The effect of wetland degradation on food security:

Abstract

Wetland degradation is a severe environmental problem in the world. The main drivers of wetland degradation identified was agricultural activities, overharvesting of wetland resources and infrastructure development. The available literature indicated that both countries are taking wetland restoration issues seriously. The priorities for restoration included biodiversity conservation, the need to reverse the effects of climate change and to curtail natural disasters. The study revealed that collaborative wetland resource management backed with public sensitization and awareness are essential for policy and legal framework implementation. Both countries need to increase information on wetlands, update wetland inventories, and effectively monitor wetland degradation and restoration activities. This research study investigates the effects of wetland degradation on food security. In Uganda, wetland degradation has been going since 1940’s on a small scale; it was not until in the 1980’s that wetlands become a subject of large scale interventions, most notably for crop cultivation. In the Namasagali sub-county, wetland degradation started in the 2000’s. The study was carried out in Namasagali sub-county where a sample of 50 people was selected randomly as respondents and interviewed. The sample was based on purposeful and multi stage random sampling designs enhanced by the inclusion of key respondents. The data was collected using questionnaires, interview techniques reinforced by field observations, photography and informal discussions with local people. Data collected was there after analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively (using descriptive statistics and by computation of Chi square tests). Data was captured using Microsoft excel and exported to SPSS (statistical package for the social sciences) for analysis which descriptive statistics and inferential statistics was employed. In addition, data was analysed according to the section / objective of study. The research was a survey research aimed at examining the effect of wetland degradation on food security and crop yields. The study was to find out the causes of wetland degradation, people’s attitude towards the wetland and the prospect of Nalwenkomba wetland as a resource in Namasagali. The research was based on a cross sectional survey design. Information about the effects of wetland degradation on people’s access to food, causes of degradation, people’s attitudes and level of education will be obtained from a cross section of the population of Namasagali. Data was collected using questionnaires, and interview schedules supplemented by direct objection and photographic interpretation. Under these circumstances the researcher was able to focus on questions to enable respondents understand them and therefore minimizing errors in responses. Secondary data was obtained from other published literature in textbooks, articles, journals, magazines, Newspapers and the internet. Conclusions was made after summarizing the data and analyzing it. Key words: The effect of wetland degradation, food security, food accessibility, availability, and stability.