A REPORT ON STUDY TOUR TO NATIONAL TREE...
Transcript of A REPORT ON STUDY TOUR TO NATIONAL TREE...
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A REPORT ON STUDY TOUR TO NATIONAL TREE SEED CENTRE (NTSC AND KAYUNGA DISTRICTS BY THE NTUNGAMO ORGANIC PINEAPPLE
INNOVATION PLATFORM MEMBERS
From 04th – 06th November 2014
Figure 1: Ntungamo Organic Pineapple IP members listening to Masambu Diphas while explaining his
activities on farm.
Background
Pineapple growing is one of the fast growing fruit Sub Sector in Uganda grown in many parts of
the country especially Kayunga, Luweero, Masaka, Isingiro, Bushenyi and Ntungamo Districts
among others and have had a high potential for improving farmers livelihoods through
increased income from both domestic and export market.
Due to its economic potential, the pineapple enterprise was selected as a market driven crop with
a focus on improving production of organic pineapples and utilization through development of
appropriate technologies that will address significant constraints and challenges such as pests and
diseases, failure to penetrate the market niche and natural resource degradation among others.
Access to quality planting material, knowledge and skills on the appropriate practices and
technologies while integrating crops , agroforestry trees and value addition continue to be a
big challenge to the production system faced by the Ntungamo Innovation Platform (IP)
members. Under the Sub-Saharan African Challenge Programme(SSACP) , there was need to
link Ntungamo Organic Pineapple IP members to quality planting material , soil and water
conservation technologies integrated with agroforestry and value.
From 4th – 6th November 2014, ICRAF with support from the SSACP through Makerere
University facilitated a three day field visit to National Tree Seed Centre, three farmers farms
and Kangulumira Area Cooperative Enterprise in Kalagala village, Kangumira parish,
Kangumira sub-county , Kayunga district . A total of 18 participants (14 males and 4 females)
who included farmers, researchers, extension agents, policy makers and the private sector
participated in this visit. The tour was interactive with questions and answer sessions from both
the IP members, farm owners/facilitators and the Research team form ICRAF and
MBAZARDI. The tour aimed at achieving the following :
1. To share experiences in organic pineapple production and management practices as well as
soil and water conservation techniques among farmers.
2. To benchmark the integration of agro forestry technologies with crop- livestock systems
already used in Kayunga
3. To understand some of the cost effective technologies used by Kayunga pineapple farmers
which can be replicated in Ntungamo for increased quality pineapple production and soil and
erosion control
4. To explore linkages with the National tree seed Centre and Kayunga farmers on the
possibility of accessing quality planting materials, value addition and market opportunities
for organic pineapple products.
Expected Outputs of the visit
At the end of the visit , participants were expected to acquire knowledge and skill s on the
integration of agro forestry technologies in to the existing crop- livestock systems by the farmers
of Ntungamo Organic, sources of quality panting materials and soil and water conservation
technologies that can be promoted within Ntungamo to address soil and water erosion problems
in addition to value addition and processing of organic pineapple into products that can fetch
more money into farmers pockets
Day one: 4th November 2014
On the first day, the team visited the National Forestry Tree Seed Centre (NTSC) located in
Namanve, Wakiso District. NTSC is under National Forestry Authority(NFA) but formally under
the Forest department. According to the nursery manager at the seed centre, Nabankema
Apolonia the NTSC started in 1992 as a seed project supported by the UNISAW, Norway and
Netherland funding following decline in forests cover. The NTSC is mandated to provide
adequate quantities of seed and plant materials with desired genetic and physiological quantities
to meet the demand for tree planting activities in the Country. The services provided by the seed
center include seed and seedling sales, tree seed source development, training and advisory
services and employment of a number of skilled personel.
Apolonia took the visiting team through the nursery activities right from soil mixing, potting,
sowing, and pricking out, sorting and grading, management of pests and diseases to hardening
off. She also highlighted the four tree species categories raised in the nursery namely agro-
forestry, timber, ornamentals and fruit trees. Apolonia suggested agroforestry tree species
namely Calliandra calothyrsus, Sesbania sesban, leauceana leucocephala and fruit trees like
mangoes and jack fruit among others to be integrated with the pineapples. She however noted
that these should be planted at the boundary since pineapples do not require a lot of shade. These
trees would be used for fodder, add fertility to the soil and their fruits sold for income. Apolonia
also suggested broad leaved trees like Tectona grandis to be planted in Ntungamo in order to tap
into the carbon markets. She
Linkage of the IP members to the quality planting material being one of the purposes for the
tour, Muhumuza Enock inquired from Apolonia how the IP members could easily access good
quality tree seedlings that were suitable to the Ntungamo environment. In her response, Apolonia
mentioned that seedlings at the seed center were supplied based on their suitability to the
environments in the planting area and these if bought would be transported to Ntungamo at a fee
from the tree seed center. She also suggested that the farmers tap into the community tree
planting programs at NFA and Farm income enhancement and forest conservation project
(FIEFOC) under the Ministry of Water and Environment.
Courtesy call to MUZARDI: Meeting with SSACP- Task Force 2 Leader - Proffessor
Moses Tenywa.
After the National Tree Seed Centre, the IP members with the facilitators passed through
Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Centre (MUZARDI) where they met the
SSACP taskforce leader for Uganda Prof. Moses Tenywa. In his encouraging words he had this
to say” As IP members you need to strengthen 3 cooking stones if we want to have quality
products for increased income and food security on the plates (promoting collective action on
natural resources management (social capital) markets and finances through self-help groups-
SHG’s while integrating Agroforestry technologies. Exposure visits and trainings is the way to
go for information sharing and learning. We are impressed with what the Ntungamo IP and
ICRAF is doing as a partner with other several partners. Let us know what other trainings you
would like to conduct in future as an IP and Partner so that we can see how to facilitate them
where possible”. He however mentioned about bush burning practice which is being promoted
among farming communities and the issue of weak policies and decline in enforcement
mechanisms. The local government need to look into this.“ We also need to see the local
government coming up to support the IP with finances and budget and mainstream the IP into
the Local government plans and allocate resources. Mukono Has allocated 2, 000, 000 million
shillings to support IP activities and a cheese has already been given to the IP members in
Mukono. This is what we would like to see in Ntungamo IP” Mentioned by Moses Tenywa.
Moses was handed over 5 packets of pineapple crisps which they have processed from their own
organic pineapple.
Prof. Tenywa being given the dried pineapple crisps
The first day ended with a travel to Kayunga where the team spent the night in preparation for
day 2.
Day Two (5th November 2014)
On the second day, the group travelled to Kangulumira Area Cooperative Enterprise in
Kangulumira Sub County, where they visited a pineapple garden belonging to Masambu Diphas,
a model farmer in Kalagala village and the production unit of the cooperative. The cooperative is
an umbrella organization that brings together all 28 cluster pineapple farmers who are engaged in
the value chain of pineapple growing. The total membership of this cooperative society is 247
registered members. In his narration, Masamba gave an insight of how he started growing
pineapples right from 2003 up to now. He is growing organic pineapples on a 3.5 acres of land
and expects to harvest 36,000 pineapples by the end of the 2nd season. He sells each pineapple at
1000/= regardless of the size. His pineapples when ready for harvesting weigh between 3- 5 kgs.
Masamba integrates banana into the pineapples and within the garden exists trenches and ditches
for controlling soil and water erosion and walking paths through the garden which all these are
not practiced by the farmers in Ntungamo. Masambu mentioned that tree integration with
pineapples was not a common practice in the area since the pineapples do not require a lot of
shade which the trees provide hence recommended that these be planted along the farm
boundaries. Masambu also mentioned that he feeds his cattle with pineapple peelings and banana
leaves. He advised the Ntungamo farmers to lime their gardens with ash in order to reduce the
acidity of the soil and hence reduce the acidity of the resultant pineapple fruits. He cited
pineapple wilt as the only challenge to apple growing but that he had managed to overcome this
through proper farm management practices. He also mentioned competition in the market since
there was no differentiation between organically grown and inorganically grown pineapples.
Masambu has other enterprises namely coffee, maize, paw paws in addition to banana and
organic pineapple.
The visiting team in Masambu’s (lower right) well managed pineapple garden
He practices proper husbandry management technologies which include planting in raised strips
spaced at 5ft between the strips, using coffee husks as both manure and mulching materials,
integration of bananas and pineapples. The spacing between the ridges and coffee husks used
allow for soil and water conservation with in the pineapple garden.
Mrs Kayanga’s farm was also visited . In her farm, there was an integration of coffee with
bananas, fruits trees and fodder tree like Calliandra.
The production unit of the cooperative was visited last. Here the cooperative processes
pineapples into juice, wine and crisps which are sold to both local markets namely fruits of the
Nile(FON ), FlORAN; and international markets. These products are processed using solar driers
both locally made and imported and machines for juice and wine making. The cooperative
manager took the team through the wine making process and emphasized wine making as a
profitable and cost effective venture with a lot of market demand. Value addition is also done for
fruits namely apple bananas, jack fruit and paws.
The visiting team being taught how to make wine and dried fruit crisps
The field visit ended by 5.30pm with the Ntungamo IP members going to look at the Ferry in
which connects Kayunga to Kamuli. This was the first time to look at this for most of the IP
members.
Lessons learnt:
• From what we have seen from the garden, the quality planting material of pineapple in
Ntungamo seems not to be an issue because the two have the same planting material(
smooth cayne). Secondly Farmers in Ntungamo may not allow other planting materials as
they believe it can cause diseases like Banana caused banana wilt when new seed was
introduced from other areas. The only problem in Ntungamo is the acidity of the soil which
the IP members can use Ash and more manure and coffee husks to reduce the acidity in the
soil. This is an area for further research
• Spacing: In Ntungamo farmers uses 2ft x2ft and this leaves a big space and makes the
pineapples to fall. In Kayunga farmers use 1.5 x 1.5 ft. and this is better. This kind of spacing
supports pineapples. This is something that we need to practice when we go back as IP
members.
• Integration of banana, pineapples and agroforestry was appreciated by the Ntungamo farmers
and realized this is something they need to do as bananas provide mulching materials for the
pineapples when integrated together.
• Farmers in Ntungamo need to begin using coffee husks as mulching materials
• The integration of Soil and Water Conservation(SWC) technologies into banana and
pineapples improves fertility of soil and reduces water and soil run off. The dug ditches
within the gardens also are used for planting in banana. This is a lesson that we need to take
back home.
• It was observed that there were no paths left by farmers in pineapple gardens in Ntungamo
while paths are left in farmers gardens in Kayunga to allow easy movements and reduce
destruction. This creates and reduces chances for destruction
• The visit improved the understanding of the pineapple- cattle and agroforestry interactions
and how they benefit from one another
Reflection meeting with IP members on 6th Nov 2014 and next steps
On 6th November 2014, the team conducted a brief meeting to re-cap on the two days visit
facilitated by Muhumuza Enock IP chairman and Rick Kamugisha (ICRAF staff) and below is
the summary of what was discussed and agreed upon
1. Appreciation of the visit and thanked ICRAF and Makerere and the entire project for
supporting the visit where a lot new things on crop-livestock integration and value addition
of pineapples into juice, wine and crisps were learnt.
2. The integration of trees and soil and water conservation technologies has also been a very
important lesson that we need to take forward. IP members to follow up on this
3. The use of coffee husks as mulching material has not been known to farmers and promised
to promote this in their IPs. IP members to follow up on this
4. Conduct feedback session on the needs assessment report, training in soil and water
conservation training and understanding of water shed management with Ntungamo IP
members for 2 days in December 2014 before 10th. Rick and Moses to follow up on this
5. Develop IP work plan for 2015 activities focusing on crop –livestock integrated with
agroforestry technologies and share with ICRAF and Makerere University. Moses Sabiti and
Rick to follow up to follow on this
6. Initiate a proposal to Agribusiness initiative trust (ABI) for financial support to increase
solar dries among the IP Members(Moses Sabiti and Rick)
Appendix
Participants List
Name Sex Institution Telephone number
Sabiiti Moses M Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0703000712
Rugyendo William M Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0781505273
Cassim befuuza M Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0754105524
Kariisa Moses M Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0773042119
Buhangiro Odomaro M Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0704297573
Atuhairwe Bernard M Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0779928001
Muhumuza Enock M Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0782431722
Mugume bernard M Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0782559575
Bwankarikali Frencis M Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0775157397
Katusiime Scovia F Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0774343281
Katsigano Fabius M Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0782575079
Tumuhimbise Jenniffer F Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0787457156
Turyakira E M Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0775936504
Mujurizi Angel Salongo M Ntungamo Fruit Dryers Association 0759804404
Tumuramye Kellet F Ntungamo Organic Pineapple I.P 0773245479
Hadard Kwesiga M MBAZARDI 0772492173
Kamugisha Rick M ICRAF 0703638166
Biira Jenipher F ICRAF 0776728244
PROGRAMME OF STUDY TOUR (4TH -6TH NOVEMBER 2014)
Date and Time Activity Where Responsible
26th -30th October
2014
Pre-visit to Kayunga Kayunga- Waswa’s
farm
Jenipher
4th November 2014
6.00 am - 1.00 pm
Travel from Ntungamo to Kampala and have
Lunch in Kampala or outside Kampala
Hotel in Kampala/
Outside Kampala
Sabiti Moses and
Kato Geoffrey
2.00 pm-2.30 pm Welcome remarks, brief updates on Ntungamo
IP activities ICRAF and visit to NTSC –
Agroforestry activities on station.
NTSC NTSC / Moses /
Clement /Rick
2.30 pm-5.00pm IP members visit/ tour around NTSC and
discussions
NTSC
5th November 2014
9.00 a.m – 5.00pm
Visit to Kayunga farmers : Organic pineapple
value chain, Soil and water conservation
practices/technologies , quality planting and
mulching material and exploring opportunities
for supplying quality planting material and
wrap up
Waswa’s
farm,Masamba Diphas
farm , Mrs Kayanga
Rose farm a and
Kangulumira Area
cooperative society
Waswa/Rick
6th November 2014
9.00 am
Reflection meeting and IP members travel
back to Ntungamo
Ntungamo Sabiti Moses and
Kato Geoffrey
4th-8th November 2014 Documentation Rick/ Jenipher