Tracy Akwii | August 13, 2024
News Brief
In Abokat village, northeast of Kampala, Justine Edonu tends to his 10-acre farm. Long droughts and hardened soil have affected his crops, but Mr. Edonu remains optimistic. His community is adopting Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration, encouraging tree regrowth to restore the land. The result is improved soil fertility, increased resources from the trees, and a boost in local biodiversity. While farmers typically manage tree growth on their own farms, family members of all ages participate in decision-making and regeneration activities. Nineteen-year-old Willson Ebuu, says his family follows his advice on planting, spacing, weeding and pruning, in part because they know he has the energy to do the work.
It is a hot and humid morning in the village of Abokat, about 375 kilometers northeast from Uganda’s capital of Kampala. Justine Edonu, father of seven, checks his farm of 10 acres, a panga and hoe in hand to weed unwanted plants along the way. The 42-year-old has lived in the village of Abokat, Amuria district, for all his life. He grows maize, groundnuts, sweet potato, cassava, millet, sorghum, and white peas. The sandy soil and moderate rains favour these crops.
Climate change has been affecting his harvest and community. With long droughts, a lot of sun, little or no rainfall, and winds, the areas almost becoming a desert. Mr. Edonu’s farm has almost no access to water and some crops have withered. The soil has hardened, making cultivation more difficult.
But Mr. Edonu is hopeful for the future because he and his community are taking action to preserve their local environment. They are no longer cultivating in wetlands, no longer cutting down trees, no longer burning forests and grass. Instead they are creating ridges in between gardens and using FarmerManaged Natural Regeneration, or FMNR. This is a practice where farmers encourage re-growth from existing trees or from naturally-occurring tree seeds in order to restore trees and forests for agricultural and pasture land.
FMNR has many benefits, including providing a source of wood fuel, fruits, timber for other purposes, local medicines, leaves for compost, fresh air, and promoting rain formation. The trees also provide habitats for birds and squirrels and food for wild animals. The forest in Abokat has even become a tourist attraction, welcoming students visiting to study the forest.
In Amuria district, farmers manage FMNR on their own plots of land. Mr. Edonu explains that decision- making is done at the household level. Families come together and agree on FMNR activities like land clearing, tree seedling planting, weeding, pruning, and mulching. Mr. Edonu grows eucalyptus and pine trees because they are fast-growing and do well in dry or stony soils. Their leaves decompose and improve the soil fertility.
Land is portioned according to the demand of the product, and less fertile areas are perfect for trees. For example, if fruits are selling well, more space is allocated and can be managed by either the man, woman, or youth. Mr. Edonu grows trees on six acres, and maize and groundnuts on the other four.
Esther Aguti is another farmer in Abokat village. The 17-year-old is also an active participant in FMNR activities, with her voice and opinions being considered by her family. When she makes suggestions to her father, mother, and siblings on trees to be planted, discussions take place and a decision is made as a family.
She says she was convinced by the training received from World Vision. She adds, “I had lost hope in agriculture due to land exhaustion in the area, but when I received new skills, I opted for groundnuts.” She says the are fast-growing and have a good market.
She adds she has seen the impact of FMNR in their community, as they are currently experiencing good rainfall, good temperatures, fertile soils, and a green environment.
Willson Ebuu is yet another youth from Moru village, Morunganunty who has been active in implementing FMNR and planting trees in his community.
In 2018, the ministry of water and environment of Uganda distributed tree seedlings. Among them was pine, teak, and grevillea tree seedlings. Mr. Ebuu says, “I made a suggestion to my parents to give us as youth and children to plant the seedlings for the benefit of our future and it was agreed by them. They gave us 250.” The 19-year-old says his family follows his advice on planting, spacing, weeding and pruning, in part because they know he has the energy to do the work.
He is now advocating that more people take part in protecting the environment. He says, “As an old boy from home, I am given a chance to teach the younger ones the benefits of trees and dangers of cutting down trees and cultivating in swamps.”
