Desertification and Rural Development in Akokoro Sub-County, Apac District. Uganda

ABSTRACT The study was carried out on desertification and rural development in Akokoro sub-county where by Akokoro sub-county was used as the case study. The study objectives included to establish the extent of desertification in Akokoro sub-county, to find out the extent of development in Akokoro sub-county, to establish if there is significant relationship between the level of desertification and the level of rural development. These guided the study and determined the data that the researcher collected from the field through interviews and questionnaires. The study used an exploratory research design to explore into issues concerning the practice of desertification and rural development in Akokoro sub-county, simple random sampling was used to select a representative sample from the study population where a sample size of 80 respondents were selected for the study. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources using documentation, interviews and questionnaires, collected data was analyzed qualitatively using thematic analysis to generate relate data into tables that helped the researcher in discussing the findings. The study indicated that desertification was leading to reduction of rural development in that most of the people were not in position to engage in their usual agricultural activities like farming and livestock rearing because the rain was inadequate for crops, pasture and water for their animals and all this has made people move to nearby settlements like Ayei, Wansolo and Kungu because this areas were still not yet affected by human destruction like cutting down of trees for firewood and overgrazing. This is because these areas were before taken to be insecure places. Therefore, for rural and economic development to be realized in Akokoro sub-county at large the fight against desertification should be encouraged and enforced by various stakeholders like community members, sub-county administrators, sub county political wing, development partners and the district administration.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS iii

LIST OF TABLES vi

DEDICATION vii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT viii

ACRONYMS! ABBREVIATIONS ix

ABSTRACT x

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Background of the study 1

1.3 Statement of the Problem 3

1.4 General Objective 4

1.5.1 Specific Objectives on the Study 4

1.6 Research Questions 4

1.7 Scope of the Study 4

1.8.1 Geographical scope 4

1.8.1 Content scope 5

1.8.3 Time scope s

1.9 Significance of the Study

1.9 Operational definition of key terms 6

CHAPTER TWO 7

LITERATURE REVIEW 7

2.0 Introduction 7

2.1 Theoretical review 7

2.2 Conceptual framework 8

2.3 Review of related literature 8

2.3.1 Desertification 8

2.3.1.1 Environmental Degradation and Disaster Risk 11

2.3.1.2 The link between disaster risk reduction, development and the environment 11

2.3.1.3 Effects of Desertification 13

2.3.1.4 Drought and Desertification 14

2.3.1.5 Previous attempts to overcome the problems of desertification 16

2.4 Rural development 19

2.4.1 Concept ofrural development 19

2.4.2 Improved accountability and services in key areas 20

2.4.3 Agriculture and natural resource conservations 21

2.4.4 Problems faced by rural development implementers 22

2.4.5 Possible solutions to the problems faced 23

CHAPTER THREE 25

III

METHODOLOGY .25

3.0 Introduction 25

3.1 Research Design 25

3.2 Study Population 25

3,3 Sampling Procedure 26

3.4 Sample Size 26

3.5 Tools of Data Collection 26

3.5.1 Questionnaire 26

3.5.2 Interviews 26

3.5.3 Focus Group Discussion 26

3.6 Sources of Data 27

3.6.1 Primary sources 27

3.6.2 Secondary sources 27

3.7 Data Analysis 27

3.8 Ethical considerations 27

3.9 Limitations of the Study 28

CHAPTER FOUR 29

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 29

4.0 Introduction 29

4.1 Demographic of respondents 29

4.1.1 Gender 29

4.1.2 Marital status of the respondents 30

4.1.3 Education levels 31

4.1.4 Designation 31

4.1.5 Religious affiliation 32

4.1.6 Definitions of desertification according to respondents 33

4.1.7 Types of Season Visa Vies Longevity 34

4.2 Socio-Economic Activities 35

4.2.1 Effects of desertification on development 35

4.2.2 Human activities that contribute to desertification 36

4.2.3 Rating on the Impact of Desertification on Agriculture 36

4.3 Significance of Eradicating Desertification as a Contribution to Rural Development of

Akokoro sub-county, Uganda 37

4.4 Challenges Faced By Implementers on How to Reducing Desertification and Improving

Rural Development in Akokoro sub-county, Uganda 39

4.5 The Hindrance to Solving the Challenges Experienced During the Fight against

Desertification and Improving Rural Development in Akokoro sub-county, Uganda 40

4.6 Methods used in fighting desertification and improving rural development in Akokoro sub

county, Uganda 42

4.7 How the government is promoting the fight against desertification and rural development in

Akokoro sub-county, Uganda 43

CHAPTER FIVE 45

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 45

5.0 Introduction 45

5.1 Discussion .45

5.1.1 The extent of desertification in Akokoro sub-county 45

5.1.2 The extent of development in Akokoro sub-county 45

5.1.3 There is significant relationship between the level of desertification and the level of

development 46

5.2 Conclusions 46

5.2.1 The extent of desertification in Akokoro sub-county 46

5.2.2 The extent of development in Akokoro sub-county 46

5.2.3 There is significant relationship between the level of desertification and the level of

development 47

5.3 Recommendations; 47

5.3.1 The extent of desertification in Akokoro sub-county 47

5.3.2 The extent of development in Akokoro sub-county 48

5.3.3 There is significant relationship between the level of desertification and the level of

development 48

REFERENCES 49

APPENDIX I 51

QUESTIO~TAIRE 51

APPENDIX IF 54

INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR THE LOCAL COMMUI’J ITY 54