Assessing the impacts of extensive agriculture on the environment :

Abstract

The study was conducted on assessment of impacts of extensive agriculture on the environment; the case study of Kibuku sub-county in kibuku district eastern Uganda. Specifically, to identify the agricultural activities carried out in kibuku s/c, to examine the farmers' knowledge on the effects of extensive agriculture to the environment, to establish the different strategies put in place by different stakeholders to protect the environment. Research questions included: What are the agricultural activities carried out in Kibuku s/c? What is the farmer's knowledge on the effects extensive agriculture to the environment? And what strategies have been put in place by different stakeholders to protect the environment? The study composed of a sample of 60 respondents; Questionnaires, interviews and observation were used to gather information from the respondents. This involved interviewing farmers in kibuku s/c and local government officials, at the district. The method of analysis that were used included; tabular analysis which involved computation of percentages and frequencies including pie charts and bar Charts of the analyzed data in SPSS (version 16) and micro soft word. The study revealed that agriculture is the major economic activity in kibuku s/c and employs 82.9% of the total population. Several crops such as beans, maize, rice, and many others are grown. Therefore, basing on the study extensive agriculture. has negatively impacted on the environment in kibuku s/c and so the government should, strengthen policy interventions on the agricultural activities on environment.