systems in the face of the forecasted wood supply gap in Uganda. Specifically, the study sought to: Characterize Farm Forestry Systems and assess factors motivating engagement in Farm Forestry. Uganda and particularly Mubende district was selected for this study because it has approximately 87,137Ha of private forests planted by mainly smallholder tree farmers in scattered woodlots ranging from 1-10Ha.The findings also contribute to the achievement of the Uganda’s Nationally Determined Contributions NDC (2015) which aims at increasing forest cover to 21% in 2030 through providing the possible actions and strategies to enhance wood production on farm and the recommended actions to involve women in tree planting and ownership. Such recommendations when implemented can also contribute to the attainment of SDG 15 which aims at increasing forest cove. A descriptive research design employing a cross-sectional field survey with qualitative and quantitative data collection approaches were adopted. Descriptive design was used to facilitate describing the state of affairs as they actually existed. During data collection, interviews were conducted with 63 Tree and 64 Non-tree farmers. Tree inventory and field observations, Geo-spatial analysis and review of literature were conducted. Descriptive statistics, Cross tabulation, Independent samples Man Whitney test, and Correspondence Analysis were used in the data analysis. Results indicated that woodlot system was the most practiced Farm Forestry System among the farmers. Eucalyptus was the most grown tree species at a proportion of 62% amongst the investigated farmers followed by Pine (24%) and Grevillea (11%). The men dominated on-farm tree planting in the area, with the youthful farmers most active in tree planting. The tree farmers in the area dominantly owned land under the Mailo tenure system with the majority indicating that they had acquired their land through buying. Respondents dominantly owned land of less than 2 acres and obtained their planting materials from private tree nurseries. The study also indicated a significant statistical difference between tree and non-tree farmers in terms of their household sizes, period of stay in the area, age and farm-land distance from the homesteads. It was also revealed that non-tree farmers were mainly limited from engaging in tree farming due to limited land. Tree farmers were dominantly challenged with limited access to technical training in tree. There is a need for tree farmers to be supported and sensitized on the choice of the Farm Forestry System and the tree species to integrate in their crops and pasture fields. Women need to be encouraged and supported to be part of on-farm forestry to enable them harness from the benefits of incorporating trees on their farmlands. Tree farmers should be organized into collective action groups to enable them jointly; seek financial support from different government initiatives, lobby for technical extension services from local government officials like the office of the DFO and also access contractual markets. The study also points out the need or establishing demonstration farms to allow for peer learning and proper involvement of tree farmers in innovations aimed atdeveloping local solutions to local challenges.

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Abstract

Limited consideration of small and medium tree planters by most researchers in academic and programme based research has remained a great limitation to promoting Farm Forestry in most developing countries over the years. Despite the contribution from small scale tree farmers in reducing wood products supply gap, major scientific research attention has always been directed to large scale tree farmers resulting into limited scientific information on how small and medium scale tree farmers contribute towards wood supply in Uganda and beyond. This study aimed at diagnosing the contribution of Farm Forestry Systems in the face of the forecasted wood supply gap in Uganda. Specifically, the study sought to: Characterize Farm Forestry Systems and assess factors motivating engagement in Farm Forestry. Uganda and particularly Mubende district was selected for this study because it has approximately 87,137Ha of private forests planted by mainly smallholder tree farmers in scattered woodlots ranging from 1-10Ha.The findings also contribute to the achievement of the Uganda’s Nationally Determined Contributions NDC (2015) which aims at increasing forest cover to 21% in 2030 through providing the possible actions and strategies to enhance wood production on farm and the recommended actions to involve women in tree planting and ownership. Such recommendations when implemented can also contribute to the attainment of SDG 15 which aims at increasing forest cove. A descriptive research design employing a cross-sectional field survey with qualitative and quantitative data collection approaches were adopted. Descriptive design was used to facilitate describing the state of affairs as they actually existed. During data collection, interviews were conducted with 63 Tree and 64 Non-tree farmers. Tree inventory and field observations, Geo-spatial analysis and review of literature were conducted. Descriptive statistics, Cross tabulation, Independent samples Man Whitney test, and Correspondence Analysis were used in the data analysis. Results indicated that woodlot system was the most practiced Farm Forestry System among the farmers. Eucalyptus was the most grown tree species at a proportion of 62% amongst the investigated farmers followed by Pine (24%) and Grevillea (11%). The men dominated on-farm tree planting in the area, with the youthful farmers most active in tree planting. The tree farmers in the area dominantly owned land under the Mailo tenure system with the majority indicating that they had acquired their land through buying. Respondents dominantly owned land of less than 2 acres and obtained their planting materials from private tree nurseries. The study also indicated a significant statistical difference between tree and non-tree farmers in terms of their household sizes, period of stay in the area, age and farm-land distance from the homesteads. It was also revealed that non-tree farmers were mainly limited from engaging in tree farming due to limited land. Tree farmers were dominantly challenged with limited access to technical training in tree. There is a need for tree farmers to be supported and sensitized on the choice of the Farm Forestry System and the tree species to integrate in their crops and pasture fields. Women need to be encouraged and supported to be part of on-farm forestry to enable them harness from the benefits of incorporating trees on their farmlands. Tree farmers should be organized into collective action groups to enable them jointly; seek financial support from different government initiatives, lobby for technical extension services from local government officials like the office of the DFO and also access contractual markets. The study also points out the need or establishing demonstration farms to allow for peer learning and proper involvement of tree farmers in innovations aimed atdeveloping local solutions to local challenges.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	wood products
AGROVOC Term:	wood production
AGROVOC Term:	forest cover
AGROVOC Term:	land tenure
AGROVOC Term:	collective action
AGROVOC Term:	markets
AGROVOC Term:	smallholders
AGROVOC Term:	women
AGROVOC Term:	youth
AGROVOC Term:	land ownership
Geographical Term:	Uganda
Depositing User:	Mr. Khoirul Asrimi Md Nor
Date Deposited:	21 May 2026 03:34
Last Modified:	21 May 2026 03:34
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3922

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