Impacts of subsistence arable farming on the biophysical environment in Kachumbala sub-county in Bukedea district

Abstract

The study examines the impacts of subsistence arable farming on biophysical environment in kachumbala sub-county in Bukedea district. 104 households were selected from the 8 villages in 4 parishes,13 households from each village in different parishes of kachumbala sub-county namely; kakira, mukura, station, kapang, kachumbala, the households were selected using simple random sampling procedure, structured questionnaires, interviews, observation, recording and camera were tools employed to collect data from the respondents. Data analysis was done statistically basing on the objectives and results were tabulated using frequency, degree and percentages and further presented on graphs and pie chart for simplification. the major objective of the study was to find out effect of subsistence arable farming on soil. The result of the survey showed the following soil nutrient depletion and infertility, poor tillage practices, land degradation, poor farming methods, increased crop pests and diseases, food insecurity, use of infected planting material, increased rural urban migration, soil erosion as it is revealed from the study. The influence of subsistence farming on vegetation includes land fragmentation, encroachment of forested areas, bush burning, loss of biodiversity, deforestation over grazing. The impact of subsistence farming on water resource they include; reduced water catchment, invasion of marginal and wetland, salination, water contamination, reduced water table. The strategies laid to streamlining subsistence farming were as follows; Use of modern agricultural technologies, agroforestry, use of the agricultural biotechnology, raising productivity of the women in agriculture, improved basic infrastructure, affordable irrigation techniques, support from the government on environmental awareness, promoting improved livelihood and household food security, promoting tree planting and afforestation, agricultural research and information generation, crop rotation, mix farming, mulching. The researcher recommended the planting of trees, mass education of the farmers, training of farmers on the new ways of adopting new method of farming should be apriority.