Abstract:

Soil fertility management and soil conservation are viewed as major components of sustaining crop production
in the steep slope farming areas. A survey was conducted in eight villages of mountain Elgon areas of Mbale
and Kapchorwa district (four from each district). In four of the villages (2 from each district) a detailed
household (HH) survey on soil management was conducted. The HHs were divided into three wealth categories
(rich, middle and poor) following criteria developed by the farmers themselves. From these categories, 10,
10 and 15 HHs were selected from the rich, middle and poor, respectively, for the survey. In the other four
villages focus group discussions were conducted. The results revealed that although Kapchorwa district had
smaller HH sizes, it had a higher land pressure than Mbale (0.4 compared to 1 acres of land per HH,
respectively), and still had more labour problems. Livestock keeping in Kapchorwa was significantly higher
(PvO.OS) than in Mbale. Soil fertility was reported to be low in both districts but soil erosion and lack of
inputs were significantly more prominent (P<0.05) in Kapchorwa than Mbale. For soil conservation measures,
mulching is practiced by the majority of farmers, followed by manure application, terracing and soil bunds.
Fertilizer application was only reported in Kapchorwa district. Major sources of information arc extension
officers and other farmers for Kapchorwa; relatives, NGOs and other farmers for Mbale. The type of
information from these sources to most farmers is to do with crop management and general agricultural
methods but in most cases this is not adequate. From the survey information gathered it was evident that
lack of knowledge, labour and distance of farmers' fields from the homestead are the major constraints to
soil conservation and fertility management. Wealth status may have a role to play, especially in the adoption
of soil management techniques that require financial inputs; however; this may not be as significant since
some poor farmers with small fields were reported to have had good soil conservation and fertility
management measures