Uganda’s rich landscapes and fertile soils make it an agricultural haven. However, despite its vast potential, many farmers struggle to produce high-quality crops in sufficient quantities.
The statistics are stark: low yields, poor-quality produce, and declining incomes have become the norm for many smallholder farmers. But what is behind this trend? Is it a lack of skills, inadequate resources, or something more systemic?
Misuse of fertilisers
Christopher Sunday, an agricultural expert, points out that while fertilisers are commonly used to boost yields, incorrect application can lead to crop damage.
He shares an example of a farmer who planted an acre of coffee but lost a quarter of it due to improper fertilizer use.
“Some crops germinate while others do not. One farmer admitted that workers placed the fertilizer too close to the plants, causing scorching,” he explains.
Sunday emphasizes that proper supervision and adherence to recommended application techniques are critical in ensuring fertilizer effectiveness.
Poor farm supervision
Sunday also highlights the importance of active supervision in farming.
Many farmers who engage in mass production fail to monitor their employees and farm managers, resulting in poor yields. Proper supervision ensures that essential tasks, such as watering, pest control, and disease management, are done correctly and on time.
Animal care and milking practices
In livestock farming, neglecting proper animal care affects productivity.
Sunday notes that dairy farmers often mistreat their animals before milking, leading to lower milk yields. Some farmworkers even dilute milk with water to meet daily targets, reducing its quality.
“Milk is cash that runs the farm. Farmers must wake up early and be present during milking to ensure quality is not compromised,” he advises.
Similarly, improper chemical application in pest control can degrade fruit and animal skin quality, affecting market value.
Research
According to research conducted by the Economic Policy Review Commission (EPRC), nearly three-quarters of Ugandans depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, with small-scale farmers dominating the sector.
Agriculture contributes 25% of Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Yet, many smallholder farmers still live below the poverty line.
A study by the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) highlights that most farmers struggle to meet their household food needs, limiting their ability to engage in markets for additional income. Market participation can significantly improve food security, household welfare, and nutritional status.
Despite various government initiatives aimed at boosting agricultural production, the sector continues to stagnate. Studies show it operates at less than 40% of its potential for key staple crops. Climate change is exacerbating these challenges, with crop failures becoming more frequent.
While modern agricultural inputs like fertilizers, improved seeds, and irrigation have the potential to boost yields, adoption rates remain low. The agricultural sector’s productivity is further hindered by poor storage facilities.
A 2017 EPRC report revealed that Uganda’s agriculture has stagnated for three decades, with sector growth averaging just 1.9% annually from 2007 to 2017. This stagnation is most evident among smallholder farmers, who face numerous hurdles, including limited access to technology, poor-quality seeds, high input costs, fake agro-inputs, and reliance on rain-fed agriculture.
The presence of counterfeit agro-inputs, such as substandard fertilizers and seeds, severely undermines productivity.
The EPRC report notes that hybrid maize seeds on the Ugandan market often contain less than 50% authentic seeds, while fertilizers may lack essential nutrients. These issues prevent farmers from improving yields and further compound their challenges.
Climate change has disrupted weather patterns, making it increasingly difficult for farmers to predict planting seasons. Prolonged droughts and flash floods have become more common, causing crop failures.
Many farmers are shifting to drought-resistant crops or reducing plot sizes to mitigate risks, but this results in lower yields. On average, smallholder households in Uganda cultivate just 0.97 hectares of land, limiting their capacity to produce enough for both consumption and sale.
To address these challenges, the body recommends that Uganda must focus on improving crop productivity, which will encourage market participation and enhance food and nutrition security. Key recommendations include:
Research and Development: The government should prioritize the development of crop varieties that grow faster and are resistant to climate shocks, allowing farmers to produce crops year-round.
Agroforestry and Climate Adaptation: Extension programs should promote agroforestry, which improves soil fertility, enhances resilience to climate change, and boosts agricultural productivity.
Financial Support and Infrastructure Investment: Providing financial schemes to help farmers access credit for inputs, coupled with infrastructure investments in roads, storage, and processing facilities, would significantly improve smallholder productivity.
Regulation of Agro-Inputs: Stricter regulations on the agro-input market are essential to protect farmers from counterfeit fertilizers and seeds, ensuring they can adopt technologies that boost productivity.
