One of Uganda’s biggest import from Tanzania are onions. There is a big market for onions at the moment. Tanzania is the leading producer of onions in the region, because it also supplies Kenya.
And yet onions can be grown in a wide range of climatic conditions; they are quite hardy and can tolerate temperatures as low as -6 0 c.
However, good bulb formation requires temperatures from 15.5 0 c, with an optimum temperature of 21 0 c- 27 0 c.
In Uganda, most of the large scale onions are grown in Sebei region (five-10 acres), which comprises Kapchorwa, Bukwo and Kween districts, as well as in Bulambuli, Sironko, Mbale, and south-west areas around Kabale, Kisoro, Kanungu, Rukungiri, Kasese, Rubirizi and Kabarole.
Low level production (one-three acres) of onions is carried out in Mubende, Mityana, Luwero, Hoima, Masindi and Kamuli districts.
The money
An acre requires two kilogrammes of seeds, which cost around sh1.6m-sh1.8m to set up.
The cost of labour and other farm inputs stands at around sh5m per season, making the cost of production around sh7m.
The cost per acre includes sh1.8m used to buy seeds, sh1.5m for clearing and ploughing the land, sh2m for labour to transplant and general maintenance of the seedlings from the nursery to the main farm, as well as sh1.5m on fertilizers like lime.
With a moderate 13 tonnes harvested at a moderate sh2,000 per kilogramme, the farm earns sh26m. There are two seasons per year and if the farmer uses irrigation, he can even have three seasons.
Soil requirements
- According to Joseph Gombya, onions do best in well-drained soils that are at least 650mm deep, shallow soil may be utilised, but with proper adoptions in management practices. Examples of good management include proper transplanting, spacing, irrigation, etc.
- Ensuring a PH range of 6.02 – 6.8. Lower PH levels can result in problems in regard to fertilizer uptake since you have to put in too much to effectively fertilize the soils.
To tell the PH, you must take soil samples for testing to a recognized soil testing lab, such as Kawanda, Kabanyoro or any agriculture research centre that is certified to carry out soil testing.
A single test sample costs sh30,000. This can be done before every planting season.
Seedbed preparation
- On well-drained soil, prepare a fine and even seedbed.
- If you can afford, it is advisable to use seedling trays to ensure that little or no seed is lost during this process.
Seedling trays can be bought from agri-input stores from sh5,000 for every 50 seedlings. The tray can be used several times.
- Alternatively, commercial plant raisers can help farmers raise healthy seedlings for use. Each seedling will cost sh1,000.
If the soil pH is less than six or the available calcium is less than 2,300kg per hectare, apply and incorporate agricultural lime at the rate of 2,500kg per hectare at eight-12 weeks prior to planting.
The total is around 50 bags of 50kg each. Each 50kg bag of lime costs sh30,000, which means the farmer spends around sh1.5m on the lime.
Lime requires at least two weeks to react with acid in the soil to raise the Ph. Lime is applied once before planting.
