Authors : Bernard Fungo, Gerald Eilu and Mnason Tweheyo
Abstract: The objectives of this study were to determine wildlife species causing crop raiding and the crops they raid the level of crop raiding as estimated by farmers the factors perceived to determine the level of crop raiding among farmers’ gardens and the methods that farmers use to control crop raiding. The study was conducted in seven village enclaves of Mabira forest reserve, Uganda using individual household interviews from a total of 70 households representing the management zones constituting the forest. The crop-raiding wild life species around Mabira forest reserve include red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, bush pigs, rodents, porcupines and antelopes. The 1st two species are the major crop raiders. They mainly raid maize, bananas and passion fruits. Approximately 40-70% of the crop yields is lost to crop-raiding by wild animals. The level of crop raiding was most severe with maize followed by bananas then passion fruits and least was cassava. According to the farmers, crop raiding among management regimes is higher in the production (low impact) zone but did not differ between the other two. Farmers believe that susceptibility of the crop, intercrop of susceptible and less-susceptible crops and weed management are important factors affecting the level of crop raiding by wild animals. The methods used by farmers to control crop raiding include guarding, use of scarecrows and smearing with cow dung. It is recommended that intercropping susceptible crops such as maize and bananas with the less susceptible or non-edibles such as coffee, sugarcane, planting of buffer crops, enrichment planting in the forest could help reduce the extent of raiding on some crops as well as diversifying production.
Bernard Fungo, Gerald Eilu and Mnason Tweheyo, 2010. Patterns of Crop Raiding Around Mabira Forest Reserve, Uganda. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 5: 785-792.