Agronomic pests and economic factors influencing sustainability of bananacoffee systems of western Uganda and potentials for improvement

In Uganda, banana (Musa spp) and coffee (Coffea spp) form the economic base for a big population of small-scale farmers and provide environmental protection. However, their production is currently declining. The two crops are grown in association as intercrops or adjacent monocultures but little inf...

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Main Authors: Ragama, P.E., Nankinga, C., Okech, H., Gold, C., Wetala, P., Asten, Piet J.A. van, Nambuye, A.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2004
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/103309
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author Ragama, P.E.
Nankinga, C.
Okech, H.
Gold, C.
Wetala, P.
Asten, Piet J.A. van
Nambuye, A.
author_browse Asten, Piet J.A. van
Gold, C.
Nambuye, A.
Nankinga, C.
Okech, H.
Ragama, P.E.
Wetala, P.
author_facet Ragama, P.E.
Nankinga, C.
Okech, H.
Gold, C.
Wetala, P.
Asten, Piet J.A. van
Nambuye, A.
author_sort Ragama, P.E.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In Uganda, banana (Musa spp) and coffee (Coffea spp) form the economic base for a big population of small-scale farmers and provide environmental protection. However, their production is currently declining. The two crops are grown in association as intercrops or adjacent monocultures but little information exists on biological and socio-economic complementarities and antagonisms between them; thus complicating interventions to reverse the decline. In view of the above, Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRAs) and diagnostic studies were conducted in 2003 to: (1) Determine management practices, constraints and market effects on the production of banana and coffee, (2) Elucidate farmers’ perceptions on production and management constraints and (3) Derive hypotheses for further participatory research. The information was obtained through group and key informant interviews,discussions and farm assessments at three sites in Mbarara district, South-western Uganda. The studies showed that pests and diseases, declining soil fertility, poor management and lack of good markets are the main causes ofthe decline. Key banana pests were banana weevil and nematodes affecting local (AAA-EA) cooking and brewing types and fusarium wilt affecting exotic (ABB, AB and AAA) brewing and dessert types. Coffee suffers mainly from coffee wilt. Banana and coffee mutually benefit each other but also compete for resources. Banana provides shade and mulch for young coffee while coffee provides husks for banana nutrients and mulch at sites closer to the coffee factories. Regular application of coffee husks in banana plantations lowers the incidence of banana weevil pest and gives bigger bunches. The antagonistic aspects of the system include coffee depletion of soils and banana shading of older coffee plants. Lack of liquidity among farmers, arising from poor markets, leads to poor crop and pest management. Revamping farmers’ organizations for marketing purposes would improve farm gate prices and hence improved liquidity for reinvestment in the system.
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spelling CGSpace1033092023-06-12T18:17:17Z Agronomic pests and economic factors influencing sustainability of bananacoffee systems of western Uganda and potentials for improvement Ragama, P.E. Nankinga, C. Okech, H. Gold, C. Wetala, P. Asten, Piet J.A. van Nambuye, A. bananas pests of plants diseases cropping systems socioeconomic development soil fertility In Uganda, banana (Musa spp) and coffee (Coffea spp) form the economic base for a big population of small-scale farmers and provide environmental protection. However, their production is currently declining. The two crops are grown in association as intercrops or adjacent monocultures but little information exists on biological and socio-economic complementarities and antagonisms between them; thus complicating interventions to reverse the decline. In view of the above, Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRAs) and diagnostic studies were conducted in 2003 to: (1) Determine management practices, constraints and market effects on the production of banana and coffee, (2) Elucidate farmers’ perceptions on production and management constraints and (3) Derive hypotheses for further participatory research. The information was obtained through group and key informant interviews,discussions and farm assessments at three sites in Mbarara district, South-western Uganda. The studies showed that pests and diseases, declining soil fertility, poor management and lack of good markets are the main causes ofthe decline. Key banana pests were banana weevil and nematodes affecting local (AAA-EA) cooking and brewing types and fusarium wilt affecting exotic (ABB, AB and AAA) brewing and dessert types. Coffee suffers mainly from coffee wilt. Banana and coffee mutually benefit each other but also compete for resources. Banana provides shade and mulch for young coffee while coffee provides husks for banana nutrients and mulch at sites closer to the coffee factories. Regular application of coffee husks in banana plantations lowers the incidence of banana weevil pest and gives bigger bunches. The antagonistic aspects of the system include coffee depletion of soils and banana shading of older coffee plants. Lack of liquidity among farmers, arising from poor markets, leads to poor crop and pest management. Revamping farmers’ organizations for marketing purposes would improve farm gate prices and hence improved liquidity for reinvestment in the system. 2004 2019-08-21T14:12:55Z 2019-08-21T14:12:55Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/103309 en Limited Access Okech, S., Gold, C.S., Abele, S., Nankinga, C.M., Wetala, P.W., Van Asten, P., ... & Ragama, P. (2004). Agronomic, pests and economic factors influencing sustainability of banana-coffee systems of Western Uganda and potentials for improvement. Uganda Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 9(1), 437-444.
spellingShingle bananas
pests of plants
diseases
cropping systems
socioeconomic development
soil fertility
Ragama, P.E.
Nankinga, C.
Okech, H.
Gold, C.
Wetala, P.
Asten, Piet J.A. van
Nambuye, A.
Agronomic pests and economic factors influencing sustainability of bananacoffee systems of western Uganda and potentials for improvement
title Agronomic pests and economic factors influencing sustainability of bananacoffee systems of western Uganda and potentials for improvement
title_full Agronomic pests and economic factors influencing sustainability of bananacoffee systems of western Uganda and potentials for improvement
title_fullStr Agronomic pests and economic factors influencing sustainability of bananacoffee systems of western Uganda and potentials for improvement
title_full_unstemmed Agronomic pests and economic factors influencing sustainability of bananacoffee systems of western Uganda and potentials for improvement
title_short Agronomic pests and economic factors influencing sustainability of bananacoffee systems of western Uganda and potentials for improvement
title_sort agronomic pests and economic factors influencing sustainability of bananacoffee systems of western uganda and potentials for improvement
topic bananas
pests of plants
diseases
cropping systems
socioeconomic development
soil fertility
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/103309
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