Restoration of Degraded Agricultural Landscapes Using Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP) Approaches: Experiences from the Manafwa Watershed Restoration Project, Mt Elgon, Eastern Uganda

Abstract

This study assessed the determinants and constraints impeding the adoption of participatory integrated farm planning (PIP) approaches by smallholder farmers to restore landscapes on the slopes of Mt. Elgon, Eastern Uganda. Two hundred seventy-seven (277) household interviews complimented with focus group discussions were conducted with smallholder farmers in two purposively selected sites (one of which was a Manafwa Watershed Restoration project site and the other was a control). Key informant interviews were employed to gather information from technical personnel and local leaders. Field observations were used to triangulate and validate some of the data from the interviews and discussions. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed. SPSS v23 was employed to generate descriptive statistics, while chi-square tests, ANOVA, t-tests, correlation, and regression analyses were used to test for associations. Major determinants for PIP adoption were marital status, extension services, education, age, and sex of the farmers. Integration, empowerment, and collaboration principles influenced uptake of PIP, while limited knowledge, inadequate finance, limited labour, small land sizes, and low incentives constrained PIP implementation. It can thus be concluded that the PIP has the potential to promote widespread landscape restoration. However, for sustainable impact, the PIP approach ought to be extended to other areas; this will require that local governments adopt it and allocate logistical support to its extension workers.