Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

The growing human population will definitely increase demand for food and fibre to feed an additional 2 billion people by 2050. Several gains that were made in the 1970s through the use of high yielding varieties and high-tech technologies are being reversed because there is evidence of soil degradation and destruction of natural resources especially in Africa and parts of Asia. The most notable challenges affecting agricultural productivity include; climate change, decline in soil and water quality, reduction of farmer participation in conservation practices and uneven policies that do not ensure sustainability. Sustainable agriculture means that it should cover all the five aspects of sustainability; biological productivity, economic

The dry maize stalks are also incorporated back into the soil after harvest hence increasing the level of organic matter. Erosion is also minimized especially when residues of beans and vegetables are left on the soil surface.

Description of Naluwoli primary school garden

Naluwoli school garden is located in Butansi Sub-county in Kamuli district eastern Uganda. Kamuli district receives about 108mm of rainfall per annum and the school garden covers about 10 acres of land. Maize is grown in rotation with beans and in some seasons maize is intercropped with beans. About 150 members of the agriculture club are employed to work in the school garden and the output from the school garden is used to feed pupils whereas some of the produce is sold to buy inputs like fertilizer and seeds to ensure sustainability of the system.

Biological productivity

The school garden is productive because maize stover left lying on the soil surface reduces soil erosion and enhances build up of organic matter. Beans that are rotated with maize help to improve nitrogen content of the soil.

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