The Role of Soil Conservation Techniques to Food Security: Case Study of Yambio State, Southern Sudan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION i

APPROVAL ii

DEDICATION iv

AKNOWLEDGEMENT v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background 2

1 .2 Problem Statement 4

1.3 Objective 5

1.3.1 Overall objective~ 5

1.3.2 Specific objectives 5

1.4 Research Questions 5

1.5 Scope Of The Study 5

1.6 Justification Of The Study 6

1.7 Conceptual Framework~ 7

CHAPTER TWO 8

LITERATURE REVIEW 8

2.0 INTRODUCTION 8

2.1 SOIL CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES 8

2.1.1 Planting Vegetation~ 8

2.1.2 Contour P1oughing~ 9

2.1.3 Maintaining the Soil pW 9

2.1.4 Soil Organisms~ 9

2.1.5 Crop Rotation Practice~ 10

2.1.6 Watering the Soi1~ 10

2.1.7 Salinity Management 10

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2.1.8 Terracing .11

2.1.9 Bordering from Indigenous crops 11

2.2.0 No-tilling Farming Method~ 11

2.2.1 Conservation tillage 12

2.2.2 No-till 12

2.2.3 Ridge-till 12

2.2.4 Mulch-till 12

2.2.5 Reduced-till (15-30% residue) 12

2.2.6 Conventional-till or intensive-till (less than 15% residue) 12

2.3 ROLE OF SOIL CONSERVATION ECHNIQUES 13

2.4 Farming systems and soil and water conservation techniques Yambio StateS 14

2.5 Suggested and Alternative Conservation Techniques 14

CHAPTER THREE 16

3.0 METHEDOLOGY 16

3.1.0 MATERIAL AND METHODS 16

3.1.1 Research design and general survey 16

3.1.2 Population size~ 16

3.1.3 Study populations 16

3.1.4 Sample size 16

3.1.5 Sampling frame work 17

3.1.6 Sampling design17

3.1.7 Sampling techniques 18

3.2.0 Data collection instruments~ 18

3.2.1 Questionnaire~ 18

3.2.2 Library search~ 18

3.2.3 Interview~ 18

3.3.0 Data analyses and presentation~ 18

3.3.1 Qualitative analysis~ 18

3.3.2 Quantitative analysis~ 19

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CHAPTER FOUR .20

4.0 Introduction 20

4.1 Roles of extension agents~ 26

4.2 The role of Community Department 26

4.3 Nature of extension agents used; 27

4.4 Transport used by extension agents~ 28

CHAPTER FIVE 30

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS~ 30

5.0 Introduction 30

5.1 Conc1usions~ 30

5.2 Recommendation on the improvement of extension services 31

5.3 Employment ofmore extension staffs 32

5.4 Provision of legal and policy framework 32

5.5 Recognizing indigenous knowledge 33

5.6 Targeting and gender sensitivity 33

5.7 Introduction of Agro forestry 33

REFERENCES 34

ESTIMATED BUDGET 35

TIME SCHEDULE 36

APPENDIXCES: QUESTIONNAIRES 37

Section A: Questionaiere For Household For Soil Conservation 37

Section B: Information On Environment 38

Section C. Sources Of Livelihood 41

Section D: House Hold Nutrition Information [Circle Or Fill In The Blanks] 41

Section E. Information On House Hold Gender Issues (Circle Or Fill In Blanks) 42

Section H: Information On House Hold Knowledge And Attitude Towards Environment

(Circle Or Fill In Blanks) 43

Questionnaires For Extension Agents Agric / Development Officers 45

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Western Equatoria State (WES) is one of the 10 states that comprise Southern Sudan. It occupies an area of approximately 79,000 km and according to the 2008 census, the population is estimated to be 620,000 persons,—a figure which is highly disputed. Previous estimate population of the state at approximately 1.2 million people for Western Equatoria Sate alone. The State boarders Western Bahr el-Ggazal State to the north —west, War rap and Lakes States to the north and central Equatoria State to the east. Western Equatoria State also boarders two countries; Central Africa Republic (CAR) to west and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the south. Western Equatoria State is divided into 10 administrative units called counties. The counties includes: Yambio, Nzara, Ezo, Tambura, Ibba, Nagero,Mundri West, Mundri East, Mvolo and Maridi