By Javier Silas Omagor
Agriculture stakeholders led by farmers, researchers and agro-dealers in the rich food basket of mid-eastern Uganda have embraced use of fertilizer.
In their bid to make the region the country’s ultimate food basket, the farmers and dealers are opting for the best modern farming practices.
Justine Masuba a maize farmer in Mbale district, is one of those aiming high.
“Knowledge sharing is vital in farming,” Masuba said, “that is why we are working as a team in the east.”
Through their networks, farmers are sharing as much information as possible so as to enhance the quality of their yields.
“It is another way of avoiding the exploitative middlemen who target farmers and agro-dealers.
“Since we started working as a team, most of us have realized a massive financial upwards swift as well as quality and quantity in production.”
Those groups are formed on either digital platforms such as facebook, WhatsApp or farmer/agri-association, groups most of which are inter-sub regions.
Key components of information farmers share include seed quality, soil health, fertilizers, irrigation and market analysis.
For example, the majority of the farmers visited by New Vision had embraced the idea of boosting their soil fertility through the use of both organic and artificial fertilizers.
“Frequent use of land due to population pressure coupled with climatic variations, has lessened our soil fertility,” Geofrey Mashaate a farmer from Bududa said.
“So, a farmer needs to wisely devise means of soil fertility early to be able to get good yields,” Mashaate stated.
For example, most of them have opted for the products of Norwegian fertiliser manufacturer-distributor Yara which is refocusing its efforts towards Uganda.
Yara, active on the continent since the 1990s and present in neighboring Kenya since 1985, is progressively gaining prominence among Ugandan farmers particularly in east and central regions.
“The Yara fertilizers are highly recommended by the experts because besides enhancing yielding, it helps ensure soil health,” Grace Nakakuyu an Agro dealer based in Mbale said.
“With Yara fertilizer, our farmers say their crop nutritional needs at different stages are met and their potential is realized at the end of the day.
“Pesticides from Yara have also been efficient at the farm for us and this kind of discovery is what we share with our knowledge enriching groups,” Nakakuyu said.
However, Sarah Nafuna another agro dealer who doubles as a horticulture farmer, called upon the government through the line ministry (Agriculture) to consider subsidies on fertilizers and other agro-inputs.
“For us to be able to sustain the strong demand for quality food in Uganda, the government must continue supporting farmers, especially smallholder farmers,” she said.
Senior agronomist Meshack Rotich said Yara’s new technology in manufacturing fertilizers and farm products is contributing to farmers’ empowerment and food security through a range of blended fertilizer called Microp.
According to Rotich, Microp, is rich in nutrients, affordable and responds to respective climatic challenges.
“Microp range of fertilisers is cutting down on expensive imports and tackling soil health which is critical to farmers’ productivity and food security,” Rotich said.
To enable a fully integrated farmers’ experience Rotich who doubles as the Country Commercial manager Uganda said the fertilizers by Yara are also helping to decarbonize agriculture and serve clean ammonia segments.
“I want to assure farmers, especially smallholder growers who form the majority farm-level producers, that Yara is committed to serving their need for fertiliser and other crop nutrients timely in the coming season.
“I am confident that with the improved fertiliser subsidy digital platform by the government, supplies will be speeded up,” Rotich said before stressing that they were “starting to collaborate with the government for the good of agriculture in Uganda.”
Rotich was speaking on the sidelines of the mid-east Yara stakeholders meeting that took place in Mbale recently.
During the meeting, the best performing farmers and agro-dealers were gifted with brand new motorcycles to ease farm-related mobility.
The region majors its farming in maize, Irish potatoes, serials, wheat, matooke, sorghum, cassava, sweet potatoes and groundnuts among others.
