Agriculture in Uganda

Agriculture in Uganda Notes

Agriculture is the growing of crops and rearing of animals. Crop growing can be termed as arable farming well as animal rearing, animal husbandry or livestock farming.

• It should be noted that over 90% of the total population of Uganda depends on agriculture and 80% of Uganda‘s exports are dominated by agricultural products.
• Different parts of Uganda practice different farming systems i.e. pastoralism in Karamoja, Nakasongola and Ankole-Masaka corridor, and cultivation of different types of crops of banana, cereals, tobacco, coffee, cotton, etc in the rest of Uganda.
• The sector employs over 70-80% of Uganda‘s labour force and contributes 40-45%of the country’s GDP.
• Livestock farming has grown especially cattle, goat and pig rearing
• The range of commercial crops is growing from traditional cash crops of coffee and cotton to vanilla, aloe Vera, tea, rice, etc.

This difference is accounted for below;

• The type of climate experienced in the region, especially rainfall totals, reliability and distribution and temperature patterns. Areas which receive heavy reliable and well distributed rainfall like L. Victoria shores practice crop growing and vice verser.
• Also the temperatures are influential i.e. higher temperatures between 27⁰c – 30⁰c favour perennial crops of cotton, coffee in mukono, palm in kalangala, etc. well as low temperature of kabala and kisoro favour the growth of vegetables and apples.
• Soils, areas with well drained fertile soils like Mt. Elgon slopes favour arable farming well as Karamoja areas with infertile and porous soils favour pasture growth for animal rearing. Also acidic soils of Toro and Kasaku in Mukono support tea growth.
• Relief, relatively flat and gently sloping land in Buganda region of Wakiso, Mukono, favour mechanization thus arable farming, while steep slopes of Mt. Rwenzori attract animal rearing. Also tea and Arabic coffee grows well on higher altitude like in Toro and Mbale while masaka low altitudes facilitate Robusta coffee.
• Culture, the Karamajong and Hima rear animals because it is of their cultural attribute thus pastral system, the Baganda, Basoga, Kiga, etc practice arable farming growing crops such as banana, coffee potatoes thus banana coffee system .
• Land tenure system i.e. communal land ownership encourages nomadism like in Karamoja well as individual land ownership calls for crop growing like in Kigezi-Kabale areas.
• The level of economic development, usually in relatively developed areas of Uganda like Wakiso and Mukono there is practice of modern farming methods of vegetable-flower growing unlike under developed areas of Kaabong and Kotido where there is pastoral system.
• The influence of colonialists who developed cash crop farming in areas of west Nile, Busoga, L. Victoria shores leaving other parts of Uganda practicing nomadism and food crop growing.
• Government policy of emphasizing the growing of cash crops to boost the export sector. This has put a lot of land mainly in central Uganda to plantation agriculture like tea at Kasaku-Mukono, sugar at Lugazi, compared to animal rearing.also schemes facilitated by government like Doho, Kibimba and Mubuku.
• Nature of population found in an area, usually sparse population encourages transhumance like in Kiruhura and Kaabong thus pastoral system, well as dense population calls for intensive farming like in Entebbe.
• Biotic factors,
• Transport,
• market potential,
• Privatization and
• Education levels should also be considered in the discussion of the differences in farming practices.

   

Contribution of the agricultural sector to the development of Uganda

• The agricultural sector employs a lot of people in Uganda estimated at over 90% of Uganda‘s population. Farmers, extension officers, veterinary officers, exporters earn a lot of incomes thus increased standards of living.
• It earns the country foreign exchange since it contributes 80% estimated exports. Coffee, flowers, vegetables, fruits, etc are some of the exported products. The forex is used to set up important infrastructure like schools, health units, thus development.
• Agriculture provide market to industrial products such as fertilizer making, hoe making, animal feeds by NUVITA, etc. this has led to industrial growth thus source of jobs and development.
• The government earns a lot of revenue from the agricultural sector through taxing agricultural enterprises such as Kakira and Lugazi sugar estates in Mukono and Jinja respectively. This revenue is used to set up important infrastructure such as roads.
• It has led to infrastructural development such as feeder roads, heath units, schools, valley dams, research centers, etc. these facilitate Uganda‘s development.
• There is created international relationship through exportation of flowers, vegetables and fruits to Europe, food stuffs to S. Sudan and Kenya, etc. this has helped to keep Uganda secure.
• Is source of food to Ugandans like banana in Mbarara and Masaka, millet in Lira and Soroti, milk from Sembabule and Mbarara, etc. this has led to improvement in people’s health.
• Agriculture has led to the growth of agro-based industries through provision of raw-materials like Kasaku tea estate for Kasaku tea factory, kakira sugar estate for Kakira sugar factory. Such industries are a source of government revenue.
• Promotes economic diversification, power source, promotes research and tourism.

Problems facing agricultural sector in Uganda

These vary from one farming system to another, the below limit agricultural modernization.

• Climatic changes which have caused little rains in some parts of the country like in Karamoja region. This has led to shortage of water and pasture for livestock farming. Also in 2007 in Teso region floods destroyed crop farms. The practice of irrigation farming is also very expensive in arid areas of Kotido, Kitgum, Kiruhura, etc.
• Some areas in Uganda have got porous soils which are un suitable for irrigation like in Kitgum yet the area is semi-arid. The volcanic soils of Mt. Elgon get exhausted very quickly and the practice of monoculture by estates like Kasaku tea estate in Mukono exhaust soils and yet fertilizers are very expensive.
• The steep slopes of Mt. Rwenzori, Kisoro hills, Bundibujjo and other parts of the country limit the use of machines thus small scale farms. Also fewer farmers can access machines due to limited capital.
• Crop pests and animal diseases which make them stunted in growth like cassava mosaic, banana and coffee wilt especially in Masaka, Luwero, nagana, east coast fever and foot and mouth animal diseases in Sembabule, Kiruhura, affect agriculture leading to losses.
• Limited capital resource to finance research activities, set up large scale plantations, buy fertilizers and farm implements. This explains why farming in Kisoro, Nakapiripiriti is on small holder.
• Shortage of skilled labour to operate machinery and carryout research in the agricultural sector especially in Soroti and Lira. This calls for importation of skilled labour which is expensive.
• Political instabilities since 1970s to date in Luwero, Lira, Kasese, Gulu, Pader, has continued to scare away investors in the sector, destroy plantations and factories and also drained government treasury thus under funding of the agricultural sector.
• Corruption among the government officials in the agricultural sector, for instance a lot of funds were embezzled during the NAADS program, construction of valley dams, which was made to improve on the agricultural sector in Uganda.
• Inefficient transport network of roads to transport agricultural products to market centers like from Kiboga, Nebbi, Nabirongo and Mbale. It should be noted that most of the agricultural products are perishable like fruits, vegetables, flowers, animal products, etc,
• Inefficient and limited storage facilities, it is true to state that a lot of agricultural products are destroyed by weevils due to poor storage facilities. Also milk from Soroti, and Moroto, banana from Mbarara and Mbale is lost due to this factor.
• There is competition for market with outside countries which produce similar agricultural products such as Kenya and Tanzania. This causes price fluctuation.
• Others include low technology, cattle rustling, and low yielding crop and animal varieties, high population growth rate, poor land tenure system, natural hazards like hail stones and landslides, etc.

Farming systems in Uganda

There are several farming systems in Uganda which include;

• Small holder farming
• Subsistence animal keeping
• Cash crop growing/plantation farming
• Irrigation farming
• Co-operative farming
• Livestock ranching

Map of Uganda showing farming systems.

Small holder/ peasant farming

This is the growing of food and cash crops as well as animal rearing on small scale. It is the most dominant in Uganda. Food crops such as cassava, potatoes, millet, maize, beans, etc. cash crops like coffee, cotton, vanilla are grown. Pigs, cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys and poultry are reared.

X-tics of small holder farming

• Land units are very small in size but intensively worked since peasant farming is carried out in densely populated areas such as in Buganda.
• Individual land ownership.
• Farmers practice inter-cropping on their small portions of land i.e. production of cash and food crops.
• Elementary tools/traditional tools are used by farmers; these include hoes, digging sticks, etc.
• Little attention is given to crops while growing i.e. less or no scientific methods of crop growing applied.
• Use of family labour on farms.
• Some few animals and poultry are kept alongside crop growing on the farms.

  N.B small holder farming is found in regions of Buganda where banana, coffee and other crops grown, Teso region where maize, cassava, simsim and cattle rearing, Kigezi where sorghum, vegetables, Irish potatoes, carrots are grown, Ntungamo district where coffee, millet, sorghum, cassava, sweet potatoes and cattle rearing.

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Problems facing small holder farming in Uganda

• Limited land and therefore such areas face a problem of land fragmentation like in Kabale, Kisoro, Mbale, and Kapchorwa.
• There is a problem of high population growth rate which creates population explosion on land like in Kabale.
• Environmental degradation in form of severe soil erosion, deforestation and land degradation.
• The peasant farmers practice poor farming methods, such methods facilitates low crop yields, low agricultural output and stagnation in agriculture.
• The low productivity in agricultural sector make farmers to be un employed and have low standards of living.
• Limited market for the produce from the small holder farms, and this demoralizes such peasant farmers in relation to expanding their farming units.
• Shortage of capital/funds to purchase farm implements such as hoes which are becoming costly to such peasant farmers to buy.
• Peasant farmers lack technical advice from agricultural extension workers, they therefore end up practicing poor farming methods which lead to agricultural stagnation.
• Inefficient transport network of impassable roads during rainy seasons and this limit the produce to reach market centers in time and yet agricultural products are perishable.
• Un predictable climatic changes causing drought and floods which destroy crops. For instance in 1994 eastern Uganda experienced a long period of drought and in 2007 the same region was hit by floods which led to crop failure.
• Since peasant farming is characterized by small plots, such plots are repeatedly cultivated causing soil exhaustion thus low crop yields.
• Heavy taxes imposed on farmers’ produce while being taken to market centers.
• Small holder farming is practiced in densely populated areas of Uganda of Buganda, Kigezi, Mbale, and others. Due to the dense population, the population has led to land fragmentation.

Land fragmentation

Is an agricultural phenomenon which involves dividing and re-dividing of the land.

Land fragmentation in Uganda has majorly affected Kabale and Kisoro in South Western Uganda, Mbale and Kapchorwa in eastern Uganda, Bushenyi and Rukungiri, Kasese and Kabarole, etc.

Major areas affected by land fragmentation in Uganda.

Causes of land fragmentation

• A high population growth rate in Mbale, Kabale, and Buganda which creates a problem of population explosion on land for settlement and agricultural activities thus division into small plots.
• The socio-cultural practices such as polygamy and land inheritance from ones parents and grandparents especially in Bugishu, Kigezi and Buganda. This means dividing the initial land into small plots to cater for the different wives.
• A high rate of un employment and general poverty, the two forces people to carryout installment selling and buying of land like in Kabarole and Wakiso.
• Many people believe in large families with many children and avoid family planning facilities thus increasing population and land fragmentation like in Mbale and Bugishu.

Effects of land fragmentation

• It discourages mechanization thus low farm production especially in Mbale.
• Since the plots are small, they are ever used thus soil exhaustion and low yields like in Kabalore.
• It accelerates land conflicts especially individual land owners and families sharing land boundaries like in some parts of Mpigi and Kisoro.
• Land fragmentation facilitates the occurrence of environmental degradation in form of severe soil erosion, deforestation and soil degradation like in Kabale and Kisoro.
• Small plots may fail to produce adequate food stuffs to feed the available population thus famine and malnutrition like in Kabale.
• It doesn’t encourage the growing of cash crops since farmers concentrates on growing food crops to feed their families. This is true in Mbale and Manafa districts.
• The crops may easily be damaged by wild animals and birds and their protection may be difficult in case the plots are located far away from one another like in Mbale.
• Crops may be damaged by crop pests and diseases from the neighboring plots.
• Land fragmentation leads to stagnation of agricultural sector thus leading to un employment since agriculture employ about 80% of Uganda‘s population which is evident in Kisoro.
• Farmers are likely to use poor farming methods since they are peasants like in Mbale and Kabale, this leads to soil erosion, exhaustion and reduced crop yields.

Solution to above problems

• Family planning programs like in Kigezi and Mbale so as to control rapid growing population which causes such explosion on land.
• Resettlement of the excessive population where possible.
• Intensive methods of farming taught to affected people, here farming becomes more productive.
• Establishment of resettlement schemes where such excessive population can be resettled.
• Land consolidation so as to favor mechanization which improves on farming practice. This has started in Mbale and Kigezi with the help of agricultural extension workers.
• Teaching local people how to use modern methods of farming like mulching, fertilizer application, hybrid seeds and other intensive farming practices and this is supported by land consolidation.
• Starting up cash crop production alongside food crop growing due to consolidated land.
• Developing other sectors to increase on employments and reduce pressure on agricultural sector. This includes tourism in national parks like Bwindi in Kisoro, mining in Kamwengye district, transportation in Kabale, etc.
• It should be noted that land consolidation solves the problems caused by land fragmentation; however it also causes other problems such as creation of landless people and displacement of people.

Subsistence animal rearing/nomadic pastoralism

This involves rearing of animals with a sole aim of producing what to satisfy home needs such as bride price, food, clothing, etc.

In Uganda, nomadic pastoral tribes include Bahima in districts of Mbarara, Ntungamo, Isingiro, Kiruhura, Rakai, Mubende, Sembabule, and Rukungiri, Karamajong in districts of Kotido, Nakapiripirti, Kaabong and Moroto. And some parts of Nakasongola-Bululi.

Pastoral areas in Uganda.

X-tics of nomadism

• Animal grazing is carried out on a subsistence level with no modern method of animal keeping used.
• Animals are grazed on natural pasture and nomads practice transhumance i.e. moving from area to anther looking for water and pasture for their animals.
• Pastoralist keep local/traditional breeds of animal species like Zebu of Karamajong and Ankole long horned cattle for Bahima. Other animals kept include goats, sheep, donkeys and camels.
• Pastoralists keep large herds of cattle for security and social reasons such as bride price, when some die during drought others survive, etc.
• There is communal grazing and land ownership in such areas.
• There is no permanent settlement of nomads, they keep on moving.

Problems facing nomadic pastoralists in Uganda

• Prolonged drought conditions which results into limited pasture and water, this makes nomads to keep on moving from one place to another.
• Nomads face a problem of famine and malnutrition since they normally neglect crop growing due to the prolonged drought.
• Over stocking has led to disappearance of vegetation cover which has resulted into environment degradation and soil erosion in particular, this is common in Karamoja north eastern Uganda.
• Tropical pests which attack animals and reduce their quality. These pests include ticks, tsetse flies, etc.
• The occurrence of such pests has resulted into animal diseases like nagana, foot and mouth, rinder pest and east coast fever.
• The act of communal grazing causes rapid spread of pests and diseases which attack their animals. Also tsetse flies cause sleeping sickness to nomads.
• There are conflicts over grazing grounds by families which results into death, for instance Karamajong and Acholi, Langi and Iteso, etc.
• Inefficient transport net work and general remoteness of the area, feeder roads are poor and become impassable during rainy seasons which leave the nomadic areas inaccessible.

Measures taken to solve the above problems

• The land tenure system has been changed from communal to individual land ownership in Iteso and this has helped to curb down deforestation and soil erosion.
• Demonstration farms have been established in Karamoja with an aim of teaching pastoralists modern and scientific methods of animal rearing.
• Valley dams and bore holes have been established in Nakasongola and Bululi to provide permanent source of water to create a permanent settled way of life of nomads.
• Education has been encouraged especially in Mubende and Rakai so as nomads break their traditional conservativeness and backwardness which makes them to over stock and graze.
• Important infrastructure such as roads, health units, education, veterinary, clean water and good housing have been set up in Karamoja north eastern Uganda to break the remoteness of the area.
• Introduction of crop growing to nomads alongside animal rearing which has reduced on famine and malnutrition among children in Nakasongola and Bululi.
• Modern livestock ranches have been introduced in Kiruhura and Lyantonde to provide to nomads better and modern methods of cattle rearing.

Livestock farming in Uganda

This involves the rearing of animals on a large scale purposely for commercial reasons using scientific methods. This is sometimes referred to as ranching.

In Uganda, ranches have been introduced in districts of Nakasongola, Luwero, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Rakai, Sembabule, Mubende and some parts of Karamoja, etc.

The ranches in Uganda include Ankole Masaka ranching scheme, Aswa ranching scheme in Kitgum, Maruzi ranching scheme in lango, Bunyoro ranches in Masindi, Buluri ranches in Nakasongola, Jesa ranch in Busunju, Batuma ranch in Kabale, Kyaka ranch in Kabalore, Kilyandongo ranch in Masindi, Agago ranch in Kitgum, Singo ranch in Luwero, Usuk ranch in Soroti, etc.

Map of Uganda showing areas of livestock ranches

Status of ranching in Uganda

• Most ranches are characterized by low quality animal breads mainly zebu and long horned cattle.
• Exotic breeds of animals are increasingly being introduced like Frisians, jersey and Angus.
• Ranches are mainly in rural r remote areas with vast land.
• Scientific methods of animal rearing have been used like extension of veterinary services, use of artificial insemination, etc.
• Machines are used for milking like in Jesa diaries.

   

X-tics of livestock farming

• Animals are kept for commercial purpose.
• It involves keeping cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, poultry, donkeys and camels.
• Application of highly scientific methods of animal rearing such as sprays and dipping, cross breeding, etc.
• Permanent water sources like bore holes and valley tanks are provided on farm.

It should be noted that livestock farming in Uganda is limited and this is due to;

• Shortage of capital and farming skills required in the management of modern and extensive cattle ranch.
• Limited market for dairy and beef products since most people live below the poverty line.
• Tropical diseases and pests such as tsetse flies which cause nagana, also other diseases such as rinder pest, foot and mouth scare away the establishment of ranches.
• Limited research centers and this has failed the introduction of high breed animals to farmers in ranches, farmers in ranches still keep local breeds of cattle.
• Prolonged drought conditions in many parts of Uganda which cause water and pasture shortage which makes pastoralists in ranches to practice transhumance.
• Un supportive government policy of protectionism i.e. there is importation of cheap cattle products like milk from Kenya which out compete cattle products from ranches. Also limited loans have been given to pastoralists to set up ranches.
• Land tenure system of communal land ownership which limit ranch establishment. Also individual land ownership has caused land fragmentation which affect ranch establishment.
• Political instabilities which has destroyed important infrastructure such as roads and research centers. It has also drained government treasury thus less funds invested in the agricultural sector.
• Limited land for expansion of ranches like in jesa ranch in Mpigi and in Mbarara.
• Limited power supply to preserve animal products such as in milk cooling machines, and beef fridges.
• Competition for market of livestock products with other producers like from Denmark, Netherlands and Britain.
• Inefficient transport network especially during wet seasons to transport the perishable milk and beef to market centres.

Importance of ranches in Uganda

• Ranches have improved on breeds of cattle and goats through research in animal husbandry. This has improved on output in the livestock industry.
• Acquisition of skills by farmers such as spray, dipping, cross breeding, paddocking, insermination, etc
• There has been a check on occurrence of tsetse flies which used to cause nagana in animals and sleeping sickness in people.
• Ranches have increased on employment opportunities i.e. cattle keepers, veterinary officers, animal husbandry officials, etc. these earn incomes thus improved standards of living.
• It has led to improved infrastructure such as rehabilitation of feeder roads, construction of valley dams and bore holes, establishment of markets for animal products like Sanga in Kiruhura.
• Ranches have also led to establishment of small scale industries of milk cooling factories, meat packers, etc. these contribute revenue to Uganda.
• Ranches have broken the remoteness of the once nomadic pastoralist areas of Ankole-Masaka and Karamoja.

NB. Ankole-Masaka ranching scheme is the largest in Uganda.

Dairy farming is also practiced in Uganda i.e. the rearing of cattle purposely to obtain milk for commercial reasons. Mbarara, Masaka, Mukono, Kabalore, Bushenyi, Wakiso, Mpigi, Rakai, Kasese, Luwero, etc are some of the districts where dairy farming is practiced in Uganda.

Research must be done by the student on;

• Ankole Masaka ranch.
• Dairy farming in Uganda.

Cash crop growing and plantation farming

Uganda today has emphasized plantation farming since the economy is dominantly depending on agriculture. Some of the cash crops grown include coffee, cotton, tea, sugarcane, tobacco and vanilla.

It should be noted that plantation farming in Uganda has been favoured by both environmental and human factors

Coffee growing

This is the mostly grown cash crop in Uganda on plantation and small holder farming. The main coffee growing areas in Uganda include Buganda region, Ankole region of Rukungiri and kanungu, Sebei region of Kapchorwa, Busoga region of Iganga and Kamuli, west Nile of Nebbi district.

Factors which favour coffee grown in Uganda

• The local environmental conditions are favourable to coffee growing in many parts of Uganda i.e. heavy, reliable and well distributed rainfall throughout the year. Also the temperature range of between 14⁰C and 26⁰C favour coffee growth.
• The individual ownership of land in the growing areas favours coffee growing. Farmers own large tracts of land on which they have been able to grow coffee.
• Availability of large market for coffee domestically and foreign, Uganda‘s coffee is of high quality and highly demanded in Western Europe and Asian countries.
• The effect of colonial legacy i.e. it made it compulsory for households to grow coffee in order to improve on their income.
• Presence of cheap labour recruited from household family members and neighbouring densely populated region.
• Improved transport network based on road which has favoured easy transportation of coffee to market centre.
• Favourable government policy of encouraging people to grow coffee, providing loans, coffee seedlings, etc, to farmers

Conditions required for coffee growing.

• Moderate rainfall of between 1000mm-1500mm per annum and temperatures ranging from 14⁰C to 26⁰C.
• Need protection from strong winds i.e. planting coffee trees alongside banana plants, tree species for protection.
• Coffee trees can tolerate any type of relief and altitude, forinstance Arabica coffee does well in mountainous and hilly relief while Robusta coffee does well in low lying areas.
• Large supply of cheap labour especially the harvesting period.
• It requires sufficient capital supply to purchase all the necessary farming inputs such as insecticide, pay labourers, etc.
• It requires improved transport network to transport coffee beans to the processing plants and subsequently to consumers.

It should be noted that coffee farmers face problems such as

• Coffee wilt disease and other pests.
• Price fluctuations due to over production.
• Weather vagaries of prolonged drought and strong winds.
• Soil exhaustion due to mono-cropping.
• Limited cheap labour during harvesting period
• Shortage of funds to invest in large scale coffee production.

   

   

   

Cotton growing in Uganda

Cotton growing started far back in 1903 and came to its peak in 1960s, however the frequent political instabilities made cotton growing decline throughout years.

In Uganda today, cotton growing districts include Kamuli, Iganga, Tororo, Pallisa, Soroti, Kapchorwa, Gulu, Kitugum, Moyo, Arua, Kasese, Masindi, Kumi, Lira, and Apac.

Conditions required for cotton growing

• Needs a warm climate with moderate rainfall ranging between 510mm and 1100mm per annum.
• It requires high temperatures of about 25⁰C and above.
• It requires a medium loam soil and application of fertilizers for continuous cotton growing.
• It requires cheap supply of labour especially during planting, weeding, fertilizer application and cotton picking.

Factors which have favoured the growing of cotton in Uganda

• There was a ready market for cotton mainly in Britain where it was highly demanded for her domestic textile industries.
• The Asians and Indians provided market of cotton and helped in cotton processing before its exportation.
• Favourable climatic conditions of moderate rainfall with high temperature for the growth of cotton and cotton bolls.
• Presence of medium loam soils coupled with application of fertilizers and organic manure which favoured cotton growth.
• Availability of cheap transport network of roads and a railway line from Mombasa to Kampala-Jinja and then to west Nile. This eased cotton transportation to market centers of Europe.
• Supportive government policies of increasing the export base of Uganda through encouraging cotton growing by improving transport network and provision of other services to cotton growers.
• The availability of cheap labour mostly family labour and from neighbouring un employed labour mainly offered by women and children.

Problems facing cotton growing

• The elnino weather phenomenon which affects the quality of cotton especially in Eastern Uganda as it was in 2007.
• Political instabilities like in Kasese ADF invasions, Kony wars which affected west Nile cotton producers.
• Amin’s expulsion of Indians and Asians in 1970s which hindered cotton processing.
• Occurrence of prolonged drought in major cotton growing districts of Uganda affects cotton growth.
• Limited farming implements and inputs such as hoes, ox-ploughs and improved seed varieties.
• Inefficient transport network since most cotton growers are located in remote areas which are inaccessible limiting cotton transportation to processing plants and market.
• Pests and diseases like boll weavils and cotton strainer bugs which destroy the quality of cotton.
• Monoculture which has led to soil exhaustion and low yields.
• Competition from other cotton producing countries like USA’s south, for market
• There is a general shortage of funds by the government of Uganda and this has limited research to produce good cotton varieties which are more valuable.

   

Tea growing in Uganda

Tea is one of the important cash crops grown in Uganda. It is grown on plantation as well as out growers.

Tea is majorly in Uganda grown in districts such as Mukono at Kasaku, Kabalore, Kyenjojo, Mubende, Bushenyi at kyamuhunga ang Igara, Kanungu, etc. tea growers are mainly foreign investors especially Asians.

The tea estates in Uganda include Kasaku in Mukono managed by Mehta group of companies, Kijura tea estate in Kabalore, Kyamuhunga tea estate, etc.

Conditions required for cotton growing.

• Tea requires deep fertile and acidic soils which is well drained and aerated for its growth.
• It requires a fairy heavy rainfall of about 1500mm per annum and well distributed and reliable.
• Tea requires a warm temperature ranging between 10⁰C to 20⁰C.
• It requires a large supply of cheap labour for planting, weeding, pruning and tea picking or plucking.
• It requires cheap transport means connecting tea growing areas to market centers.
• It needs reliable market for the processed tea leaves

  It should be noted that the above conditions exist in areas where tea is grown and a reason why tea is grown in such areas.

Other factors favouring tea growing in Uganda include.

• Availability of fair prices for tea on international markets
• Improved extension services which were provided to the tea out growers.
• The process of privatization of tea growing in Uganda which has invested more capital into tea estates.

Problems facing tea growers in Uganda

• Limited capital and skilled man power to invest into tea growing.
• Political instabilities since 1960s and the 1970s Indian expulsion which scared away investors in tea growing like Mitchel cots.
• Shortage of cheap labour required in the growing of tea, few people are willing to offer their labour since low wages are paid in the estates.
• Inefficient transport networks like in south western Uganda on Buhwenju and Kabalore. This means that the processing, transporting and marketing of tea in such areas becomes hard especially during rainy seasons.
• Monoculture has led to soil exhaustion and application of fertilizers is costly thus the production of poor quality tea leaves.
• Harsh climatic conditions like the occurrence of prolonged drought conditions which interfere with tea growth.
• Inefficient funding and corruption within the government thus tea rehabilitation programmes get stunted and research is slowed.

Sugar cane growing

Sugar cane is grown as a cash crop as well as a food crop. The most growing estates in Uganda include Lugazi or SCOUL in Mukono, Kakira sugar cane estate in Jinja and kinyara in Masindi.

Conditions required for sugar cane growing.

• Sugar cane needs at least rainfall of well over 1500mm although it can do well with the use of irrigation methods.
• It requires a low temperature of about 20⁰C.
• Sugar requires a low-lying relief with mainly alluvial soil type.
• It requires a well drained fertile soil
• Sugar growing requires cheap labour mainly for planting and harvesting.
• It requires large sums of money for the establishment of the plantation, pay labourers and buy farm implements.

Some of the problems facing sugar cane estates.

• Competition for market from imported sugar.
• Limited capital to invest in sugar cane growing.
• Fluctuation in HEP supply which affect sugar processing process.
• Shortage of cheap labour to work on the sugar estate.
• Insufficient transport network and increased transport costs due to increase in petroleum products.
• Fire out breaks especially during dry season which destroy large acres of sugar cane.
• Pests and diseases like sugar wilt which destroy the quality of sugar cane.

Tobacco growing in Uganda

Tobacco growing in Uganda was introduced in 1920s, the crop is grown in many parts of Uganda such as West Nile, Bunyoro, Kigezi, Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Masindi and Mubende.

Conditions required for Tobacco growing.

• Moderate rainfall between 750 to 1100mm per annum.
• It requires temperatures of about 18⁰C and above.
• Tobacco requires a well drained and fertile soil for its growth.
• It requires cheap supply of labour for planting, weeding and harvesting.
• It needs ready storage facilities.
• It requires ready market, capital and efficient transport network.

   

Problems facing Tobacco growers

• Prolonged drought conditions have interfered with the growth of tobacco in many parts of Uganda like in Kitgum and Mubende.
• Limited market for tobacco and this has discouraged farmers to grow more tobacco.
• Shortage of capital to invest in the growing of tobacco through setting up plantations and buying farm implements.
• Wide spread tobacco fungal disease which spoils tobacco leaves while growing there by reducing its quality.
• Labour shortage to work in the tobacco farms due to low wages.
• Monoculture which has led to soil exhaustion and reduced productivity of land.
• Inefficient transport net works to access market centers especially feeder roads become slippery during rainy seasons.
• The wide spread campaign by WHO against tobacco consumption has reduced market for tobacco.
• Political instabilities especially in the west Nile and northern Uganda at large which destroy tobacco gardens.

   

  In Uganda today there are crops which were non-traditional export crops which are grown and exported as well.

  These include banana grown mainly in central and south western Uganda, maize, beans, ground nuts, simsim, and soya beans, spice crops like vanilla, chiles, ginger, garlic, black pepper, flowers of various types, fruits such as pineapple, passion fruit, avocado, cashew nuts, vegetables like cabbage, green pepper, cow peas, okra, etc.

Vanilla growing in Uganda

This is one of the introduced crops in Uganda recently with an aim of crop diversification. It is grown in Mukono, Kasese, Bunibugyo, Mpigi, Masaka and Bushenyi.

Conditions for vanilla growing

• Plenty supply of heavy rainfall of over 1500mm per annum well distributed and reliable.
• It requires high temperature of above 25⁰C.
• It requires well drained fertile soils.
• The plants require protection from strong sunshine and strong winds
• Since it is a creeping plant, it requires other tree like plants to creep on.
• It requires a large supply of cheap labour during planting, pollination and harvesting periods.
• Like other crops, vanilla faces problems such as price fluctuations, limited capital, labour shortage especially during pollination and its too labourious during pollination.

Horticulture and Floriculture in Uganda

Horticulture/market gardening is the growing of vegetables, fruits and flowers purposely for commercial gain. In Uganda the practice is well developed in the L. Victoria shore districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi, Mukono and other districts of Mbale, Tororo, Mbarara, Kasese, Kabale and Fort Portal.

Characteristics of market gardening

• Small farms which are intensively cultivated to maximize profits.
• It is both capital and labour intensive.
• There is use of scientific methods of crop growing like sprays, fertilizer application, etc.
• Individual ownership of land.
• Farms are located near urban centers for ready market.
• The crops are sold while still fresh since they are highly perishable.

Factors which have favoured horticulture in Uganda

• Presence of improved transport and communication network of roads linking urban centers and air transport like Entebbe linking international markets of Europe.
• Availability of heavy and reliable well distributed rainfall throughout the year for crop growth.
• Presence of fertile soils which are well drained for fruit, vegetables and flower growth.
• Availability of cheap supply of labour both skilled and semi-skilled to work in the gardens.
• Presence of adequate capital to invest in the horticulture.
• Supportive government policy of liberalization of agriculture sector allowing foreign investors into market gardening especially in floriculture.

Floriculture involves the growing of flowers for commercial purpose. Today in Uganda floriculture has increased greatly on the exports of the country, majorly carried out in Wakiso, Mpigi, and Mukono.

Factors favouring floriculture in Uganda

• Presence of a cool and warm tropical climate which allows growing of various flower types mainly Rose type.
• An increased demand for flowers from Uganda by western European countries.
• Availability of cheap labour to work in the flower fields.
• Presence of cheap water supply for irrigation of flower fields.
• Improved transport and communication network especially Entebbe international airport which has played a vital role in promoting flower growing in Uganda.
• Presence of adequate financial assistance especially by foreign investors and organizations such as USAID.
• Supportive government policies of liberalization of agriculture thus encouraging foreign investors in floriculture.

Problems facing flower growers in Uganda

• Un-predictable weather conditions especially strong winds and too much rainfall.
• Inefficient transport network and yet flowers are perishable which needs to reach market immediately.
• Limited storage cold rooms for the cut flowers and this make flowers wither and a general loss.
• Competition for market with other flower producing countries such as Kenya and Zambia.
• The cost of irrigation of flower gardens is high limiting floriculture expansion.
• Shortage of labour to work in flower gardens due to little wages paid. Also farmers have limited skills in growing flowers.

General contribution of plantation farming in Uganda

Cash crop growing has got both positive and negative contribution towards the development of Uganda. These include;

• Provision of employment opportunities to Ugandans like engineers in kakira sugar processing factory, tea pluckers in Ankole tea estate, etc. this has earned farmers income and thus improved standards of living.
• Cash crops have increased on Uganda‘s exports especially coffee and horticulture products. Uganda exports maize, sugar, banana to south Sudan, flowers to Europe earning foreign exchange which has helped to set up important infrastructure like roads.
• Through exportation of cotton tea and coffee, Uganda has improved on her international relations with countries like Britain, Kenya, etc. this has helped Uganda to become politically stable.
• Plantation farming has led to development of important infrastructure like schools, health units and roads. The availability of SCOUL in lugazi led to set up of Lugazi primary school.
• The government of Uganda has earned great revenue from licenses given to plantations such as Kakira sugar estate in Jinja, Igara tea factory of Bushenyi, and taxing plantation workers. Such revenue has been used to set up schools and hospitals.
• Plantation farming has led to growth of industries in Uganda like BAT due to tobacco from west Nile, freedum/Nytil in Jinja due to cotton growing, BIDCO due to palm growing in Kalangala, etc. such industries have provided jobs to Ugandans, source of revenue, etc.

Irrigation farming in Uganda

Irrigation refers to a process of application of water to the growing of crops. It is most suitable in the areas which receive little and un-reliable rainfall.

The major irrigation schemes in Uganda include; Doho irrigation scheme, kibimba rice scheme and mubuku irrigation scheme. Otherareas where irrigation take place are Kakira, Lugazi sugar estates and in flower farms.

Reasons for irrigation farming in Uganda

• Some areas in Uganda like western rift valley areas in Kasese receive little and un-reliable rainfall and this cannot support crop growing thus a call for irrigation farming.
• The need to increase on food production to feed the increasing population mainly in drier areas of Uganda.
• In some areas of Uganda like in Kasese there is high rate of evaporation and this water loss is replaced by irrigation farming.
• Irrigation farming helps to maintain water in soil which keeps it fertile and less degraded by soil erosion.
• Some crops while growing require much water and this can be supported through irrigation means.

Doho irrigation scheme

Doho is located on R. Manafa in Tororo district eastern Uganda. The main crop grown is rice and other food crops. Also cotton is grown as a cash crop.

Benefits of Doho irrigation scheme

• It has increased on rice production and other food crops are available for consumption to the local people and this has reduced on famine.
• The scheme has availed the locals with employment opportunities as farmers, transporters of rice, etc. this has earned them incomes thus improved standards of living.
• Farmers have acquired better farming skills from the scheme and this has increased on out growers output
• The scheme has provided settlement opportunities for the local people and about 1500 local farmers are settled around the scheme.
• The scheme has provided rice for export which has earned Uganda foreign exchange used for further development.
• It has increased on government revenue through taxing the scheme farmers; the revenue has been used for setting up infrastructure like roads and health units.

The main problems facing the scheme

• There birds which destroy the growing rice
• Use of poor farming methods outside the stipulated guidelines.
• Sometime R. Manafa over floods its valley during rainy seasons resulting in destruction of rice fields.
• Bilharzia is a common disease on the scheme which attacks the local farmers.
• Competition for market with other foreign countries which produce and import rice into Uganda like Pakistan.
• Price fluctuation for rice both domestic and on international scene and this leads to losses.
• Limited capital to invest in growing of rice and carrying out irrigation.
• The canals usually silt which block water transfer system.

Kibimba rice scheme

This was started by the government of Uganda and Peoples Republic of China in 1965. It is located on river Kibimba in Bugiri eastern Uganda. The scheme is well known for rice production.

Factors which favoured the establishment of Kibimba rice scheme

• The area experiences heavy rain fall between 1300mm-1500mm per annum which favour rice growth.
• The temperature in the area is relatively high throughout the year up to 32⁰C between December to February.
• The soils are relatively fertile which support rice growth.
• The availability of an extensive swampy land and gently sloping slopes suitable for rice growing.
• Availability of cheap supply of labour from the nearby densely populated Samia region.
• Presence of ready market both domestic and foreign. Locally rice is highly demanded by the dense population in Uganda‘s districts like Kampala, Mbarara, Jinja, etc.
• Presence of adequate capital and managerial skilled labour provided by the Chinese workers and local population.
• Supportive government policy of encouraging and allowing foreign investors to invest in the agricultural sector.
• Improved transport and communication network of roads like Tororor to Jinja and railway line which help to transport rice to market centers.

Problems facing the scheme

• There is still a problem of expensive farming equipments used in irrigation and farming.
• Pests and diseases which affect the growing rice thus low quality rice
• Labour shortage due to low wages given to workers.
• Harsh climatic conditions of prolonged drought which leads to rice stunted growth.
• Low production compared to the scheme targeted levels and this makes the scheme appear less economic in terms of modern standards.
• Siltation of canals used to transport irrigation water,

Mubuku irrigation scheme

The scheme is located in Kasese district on the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. The scheme is located along Kasese-Fort portal road on R. Sebwe a tributary of R. Mubuku. It is well known to grow food crops like maize, onions, vegetables, sweet potatoes, etc.

There is also introduction of animal keeping especially the milk yielding types.

Factors which favoured the establishment of Mubuku scheme

• The presence of R. Sebwe a tributary of R. Mubuku which provides water for irrigation on the scheme.
• Supportive government policy, the scheme was set up to accommodate and train all the farmers selected in all the districts of Uganda in modern farming methods.
• The region contains fertile soils which support food crop growing.
• Presence of relatively flat land at the foothills of Mt. Rwenzori which allowed the use of machines.
• Easy access of the region since it is located along Kasese-Fort portal road thus quick transportation of crops produced to market centers.
• Availability of ready market for the produced food crops in the urban centers of Kampala, Kasese, Mbarara, Masaka, and Fort portal.
• Presence of an extensive land provided by the government of Uganda as well as capital to set up the scheme.
• Availability of cheap labour provided by the dense population of Bakonjo and Bamba in the Rwenzori Mountains.

Co-operative farming in Uganda

This involves pooling together of resurces by individual farmers in order to overcome some scarcity of such resources.

Uganda had co-operatives before their collapse due to political instabilities which included;

• Toloyang co-operative farming society in Acholi.
• West Nile master growers tobacco scheme in West Nile
• Kigezi vegetable grower’s co-operative union in Kigezi.
• East Mengo co-operative growers union in Buganda.
• Nyakatonzi co-operative society in Kasese.
• Masaka grower’s co-operative union in Masaka.
• Banyakole kweterana grower’s co-operative union in Mbarara.
• Bugishu grower’s co-operative union in Mbale.

Benefits of co-operative farming

• It gives farmers power to bargain for loans, market accessibility and putting in place the necessary farming infrastructure.
• Co-operatives train farmers in modern and scientific methods of farming which increases total yields from the farms.
• It becomes easy for farmers to purchase machinery, improved seed varieties, animal feeds, drugs and fertilizers as a group.
• Co-operatives can export their produce which increases their incomes thus high standards of living.
• Co-operative farming creates employment opportunities to their members and other local people and this improve on people’s standards of living.
• Co-operatives facilitate the carrying out of research which helps to modernize the agricultural sector.
• Co-operatives involve in the process of soil conservation and general environmental management.

Problems associated with the development of co-operative farming in Uganda

• The vagaries of weather foristance the occurrence of prolonged drought conditions and strong winds coupled with hailstorms which destroy the growing plants thus losses.
• Tropical pests and diseases like banana wilt, coffee wilt which attack and destroy crops and animals on farm.
• Price fluctuation especially for crops on international market which affect farmers planning and implementation of farming programs.
• Corruption among co-operative society officials especially in managerial positions and this drag the society down.
• Political instabilities since 1970s in Uganda which destroyed farms and loss of cattle. Eventually political chaos in Uganda by 1970s, co-operative society collapse.
• The soils in Uganda get exhausted quickly which calls for application of fertilizers which are expensive.
• Shortage of water resource for animals and irrigation especially in dry climatic regions of Kaabong and lyantonde.
• Limited capital to invest in the farming activities of co-operatives.
• Unsupportive government policies in relation to promotion of co-operative farming societies.