Makerere University launches Climate Smart Agriculture Project

Food insecurity and malnutrition remain high in Sub-Saharan Africa where agriculture is predominantly rain-fed and 80% of the food is produced by small-holder farmers.

Addressing the challenge requires extensive research and extension support to improve the existing traditional tillage systems and farming practices.

Climate Smart Agriculture in Sub Saharan Africa (NoRHED II), a collaborative project between Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), seeks to generate new knowledge and to contribute to capacity building with respect to food security and on-farm profitability in Sub-Saharan Africa through innovative and sustainable climate-smart technologies.

 

The project sites in Uganda are in Alebtong and Mubende districts representing two distinct agro-ecological zones.

 

The 5-year project (2021-2026) launched by Makerere University Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe on 15^th June 2022 will among other activities train farmers on Climate Smart Agriculture technologies, train Masters and PhD students and build research capacity at the participating institutions.

 

Further capacity building is expected through organization of three summer schools involving all partners, students from the five collaborating universities, as well as NGO and government representatives.

 

Each summer school will involve one student from NMBU and two students from each of the partner institutions in the South leading to a total of 48 students trained in novel Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies.

 

Partner institutions in Norway include the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) and Menon Economics while in the South, partners include Gulu University’s Faculty of Agriculture and Environment; Rural Enterprise Development Solutions (REDS); Hawassa University’s Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources; University of Zambia’s School of Agricultural Sciences; and University of Juba’s School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies.

Under the project, the research team intends to address issues related to crop production, soil water management, soil fertility management, and the socio-economic aspects in regard to climate smart technologies in agriculture.

The project is supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

The overall Principal Investigator (PI) is Prof. Vegard Martinsen from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ugandan PI is Prof. Samuel Kyamanywa from the Department of Agricultural Production, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University.

Other researchers on the project are; Prof. Jackline Bonabana-Wabbi (Co-PI); Prof. Gorettie N. Nabanoga, Principal, CAES) and member of staff in the Department of Extension and Innovation Studies; Prof. Frank Kansiime from the Department Environmental Management, Mak; Prof. Majaliwa Mwanjalolo and Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze from the Department of Geography, Geoinformatics & Climatic Sciences, Mak; as well as Dr Basamba Ali Twaha Ateenyi and Dr. Patrick Musinguzi from the Department of Agricultural Production, Makerere University.

More Details on the project: https://news.mak.ac.ug/2022/03/mak-caes-research-projects-to-boost-food-security-through-climate-smart-innovations/