African Ocean Biology (Earth/Environmental Science) | 22 June 2010
Water Conservation Technologies in Ugandan Drylands: Farmer Acceptance and Efficiency Assessment
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Abstract
Drylands in Uganda are characterized by unpredictable rainfall patterns, leading to significant water scarcity for agriculture. A mixed-method approach including surveys, interviews, and field observations was employed to gather data from 150 farmers across the region. Farmers showed a significant preference for drip irrigation (78%) over soil moisture sensors (22%), indicating that WCTs need to be tailored to local conditions and farmer needs. While overall acceptance was high, specific technologies varied in effectiveness based on terrain and water availability. Tailored training programmes should focus on the benefits of drip irrigation for soil moisture sensors' integration into farming practices. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.