Notes to broadcasters
In Uganda, climate change and environmental degradation are threatening the country’s food security and natural resources like soil, trees, and water. According to a 2021 World Bank report, by 2050 climate change could cause 12 million Ugandans to be internally displaced and the growing population is fuelling environmental degradation. According to the Global Forest Watch report, from 2021 to 2024, 97% of total tree cover loss happened in natural forest equivalent to 132,000 hectares. The loss was mostly attributed to encroachment for settlements, infrastructure and agriculture.
Ugandan agriculture produces less than 40% of its potential, among key staple crops, due to harsh weather like erratic rains and droughts, as a result, smallholder farmers (SHFs) are vulnerable to food insecurity, according to the International Growth Centre.
Consequently, Ugandan SHFs have started embracing circular and regenerative agricultural practices to address environment degradation, restore productivity to degraded farms, and minimize forest encroachment for wood fuel. The questions developed will help broadcasters get detailed information while interviewing regenerative agriculture experts, and that will equip SHFs, with practical information to apply on their farms.
Interview many experts, so that you can get diverse knowledge on circular and regenerative agriculture practices. That will ensure you get vast knowledge applicable to different farming environments. The experts can include soil scientists, foresters, climate experts, agronomists, and organic or regenerative farming experts.
If an interviewee mentions complex, technical terms, ask them to explain in a simple and clear way that ordinary listeners can understand. Interview men and women to break down the gender entrenched stereotypes, that only men can be experts on regenerative agriculture.
During the interviews, keenly listen so that you can understand the subject matter, and ask follow up questions, or request clarifications. Be polite to interviewees that will make them feel heard, understood, and trusted.
Script
Suggested questions for foresters
- Please introduce yourself to us and tell us what your work as a forester is about?
- Kindly explain what is agroforestry, and what types of agroforestry systems are there?
- Please explain to us in which farming environments, each of the types of agroforestry systems you have discussed, are applied. Does the slope of a farm matter in selecting the best agroforestry system?
- What are some benefits of agroforestry to the growing crops and the soil?
- Explain to us some trees or shrubs used in agroforestry systems. And in which farming environments should they be planted in?
- Tell us the criteria a farmer can use, to select agroforestry trees or shrubs to grow on their farms? Do they consider climate, gradient of the farm, or livestock fodder needs?
- What are the best agroforestry shrubs or trees to grow to provide livestock feed?
- Can fruit trees like pawpaw be used in agroforestry farming systems?
- Please explain in a traditional farming system where staples like maize and cereal are grown, how should trees or shrubs’ agroforestry be spaced on the farm?
- How and when do farmers prune agroforestry shrubs and trees to ensure their shades do not interfere with the growing crops?
- Are there agroforestry trees and shrubs that can introduce pests to a farm that farmers should avoid?
- Based on your experience, by how much can agroforestry help in yield increase of staples like maize or legumes in previously degraded soils?
- If a farmer has decided to practice agro forestry where can they access the seedlings?
- If farmers want to learn about agroforestry, how can they contact you?
Suggested questions for soil scientists
- Please introduce yourself to us and tell us what a soil scientist does?
- Why is it important to conduct soil tests before a farming season?
- What are the benefits of minimal soil disturbance in regenerative agriculture?
- What natural or regenerative farming practices can improve soil health, especially in poor soils?
- Tell us some practices farmers can adopt to maintain permanent soil cover?
- How can farmers prevent soil erosion and reduce soil water evaporation? Please share some practices like mulching and explain their benefits to us?
- In regeneration agriculture, what can farmers add to the soil to improve fertility?
- Are there crops or plants farmers can grow that can boost soil fertility or structure?
- Are there organic practices farmers can implement to boost soil fertility?
- In regions where the land is sloping, how should farmers care for the soil, prevent erosion, degradation, and maintain fertility?
- Typically, what basic practices can farmers do, to protect soil from being degraded while farming?
- Where can farmers obtain soil testing kits/services? What is the ideal time for a farmer to test his/her soil?
- Are their traditional ways a farmer can tell whether his/her soil is fertile?
- If farmers want to learn about soil health, how can they contact you?
Suggested questions for agronomists, preferably a conservation or regenerative agriculture expert
- Please tell us your name and the work you do as a regenerative agriculture expert.
- Before introducing or implementing regenerative agriculture on a farm, what factors should farmers first consider, assess, or do first?
- Most farmers are used to traditionally digging their farms during land preparation, please explain to us why minimal soil disturbance or zero tillage is beneficial in regenerative agriculture.
- What cropping systems can farmers introduce on their farms to regenerate degraded soils? Please connect that with explaining crop rotation, intercropping, and strip cropping systems.
- What non-chemical options and practices can farmers adopt to fight pests and diseases that attack growing crops in regenerative agriculture settings? Please tie that with explaining integrated pest and disease management (IPDM).
- What benefits does livestock rearing add to regenerative agriculture? And please also explain to us the importance of rotational grazing in regenerative agriculture, and how manure and biogas slurry can be prepared and applied, to improve soil fertility.
- If farmers want to learn about regenerative agriculture, how can they contact you?
Acknowledgements
Contributed by: James Karuga, Agricultural Writer, Kenya
Reviewed by: Mweruka Pascal senior team leader Green Leaf enterprise Farm Radio International.