By John Masaba
At least 50% of Uganda’s land is degraded and unfit for crop cultivation.
Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, the state minister of agriculture, said this is worrying because of the country’s growing population.
He said farmers’ yields are currently far below potential, with Rakai, Kayunga, Iganga, Bugiri, Tororo and Kumi having negative nutrient balances.
A nutrient deficit (negative value) indicates declining soil fertility, meaning such soils are incapable of raising proper crop and forage.
Kyakulaga said the notorious Striga weed (Kayongo) has invaded the affected districts, threatening food security in the process.
The minister said although Uganda’s maize yield per hectare is supposed to be six metric tonnes, production has dropped to as low as 0.2 metric tonnes.
As a result, he said, the country is facing varying levels of food insecurity, with Karamoja being the worst hit.
Mary Rwakaikara, a soil scientist, said the problem is exacerbated by poor farming practices that have exposed Uganda’s soils to excessive compaction, acidification and salinisation, as well as high levels of erosion.
This has caused some parts of country soil to be washed away by water bodies such as the Nile.
“We are losing soil to other countries, yet it takes over 200 years to form a granule of it. It is time for affirmative action to save our soil,” she said.
Kyakulaga said the Government is committed to reversing the trend to achieve sustainable agricultural production.
He said the Government had attracted many investments in fertilizer manufacturing and blending such as Guangzhou Dongsong Energy Group at Sukuru in Tororo and Grain Pulse at Rwanyonyi in Mukono district.
“I appeal to all farmers and users of soil to take advantage of the enabling environment established by the Government to manage and utilise our soils for posterity,” he said, adding: “My ministry has also recruited more staff to handle soil and water conservation and generally, agricultural extension… Plans are underway to scale up water conservation and fertility management.”
He said plans are also underway to set up Uganda’s Soil Institute, which will undertake research to help preserve the country’s soils. The institute will be located at Busitema University in Tororo district.
He was addressing journalists at Uganda Media Centre as Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate World Soil Day.
The main event for this year’s celebrations will be held at Nagongera campus of Busitema University.
The minister said field fertilizer demonstrations on maize and sorghum, plus soil have been prepared for the event. This year’s event will be organised in conjunction with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) under the theme: Soils: Where food begins.
Global data
It is estimated that over 33% of the soils are degraded globally. Consequently, over 820 million people are food insecure and two billion of the world’s eight billion are affected by malnutrition.
