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Regional DHP Study Tour on Acacia Bush Encroachment and DHP Uganda Field Activities
Following the educational interest that DHP participants showed in the 7th DHP Regional Workshop in Mekelle, Ethiopia, in October 2002, the Regional DHP office organised a study tour in DHP Uganda from 5th - 10th February 2003 in Kazo County, Mbarara District, Uganda.
The objectives of the study tour were:
To observe, understand and recommend solutions for reducing the acacia bush encroachment in Kazo County, the DHP project area;
To learn from DHP Uganda’s field activities: forage trial (legumes) and farmers’ adoption, water development and bush control efforts at the household level; and
To make an environmental and ecological visit to the eastern part of Uganda.
The study tour was conducted in the south-western part of Uganda in the DHP site, Kazo County. Community members, local administration and technical staff, District Officers, Commissioners, the Minister of Agriculture and the DHP participants from Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda took part in the tour. A total of over one hundred people, including twenty high-level scientists from DHP countries and OSSREA, took part in the study tour.
Discussions were held with members of the community, at the household level, and among DHP members on acacia bush encroachment and on DHP Uganda field activities. Participants also compared and discussed their activities in their own countries with those in Uganda. Based on the observations during the study tour, participants suggested some solutions for controlling bush encroachment in Kazo County and other areas of Uganda.
Radio interviews were given by the National Co-ordinator of DHP Uganda and by the Regional Co-ordinator of DHP to Radio West, Mbarara. The study tour was also presented on Uganda TV. The Faculty of Agriculture, Makerere University, kindly hosted the study tour.