Agroecology trainings transform Ms. Elizabeth’s farm

Ms. Nyakahuma Elizabeth of Bwera 1 Village in Kicheche Sub-County, Kitagwenda District is a beneficiary

of the JESE-Integrated Farm Planning Project, HereWeGrow and SCHMITZ fund, the project supports the improvement of income and resilience of smallholder Robusta coffee farmer households in Kitagwenda and Kamwenge Districts. After training in Agroecology, integrated soil fertility, and water Management practices in April and May 2024 respectively, Elizabeth embarked on mulching her intercropped coffee and banana field to tap into the technology benefits.

The objective of mulching is the prevention of land degradation specifically nutrient improvement,

erosion control, soil moisture, and soil health improvement. The materials are spread to 15cm thickness, manually across the slope, at the beginning of short rains. The purpose is to retain moisture content in soil by promoting water infiltration during and after the rains, promoting water holding capacity through decay and organic matter formation. Grass mulch also controls soil erosion by intercepting raindrops (splash erosion) that detach soil particles and improve soil nutrients through grass decomposition.

In addition to mulching, Elizabeth has adopted other agroecology practices including making and application of bio rations, recycling of livestock manure, intercropping, agroforestry, and establishment of water retention trenches. Through the adopted practices, the farmer will benefit from; reduced weed growth hence reduced labor input, limited water loss from the soil surface, maintaining soil moisture, prevention of layering over the soil surface, and water movement will be more active into soil covered with mulch rather than running off, prevent soil from splashing onto leaves; this limits the probability of plants getting bacterial and fungal diseases. All these will translate into higher yields at a lower cost and consequently improved farm resilience, productivity, and profitability.