By George Bita
Most farmers in Busoga sub-region are embracing natural ways of adding fertility to soils on their farmlands.
Charles Wambuzi, a farmer at Buluuya village, Nansololo sub-county in Kaliro district explained that he uses cow dung and urine to improve fertility of soils on his 20-acre farmland.
“I keep the dung and urine in compost pits for a designated period of time to allow for decomposition to set free nutrients. Then I apply the natural fertiliser or manure to my crops with wonderful results,” Wambuzi testified to New Vision on Friday.
Fred Kyera, a commercial farmer at Nawandala trading centre in Iganga district said he gets wastes from his piggery section for use in making natural manure on his 30acre farm.
“The advantage with natural fertilisers is that they are cheap to use. If I do not have enough, I buy from nearby farmers whereby a one-ton truck full of cow dung costs sh30, 000,” Kyera revealed.
According to Kyera, artificial fertilisers needed to offer a similar impact would go for an estimated sh1m per planting season.
He says even leftover hay from the cows’ shelter is added to the compost heap that is then spread out by farm workers in the gardens.
“For matooke, the manure is usually put in the hole dug to plant the suckers. This ensures that the growing plant has ample supply of much-needed nutrients,” he said.
Dauson Musasizi, a farmer at Bubago village, Namutumba district shared a similar view saying mulching and use of local compost effectively boosts crop yields.
“This works so well for me in the banana gardens. It also ensures the farm products are not polluted with artificial chemicals,” he said.
Salim Nabongho, a farmer at Busoowa village, Bugiri district observed that use of chemical fertilisers especially in swampy areas contaminates water sources used by humans.
“It is the reason why of late I stick to natural fertilisers. Our lives are far more important than the income from farm yields,” Nabongho said.
He disclosed that farmer trainings and seminars he attended of recent have been instrumental in giving him vital tips on preparing manure locally at the farm.
“The making of compost manure also helps clean up the farm of dung that would appear unsightly. It is an efficient method of natural recycling of nutrients from farmland through the animals and then taken back,” he noted.
Apollo Musita, the Namutumba district agriculture officer thanked farmers for embracing natural fertilisers saying some unscrupulous individuals were selling fake products that instead pollute the environment.
Sam Cheptoris, the water and environment minister appreciated the use of natural fertilisers saying the move prevents the pollution of surroundings with harmful chemicals found in artificial fertilisers. “Whenever it rains after applying such fertilisers purchased from shops, the runoff gets into water bodies. This means the deadly chemicals some of which are non-biodegradable or cannot be broken down go on to affect other living things including man,” Cheptoris warned.
