Meet Dr. Ekwangu Joseph, a Research Officer in Agronomy and Acting Programme Leader for Crops and Natural Resources Research at Bulindi ZARDI. On October 18th, 2024, he graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Agro ecology and Food Systems, supported by a prestigious World Bank scholarship under the African Centre of Excellence in Agro ecology and Livelihood Systems at Uganda Martyrs University.
Dr. Ekwangu’s story is not just one of academic achievement, but also of determination and faith. Growing up in internally displaced persons’ camps due to the civil wars in Teso and the cattle rustling activities by the Karamojong, Dr. Ekwangu faced immense hardship. His family lost its main source of livelihood to cattle rustlers, and the opportunity for higher education seemed increasingly out of reach.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Dr. Ekwangu defied the odds, driven by a deep desire to create a better future for himself and his community. His Ph.D. research focused on investigating soil nutrient management strategies and their impact on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and finger millet productivity in the semi-arid regions of eastern Uganda.
Dr. Ekwangu specifically examined the distribution of SOC, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in finger millet-growing areas. His study also explored the effects of organic and inorganic fertilisers, as well as legume-finger millet intercropping, on finger millet yield and SOC stocks. The findings from his research are transformative.
Dr. Ekwangu’s study revealed significant variability in soil nutrients and pH levels (degree to which soil is basic or acidic) across the finger millet-growing regions of eastern Uganda. Key results include the discovery that applying micro-doses of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers increased finger millet yield by 33% and enhanced SOC stocks by 92.5% annually.
Furthermore, intercropping finger millet with cowpea led to a remarkable 116% increase in millet grain yield and a 66.7% improvement in SOC stocks annually. These findings have significant implications for smallholder farmers in Uganda’s semi-arid regions. Dr. Ekwangu’s study recommends the promotion of fertiliser micro-dosing for nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as cowpea- finger millet intercropping to maximise land use efficiency and improve farm productivity.
Additionally, he emphasises the importance of soil testing for smallholder farmers to help them adopt appropriate soil management strategies based on local conditions and the variability in soil nutrient levels. Dr. Ekwangu’s ground-breaking research has already been published in four peer-reviewed journal articles, contributing valuable knowledge to the field of agro ecology.
The articles can be accessed through the following links:
- Fertilizer Micro-dosing and Timing of Weeding for Enhancing Finger-Millet Production in Eastern Uganda
- The Profitability of Fertilizer Micro Dosing and Timing of Weeding in Finger Millet Production in the Semi-Arid Areas of Uganda
- Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration in Finger Millet Production in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Concepts and Practices