contribution of multipurpose tree species to the livelihood of small-scale farmers in nama sub-county, mukono district

Description

The study examined the contribution of multipurpose tree species to the livelihood small scale farmers in Nama subcounty, Mukono district. The study was conducted in Kibooba and Lukojjo villages. The objectives were to (i) identify the most preferred multipurpose trees by the farmers and the reasons for preference (ii) identify the tree products got from multipurpose trees and what they use them for (iii) assess the services provided by the multipurpose trees species and (iv) carry out an inventory of the multipurpose tree species on the farmland or household. Sixty household were selected and from the two villages. It was found that most of the respondents were female (55%) and most respondents were aged between 31-40 years. Most of the respondents 43.3% had attained primary education while those with tertiary education level trailed with only 11.7%. Land shortage is a big problem since most of the households had only between 1-3 acres, few household population 8.3% had a land exceeding 10 acres. Artocapus heterophyllus was the most preferred multipurpose tree species (77.6%) while Pinus species, Callindra callothyrthus and oranges all with (1.7%) are on the lowest scale of preference by the farmers. Cross tabulation analysis indicated that fuel wood was the major product (81.7%) got from multipurpose tree species while medicine and construction poles ( 9.6%) were the least among the products provided by the multipurpose tree species, Shade, (63.3%), wind break (51.7) and soil fertility improvement (50%) were the dominant services provided by the multipurpose tree species with aesthetics (16.7%) and water retention being the least ones provided by the multipurpose trees. The major ways in which multipurpose tree species improved the livelihood of farmers were reducing the rate of famine by providing a reliable food source, increasing farmers’ incomes, improving health standards and reducing the fuel costs through providing cheap fire wood from pruning. It is recommended that the community of Nama sub County should be sensitized about the importance of multipurpose tree species in order to understand the benefits provided and they plant, manage and conserve them.