MOBIP-RAWM: rangeland, agro-forestry and water

Improving pastures, water access and tree cover for beef-producing communities in Nakasongola, Nakaseke, Masindi, Kyankwanzi, Kiboga, Mbarara, Isingiro, Kiruhura and Sembabule, with AGRENES, NARO-NaLIRRI, FAO and CURAD. AGRILIV and AGRENES led two work packages: climate-smart pasture, agroforestry and water management, and rangeland rehabilitation.

Why it matters

Rangelands cover about 44% of Uganda and carry more than 90% of its ruminants. Erratic rain, long droughts and overgrazing have left pasture thin and water scarce: in 2016 fewer than 60% of rural rangeland households had access to safe water. Households, especially those headed by women, also depend on firewood and charcoal, which strips tree cover further.

Objectives

• Promote gender-responsive, climate-smart forage production technologies and practices
• Build the capacity of beef producers and district actors in integrated water resources management
• Promote agroforestry and rehabilitate degraded rangeland and watershed areas
• Help stakeholders exploit synergies between crops and livestock
• Develop mechanisms for monitoring and managing weather-related risk

What we did

• Researched water for production and built water harvesting dams, with technical supervision during construction
• Trained farmers to manage their water tanks efficiently
• Ran applied research on pasture establishment and rangeland rehabilitation, and trained farmers in both
• Produced training manuals and information materials for beef-producing communities

Results

• 483 acres of new pasture established on 37 farms
• 405 acres of degraded rangeland restored on 46 farms
• 18 household water facilities of 30,000 litres each, 10 of them serving female-headed households
• 400,000 multipurpose agroforestry seedlings distributed
• Farmer Ephraim Rwakanuma used to spend 3 to 4 hours a day fetching water by bicycle from a well 7 km away. He now has water on his farm for 150 goats and 10 cattle.