The benefits of trees on small holder farms in Namasagali sub- county.

Abstract

Planting new trees on farmland could provide a needed carbon sink, especially if tropical deforestation continues. Right now agro-forestry isn't a major part of international climate change policy, but delegates at the U.N. global warming summit could change all that. By putting a greater carbon value on trees planted on farmland through a cap-and-trade program that would give companies a carbon credit for growing and maintaining trees, we could encourage the growth of agro-forestry. Therefore, the study focuses on the benefits of trees on small holder farms in Namasagali- sub-county with concerns, of determining the value. of trees basing on the local farmers’ perception, comparing firm yields from farms with trees and those without trees and finding out whether the presence of trees on farm benefits farmers in terms of food security and house hold incomes. Primary data was collected from the. 3 parishes of the sub-county that is Bwizza, Kisaikye and Kabanyoro-Kabaganda while secondary data was got from the: internet and the university library. Cost benefit analysis was done to estimate whether the presence of trees on farm has an impact on the costs and benefits of farm inputs and out puts. It is therefore recommended that farmers plant more trees on farms cut cost of fertilizer application and double weeding as well as boosting their household incomes. Trees oh far-mg enhance the house hold incomes through improving the yields of the farming and other values oftre.es apart from the on farm: benefits of enhancing soil fertility included fuel wood, timber and environmental conservation. The results indicated that most farmers had trees -on their farms which were very many but. sparsely distributed, however most of them did not understand benefits of such trees as most of the farmers agreed that they are not responsible for their growth. It was found out that the presence of trees on farms depends on the size of land allocated to farming, level of education and the types of crops grown.