Population pressured and agricultural intensification: the case of Ishozi ward, Bukoba District 1960-1980.

The objective of the study was to investigate whether there is population pressure in Ishozi ward and whether this was a stimulus to the agricultural intensification taking place in the area and thereby to suggest methods by which agricultural intensification could best be achieved so as to enable the land sustain the increasing population. Through using population pressure indicators put forward by Hence (1970’s pp. 417-8) and by calculating the carrying capacity of the ward, a conclusion is reached suggesting the existence of population pressure in the area. Population is found to increase at 4.73 percent per annum while individual holdings decreased from 0.94 hectares in 1968 to 0.76 hectares in 1982. While population increases land per capita decreases making farmers to use the available land more intensively. Accumulated debris from plant residues, household refuse and animal droppings are found to form a substantial source of nutrients for the permanent cultivations, while ridges and mounds with organic matter embedded within, props annual crops. Adoption of stable cattle keeping methods, advancement of loans to farmers in terms of cattle and reviewing of coffee prices are some of the suggestions made for the betterment of agricultural intensification. Others are posting of agricultural extension officers in all villages and supplying farmers with pesticides and fungicide sprays to enable them combat agricultural pests and diseases. The study is divided into 5 chapters. Chapter 1 is an introduction and outline of the study. Chapter 2 covers review of literature while chapter 3 is about the geographic description of the study area. Chapter 4 analyses agricultural intensification while conclusions and recommendations from chapter 5.