Title: Factors influencing the adoption of sustainable land management technologies among subsistence farmers in Nakapiripirit district, Uganda

Land degradation and climate change effects hamper agricultural production and productivity amongst subsistence farming households. As a result, in north-eastern Uganda, subsistence farmers in Nakapiripirit district grapple with declining yields and incomes. This has contributed to the prevailing poverty and food insecurity in the district. Sustainable land management is crucial in mitigating these effects for sustainable development. Despite the efforts of governmental and non-governmental organizations to promote sustainable land management technologies, adoption remains low amongst subsistence farmers. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing the underlying factors that influence the adoption of these technologies amongst subsistence farmers in Nakapiripirit district. Purposive random sampling was used in selecting a total of 20 interviewees. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 15 farmers from the three broad livelihood zones in the district and five key informants at both district and sub-county levels. Content and thematic analyses were used in analysing the data. The findings reveal that crop rotation, intercropping, farmyard manuring, and crop residue composting are the most practiced sustainable land management technologies amongst subsistence farmers. However, labour, access and cost of farm inputs and equipment, knowledge and skills capacity, traditional practices and thinking, climate change effects, gender and financial support to stakeholders influence the adoption of these technologies. Apart from increasing financial support and strengthening the technical capacity of extension workers, government and non-governmental organizations need to use stakeholder inclusive approaches in promoting climate resilient, less labour intensive and financially demanding sustainable land management technologies. The promotion initiatives must always consider the differences in the level of adoption by the various categories of subsistence farmers in the different livelihood zones of the district.