Impact Of Water Conservation Practices On Land Productivity In Ngugulo Parish, Busujju County, Mityana District

ABSTRACT

The study examined the importance water conservation on land productivity in Ngugulo Parish,

Busujju County in Mityana District. It was guided by specific objectives that included;

examining the practices farmers use to conserve water for agricultural land productivity, the

effect of water conservation practices on land productivity, establishing the challenges faced in

conserving water for agricultural land productivity and recommending strategies farmers may

use to overcome the challenges they face in conserving water for agricultural land productivity in

Ngugulo Parish, Busujju County, Mityana District. The study took place in Ngugulo Parish,

Busujju County, Mityana District in 3 villages that include; Ngugulo, Ggombe and Mayirye. A

total of 200 respondents that included; modal farmers, agricultural extensionists, decision makers

and policy makers at the district were employed in the study. It was both descriptive and

analytical where data were gathered through primary and secondary data analysis. Primary data

were both qualitative and quantitative where interview, observation, focus group discussions

questionnaires and documentary review were used to gather data. Microsoft Office Excel 2003

statistical data presentation methods were used to analyze the data.

Water conservation practices used in the area included; mulching, of cover crops, diversion

channels, pruning, fallowing, agroforestry, contour farming and reported ridges. Positive effects

were; increased food production, increased soil fertility, weed control, reduction of soil erosion,

reserved water for other uses, rainfall formation and multi purpose gains. It was however

established that these practices; harboured pests and diseases, exposed infertile soil layers and

shade limited growth of some plants. The challenges faced were; inadequate funds, inadequate

sensitization, inaccessibility to financial help, labour intensive, natural disasters and conflicts.

However theses measures were given; monitoring studies, experiments and modeling, better

farming methods, subsidizing farmers, agroforestry and re-forestation, breaking the hard pan,

fallowing, irrigation and watering and proper management of water bodies.

The study therefore concludes that; mulching, planting of cover crops, digging of diversion

channels, pruning, fallowing, and agroforestry were the major water conservation practices.

These increased food supply, weed control, reduced soil erosion, reserved water for other uses, rainfall amounts increased and soil water retention capacity increased.