Utilization Of Household Solid Waste For Sustainable Agricultural Production Among Farmers In Shuuku And Kitagata Sub-Counties, Sheema District

Abstract

The study was about utilization of household solid waste for sustainable agricultural production among farmers in Shuuku and Kitagata sub-counties, Sheema district. Sheema district is one of the districts with high population estimated to be 220,200 people with limited information and technology to transform the increasing generated wastes into an agricultural resource for sustainable production which has resulted into an accumulation of domestic wastes generation at house hold level. The objectives of the study were to (i) identify the types of solid waste generated at household level in the area, (ii) examine the solid waste management and disposal practices at household level, (iii) assess the level of knowledge by households regarding the various methods for converting solid wastes into productive resources and (iv) establish the challenges facing households in solid waste management. It was a randomly-sampling based survey of 190 respondents living in the two sub-counties of Shuuku and Kitagata. Questionnaires and interviews were used to capture the required data. The results indicated that six (6) different types of solid wastes including food waste, plastic, wood/organic matter, metal, glass, textiles and leather were generated by householders with food and plastic wastes being the dominant ones. The most popular methods of disposal of solid wastes were dumping, burning, composting, recycle/reuse, burying and giving it to livestock as feeds; these methods were specifically favoring people living in the low-income households. Respondents generally had a low level of knowledge concerning the methods available for converting solid wastes into resources. A good percent of respondents had knowledge on sustainable agricultural practices. However, given the right information and conditions, more than 90% of the respondents were willing to accept the alternative methods of converting waste into a resource such as reduction, reuse, recycling and composting. The study further established the challenges faced by households in the management of solid waste such as; inadequate capital to turn waste into a resource (p=0.010), lack of dumping sites (p=0.004), and bad outdoors coming out from decomposing waste (p=0.002). In conclusion therefore all the study objectives were achieved and the study concluded that there was solid waste management and disposal practices in the area, the population is knowledgeable about the various methods for converting solid wastes into productive resources and had knowledge about sustainable agriculture. The study recommended more efforts to be directed towards educating and sensitizing community members about the appropriate methods of turning household kitchen residues into an agricultural resource for sustainable agriculture production.