Uptake of sustainable agriculture practices among smallholder crop farmers in nagongera sub-county, tororo district, Uganda
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Date
2026
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Busitema University
Abstract
This study examined the factors affecting the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices (SAPs) among smallholder farmers in Nagongera Sub-County, Tororo District, Uganda. The study objectives were to: describe the sustainable agriculture practices used by smallholder farmers in Nagongera Sub-County; determine the factors influencing the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices; and identify the challenges faced by farmers in the application of sustainable agriculture practices. Data were collected from 40 smallholder farmers (both men and women) using structured questionnaires administered through face-to-face interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
The results revealed a moderate level of uptake of sustainable agriculture practices among farmers. Seventy percent (70%) of the respondents regularly practiced crop rotation, while sixty-five percent (65%) used improved seed varieties due to their affordability and immediate benefits. However, agroforestry and the use of organic fertilizers were less adopted because of labor requirements, limited technical knowledge, and financial constraints. The study further established that socio-economic factors such as education level, household income, and farm size significantly influenced adoption of SAPs. Institutional factors, particularly access to extension services, training programs, and cooperative membership, positively influenced farmers’ adoption of sustainable agriculture practices. Environmental challenges including rainfall variability, declining soil fertility, pests and diseases, and land degradation negatively affected adoption levels.
Farmers coped with these challenges through strategies such as crop diversification, adjustment of planting dates, agroforestry, and the use of drought-tolerant crop varieties, although only 30% of the farmers demonstrated high levels of adoption. The study concluded that the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices among smallholder farmers was constrained by limited financial resources, inadequate institutional support, and environmental pressures. The study therefore recommends strengthening agricultural extension services, improving access to agricultural inputs and credit facilities, promoting farmer training programs, and enhancing institutional support systems to improve the adoption and sustainability of sustainable agriculture practices among smallholder farmers.
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Research Dissertation
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Namateka, S.(2026).Uptake of sustainable agriculture practices among small holder crop farmers in Nagongera Sub-county, Tororo District, Uganda. Busitema University