Effects of land use practices on livelihoods in the trans-boundary sub-catchments of the Lake Victoria Basin (original) (raw)
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xiv CHAPTER 1: I NTRODUCTION 1 The Study Problem 1 Description of Study Region 3 Research Questions and Study Objectives 5 Rationale and Importance of Study 6 CHAPTER I I : REVIEW OF LITERATURE 12 Introduction 12 Land and Land Degradation in Rural Africa 13 Physical Land Degradation and its Impact on Rural Livelihoods in Africa 16 Poverty and its Implications on Livelihoods 20 Local Indigenous Knowledge 22 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY 24 Background 24 Qualitative Research 24 Study Site 25 Maintaining Validity 33 Data Analysis 34
Land-use change is one of the main drivers of environmental change. It influences the basic resources of land, including the soil. Its impact on soil often occurs so creepingly that land managers hardly contemplate initiating ameliorative or counterbalance measures. Poor land management has degraded vast amounts of land, reduced our ability to produce enough food, and is a major threat to rural livelihoods in many developing countries. Land use in the basin of lake Victoria like other parts of east Africa is changing fast. While some areas are undergoing expansion of cultivation and grazing, others are intensifying. Common to all is that there are impacts on sustainability of the natural systems on which productivity depends. The nature of landscapes and the geomorphologic processes in the lake basin make land use change highly sensitive to erosion and degradation. There is an urgent need for a regional framework and guidelines for sustainable land management including all sectors o...
Factors Affecting Sustainability Of Wetland Agriculture Within Lake Victoria Basin In Uganda
Journal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR), 2008
In recent years, the high rate of conversion of wetlands for agriculture has raised environmental concerns in Uganda. A study was therefore conducted to identify issues that need to be addressed if communities are to continue deriving livelihoods from wetland agriculture, without causing stress to the wetlands of Lake Victoria basin. This was done by conducting household surveys and focus group discussions in two of the districts that border Lake Victoria. Wetland agriculture was found to be a significant source of livelihoods for resource poor communities, contributing over 60% of the household income. Farming was mainly done at a subsistence level. The study found that socio economic factors, poor farming practices and weak policies were contributing to the rapid conversion of wetlands. Concerted efforts need to be made by government institutions to sensitize communities on conservation of wetlands. Some of the policies need to be harmonized to avoid contradictions. Alternative sources of livelihoods must be created to ensure socio economic benefits and environmental conservation.