Uganda to produce bio-fertilisers
UGANDA is to increase agricultural productivity following support from Korea to construct a factory to make organic fertilisers.
By John Kasozi
UGANDA is to increase agricultural productivity following support from Korea to construct a factory to make organic fertilisers.
The agriculture minister, Hope Mwesigye, said organic fertilisers are cheaper than synthetic ones.
She said the new factory is likely to increase application of fertilisers, currently estimated at only 1%.
The minister was addressing participants from nine African countries during the opening of the three-day agro-dealer workshop at Speke Resort, Munyonyo on Monday.
“Uganda has been zoned into areas that will produce organic and inorganic products. Organic products have a niche market in Europe and other countries,†Mwesigye said.
She noted that large fertiliser deposits in Uganda are untapped. “This is coupled with the limited number of extension staff and agro-dealers in the country.â€
Mwesigye said Uganda has 48% of the arable land in East Africa and 75% of its land is fertile and receives good rainfall.
However, small-holder farmers lack adequate and quality seeds. This, Mwesigye said, had forced farmers to reuse seeds from previous harvests.
She said 12% of Uganda’s GDP is lost through soil erosion. “Land degradation is a major loss of soil fertility.â€
The minister noted that only 6% of the farmers rely on certified seeds, keeping yields at less than 40% of their potential.
She added that poor farm storage leads to post-harvest crop losses of up to 30%.
Mwesigye said challenges to the agriculture sector include limited credit support for agro-dealers and farmers, poor infrastructure, costly farm inputs and weak agro-dealer networks.
According to the Maputo Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security signed in 2003, countries should allocate 10% of national budgets to agriculture.
Mwesigye said the agriculture budget had been raised by 12% in the 2010/2011 financial year.
“It is going to help us develop different strategies like seed standards and seed policy reviewing,†she said.
Fred Muhhuku, an AGRA official, said 15 students are undertaking PhD and seven offering masters degrees in plant breeding.
AGRA is an organisation that works with governments, research organisations, farmers, the private sector, civil society and other rural stakeholders to improve the productivity and incomes of poor farmers in Africa.
UGANDA is to increase agricultural productivity following support from Korea to construct a factory to make organic fertilisers.
The agriculture minister, Hope Mwesigye, said organic fertilisers are cheaper than synthetic ones.
She said the new factory is likely to increase application of fertilisers, currently estimated at only 1%.
The minister was addressing participants from nine African countries during the opening of the three-day agro-dealer workshop at Speke Resort, Munyonyo on Monday.
“Uganda has been zoned into areas that will produce organic and inorganic products. Organic products have a niche market in Europe and other countries,†Mwesigye said.
She noted that large fertiliser deposits in Uganda are untapped. “This is coupled with the limited number of extension staff and agro-dealers in the country.â€
Mwesigye said Uganda has 48% of the arable land in East Africa and 75% of its land is fertile and receives good rainfall.
However, small-holder farmers lack adequate and quality seeds. This, Mwesigye said, had forced farmers to reuse seeds from previous harvests.
She said 12% of Uganda’s GDP is lost through soil erosion. “Land degradation is a major loss of soil fertility.â€
The minister noted that only 6% of the farmers rely on certified seeds, keeping yields at less than 40% of their potential.
She added that poor farm storage leads to post-harvest crop losses of up to 30%.
Mwesigye said challenges to the agriculture sector include limited credit support for agro-dealers and farmers, poor infrastructure, costly farm inputs and weak agro-dealer networks.
According to the Maputo Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security signed in 2003, countries should allocate 10% of national budgets to agriculture.
Mwesigye said the agriculture budget had been raised by 12% in the 2010/2011 financial year.
“It is going to help us develop different strategies like seed standards and seed policy reviewing,†she said.
Fred Muhhuku, an AGRA official, said 15 students are undertaking PhD and seven offering masters degrees in plant breeding.
AGRA is an organisation that works with governments, research organisations, farmers, the private sector, civil society and other rural stakeholders to improve the productivity and incomes of poor farmers in Africa.