East African Gazette
Uganda
With the majority of Ugandans depending on agriculture for their livelihood, there is a pressing need to enhance commercial farming practices.
Efforts to achieve this goal have been made by the government and agricultural organizations through the organization of agricultural expos.
These exhibitions serve as platforms for farmers to learn about improving their techniques and exploring market opportunities to enhance their agricultural businesses.
Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has set up model farms where farmers can acquire knowledge and seek advice on various agricultural issues.
Recently, over 1000 farmers from Greater Mbende and other regions of Uganda gathered at Mutetema parish in Kalangalo Sub County, Mityana District for the 2nd annual Kisoboka agriculture expo. The event, initiated by Godfrey Kiwanda Suubi, the Central Region vice chairman of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, aims to equip farmers with the necessary skills.
This comes at a time when farmers are preparing for the first planting season.
Kiwanda emphasized that this initiative will lead to increased productivity and value addition of agricultural products, ultimately resulting in improved profitability for farmers.
He highlighted that this endeavor aligns with the NRM party’s manifesto of empowering individuals for socio-economic transformation.
The three-day expo, which commenced on February 16, 2024, featured exhibitors showcasing a wide range of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, irrigation equipment, seedlings, and other essential items.
Model farmers and other facilitators were present to impart necessary knowledge to farmers in various fields. Farmers also had the chance to obtain different inputs at subsidized rates. Throughout the interactions, farmers exchanged farming experiences, discussed opportunities and challenges, and identified markets where they could sell their products.
Kiwanda stated that the initiative will be extended to other districts in the central region to ensure that everyone has access to smart agriculture knowledge.
“Commercial agriculture with a calculation is the only way to go. Use irrigation and organic fertilizers to enhance productivity,” he noted.
Nevertheless, despite other benefits of “these agricultural exhibitions” such as Kisoboka, the farmers asked the government to allocate significant resources towards irrigation systems in order to assist farmers during periods of drought in different parts of the country.
The farmers emphasized that the unpredictable weather patterns posed the greatest obstacle, with small-scale farmers in particular experiencing significant losses after investing substantial labor into their crops.
Despite the push for commercialization of the agriculture sector, smallholder farmers who are the majority still face challenges including: lack of quality seeds, sub-standard agrochemical inputs, limited use of fertilisers, limited access to finance due to high-interest rates, expensive farming equipment, poor farming practices, climate change effects, and price fluctuations among others.
Climate change impact
Uganda’s heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture, exposes the agriculture sector to the risks associated with climate change.
All the country’s economic sectors are highly susceptible to the effects of climate change due to their dependence on natural resources.
The escalating temperatures, increased occurrences of diseases and pests, erratic rainfall patterns, frequent floods, and droughts are already being felt in Uganda, significantly impacting the agriculture and land use sectors.
Statistics from the MAAIF show that 81% of the population is involved in rain-fed subsistence farming, and the sector contributes up to 40% of Uganda’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This means that the threats posed by climate change pose significant challenges to the country’s economic development, export revenues, and rural communities.
Small holder farmers most affected
Expert note that climate-induced crop failures and unpredictable spikes in food prices, along with other underlying issues such as limited knowledge and skills in climate-smart agriculture, inadequate storage, transportation, and processing infrastructure that can withstand climate impacts, insufficient agricultural insurance schemes, and lack of access to finance, pose significant challenges for small-scale farmers.
This is especially true for women, youth, and poorer households, who find it difficult to invest in climate adaptation and mitigation measures.
Economists also highlight the difficulties posed by Uganda’s land tenure system, which often restricts women, youth, and landless households – who play a crucial role in food production from accessing and controlling land and other resources.
These groups face cultural barriers and are rarely involved in decision-making processes, which further limits their ability to invest in climate adaptation and mitigation measures that promote sustainable agriculture and food systems in the long run.
According to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Uganda’s fertile agricultural land has the potential to feed 200 million people. Though 80% of Uganda’s land is arable, only 35% is being cultivated.
In FY 2022/23, agriculture accounted for about 24% of GDP, and 35% of export earnings.
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimates that about 68% of Uganda’s working population is employed in agriculture.
Uganda produces a wide range of agricultural products including coffee, tea, sugar, livestock, fish, edible oils, cotton, tobacco, plantains, corn, beans, cassava, sweet potatoes, millet, sorghum, and groundnuts.
Other challenges
In addition to various other challenges, the growth of the sector is hindered by inadequate packaging capabilities, insufficient storage facilities, subpar post-harvest handling practices, a shortage of agricultural credit, high freight costs, the absence of all-weather feeder roads in rural areas, and limited knowledge of modern production practices.
Ugandan producers also face difficulties in meeting the necessary standards to access regional and global markets such as Europe and the United States.
Uganda’s maize has been blocked by neighboring Kenya and South Sudan on multiple occasions due to aflatoxin contamination.
However, the Uganda Grain Council (UGC) took a step forward last year by introducing a new grain code that prioritizes maintaining grain quality, aiming to address the challenges faced by the sector.
The code gives guidelines for farmers, aggregators, transporters, and processors to enhance the overall quality of the grain. It also examines the kind and caliber of seed to be sown, the timing of harvest, storage, transportation, processing, and by-product storage.
Robert Mwanje, the council chairman, attributed the grain’s subpar quality to inadequate post-harvest practices. Nevertheless, the UGC believes that the new grain code will address these challenges and promote self-regulation throughout the entire value chain.
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