Ugandan farmers are losing money due to continued reliance on hand planting instead of mechanised planting, according to seasoned politician and NRM Director for Information and Publicity, Emmanuel Lumala Dombo.
“Before I became a politician, my parents taught us how to dig. We produced food, but not for sale; our only cash crop was cotton, which we used to pay school fees. The food we grew was for consumption. But now, I sell maize, chicken, milk, and pumpkins—whatever comes my way. If there is money to be made, I will produce and sell,” Dombo remarked.
His comments come as Uganda intensifies efforts to promote agricultural mechanisation, value addition, and innovation.
His views also aligned with those of Agriculture Minister Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, who, while attending the 9th edition of the Harvest Money Expo, urged suppliers to categorise their products based on different farming scales.
“My appeal to suppliers in the agricultural value chain is to size their products according to farming categories. While 90-horsepower tractors are good, we would also like to see 40-horsepower models to suit small- and medium-scale farmers,” Tumwebaze said.
Despite the clear need for mechanisation, many farmers still struggle to afford modern agricultural equipment. However, financial institutions such as Opportunity Bank, in partnership with MASCO—dealers of John Deere tractors—are offering solutions.
Edith Batuuka, Agriculture Finance Supervisor at Opportunity Bank, explained that these partnerships aim to provide financial assistance to farmers embracing mechanisation.
“We understand that many farmers cannot afford these machines outright. Through our partnerships, we offer financial support tailored to their needs,” she said.
Batuuka further noted that the partnership provides subsidised interest rates and favourable borrowing terms.
“We have three financing options, but we have embraced one under the Government of Uganda’s Agriculture Credit Facility through the Bank of Uganda, allowing farmers to access production loans at 12% interest.”
Under this scheme, mechanisation is considered part of production, with farmers contributing 30% of the cost, and loan repayment structured around their cash flow.
Currently, the demand for tractors is high.
“If late land preparation or late planting has been a challenge due to lack of machinery, we provide an opportunity for farmers to familiarise themselves with the equipment. John Deere sets the prices, and Opportunity Bank facilitates financing,” Batuuka added
With technological advancements, agricultural mechanisation is becoming increasingly sophisticated, aiming to enhance efficiency, maximise yields, and reduce operational costs.
Med Mwiri, Marketing Manager at ENSOL Engineering, highlighted the importance of climate-smart agriculture, stating, “Farmers are now questioning whether they need to plough repeatedly, which breaks the soil structure and reduces fertility. Instead, they are adopting no-till planters, which preserve moisture, protect the soil, and ensure sustainable yields.”
While attending the expo, Dombo expressed interest in purchasing machinery to improve his farming operations, particularly in planting.
“Right now, I am looking for a machine planter. Many Ugandans are losing money because they still use hand planting. The planting specifications are often incorrect, and many farmers use excessive seed per hole, despite the high cost of seeds. Once we streamline planting and post-harvest handling, the rest will fall into place,” he concluded.
