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Abstract
Poverty reduction is one of the overarching objectives of most of Sub-Saharan Africa
and other low-income countries. Accordingly, one of IFPRI’s major research themes
focuses on policies and strategies for poverty reduction. This research report contributes
knowledge to that theme. It also contributes to IFPRI’s ongoing investigation of policies
and strategies that foster broad-based and environmentally sustainable agricultural and
rural development.
In Uganda, where soil erosion and depletion of soil nutrients are widespread, land degradation
is a major cause of declining productivity and increasing poverty. In this study, Ephraim
Nkonya and his colleagues measure the relative merits of various household income strategies
and land management practices in Uganda to determine which most effectively improve agricultural
production, household income, and the condition of the land. They determine the
causes of land degradation, examine the impacts of policies and programs on income strategies
and land management decisions, and assess the trade-offs and complementarities among
different objectives.
Most policies that boost income and productivity while reducing adverse effects on the environment
involve trade-offs. For example, improved education is shown to lead to higher incomes
and better soil nutrient balances, but it may also reduce crop production and increase
soil erosion, as a result of reduced farm labor intensity. No single solution will improve all outcomes
simultaneously: different solutions are required for different situations and localities.
Although opportunities for wins all around the board are few, this report provides a wealth
of information to help the farmers and policymakers of Uganda and other diverse nations
weigh their options for increasing agricultural productivity and sustainability. Its analysis of
the complex relationships among different interventions will surely prove useful in designing
policies and strategies for addressing land degradation and poverty sustainably.