Crop management strategies and food availability among small-scale farmers in Bushenyi District

Abstract

The study examined the effect of crop management strategies on food security in Bushenyi district and the specific objectives included (i) To assess the effect of crop management strategies on food quantity among small-scale farmers in Bushenyi district (ii) To examine the effect of crop management strategies on food quality among small-scale farmers in Bushenyi district. A cross-sectional survey research design was applied and employed quantitative approaches. A sample size of 401 was selected and the response rate was 62%. Data was collected using questionnaire and inferential statistics were analyzed using regression analysis to come up with the level of significance of the dependent variable to the independent variable. The findings revealed that there is a moderate positive and statistically significant effect of crop management strategies on food quantity among small scale farmers in Bushenyi district. This was mainly because farmers are conserving soil by building infiltration ditches around farms at a rate of 54.4%, 50.4% of farmers are using soil conservation and retention strategies, 58.8% of farmers are having access to agriculture extension services which have improved their knowledge and use of modern techniques on farming. The data further indicated 57.2% of farmers are practicing value-addition, 65.2% are planting drought-tolerant and early maturing crop species, 59.2% of the farmers are improving soil fertility and moisture retention by using fertilizers and alternative cropping rotation techniques while 57.6% are controlling pests and plant diseases through regular weeding, crop rotation, and the planting of appropriate crops. Therefore, it’s logical to conclude that crop management strategies through soil conservation and retention strategies, growing drought resistant crops and short cycle varieties, pest and diseases control strategies, access to trainings by extension workers on farms and crop rotation have played a critical role in increasing food availability in terms of quantity and quality in Bushenyi district. The study recommends that small scale farmers practice different crop management strategies like continued use of modern crop varieties developed through research should be utilized to increase supply of food production, government to regulate and ensure reduced cost of farm inputs so all farmers can gain access to improved seedlings and inputs which will increase production, increase water supply through irrigation, water diversion structures, ponds, wells, and the optimization of farming practices that will increase production and improve stability of production between years and seasons which will in turn reduce food price fluctuations, to improve and promote market regulation reforms in the simplest reform by reducing trader barriers with the hope of lowering prices and increase access to food and increase support and aid by government to the agriculture sector inform of access to small loans and deployment of extension workers to train and support the farmers.