Abstract:
This study was carried out to assess the effects of irrigation and agronomic practices on farm incomes among rice farmers in Butaleja District with specific objectives of; determining the influence of agronomic practices on household incomes of rice farmers, carrying out a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) of rice production under rain fed and irrigation conditions among farmers and establishing the soil, nutrient and water management practices for optimum rice production. Multistage sampling technique was used for selection of respondents and 360 farmers (261 irrigators and 99 rain-fed rice farmers) were sampled from two sub-counties of Mazimasa and Naweyo in Butaleja. Data was collected on socio-economic characteristics of irrigators and rain-fed rice farmers, rice varieties grown (low land rice, kayiso), use of improved inputs between the two categories and the CBA of rain-fed and irrigated rice production. The data was analyzed using SPSS and STATA statistical packages to generate descriptive statistics as well as costs and revenue estimates. The Aqua Crop 6.1 model was used to simulate yield response to water, nutrient and soil management practices. The soil and water management practices included proper field surface management (mulching and soil bunds) and soil fertility management for the growing season of September to January at 96% of the irrigation requirement, where the water productivity was above that at 100%. The optimal income of UGX 20,050,000= per Ha (with 8.020 tons/Ha) and BCR 7.5 was thus obtained at a deficit irrigation 96% actual evapotranspiration (ETc).
Results showed that more males (76.4%) than female (23.6%) farmers were involved in rice production. It was also found that the main agronomic practices in rice growing in the district included; use of fertilizers, herbicides, irrigation water, labour, transport, lowland rice (Kayiso) planted, and use of surface irrigation system in Doho Rice irrigation scheme.
In addition, irrigated rice farmers were found to be using more improved inputs (67.9%) in rice production as compared to rain-fed rice (32.1%) production. However, yields from irrigated rice production were higher (3.581 tons/Ha) than those under rain-fed rice (1.952 tons/Ha) production for the two seasons. Hence, the absolute income value from irrigated rice production was found to be (UGX 8,952,500= per Ha) as compared to (UGX 4,878,750= per Ha) for rain fed production. The Cost benefit ratio for rice production under irrigation rice production was higher (4.00) as compared to rain fed rice production which was 3.51. However, both production systems had a ratio greater than one indicating that they are both worth investing in. Consistently, the gross
margin from irrigated rice production was higher (UGX 6,712,682 per Ha) than for rain fed rice production method which was UGX 3,486,947 per Ha.
