By Joshua Kato
The 2019 best farmers afternoon trip to Randwijk, last month was as exciting as most of the other visits. The farmers toured Netherlands between June 3rd and June 10th. The journey, from Medemblik took them over several bridges, through lush potato gardens, poultry houses and dairy farms. Their destination was Wangenegen Apple and Pears research centre. Apples and pears are sold on the streets and supermarkets in Uganda, but production remains low.
The farmers on this trip included Phenton Tumwesigye, Christine Kiwanuka, Gideon Akol, Grace Ngamita, Joseph Male and Rebecca Ssenkubuge Azza. The research facility is part of Wangenegen University. And they were not disappointed.
The centre sits on over 10 acres, most of which are covered by apple and pear trees, Herman De Vree, one of the researchers told the farmers. The visiting farmers however put more emphasis on apples.
Although the Netherlands are ranked 40th among the leading producers of apples in the world, the technology invested in this research carried many lessons for Ugandan farmers. The research centre focuses on issues that have hindered apple and pear production in the country.
“We look at better breeds and water resilience. We examine the various pests and diseases and research on improving productivity,” Herman De Vree told the farmers.
According to the Netherlands government statistics, the country produced about 250,000 tonnes of apples in 2022. The leading varieties include Elster, which is also produced in Uganda, golden dorcet, Jona gold etc. These varieties are also grown in Uganda.
De Vree told the best farmers that the apple and pears sector is highly mechanised, from farm preparation, weeding, pruning and harvesting. Even at the centre, most of the trees were pruned by machines. “However, even if you do not have these machines, think about the right seedlings, give the trees enough water, prune them to keep off pests,” Herman De Vree told the farmers.
Phenton Tumwesigye, one of the best farmers, who grows apples says he picked vital lessons from Wageningen. “I have learnt the importance of using organic fertilisers and when to apply them, timely pruning and seedlings selection,” he said. Tumwesigye grows his apples in Kabale, South West, Uganda.
Apples in Uganda
On the streets and supermarkets in Uganda, apples are now commonly sold at an average price of sh1,000 each. “Consumption is gradually increasing. Initially people thought that this was a ‘rich man’s’ fruit, but now more are buying it,” says Marble Namwanje who operates at the Wandegeya junction, Kampala. However, according to the sellers, all the apples are imported.
“They come from South Africa and North African countries including Egypt, Algeria and Morocco,” says Musa Kizito, who imports the apples, to his store in Kikuubo. He explains that this has made the fruits a bit expensive. According to the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics, Uganda imports apples worthy sh10bn per year.
According to the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), apple growing is taking root in the Elgon Mountain ranges, in eastern Uganda. The cash crop introduced to a handful of farmers in the area nine years ago, currently boasts of more than 300 farmers. But even then, actual apple production in Uganda is not clear, but Uganda does not even feature on the list of top 100 apple producers in the world.
Apples are predominantly high-altitude belt of with ridges standing at 1,200 metres above sea level that has a cool environment. This is why in Uganda they are grown in Kabale/Kisoro/Rukungiri and areas around Elgon.
Concerted efforts are being made by the government through ministry of agriculture that are intended to save the country from losing colossal sums of foreign exchange that could have been allotted to more meaningful activities, according to Grace Kazigati the in-charge Apple Value Chain Development Project, promoting commercial production of the fruits at NAADS
“Approximately, foreign exchange worth sh14b is spent
annually by traders in Uganda to import apple fruits from Egypt and
South Africa,” observes Kazigati.
She further observes that introduction of the fruit in areas of the country has been part of the import substitution strategy, but most importantly a poverty alleviation policy aimed at improving household incomes among the community.
The districts in the Elgon Mountain ranges hosting farmers orchards include Mbale Manafwa, Sironko, Bulambuli, Bududa, and Namisindwa. Others include Kapchorwa, Kween and Bukwo. According to Dr Sarah Mutonyi (researcher) National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), two varieties of the fruit namely Golden Dorset and Ann have responded well in this part of the countryside.
“The essence in the farmer/ species expert fellowship is in the first place, enable them appreciate the new cash crop but most importantly adopt the necessary agronomical attention it demands,” she observes.
A cross-section of the farmers that spoke to the New Vision had mixed reactions.
David Wagamali (45) Budwale, Wanale Mbale district who has since rolled out his orchard on an acre land with 250 trees says; “In the beginning, the farmers that had interested themselves in the project were all but ignorant about what should be done. We heavily relied on fellow farmers that had taken up the enterprise before us, whose knowledge about the crop too was too scanty save for the basics.
Wamagali says in the past majority of them would toy around with the ideal pesticide in the event of disease outbreak.
Planting
-The spacing is usually 4 metres from one hole to another
-The hole is usually 2 feet in depth
-An acre takes about 250-300 trees
– Because the seedlings are grafted, farmers ought to be keen not to bury the spot where the seeding was grafted under the soil for it could become the source of diseases to the plant.
-The farmer is advised to mix the soil used in covering the shoot of seedling in the hole with organic manure. Manure is key in helping the trees develop
-The formative stage of the seedling, irrigation is quite crucial, 2-3litres of water per day
-Pruning every after harvest is important because it helps the trees develop new branches for fruiting.
