Buberuka Highlands

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Buberuka Highlands
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Location of Buberuka Highlands
Location Rwanda
Coordinates 01°29′18″S29°51′6.6″E / 1.48833°S 29.851833°E / -1.48833; 29.851833 Coordinates: 01°29′18″S29°51′6.6″E / 1.48833°S 29.851833°E / -1.48833; 29.851833
Area 60,000 hectares (150,000 acres)

Buberuka Highlands is one of the 12 major agroecological zones in northeast Rwanda and covers an area of 600 square kilometres (230 sq mi), which is nearly one third area in the Ruhengeri Prefecture. [1] [2] Located near the border with Uganda, the highlands include parts of the Byumba and Ruhengeri provinces located to the south of the equator. [3] [2] [4]

Agroecology The study of ecological processes in agriculture

Agroecology is the study of ecological processes applied to agricultural production systems. Bringing ecological principles to bear in agroecosystems can suggest novel management approaches that would not otherwise be considered. The term is often used imprecisely and may refer to "a science, a movement, [or] a practice". Agroecologists study a variety of agroecosystems. The field of agroecology is not associated with any one particular method of farming, whether it be organic, integrated, or conventional, intensive or extensive. However, it has much more in common with organic and integrated farming.

Rwanda Country in Africa

Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a country in Central and East Africa and one of the smallest countries on the African mainland. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda is in the African Great Lakes region and is highly elevated; its geography is dominated by mountains in the west and savanna to the east, with numerous lakes throughout the country. The climate is temperate to subtropical, with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons each year.

Uganda republic in East Africa

Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda is in the African Great Lakes region. Uganda also lies within the Nile basin, and has a varied but generally a modified equatorial climate.

Contents

A Research sub station of the National Agricultural Research Institute (ISAR) is located here. [2]

Geography

The highland extends over 600 square kilometres (230 sq mi). [5] Its altitude ranges between 1,800–2,400 metres (5,900–7,900 ft). [6] The highlands are characterized by steep slopes whose soils have low fertility and high acidity, which is not conducive to high yield of crops [7] [8] The annual rainfall measures approximately 1,400 millimetres (55 in). [2] Rainfall recorded at the research station here is bimodal and is also of the order of 1,400 millimetres (55 in) /year. [2]

Highlands or uplands are any mountainous region or elevated mountainous plateau. Generally speaking, upland refers to ranges of hills, typically up to 500–600 m. Highland is usually reserved for ranges of low mountains.

Economy

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the major food and cash crop after banana, in the highland region. Next in order of priority are maize, beans and wheat. [9] In order to increase the growth of these crops in the highland region, inter cropping of bean, potato, pea and wheat was tested on an experimental basis with Seasbani sesban (Sesbania); lime and manure were added as supplements for the growth. Species of shrubs such as Sasbania, Leucaena, Calliandra and Markamia showed better growth than in the Central Plateau Region where similar studies were conducted. [6] Studies have been conducted since 1987 by the National Agricultural Research Institute (ISAR) who maintains a substation in Rwerere, Western Province within the highlands. [2] In order to increase agricultural production with use new commercial crops have been adopted in the project area. The crops adopted are maracuja (passion fruit), an export item, and potatoes. In addition, modern livestock breeding techniques have also been adopted. This project under the aegis of IFAD, has been found successful in increasing the incomes and purchasing power of the farmers and pastorals. [10] A local NGO supports women who live in the highlands to collect clay and sell it for use in the construction of bricks and roof tiles. [11]

Potato plant species producing the tuber used as a staple food

The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial nightshade Solanum tuberosum. In many contexts, potato refers to the edible tuber, but it can also refer to the plant itself. Common or slang terms include tater, tattie and spud. Potatoes were introduced to Europe in the second half of the 16th century by the Spanish. Today they are a staple food in many parts of the world and an integral part of much of the world's food supply. As of 2014, potatoes were the world's fourth-largest food crop after maize (corn), wheat, and rice.

Banana edible fruit

A banana is an edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus Musa. In some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called "plantains", distinguishing them from dessert bananas. The fruit is variable in size, color, and firmness, but is usually elongated and curved, with soft flesh rich in starch covered with a rind, which may be green, yellow, red, purple, or brown when ripe. The fruits grow in clusters hanging from the top of the plant. Almost all modern edible seedless (parthenocarp) bananas come from two wild species – Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. The scientific names of most cultivated bananas are Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana, and Musa × paradisiaca for the hybrid Musa acuminata × M. balbisiana, depending on their genomic constitution. The old scientific name for this hybrid, Musa sapientum, is no longer used.

Maize Cereal grain

Maize, also known as corn, is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. The leafy stalk of the plant produces pollen inflorescences and separate ovuliferous inflorescences called ears that yield kernels or seeds, which are fruits.

Agricultural practices

Wheat which is grown in area of 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) in the highlands accounts for 50% of the total area under cultivation of wheat in the country. However, its yield has been generally low, of the order of 850 kilograms (1,870 lb)/ha necessitating adoption of better land use practices of terracing in the highlands and also better crop yield practices. [2] Hence, the terracing method called the “radical terracing” has been done in many areas with steep slopes in the highlands in order to control erosion and increase crop yield. On the gentler slopes, the hedgerow plantation of trees and grasses called the “progressive terracing” has been introduced at the edge of the terraces. [12]

In order to increase the yield under wheat cultivation, it was grown on the steep slopes of the highlands on an experimental basis adopting row method and with weeding the field twice a week, as against the broadcasting method practiced in the past. This resulted in doubling the yield from the area to 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) per ha. [8]

Related Research Articles

Agriculture Cultivation of plants and animals to provide useful products

Agriculture is the science and art of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in cities. The history of agriculture began thousands of years ago. After gathering wild grains beginning at least 105,000 years ago, nascent farmers began to plant them around 11,500 years ago. Pigs, sheep and cattle were domesticated over 10,000 years ago. Plants were independently cultivated in at least 11 regions of the world. Industrial agriculture based on large-scale monoculture in the twentieth century came to dominate agricultural output, though about 2 billion people still depended on subsistence agriculture into the twenty-first.

Cereal grass of which the fruits are used as grain, or the fruits themselves

A cereal is any grass cultivated for the edible components of its grain, composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran. The term may also refer to the resulting grain itself. Cereal grain crops are grown in greater quantities and provide more food energy worldwide than any other type of crop and are therefore staple crops. Edible grains from other plant families, such as buckwheat (Polygonaceae), quinoa (Amaranthaceae) and chia (Lamiaceae), are referred to as pseudocereals.

Monoculture The agricultural practice of producing a single crop at a time

Monoculture is the agricultural practice of producing or growing a single crop, plant, or livestock species, variety, or breed in a field or farming system at a time. Polyculture, where more than one crop is grown in the same space at the same time, is the alternative to monoculture. Monoculture is widely used in both industrial farming and organic farming and has allowed increased efficiency in planting and harvest.

Triticale genus representing a hybrid of wheat and rye

Triticale is a hybrid of wheat (Triticum) and rye (Secale) first bred in laboratories during the late 19th century in Scotland and Germany. Commercially available triticale is almost always a second-generation hybrid, i.e., a cross between two kinds of primary (first-cross) triticales. As a rule, triticale combines the yield potential and grain quality of wheat with the disease and environmental tolerance of rye. Only recently has it been developed into a commercially viable crop. Depending on the cultivar, triticale can more or less resemble either of its parents. It is grown mostly for forage or fodder, although some triticale-based foods can be purchased at health food stores and can be found in some breakfast cereals.

Intensive farming various types of agriculture that involve higher levels of input and output per unit of agricultural land area

Intensive farming involves various types of agriculture with higher levels of input and output per cubic unit of agricultural land area. It is characterized by a low fallow ratio, higher use of inputs such as capital and labour, and higher crop yields per cubic unit land area. This contrasts with traditional agriculture, in which the inputs per unit land are lower. The term "intensive" involves various meanings, some of which refer to organic farming methods, and others that refer to nonorganic and industrial methods. Intensive animal farming involves either large numbers of animals raised on limited land, usually concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), often referred to as factory farms, or managed intensive rotational grazing (MIRG), which has both organic and non-organic types. Both increase the yields of food and fiber per acre as compared to traditional animal husbandry. In CAFO, feed is brought to the seldom-moved animals, while in MIRG the animals are repeatedly moved to fresh forage.

British Agricultural Revolution Increase in agricultural production in Britain in mid-17th and late 19th centuries

The British Agricultural Revolution, or Second Agricultural Revolution, was the unprecedented increase in agricultural production in Britain due to increases in labour and land productivity between the mid-17th and late 19th centuries. Agricultural output grew faster than the population over the century to 1770, and thereafter productivity remained among the highest in the world. This increase in the food supply contributed to the rapid growth of population in England and Wales, from 5.5 million in 1700 to over 9 million by 1801, though domestic production gave way increasingly to food imports in the nineteenth century as the population more than tripled to over 32 million. The rise in productivity accelerated the decline of the agricultural share of the labour force, adding to the urban workforce on which industrialization depended: the Agricultural Revolution has therefore been cited as a cause of the Industrial Revolution.

Agronomy science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, fiber, and reclamation

Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, fiber, and land reclamation. Agronomy has come to encompass work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. It is the application of a combination of sciences like biology, chemistry, economics, ecology, earth science, and genetics. Agronomists of today are involved with many issues, including producing food, creating healthier food, managing the environmental impact of agriculture, and extracting energy from plants. Agronomists often specialise in areas such as crop rotation, irrigation and drainage, plant breeding, plant physiology, soil classification, soil fertility, weed control, and insect and pest control.

Norman Borlaug American biologist

Norman Ernest Borlaug was an American agronomist and humanitarian who led initiatives worldwide that contributed to the extensive increases in agricultural production termed the Green Revolution. Borlaug was awarded multiple honors for his work, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Terrace (agriculture) slope cut into a series of receding flat surfaces or platforms


In agriculture, a terrace is a piece of sloped plane that has been cut into a series of successively receding flat surfaces or platforms, which resemble steps, for the purposes of more effective farming. This type of landscaping is therefore called terracing. Graduated terrace steps are commonly used to farm on hilly or mountainous terrain. Terraced fields decrease both erosion and surface runoff, and may be used to support growing crops that require irrigation, such as rice. The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the significance of this technique.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center is a non-profit research and training institution dedicated to both the development of improved varieties of wheat and maize with the aim of contributing to food security, and the introduction of improved agricultural practices to smallholder farmers to help boost production, prevent crop disease and improve their livelihoods. It is also one of the 15 non-profit, research and training institutions affiliated with the CGIAR, formerly known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.

CGIAR organization

CGIAR is a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food-secured future. CGIAR research is dedicated to reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring sustainable management of natural resources. It is carried out by 15 centers that are members of the CGIAR Consortium, in close collaboration with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations, and the private sector. It does this through a network of 15 research centers known as the CGIAR Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers. These research centers are spread around the globe, with most centers located in the Global South, at Vavilov Centers of agricultural crop genetic diversity. CGIAR research centers are generally run in partnership with other organizations, including national and regional agricultural research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector.

History of agriculture aspect of history

The history of agriculture records the domestication of plants and animals and the development and dissemination of techniques for raising them productively. Agriculture began independently in different parts of the globe, and included a diverse range of taxa. At least eleven separate regions of the Old and New World were involved as independent centers of origin.

The cereal grain wheat is subject to numerous wheat diseases, including bacterial, viral and fungal diseases, as well as parasitic infestations.

Spot blotch is a leaf disease of wheat caused by Cochliobolus sativus. Cochliobolus sativus also infects other plant parts and in conjunction with other pathogens causes common root rot and black point.

Agriculture in Kenya

Agriculture in Kenya dominates Kenya's economy. 15–17 percent of Kenya's total land area has sufficient fertility and rainfall to be farmed, and 7–8 percent can be classified as first-class land. In 2006, almost 75 percent of working Kenyans made their living by farming, compared with 80 percent in 1980. About one-half of Kenya's total agricultural output is non-marketed subsistence production.

Rugezi Marsh

The Rugezi Marsh is a protected area in Rwanda, covering 6,735 hectares. The wetland is one of headwaters of the Nile, situated in the Northern Province within the Buberuka Highlands. At 2,100 metres (6,900 ft), the marsh is a high altitude peat bog. Rugezi developed from an accumulation of organic materials within a quartzite rock-trapping water depression. In its natural state, Rugezi has been playing a significant ecological, hydrological, socio-economical, historic, and recreational role in Rwanda. It is also an Important Bird Area (IBA) recognized by the BirdLife International in 2001, and is reported to be the habitat of 43 species of birds within and in the surrounding areas of the marsh; the area of IBA is identified as ha8,500 hectares. The specific species of Grauer's swamp warbler and white-winged swamp warbler living together is reported as "unusual" by BirdLife International.

Dr Sati Shankar Singh is currently Director, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata.

Zoe Țapu Romanian agronomist

Zoe Țapu was a Romanian agronomist who created an original variety of durum wheat, adapted to the climate in Central and Eastern Europe and other similar regions of the world. She was described as a pioneer of durum wheat breeding in Romania.

Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi is a research Station under the Central Zone of Kerala Agricultural University at Pattambi in Palakkad district of Kerala, India.

Staple food food that is eaten routinely and considered a dominant portion of a standard diet

A staple food, food staple, or simply a staple, is a food that is eaten routinely and in such quantities that it constitutes a dominant portion of a standard diet for a given people, supplying a large fraction of energy needs and generally forming a significant proportion of the intake of other nutrients as well. A staple food of a specific society may be eaten as often as every day or every meal, and most people live on a diet based on just a small number of food staples. Specific staples vary from place to place, but typically are inexpensive or readily available foods that supply one or more of the macronutrients needed for survival and health: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Typical examples include tubers and roots, grains, legumes, and seeds.

References

  1. ↑ South East Consortium for International Development; Rwanda (1987). Ruhengeri and its resources: an environmental profile of the Ruhengeri Prefecture, Rwanda. Government of Rwanda. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ginkel, Maarten van; Tanner, Douglas Gordon (1988). The Fifth Regional Wheat Workshop: For Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean : Antsirabe, Madagascar, October 5-10, 1987. CIMMYT. pp. 202–. ISBN   978-968-6127-03-4 . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  3. ↑ Tanner, Douglas G.; Canadian International Development Agency; United Nations Development Programme (1993). Developing sustainable wheat production systems: Eighth Regional Wheat Workshop for Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, Kampala, Uganda, June 7-10, 1993. CIMMYT. p. 38. ISBN   978-92-9053-277-4 . Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  4. ↑ Maarten van Ginkel; Douglas Gordon Tanner (1988). The Fifth Regional Wheat Workshop: For Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean : Antsirabe, Madagascar, October 5-10, 1987. CIMMYT. pp. 202–. ISBN   978-968-6127-03-4 . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  5. ↑ South East Consortium for International Development (1987). Ruhengeri and its resources: an environmental profile of the Ruhengeri Prefecture, Rwanda. Government of Rwanda. p. 31. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  6. 1 2 Kang, B.T.; Adedigba, Y.A.; Osiname, O.A.; Akinnifesi, F.K. (1998). Yvonne Olatunbosun, ed. Alley farming: an annotated bibliography. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. pp. 66–. ISBN   978-978-131-118-5 . Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  7. ↑ Douglas G. Tanner, Maarten van Ginkel & Wilfred Mwangi, ed. (1989). The Sixth Regional Wheat Workshop: For Eastern, Central and Southern Africa : Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, October 2-6, 1989. Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center). pp. 295–. ISBN   978-968-6127-45-4 . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  8. 1 2 The Sixth Regional Wheat Workshop: For Eastern, Central and Southern Africa : Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, October 2-6, 1989. CIMMYT. 1989. pp. 295–. ISBN   978-968-6127-45-4 . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "Participatory assessment of potato production constraints and trait preferences in potato cultivar development in Rwanda" (pdf). International Journal of Development and Sustainability. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  10. ↑ "Intensified Land Use Management Project in the Buberuka Highlands". IFAD Organization. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  11. ↑ IFAD and the OPEC Fund: A Partnership to Eradicate Rural Poverty. IFAD. 2005. p. 2. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  12. ↑ Suhas Pralhad Wani; Johan Rockström; Kanwar Lal. Sahrawat (2011). Integrated Watershed Management in Rainfed Agriculture. CRC Press. pp. 264–. ISBN   978-0-415-88277-4 . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
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