Scientists have advised farmers to carry out integrated farming and agroforestry as a way of coping with the effects of climatic change.
According to Sam Otim, who worked as a researcher at the National Semi Agro Resources Research Institute Serere (NaSARRI), integrated farming involves carrying out several interlinked farming activities, which may include fishing farming, crop growing, and agro-forestry, harvesting and recycling rain water to use it to irrigate crops.
He explains that water collected in the harvesting ponds can be channelled into the fish ponds and later used to irrigate crops. The water has minerals that support the growth of plants, he says, adding that two acres of land are more than enough to accommodate the integrated farming system.
Otim also appeals to farmers to practice agroforestry by planting fruit trees such as mangoes on their farms.
He says at NaSARRI they have in stock improved mango varieties which grow well in arid areas. These include varieties like Zillette, Kent, Tommy Atkins and Keitt which perform very well in arid conditions.
