Characterising the Coffee-Banana Agroforestry Systems: an Entry Point for Promoting Coffee and Banana Growing in mid-Northern Uganda

The crop contributes more than 3% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 18-20% of annual foreign exchange earnings. In Uganda, coffee is traditionally grown in the central, western, and eastern regions, but the government aims to accelerate coffee production from 3.74 million 60 kg bags in 2014/15 to 20 million 60 kg bags by 2020. This goal includes promoting the crop in non-traditional growing regions, particularly in the northern region. The study was conducted in the mid-northern Ugandan districts of Nwoya, Gulu, Lira, Apac, and Oyam to characterise the coffee-banana agroforestry systems. Thirty fields with coffee-banana agroforestry systems were selected and the level of field and crop management determined. The results showed that all the sampled fields had Robusta coffee, which was dominated by the clonal type (76.7%). The banana clones observed were dominated by the East African Highland Bananas (EAHB's), locally called 'Matooke' (45%), Pisang Awak (Kayinja, 22%), and Apple banana (sukali ndiizi, 18%). Field management practices observed in the study area were generally poor, with more than 80% of the fields having no manure, bands, trenches, or cover-crops. Most of the fields were lowly weeded (46.7%) and mulched (60%). Intercropping was generally lowly practiced, with 20% having maize or cassava. The fields were also lowly inter-planted with trees/shrubs (40%), with only 28 tree/shrub species observed in the coffee-banana agroforestry systems. These were dominated by fruit trees, oranges (70%), mangoes (63%), and papaya (57%). The study found that leaf skeletonisers and coffee leaf rust were the most observed pest (77.3%) and disease (15.3%) respectively. Pest damage was limited in bananas, though black Sigatoka was the commonest disease observed (56%). The results suggest that the region has embraced the coffee-banana agroforestry systems, but there is a need for farmers to be provided with the right species of coffee, banana, and trees. This would help to improve household income and food security, as well as mitigate climatic adversities in the northern region. The study area received 800-1500 mm of rain per annum with a bimodal rainfall pattern from March to June (1st season) and July to November (2nd season). The temperature range was 15-32°C, with a generally flat topography and predominantly sandy loam soils. The results of the study have implications for the promotion of coffee-banana agroforestry systems in the northern region of Uganda, and highlight the need for improved field management practices and the provision of suitable tree species.