163
oxen households cultivated 16.4 hectares versus 5.8 hectares for nonoxen households in Southern
province. No significant difference was found in Eastern province, although a recent outbreak of
corridor disease may have affected oxen numbers; also, there is a higher incidence of oxen renting
by "non-oxen" households as defined.
B. Land improvements
Given that both study areas are similar in terms of rainfall, topography, and farming system,
it is not surprising that the types of land improvements made by farmers are similar in the two areas.
Table 5.8 shows the percentage of households making various types of land improvements. For
convenience, the land improvements have been grouped loosely by purpose. For example, the various
earth construction investments (terracing, bunding, and ridging) have been placed next to one another
and an aggregate figure for "earthwork" is also provided.
Table 5.8: Percentage distribution of respondents by type of land improvement made
|
Type of improvement |
Southern province |
Eastern province |
|
Terracing |
5.0 |
4.1 |
|
Bunding |
8.0 |
53.1 |
|
Ridging |
20.0 |
1.0 |
|
Any earthwork |
31.0 |
56.1 |
|
Well |
31.0 |
35.7 |
|
Irrigation |
1.0 |
12.2 |
|
Drainage |
20.0 |
23.5 |
|
Any water improvement |
44.0 |
48.0 |
|
Fertilizer |
86.0 |
72.4 |
|
Liming |
1.0 |
0.0 |
|
Other chemicals |
38.0 |
16.3 |
|
Any chemical treatment |
88.0 |
72.4 |
|
Manuring |
51.0 |
42.9 |
|
Mulching |
3.0 |
3.1 |
|
Any organic treatment |
52.0 |
43.9 |
|
Fencing |
22.0 |
28.6 |
There is a similar percentage of households in each province undertaking investments in all
water improvements, fencing, terracing, chemical fertilizer, liming, and organic treatments. Generally,
the use of chemical fertilizer is high, about half of respondents made a waterwork improvement, half
used organic manure, one-quarter had made some fencing improvements, and very few made
investments in terracing, mulching, or liming.