THEME: Women farmers in Uganda need both better hand tools and access to animal traction.
Keeping in mind the possibility that some days of land preparation and sowing or planting could overlap, the study found that women estimated their time allocation in the fields as follows: land preparation, 60-90 days; planting/sowing, 60-90 days; weeding, 60-120 days; and harvesting, 40-100 days. Animal Draught Power Animal traction implements are accessible to only about 8% of farmers, and tractors are available to only 2%. Price is, of course, a main factor in this poor access, but there are also other constraints. Because of the presence of the tsetse fly and cultural reasons, animal traction is confined to the northern and eastern parts of the country. In central Uganda, hoe farming is the norm, but the study reported growing interest there in animal traction. Animal traction is used mainly for ploughing and much less frequently for animal-drawn planters or cultivators/weeders. In those areas where there were no taboos against animal traction and where a few women were already using it, the study found that more women wanted better access and training in its use. Where women were not currently using animal traction, women were also very interested in finding out more about it. The study noted that work was under way at the Agricultural Engineering and Appropriate Technology Research Institute in Uganda (AEATRI) to produce lightweight agricultural implements that could be used by women, and drawn by donkeys, or the East African zebu, instead of oxen. Hand Tools The hoe. The hand hoe is the main hand tool and is used for weeding and other work. Ugandan hoes are the ‘chop-down-and-pull’ type, and have a short handle. Most come from China, India or local commercial manufacturers. Unlike many other countries in the region, Uganda has few local blacksmiths. There were no significant differences found in the hoes used by women and men there, although in Soroti it was noted that women had a tendency to use smaller, lighter hoes, and that men felt that this should be the case. Although women complain of fatigue and backache because of needing to bend over almost double to use the short-handled hoe, they still view that type of hoe as appropriate. However, the study noted that the preference for this traditional posture could be weakening in Uganda. Specialized weeding tools. Specialized and probably locally developed weeding tools were also found. One is a variation on the hoe, but with three or more teeth in place of the hoe blade, which are considered very efficient for weeding purposes. Very small weeding hoes with very short handles exist in some communities. For weeding millet, women use a strip of flexible steel, which is normally used to hold together roofing timber. This strip can be bent into any required shape. In the north, specially shaped pointed sticks are used. Harvesting tools. The study observed a number of different types of knives and sickles in use in different villages for harvesting purposes. Pointed sticks and old spear points fixed to handles are used for the harvesting of yams. The traditional hoe is used for harvesting some tubers and root crops. Pruning tools. Farmers apparently make their own tool for pruning by passing a knife through a slit in a stick and tying it in place at a right angle. Cutting and chopping tools. These are mainly axes, machetes and pangas, often imported from China or India. Traditional and modern knives are also used. Axes are heavy and used mainly by men. The study visited a Ugandan factory that manufactures machetes, but found that the factory could not compete with imports. Recent innovations. Tools that are just now (at the time of the study in 1997) coming into vogue are wheelbarrows and knapsack sprayers (used mainly by men). Ways of Saving Money on Tools Hand tools are purchased in stores or at markets in the nearest town, usually by men (even though women are the tools’ main users). Poorer farmers view the price of tools as high. Therefore, they resort to the following ways of reducing expenditures on tools:
Ugandan women say they would like the following improvements made to their hand tools:
The study has demonstrated a demand for agricultural tools and implements among women farmers in Uganda that development projects need to address. It has also established a good information base that can be built on and expanded by project-area tool inventories. Adapted from: IFAD/FAO/Government of Japan. 1998. Agricultural Implements Used by Women Farmers in Africa. Rome. |
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Uganda
was one of countries included in a 1997 IFAD/FAO/Government of Japan
study on agricultural implements used by women. The study areas
in Uganda were the District of Mubende in central Uganda and the
District of Soroti in the northeastern part of the country. These
areas have quite different farming systems, but both have two cropping
cycles. Women farmers there spend a considerable amount of time
on agricultural tasks and, as in much of Africa, are taking over
an increasing share of farm work. Most of this work is done using
only hand tools. It has been estimated that 90% of farmers in Uganda
rely exclusively on hand tools and human labour to work their lands.
The percentage is higher for women farmers.