Agricultural Surveys in the Eastern Province, Uganda

Abstract

During the last five years, agricultural officers have been engaged in conducting detailed surveys of small administrative units called mitala*(singular mutala). The primary object is to ascertain the position in regard to soil deterioration in the various agricultural areas, and to determine the size of small holding required by a family in order to grow all its food and cash crops, support live stock, and yet maintain the fertility of the land. The first surveys were necessarily of a tentative nature, and a short account of the first essays has been published in this Journal.[1] From the experience gained in these, the Agricultural Survey Committee framed a standardized questionnaire, which introduced a large measure of uniformity into• the subsequent reports, and ensured that nothing of importance was omitted. The committee consists of senior members of various technical departments under the chairmanship of the Director of Agriculture, and the scope of the surveys was widened to include a larger field of subjects, such as diet, social organization and crafts, the continued study of which is of vital importance for the wise government of the people. At the same time, the surveying officer was encouraged to investigate any additional subjects that he considered to be of interest or importance, without qualification, with the result that the surveys were not reduced to a dull routine, but individual interest was maintained at a high pitch.