| dc.description.abstract | Abstract
The study assessed the contribution of backyard gardening towards food availability in
Nabigasa Sub County. The purpose of the study was to evaluate if backyard gardening has
had any positive contribution towards food availability so that mechanisms for scaling up the
farming system can be devised for enhancing food security in the district. The study was
guided by three objectives which included; establishing the backyard gardening designs used
in Nabigasa Sub County, comparing food availability levels among adopters and non adopters and exploring mechanisms for scaling up backyard gardening in rural households.
The study employed cross sectional comparative and case study research designs. A sample
size of 223 respondents was selected using snow ball and purposive sampling techniques.
Data was collected using non-participant observation, key informant interviews and
questionnaire survey. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists
(SPSS) version 20.
It was established that several backyard gardening designs were adopted including key hole,
mandala, basket, sunken, double dug and raised bed designs. These were introduced by Send
a Cow Uganda. It was further established that backyard gardening has a significant effect on
food availability, with adopters of backyard gardening being more food secure compared to
those that are not practicing it. The variables were analysed at the confidence interval of 95%
with 5% standard error. From the results generated by the paired samples test there was a
confirmation that there is a statistical significant difference between adopters and non –
adopters in food availability since all p-values Sig. (2-tailed) in parameters measured are less
than 5%.
Proposals for scaling up backyard gardening were also advanced by the farmers including
formation of backyard gardening groups, enacting laws, peer based backyard gardening and
extensive rural based services. Conclusively, backyard gardening has a positive effect on
food availability and should therefore be adopted by all rural households for enhanced food
availability. Enhanced research and clear stakeholder analysis should be made for effective
backyard gardening.
Key Words: Adopters, Backyard Gardening, Food Availability, Food Security, Non Adopt | en_US |
