Upland Rice Growing And Its Environmental Impacts In Kakiri Sub County, Wakiso District

ABSTRACT

The study looked at the Factors affecting upland rice growing for improved livelihood

among the people of Kakiri Sub County, Wakiso district. The study was guided by the

following specific objectives; finding out the relationship between production of upland

rice and the wellbeing of the natives, establish the extent to which the technology

employed affects the amount of rice produced, establish the impact of rice growing on the

environment and To identify the problem encountered in rice growing. The findings from

the study are expected to help the rice producers in Kakiri Sub County and Uganda in

general to adopt good farming methods and use appropriate techniques of production

which are environmentally friendly. The study findings are expected to be helpful for the

purpose of reference by other researchers. The study involved a total of 50 respondents.

Simple random sampling and purposive non random sampling were used to select the

respondents. Questionnaires, interview guide, participatory observation and group

discussions were used to collect data during the study. The study observed that there was

a close relationship between Upland Rice and Child Labor, Upland Rice and HIV/AIDS

Concern, and Rice and Household Food Security. However, it was noted that in attempts

to scare or reduce the impact of birds on farms, sometimes farmers use Carbon Furum, a

chemical deadly to kill birds. Carbon Furum is presumed not good for the environment.

The problems encountered in rice growing included but not limited to; Technology, Input

supply, Volumes of production, Quality Controls, Rice Market Appraisal, Production

constraints, Processing Constraints, Whole sale and constraintsand Consumption.

Generally, All the rice farmers use rudimentary systems of production to produce the rice

that is they use; Oxen, hand hoes, slashers, bush burning, sickles and pangas. This

therefore affects the quantity of rice produced because none of the fanners used any

modern equipment like tractors and this equally affected the output produced. The rice

farmers also use mainly direct planting which consumes a lot of rice grains to plant

instead of nursery beds that take less grain since the chances of the grain failing to germinate are minimized.