The East Africa Agribusiness magazine - Issue 14

2015:

FARM GUIDE

Prospects of agriculture trends in Uganda Issue 14, January - February, 2015

Make A Living With Piggery

Have you ever grown potatoes in your garden?

Price Ushs 5000, Kshs 200, RwF 1500, SDP 8

Commercialization of cassava will increase production

www. ea-agribusiness. co. ug

2015

declared International Year of Soils The move aims at raising awareness and promoting more sustainable use of this critical resource

9 770230 601681

Uganda gets potato processor

Issue 14, January - February, 2015

www. ea-agribusiness. co. ug

SOILS

Chief Executive Officer: Godrick Dambyo godrickdambo@gmail.com Managing Director: Peter Mugeni Wanyama mugeni2010@gmail.com Editorial Coordinator: Kasibin Francis Mutaka

04 | 2015: International Year of Soils 06 | Integrated soil fertility management AGRO-PROCESSING 15 | Uganda gets potato processor

Writers Kevin Hauser, Kasibin Francis Mutaka, Martin Mangusho, Andrew Ainomugisha, Alex Ariho, Dr Agnes Kalibata, Dr Amit Roy Sales & Advertising: Luke Kasolo, Bellah Ruth Nankanja, Kasibin Francis Mutaka Administration: Linda Namulira Design/layout: Slick Republic Limited slickrep256@gmail.com Published by: The East Africa Agribusiness Magazine Ltd P. O. Box 33752, Kampala-Uganda Tel: +256 (0)414 223 471 / +256 (0)200 902 012 Fax: +256 (0) 414 223 475 Email: info@ea-agribusiness. co. ug Website: www. ea-agribusiness. co. ug Rwanda: Agri Publications Limited P. O. Box 2227, Kigali, Rwanda Tel: +250 (0) 787 397 015 Email: info@ea-agribusiness. co. ug

ANALYSIS 17| Prospects of Uganda Agricultural trends in 2015

URBAN farminG 22 | You can save on vegetables yet earn an income

OPINION 31 | The fertile roots of Rwanda’s green revolution

MECHANISATION 20| Mechanisation: The agricultural game changer

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor, or any other organisation associated with this publication. No liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omissions. Š2014 The East Africa Agribusiness Magazine Ltd The East Africa Agribusiness Magazine is registered at the GPO as a newspaper.

1 January - February, 2015

Uganda to Increase Aquaculture Production

E

dward Rukunja, the assistant commissioner for fisheries in the agriculture ministry, stated that Uganda needs to increase its aquaculture production as fish stocks dwindle, whilst opening the 8th Aquaculture Symposium hosted by the Walimi Fish Farmers Cooperative Society (WAFICOS).

“It is not a challenge for only Uganda, it is worldwide. However, to avert this situation, we can engage in modern fish farming practices and value addition,” Mr. Rukunja said.

Currently, Uganda produces about 90 metric tons of fish from aquaculture with an additional 450 metric tons of wild catch fish, the country produces about 530 metric tons of fish annually.

Of this, about 200 metric tons are exported to regional and European markets, bringing in about US$132 million (Ushs372b) forex annually.

“But we can’t keep depending on wild catch. Currently, there is over fishing.

Although Government has tried to regulate the sector by introducing Vessel Identi-

fication Plates to manage the number of fishermen on these water bodies, we need to scale up modern fish farming,” said Paul Omanyi, the principal fisheries officer in the agriculture ministry.

“We need to restock all valley dams and minor water bodies, subsidise on feeds for farmers as well as operationalise aqua parks that have already been set up country wide,” he said.

Kenya looks to India for farm mechanisation

K

enya is planning to mechanise its agriculture and looking to India for farm equipment that will bring down production costs.

The East African community is also bringing in policy changes to transform the sector from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

“We are looking at India for mechanisation support. Currently, we have around 15,000 tractors but there is a severe deficit. The requirement is for 100,000

2 January - February, 2015

tractors,” Felix Koskei, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for agriculture, livestock and fisheries, he said in an interview. “After having discussions with the manufacturers, we will start talks with the Indian government. We have already spoken to Indian companies like Sonalika Tractors, Apollo and many others,” added Koskei. He noted in this context that Kenya had secured an US$80 million line of credit from Brazil to buy 2,000 pieces of farm equipment.

Koskei said his country was making “key policy changes to bring down the cost of

production”, which was very high because of high cost of inputs like fertiliser, seeds and mechanisation.

“We want to bring it down by 50 percent,” he said, adding: “We will be looking at subsidies for inputs like fertiliser and seeds.” Agriculture contributes 25 percent of Kenya’s GDP and it involves around 80 percent of the country’s population.

Kenya produces maize, wheat, rice and a variety of pulses.

Notice Board

February 10-11, 2015

March 9, 2015

Good Food & Good Farming

Global Climate-Smart Agriculture Summit

Conference & Civil society gathering on GOOD FOOD and GOOD FARMING: “Renewing civil society’s agenda towards sustainable food and agriculture” The event will be held in Brussels, hosted by the European Economic ``& Social Committee (EESC).

The inaugural Global CSA Summit will be launched under the theme “Promoting sustainability & agricultural resilience”.

April 22, 2015

Master class Dutch cooperative sector Tanzanian parliamentary standing committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Water is visiting the Netherlands.

Location: Agriterra, Arnhem, The Netherlands

April 23, 2015

3-5 June 2015

EFTA Mwanza Machine International Flower Suppliers Exhibition Trade Expo

The goal is to promote business and agriculture growth by using machinery as well as giving entrepreneurs and farmers a chance to explore the opportunities for equipment finance.

Location: Furahisha Grounds – Mwanza

International Flower Trade Expo is a unique exhibition dedicated to the flower sector. Held at the city of Nairobi in Kenya this international event on flowers welcomes flower growers and equipment suppliers for flower growers to present before an international clientele

February 27-28, 2015 12th International Trade Show on Agriculture & Farming, Poultry & Veterinary 2015 You have the chance to uncover most up-to-date advancements in Agriculture, Horticulture, Farming, Poultry and Veterinary at this essential Trade Show, Fair and Exhibition.

Location: Diamond Jubilee Halls, kenya

Check us on-line:

http://www. ea-agribusiness. co. ug

October 12-23, 2015

Course Agriculture nutrition linkages Despite the world-wide increase of food availability, there are still around one billion people undernourished. This is far above of the target of MDG 1.

Organized by Centre for Development Innovation,

http://www. facebook. com/ea-agribusiness 3 January - February, 2015

Soils

2015: International Year of Soils Healthy soils are the foundation for food, fuel, fibre and even medicine said the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as they kicked off 2015 the International Year of Soils on the first-ever World Soil Day. Soils are also essential to our ecosystems, playing a key role in the carbon cycle, storing and filtering water, and improving resilience to floods and droughts, and yet we are not paying enough attention to this important “silent ally,” the UN agency explained.

T

he International Year of Soils kicks off in January with events in Rome, New York and Santiago de Chile, in an effort to raise awareness and promote more sustainable use of this critical

4 January - February, 2015

resource. Soil is also the largest pool of organic carbon, which is essential for mitigating and adapting to climate change. In an era of water scarcity, soils are fundamental for its appropriate storage and distribution.

“Today, we have more than 805 million

people facing hunger and malnutrition.

Population growth will require an approximately increase of 60 per cent in food production,” FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva warned.

“Unfortunately, 33 per cent of our global

Soils

HEALTHY SOILS ARE THE BASIS FOR

HEALTHY FOOD PRODUCTION Soils supply oxygen

water

essential nutrients

root support

that our food producing plants need to grow and flourish

THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING HEALTHY LIVING SOILS Soils serve as a buffer to protect delicate plant roots from drastic fluctuations in temperature.

Soils maintain a diverse community of organisms that: help control insect & weed pests and plant disease

Healthy soil contributes to mitigating climate change by maintaining or increasing its carbon content

form beneficial symbiotic associations with plant roots recycle essential plant nutrients improve soil structure

it is the foundation of food systems and the medium in which nearly all food-producing plants grow

SOILS, FOOD SECURITY & NUTRITION

95%

of our food

is directly or indirectly

produced on our soils In the past

In many countries,

50 years

intensive crop production has depleted the soil,

advances in agriculture technology has led to increased food production, but sometimes with negative impacts

on soils and the environment

jeopardizing our ability to maintain production in these areas in the future

It can take up to

1000 years

to form 1 cm of soil

Soil health and its fertility

have a direct influence on the

nutrient content of food crops

SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

diverse farming approaches promote the sustainable management of soils Agroecology is a systems approach based on a variety of technologies, practices and innovations, including local and traditional knowledge and modern science

Organic farming is agricultural production without the use of synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms, growth regulators , and livestock feed additives

Agroforestry includes both traditional and modern land-use systems where trees are managed together with crops and/or animal production systems in agricultural settings

Conservation agriculture follows three principles (minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop rotations) to improve soil conditions, reduce land degradation and boost yields

Zero tillage is a technique used in conservation agriculture to maintain a permanent or semi-permanent organic soil cover that protects the soil allowing soil microorganisms and fauna to take on the task of “tilling” and soil nutrient balancing

fao.org/soils-2015

Sustainable soil management could produce up to more food

58%

soil resources are under degradation and human pressures on soils are reaching critical limits, reducing and sometimes eliminating essential soil functions,” he added. The UN General Assembly declared 5 December World Soil Day in December 2013. The Day and Year kicks off today with events in Rome, New York and Santiago de Chile, in an effort to raise awareness and promote more sustainable use of this critical resource.

“I invite all of us to take an active role in promoting the cause of soils during 2015 as it is an important year for paving the road towards a real sustainable development for all and by all,” Mr. Graziano da Silva said.

FAO estimates that a third of all soils are degraded, due to erosion, compaction, soil sealing, salinization, soil organic matter and nutrient depletion, acidification, pollution and other processes caused by unsustainable land management practices.

Unless new approaches are adopted, the global amount of arable and productive land per person will in 2050 be only onefourth of the level in 1960.

It can take up to 1,000 years to form one centimeter of soil, and with 33 per cent of all global soil resources degraded and human pressures increasing, critical limits are being reached that make stewardship an urgent matter, Mr. Graziano da Silva said.

Calling soils a “nearly forgotten resource,” he urged investment in sustainable soil management, saying that would be cheaper than restoration and “is needed for the achievement of food security and nutrition, climate change adaptation and mitigation and overall sustainable development.”

Echoing that call, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that without healthy soils, “life on Earth would be unsustainable.” Indeed, soils are the foundation of agriculture. They provide vital ecosystem services and the basis for food, feed, fuel, fibre and medical products important for human well-being.

“Soil is also the largest pool of organic carbon, which is essential for mitigating and adapting to climate change. In an era of water scarcity, soils are fundamental for its appropriate storage and distribution,” said Mr. Ban, urging all States to pledge to do more to protect this important yet forgot-

5 January - February, 2015

Soils

Integrated soil fertility management A sure way of improving on farm productivity in Eastern and Central Africa

By Andrew Ainomugisha (PhD) & Alex Ariho

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva

ten resource. “A healthy life is not possible without healthy soils,” he declared.

According to FAO, at least a quarter of the world’s biodiversity lives underground, where, for example, the earthworm is a giant alongside tiny organisms such as bacteria and fungi. Such organisms, including plant roots, act as the primary agents driving nutrient cycling and help plants by improving nutrient intake, in turn supporting above-ground biodiversity as well.

Better management can assure that those usually unnoticed organisms boost soil’s ability to absorb carbon and mitigate desertification, so that even more carbon can be sequestered – helping offset agriculture’s own emissions of greenhouse gases.

Marking the Year, FAO has implemented more than 120 soil-related projects around the world and produced together with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Soil Map. Among the most urgent priorities is to update, standardize and render accessible the world’s knowledge of soil types and distribution.

Currently, data on soils is very often outdated, limited in coverage, and fragmented in nature. One of FAO’s priorities is to establish a global soil information system that could assist with reliable data decisionmaking regarding soil management.

6 January - February, 2015

Nature is taking a toll on human survival especially in Eastern and Central African countries where the majority of their inhabitants depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Land degradation and soil fertility depletion are the main biophysical constraints to agricultural productivity. This, in part, is attributed to continuous cropping, inadequate soil replenishment, high rates of soil erosion but most importantly limited investment in soil improving technologies. This comes at a cost. According to FAOs Global Land Degradation Assessment of 2006, Nutrient (N, P and K) balances for 13 countries of Sub Saharan Africa showed that over 200 million hectares of cropland had lost 600 Kg N ha-1, 75 kg P ha-1 and 450 kg K ha-1 over the last 30 years. Consequently, on farm crop yields among smallholders is poor leading not only to food insecurity but also to reduced incomes.

T

his comes at a time when African governments have committed themselves to improve agricultural performance under Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Program (CAADP) that came into effect in 2006 after the Maputo Declaration. This renewed hope mandates all member countries to commit a minimum of 06% of their annual budgets to agriculture.

Excel Hort Consult Ltd, a private sector agribusiness and development company recorganises the importance of improving soil fertility in fulfilling its mandate. In partnership with other six like-minded organization is implementing a cross-border program that seeks to improve soil fertility among small holder farmers for improved livelihoods. The program uses participatory gender responsive and market oriented approaches in its implementation. In Uganda, the program is implemented in Mbale, Bukedea and Tororo districts in Eastern Uganda as well as in Kabale district in South western Uganda.

In more specific terms, this program seeks to: a)

promote gender responsive Integrated Soil fertility management and value addition technologies; b) Increase market access options for selected enterprises specifically bananas, beans and ground nuts; c) enhance the capacity of key stakeholders to undertake integrated soil fertility management and value addition and d) enhance accessibility of knowledge, information and best-bet lessons for upscaling integrated soil fertility management practices.

The following ISFM technologies are being promoted: ■■ Planting of MAC 44, G633 varieties of climbing beans as well as Red beauty and Serenut 4 varieties of ground nuts. This has been done with inoculation with CIAT 899 and EMR 1597 rhizobium for improving productivity.

■■ Farm yard manure has been combined with mineral fertilizers at planting as a way of improving synergy in nutrient utilization.

■■ A seed planter which by design gives precision spacing and saves time and labour is being used.

■■ With regard to value addition as a means of facilitating access to markets smallholder farmers have been

Farm Guide

Start-up guide to PIGGERY

7 January - February, 2015

Farm Guide

PIG HUSBANDRY

By Kasibin Francis Mutaka

Pigs are kept for the production of pork and bacon. Most breeds, if properly managed and fed, are capable of producing either pork or bacon. The pig industry in Uganda is characterized by low input, low-output and poorly managed pig production enterprises. Small-scale producers in the rural areas have largely sustained the industry.

These producers keep on average 2-5 pigs under very poor hygienic and management conditions. There are just a few commercial pig farmers in the country.

U

nlike the dairy and beef industries, the pig industry has largely been unable to attract any foreign and internal investment. This has been exacerbated by the high costs of inputs especially in intensive pig production. The major constraints to production include; diseases and parasites, poor breeding, capital investment, inadequate advisory services, inadequate research, lack of organized marketing, lack of processing plants and poor product quality.

Why do we keep pigs?

■■ To produce meat fairly quickly and to get some income from it.

■■ To produce industrial goods such as leather and bristles etc.

■■ Pigs produce very high value manure which is useful for enriching our soil ■■ What are the advantages of pig production?

■■ Pigs grow very rapidly from 1.5kg at birth to 90kg in 170 days only.

■■ Pigs can be raised on small land especially where land holdings are small.

Tito Okello, a farmer in Soroti in his farm.

8 January - February, 2015

Farm Guide

■■ They produce many young ones. You can raise 20 pigs from one female pig (sow) in a year.

■■ Pig production has low labour requirements.

■■ Pigs are mainly fed on maize and other grains and root tubers which can normally be bought at very low prices during peak seasons of harvesting.

■■ Pigs can also be raised on pasture and other crop residues and agro-industrial by products.

■■ Pigs give quick returns on your investment.

Selection of pigs for breeding Select good gilts from sows of a superior breed that wean 9-10 piglets per litter and that are known to be good mothers.

Selected gilts should have at least 12-14 teats so that a large litter can be easily nursed.

Gilts should be healthy with strong legs and well developed body and thigh muscles.

Beginners in pig farming are advised to start with about 1-2 gilts/sows and progress as more experience and skill is gained.

Management of pigs Housing

Before you venture into pig production decide on the management system you would wish to practice depending on the resources available. Both semi-intensive and intensive systems will require pigs to be housed.

Housing is very important in pig production for the following reasons: ■■ It helps in disease and parasite control.

■■ It reduces the labour in husbandry and management tasks like feeding and handling.

■■ It protects the pigs from harsh environmental and climatic conditions.

■■ Housing keeps out unnecessary intruders.

■■ The pigs are easily observed when housed.

Materials used for construction of a pig house

■■ Local materials: wooden poles, bamboo poles, grass thatch etc. These are cheap but do not last long.

■■ Manufactured/purchased materials: Blocks/ bricks, cement, galvanized iron sheets etc.

These are expensive but are the best to use because they are more long lasting.

Whatever material you use for the construc-

Common Breeds of pigs found in the East African Region Large White It is white in colour with erect ears and a ditched face. It produces many piglets and is fairly hardy.

Landrace; Has drooping ears, white in colour with long and big body. It has a long straight snout. It is commonly crossed with the large white.

Duroc breed It is mahogany to red in colour. Has good mothering ability. It is resistant to stress and is adaptable to various environmental conditions. It is very useful in crossbreeding programmes.

Crosses It is common to find crosses of Large white and Landrace. These crosses are very good when used as sows for breeding.

tion of a pig house it is advisable to use concrete for the floor or to compact the floor hard.

Care of the Sow and baby pigs Your pig house should, besides the common pens, have a farrowing pen (place where the sow delivers). This should be clean, disinfected, dry and warm before farrowing. Leave it for at least 7 days before sow is moved in. Provide fine bedding e.g. shavings, sour grass, sawdust, sand or bagasses etc. It should be maintained dry and soft.

Day of farrowing Many piglets die at this time. Up to 35% of your piglets born alive may die before weaning.

The commonest causes of death at this stage are due to; Crushing of piglets by the mother, Starvation, Born weak, Diarrhoea, Chilling (cold) etc.

These losses can be minimized by having somebody present at farrowing. Other causes

should be identified and precaution taken.

Management of piglets Once farrowing is completed make sure all piglets are nursing. Any excess piglets for the number of functional teats should be transferred to another sow. If there is no other sow, bottle feed with cow’s milk sweetened with glucose. Transfer at 3-4 days of age without masking odours.

■■ Clip the needle teeth, cut the navel cord leaving about 2.5 - 3.5cm (1-1.5 inches) of which should be dipped in a 7% iodine solution. After 2-3 days treat piglets for anaemia with 2-3ml of injectable iron.

■■ Provide creep feed at 7 days of age. Change feed daily.

■■ Treat with iron again after 2 weeks.

■■ Deworm after 3-5 weeks and then move sow and piglets to nursery.

■■ If litters are mixed in a nursery, litters should not be more than one week difference in age and do not mix more than four litters per pen.

■■ Wean at 56 days (8 weeks) ■■ Remember to remove the sow from the piglets and not vice versa.

■■ Deworm piglets regularly.

■■ Spray them for lice and mange mites prior to moving them out of nursery at 7-8 weeks.

■■ Replace the sow after the 6th litter or after 4-5 years of age. If its production is still good, leave it until its production falls below the average of the herd.

■■ Seek advice from your extension worker/ veterinarian wherever possible.

Suggested targets to achieve

■■ Reproduction rate – 10-11 pigs born alive per litter ■■ 2 litters/sow/year – 20-22 pigs born alive/ sow/year ■■ Survival rate – 85% of pigs born alive should be reared to weaning (17-18.7/sow/ year.

■■ Growth rate – 90kg live weight in 170 days with a carcase yield of 77% or 500gms/day over a life time.

■■ Food conversion efficiency of 3.5kg.

■■ Aim at marketing the pigs for slaughter as porkers at the age of 4-6 months when they will have attained the weight of 45-65kg.

■■ Production life span of at most 5 years for the sows.

9 January - February, 2015

Farm Guide corn, sorghum, cassava, sweet potatoes (root & vines), banana peels etc.

■■ Protein/Body building feeds: e.g. blood meal (up to 5%), cotton seed meal (upto 10%), fish meal (up to 5%), meat and bone meal (up to 5-10%), milk and milk byproducts and soya bean meal (up to 10%), sunflower meal ( up to 15%).

■■ Minerals: calcium, phosphorus, iron etc.

■■ Vitamins: These are purchased and added to the feed ration ■■ Water: Water must always be available.

Water is very important and yet it is always forgotten.

Health Always keep your pigs healthy and look out for signs of disease. For details on treatment of diseases and others, consult a veterinarian.

Keeping records

Some of the pigs in Tito Okello’s farm.

Feeds and feeding Feeds take about 70% of the total cost of production. Therefore use feeds efficiently and economically in order to make profit. Use cheaper, lower grade feed stuff and supplement with more nutritious feeds. Provide

feed requirements according to the different categories of pigs and the condition e.g. piglets, weaners, growers, pregnant sows and sows, suckling piglets.

What should you feed your pigs?

■■ Carbohydrates/Energy feeds: e.g. maize,

Records are essential for monitoring both technical and economic efficiency. They should cover the following aspects; boar performance, sow productivity, weaner growth, grower/finisher efficiency. kasibinfrancism@yahoo.com

Nutritional value of pork It is recommended that for healthy living a person should take two to three servings of meat and or alternatives a day.

Vitamin/Mineral

Recommended Daily Intake

Benefits

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

22%

Helps release energy from food Promotes the growth and repair of tissues Maintains healthy skin and eyes

Thiamin (Vitamin B1)

65%

Necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates Essential for the growth and repair of nerves & muscles Helps maintain appetite

Vitamin B6

24%

Essential for the metabolism of protein, carbohydrates and fat Promotes normal functioning of the central nervous system

Pantothenate

10%

Essential for the formation of strong bones and teeth Transports nutrients in the body Regulates energy balance

Iron

9%

Heme iron (found in meat) is absorbed more readily than non-heme iron (found in vegetables, breads, cereals, fruits, eggs, and supplements) Prevents nutritional anemia Builds hemoglobin in red blood cells Helps with energy production.

Zinc

36%

Essential for the healthy development and maintenance of the immune system and bone structure Can improve resistance to infections Can enhance bone formation in children and young adults Appears to protect against bone loss in older adults

10 January - February, 2015

Start-up guide to POTATO GROWING

11 January - February, 2015

FARM GUIDE

Have you ever grown Potatoes in your garden?

By Martin Mangusho

Growing potatoes is fun and not that hard! Farmers can grow unique varieties that are not sold in local supermarkets. Potatoes come in all different shapes, sizes and colors. Did you know that there are purple, red and yellow potatoes ?

P

otatoes are a non‐grain food crop. In Uganda, , over 1 million acres are planted each year for commercial and domestic use. They can grow in harsh climates and many potato varieties can be grown in 90 days or less on small parcels of land.

Potatoes are also very nutritious! They are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, fiber and protein, all with no fat! They, along with many other vegetables, can be prepared as part of a healthy diet.

Luckily, potatoes are versatile and are easy to prepare. Whether baked, boiled, roasted or fried they are a delicious add-on to any meal. Potato skin is also recommend for human

consumption as it contains the majority of the potato’s fiber, and many of the nutrients are located close to the skin.

Variety Selection Choice of a potato variety for growing depends on factors such as garden space availability, desired uses, and storage plans. To ensure quality and maximum productivity, purchase certified seed tubers. Certified potato tuber seed is seed of a known variety produced under strict standards to maintain seed tubers that are virus and disease free. Saving tubers from your garden will eventually result in decreased yields and small tubers due to more incidences of disease.

Seed Preparation

Potato types and uses Long Russet: A thick‐ skinned potato with a long shape and dry texture; good for baking and frying (French fries).

This is the most popular market type in the Uganda.

12 January - February, 2015

Round white/Long white: A thin‐light brown skinned all‐ purpose potato with firm, creamy texture; best for boiling and frying.

FARM GUIDE

Depending on the source and the quantity you buy you will receive either small tubers or large tubers. Small tubers (1 to 2 inches in diameter) can be planted whole. Cut large tubers into block‐shaped, 2 to 2 1/2 ounce seed pieces (about the size of an egg). The seed pieces should be firm, with at least one “eye” per section and a maximum sprout length of 1/4 to 1/2 inch to ensure optimum germination. Seed tubers can be cut and planted on the same day, however allowing the cut surface to heal over for 4‐7 days may reduce the risk of seed pieces rotting in the soil.

Soil Preparation and Fertility Potatoes grow on a wide range of soils, but are best suited to a sandy loam or a soil that is well drained. Very sandy soils may require extra watering to maintain adequate soil moisture. Fine‐textured soils that are high in silts and clay may not be well drained, and they tend to produce poorly shaped potatoes.

If possible, a soil test can be performed before planting. Contact your local Extension office for details on soil testing. The best soil pH for potatoes is between 5.5 and 6.0. A pH above 6.0 may increase the incidence of common scab (a disease) on tubers. If a soil test is not available, follow these recommended guidelines: ■■ Rototill into the seedbed about 2 pounds

Round red skin: A thin, red‐skinned potato with firm, creamy texture; good for boiling.

per 50 feet of row of 12‐12‐12 (N‐P‐K) analysis fertilizer.

■■ Beside the row, apply 1/3 pound per 50 feet of row of 46‐0‐0 (urea) fertilizer one week after plant emergence and again between 4 and 6 weeks after emergence. Instead of working the fertilizer into the soil, water thoroughly so that the fertilizer moves into the root zone.

Do not amend the soil with lime or manure in the same year that potatoes are to be grown. Lime and manure increase the risk of potato scab disease.

Planting and Care Potatoes are a cool season crop; ideal temperatures for crop growth are 65 to 80 during the day and 55 to 65 at night. The soil should be cultivated 6 to 8 inches deep in the spring, and large soil clods should be broken up or removed before planting. Plant potatoes when soil temperatures are above 45 F. Cold, wet soil at planting time increases the risk of seed piece decay, and planting into cool, dry soils can cause delayed sprouting and emergence of the potatoes.

Plant tuber seed pieces 3 to 4 inches deep. Leaving 30 to 36 inches between rows and spacing seed pieces 9 to 12 inches apart in the row will generally produce an acceptable yield of medium‐sized tubers. Five pounds of seed potatoes should plant 40 feet of row with 12 inches between seed

Yellow: There are several varieties with thin, golden skins and creamy smooth yellow flesh; good for boiling and frying, some for baking.

Round Red skin yellow flesh: New varieties with various color combinations are being released every year.

One example is a red

pieces. You can expect to harvest 3 to 5 pounds of potatoes per potato plant. Larger tubers are produced at wider plant spacings, though some varieties, for example, Yukon Gold, develop growth defects such as hollow heart at a wider spacing. Potato plants should be “hilled” when the plants are 8 to 12 inches tall.

Mound the soil to a height of 3 to 6 inches and approximately 12 to 15 inches from the base of the plant. Use care to prevent damage to the plant roots, which may extend 8 to 12 inches from the base of the plant. Hilling maintains suitable soil cover for tubers as they expand.

Tubers that break the soil surface may have green areas that contain bitter tasting glycoalkaloids and should not be eaten. Discard or cut off the green portions.

Avoid planting potatoes in the same location year after year. To lower the risk of disease and insect problems, do not plant in areas where tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, radishes or beets were grown the previous year.

Water Requirements Potatoes are very sensitive to soil moisture and do best with a consistent soil moisture level. Even soil moisture levels throughout the root zone should be maintained, though over‐wet and saturated conditions should be

Purple: A violet‐purple skinned potato with purple flesh; for baking and frying. They retain their color when cooked.

Fingerlings: Small varieties that are narrow almost finger shaped. Fingerlings are fully mature when harvested.

13 January - February, 2015

FARM GUIDE avoided. In general, 1 inch of water per week from rainfall or irrigation is adequate. As much as 2 inches per week may be required on sandy soils with low organic matter.

Dry soil alternating with periods of saturated soil can result in poor quality tubers with defects such as knobs, growth cracks, hollow heart and internal browning. Long periods of excess moisture, particularly near maturity, may lead to decreased yields and poor quality tubers.

Pest and Disease Control You can help alleviate pest problems by changing the location in your home garden where potatoes are planted, through regular inspection, and by removing “volunteer” potato plants, which can serve as a host for diseases that can damage the new crop.

Shallow cultivation is preferred for weed control. For late season weed control, pull weeds instead of hoeing them to prevent tuber damage. Mulches can be beneficial in weed control as well as helping to maintain soil moisture.

Scab disease may be a problem. Scab is caused by a common soil borne organism that causes disease only on tubers. Some varieties are more resistant than others to scab; tolerant varieties include On away and Superior. Tubers with scab are fine to eat. Just peel or cut off the circular rough skin.

Insects such as the Colorado potato beetle can be controlled by destroying eggs which are laid on the underside of the leaf. This can be done by crushing the eggs or removing the leaf with the eggs and disposing of them in the trash away from the garden. Additionally, you will want to remove larva and adults by hand, disposing of them when the numbers are small. The potato is subject to several seed, foliar and tuber disorders that may affect quality and appearance.

Harvesting Time of maturity varies for each variety.

Indicators of tuber maturity include complete vine death, “skin set” (tuber skin does not peel from the flesh when pressure is applied) and desired tuber size. Mature tubers store better and are less likely to bruise or decay than immature tubers. New or

14 January - February, 2015

A farmer in Kenya prepares his potato harvest for the market.

small tubers can be harvested early without destroying the entire plant by careful digging and removing some of the tubers. The remaining tubers should be left to grow and reach full maturity.

Harvest potatoes before a severe frost. Use a spade or fork to loosen the soil and gently lift the tubers out of the soil. To prevent greening and sunburn damage, do not allow tubers to be exposed to light after harvesting

Storage For two to three weeks after harvest, store

tubers in the dark at 55 to 60°F with high relative humidity to heal bruised and damaged areas that could provide entrance for disease organisms.

Store only the healthy potatoes that are reasonably free from soil. After healing, proper storage conditions should include cool temperatures (near 40°F), darkness to prevent greening, high humidity and adequate ventilation. Storing tubers in plastic bags (or any tightly sealed container) will restrict the movement of fresh air around the tubers and can lead to rot.

Agro-Processing

President Museveni talking to Kisoro Potato Processing Industries Director, John Bahana. (PPU)

Uganda gets potato processor A processing plant in Kigezi region is the most exciting news farmers here can get, as it will save the cost of transportation and middlemen expenses, before their potatoes can reach the consumers’ plate enabling them realise better profit. All this, thanks to a local investor, Mr Tom Mugenga, who has set up a potato processing factory in Kigezi, where 80 per cent of the total country’s Irish potatoes are farmed.

T

he processing plant was commissioned by President Museveni and has support of National Agricultural Research Organisation (Naro) and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and will serve farmers in the western districts of Kabale, Kisoro, Bushenyi, Rukungiri, Ntungamo, Mbarara and several districts in DR Congo and Rwanda.

Dr John Bahana, the Plant Manager say “the decision to set up the factory in Kisoro came after a study was done in Europe.”

“Kigezi region is blessed with conducive weather conditions favourable for potato growing. The weather also suppresses diseases and pests are suppressed. [But] the farmer is always cheated by the middle-man

who goes looking for markets in Kampala.

At our factory, we shall be dealing with the farmer directly to ensure that he gets value for money,” Dr Bahana added.

In Uganda, Irish potato is commonly used for making French fries or chips, with a plate at a high scale restaurant going for Ushs10,000. However, a sack of raw potatoes goes for between Ushs50,000 and Ushs100,000 in the city markets.

The multimillion dollar processing plant to serve potato farmers from three countries as its located about 510km from capital Kampala, only 12km from the DRC boarder post of Bunagana and 9km from the Rwanda boarder of Cyanika.

The factory built at a cost of more than US$10 million is planned to expand into other food products to utilize the huge

potential in value addition of Uganda agriculture.

Speaking before the commissioning, the FAO’s Patricia Nsiime narrated how they had worked very hard in a cross boarder project to create awareness that resulted in dramatic increase in the growing potatoes not only in Uganda but also in Rwanda and Eastern DRC. She and her team had found high end restaurants including Nandoos and Steers in Kampala to begin to accept Uganda potatoes to make their French fries. This was against stiff competition of imports from South Africa and Egypt. It was exciting to her therefore, seeing that the Uganda restaurants were now going to receive Ugandan products on their menu.

Hans Peter de Woulde, a Netherlands

15 January - February, 2015

Agro-Processing

Embassy official talked of a long association with the Government of Netherlands and his personal pride in witnessing a processing factory maturing from a very humble beginning.

Whereas, Tom Mugenga, the proprietor, was all smiles as He had seen his dream come true.

More opportunities Uganda has witnessed increased demand for food and thus opened more opportunity for cross boarder business. Kentucky Fried Chicken, for instance, the world’s largest chain of fried chicken fast food restaurants, headquartered in the United States, coming to town. According to Mr. Mugenga, they will need a steady and constant supply.

“Kentucky will need constant suppliers and we should ask the government to protect us from Egyptian and South African farmers supplying potatoes to our country,” he said.

“American icon”, KFC is the second largest restaurant chain after McDonald’s, with over 17,000 outlets in 105 countries and territories.

The potato farmers are all excited. They have now formed a district wide cooperative union with more than 4 500 members and still growing.

Samuel Kasina, a member of the cooperative has four acres of Irish potatoes in Kisoro District. He has to transport is produce for over 500km to Kampala where he has an assured market. The expenses he incurs on

President Museveni taking a tour of the Kisoro Processing. (PPU)

transportation and middlemen, before his potatoes can reach the consumer’s plate, are unbearable and they reduce his profit margin by almost 70 per cent.

But Kasina will no longer have to as his produce will be bought from him directly while still in Kigezi, at a price he will participate in setting While their potato yields are still low at less than 5 tons per hectare compared to South Africa’s 25 tons per hectare, the sky is

16 January - February, 2015

the limit. NARO, the National Agricultural Research Organisation has promised to avail to the farmers at least 20 different varieties to choose from since the factory will be demanding appropriate potatoes needed by the restaurants in the big cities.

The farmers will be smiling all the way to the bank at least twice a year and Tom will be satisfied that he has done his part. As for President Museveni, he will reasonably state that by working hard, Uganda can indeed be transformed and what a way to start than from the corner of the country where spinoffs of the factory are numerous.

Analysis

Prospects of Uganda Agricultural trends in 2015

By Kasibin Francis Mutaka

Agriculture still remains the backbone of the economies of most African countries. In Uganda at least 85% of Uganda’s strong workforce relies on agriculture production for their livelihood which also contributes 42% of the national gross domestic product and 80% of the export earnings. Ironically, this workforce comprises 90% of the rural poor, who are small hold farmers contributing 70% of the countries marketed produce. Due to this disparity, the government is encouraging private sector players to venture into medium scale and commercial farming in order to transform agriculture and add value to exports.

T

he growth of the agriculture sector in Uganda means, development of the economy, improvement in food supply, increased house hold income and above all improvement of the life of the majority of the people including women and youth. Among the major agricultural products in Uganda is maize which is the main staple food, coffee which is the main export commodity then others like fish, livestock, beans, tea, poultry, bananas and cassava.

The country still imports wheat, palm oil, refined sugar and others which could have been produced at home. Future development planning and investments should target these products which serve as a source of nutrition and export earnings.

Export Uganda’s economy is predominantly agrarian and 31% of export earnings are derived from the agricultural sector. Export crop production reached a peak in 1969. Uganda mostly exports agricultural products (80% of total exports). The most important exports are coffee (22% of total exports) followed by tea, cotton, copper, oil and fish. Uganda’s main export partners are Sudan (15%), Kenya (10%), DR Congo, Netherlands, Germany, South Africa and UAE. External demand for Uganda’s agricultural products especially from the neighboring South Sudan is expected to boost the sector in the year.

Investments In a bid to boast investment in the agriculture sector, the Ugandan Government has put in

Picking of ready coffee beans. Coffee is Ugandan main exports crop accounting for 22% of the country’s total exports.

17 January - February, 2015

H.E President Museveni, commissioning one of Green Fish's projects located at Jjeza Town, Mpigi District.

place sound macro economic framework conducive for investment e.g. liberalization, privatization, incentive regimes, abolition of export taxes, investment guarantees, externalization of funds, and setting up of Uganda Investment Authority as a one-stop-centre for investor services. In agriculture, as in other sectors of Uganda’s economy, investors are given special incentives. These include among others: duty-free tax import of plant and machinery, training expenditure as well as scientific expenditure at 100%, capital allowance on plant and machinery at 50 to 75%, etc.

Investment is needed in five different subsectors of this economy sector, namely: crops, livestock, processing derivatives from livestock, fisheries and forestry.

Crop sector Government is seeking investment partnerships for scientific research, manufacture of herbicides and pesticides as well as in the promotion of value addition to Uganda’s wide range of agricultural crops.

Commercial farming and processing is therefore open to many investors who are welcome to set up commercial farms as well as processing firms in collaboration with local partners.

Livestock industry There is rising demand for livestock and livestock products within the country and in the

18 January - February, 2015

neighbouring countries within the Great Lakes Region. Thus, Investment opportunities ranging from scientific research to the physical establishment of cold storage facilities for livestock products for both internal consumption and export.

Scientific research and breeding of livestock is carried out at slow speed as dictated by financial and other constraints.

Manufacturing of livestock/poultry drugs, feeds as well as expansion of production of livestock products are also open to investment.

Fisheries sub-sector The government has embarked on a vigorous exercise of protecting fishing areas from catching immature fish which has caused serious shortage of fish, both for the domestic and for the foreign market; yet external demand for Uganda fish is growing. Investing in fish-farming in Uganda can therefore yield a good dividend for investors.

Fish farming especial cage farming and processing can undertaken in the various lakes and water bodies as well as in dams and ponds on dry lands.

Ugandan fish supplies are currently dwindling.

Forestry sub-sector The sector still open for investment. Investors are invited to enter into partnership to realize commercial farming of trees so as to increase forest cover in the country. While this investment will benefit Uganda and its partner, the world too

benefits from Ugandan trees. Tress suck up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and provide of wood for construction, as well as row materials for the wood processing.

There are also investment opportunities in agro-processing of coffee, fruits, maize, soya bean and Hides & skin in a country that has good economic record of a fully and access to markets is guaranteed by Uganda’s location right at the heart of the Great Lakes making it a land-linked.

Its location also guarantees a market for products made in Uganda.

Value Addition One of the big challenges of agricultural transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa has been lack of or limited value addition to make the products more competitive on both the local and international market. Uganda has not been an exception to this challenge. Most of Uganda’s agricultural products are exported or consumed raw, something that has undermined agriculture’s economic potential and foreign exchange earnings.

Value addition is the process of changing or transforming a product from its original state to a more valuable state.

If adopted, value addition according to James Wire Lunghabo, an ICT and agro entrepreneur, “increases revenue for a product and allows the producer to focus on the consumer while producing.” Value addition also increases shelf life of

Analysis product for example milk that hardly lasts over 24 hours can last months when processed into ghee od any other diary product.

“We should know that agro-processing helped many countries in Europe and elsewhere to launch themselves on the path of socio-economic transformation,” said President Museveni.

Increased bargaining power and brand creation is one of the de facto results of value addition.

Value addition can be achieved through; Training producers on better post-harvest handling of their produce as well as in on multiple processing alternatives of a product. Surplus tomatoes, jackfruit, pineapples, for instance, can be sun-dried and stored for consumption later.

Creating village teams of farmers that can combine their expertise and resources to collectively engage in a value addition exercise is another way of encouraging value addition.

Adopting indigenous technologies for food processing and Educating producers on the potential uses of the ‘waste’ material from processed raw material.

A women sells fruits a Kampala market.

restructure extension services this financial year with the main area of focus being the recruitment of district/sub-county production staff/ extension workers.

This comes at a time when Agricultural research institutions like the National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO) need a lot of resources to support their quest for scientific solutions to mitigate challenges compromising the sector’s production such as the outbreak of crop diseases and prolonged droughts.

A report by the Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies programme (MAFAP), which is implemented by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) notes that “Over time, government has reduced commitment to increase spending in agriculture as approved budget allocations to the sector are more or less stagnant and actual spending is declining.”

Recent rebased GDP data for 2013/2014 using 2009/10 as a base year; indicate that the sector grew fastest by sector contribution to GDP at 26%, up from 24% on the back of increased value addition. Experts and BoU say that Uganda’s overall inflation will largely be influenced by food prices, excess liquidity, among other factors

throughout the year.

Uganda’s spending on agriculture has continued to dip despite the sector being a key pillar of the economy, a report has found. Between 2006/07 and 2012/13, government spending on agriculture declined by 15%. This is according to a report titled “Analysis of public expenditures in support of food and agriculture in Uganda, 2006/07-2012/13”. According to the National Budget Framework Paper for 2015/16, government will cut allocations by almost 12%. Unlike the financial year 2014/15, in FY2015/2016, the government of Uganda is proposing to cut the agriculture budget by Ush18.4 billion (about $6.2 million) from Ush473.7 billion ($i60 million) 2014/2015 to Ush454.886 billion ($153 million) in the financial year 2015/2016, contrary to the 2003 Maputo declaration that recommended a 10 per cent annual spending on agriculture which Uganda has never met. The 2015/16 framework paper says government will

Minister for Finance and Economis Development, Hon. Maria kiwanuka, before reading the FY2014-15 budget.

Labelling of yoghurt at Uganda Industrial Research Institute in Kampala Uganda. The Government is promoting agri-processing as a means of adding value to Ugandans’ agricultural produce.

Budget

Market The livelihoods of many smallholder farmers are often constrained by poor access to markets and limited entrepreneurial skills for adding value to produce. Rapid Urbanization is however opening up domestic and regional markets and offering new market opportunities for smallholder farmers to supply higher value produce. Supplying these markets offers both higher income and improved business relations for farmers but accessing these markets also requires significant upgrading in terms of product quality, quantities and business management.

19 January - February, 2015

Mechanisation

A tractor on display during the 22nd Source of the Nile Trade and Agriculture show, an annual event held in Jinja.

Mechanisation: The

agricultural game changer East Africa is endowed with fertile soils and favourable climate, the major factors that influence agriculture in the region. Despite this, agricultural production is still at a law scale. And agriculture mechanization is therefore called for. Mechanised agriculture refers to the process of using agricultural machinery to simplify farming with the aim of increasing productivity. A tractor for instances clears a larger portion of land compared to hand hoes.

I

n Uganda, about 99.4% smallholder farmers use traditional, rudimentary and obsolete technologies and methodologies for post-harvest operations.

These are contributing factors to low farm output. To change this, the Ugandan

20 January - February, 2015

government initiated an agriculture mechanisation strategy of restructuring the sector.

Farmers are encouraged to change their ways of farming; mechanisation has become one of the key pillars of agricultural transformation and modernisation. The efforts directed into the occupation of cost-

effective farm tools and the Government has tried to integrate majority Ugandans who represented over 70% of the country’s labour force.

Benefits of mechanisation Besides improving production efficiency,

Mechanisation mechanisation encourages large-scale production and improves the quality of farm produce. Morris Rwakakamba, the special presidential assistant in charge of research and information, says a lot is needed to ensure that mechanisation is promoted at a large scale.

“Strengthen the current mechanisation policy; commit funds for the farmers and private sector to acquire farm machinery and equipment are among the things that the government should focus on,” he says.

Rwakakamba adds that there is also need to promote local manufacture of farm tools and equipment for post harvest handling and creating Government-managed central and regional workshops to provide technical back-stopping and critical maintenance services.

Government support “The Government has tried to put all these in place. But since the system is new in Uganda, it takes time for the common people to adapt to it,” Rwakakamba explains. Mechanised operations are largely limited to land preparation; 8% utilise draught animal power and 2% use tractors.

The Government has come up with many programmes that have helped farmers in Uganda improve their farming and National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) has been the lead. Farmers have been provided with equipment and quality seeds, which has helped them grow on large scale.

Farmers are also educated on better and modern methods of farming. Farmers are also advised to form SAACOs where they can collect money to buy one tractor that can be shared with in the group. “This is important because farmers, even those who cannot afford to hire all the time can get the services since they are group members,” Rwakakamba says.

This would save farmers from risking their plots of land and other properties as security for bank loans, which have high interests. Also, the Government introduced cost-friendly irrigation pumps that have helped many farmers in dry areas to access water using cheap and small pumps.

Tanzania’s version of state-led mechanisation: The power tiller.

Mechanised agriculture benefits

■■ Enhance labour use and efficiency; ■■ Provide greater precision in farm operations ■■ Reduce agricultural losses ■■ Contribute to value- addition to products with processing and packaging

Challenges

Morris Rwakakamba, the special Presidential Assistant in-charge of Research and Information

Through the Office of the Prime Minister, the Government has procured and distributed over 15,000 hand hoes, over 300 ox-ploughs and seven walking tractors were given to the women and youth groups.

Also, Namalu Prison farm got tractors to promote food production for the communities.

However, despite the efforts made, many challenges still hinder agricultural mechanisation. The majority of farmers have minimal access to information on the availability of affordable equipment, which can enable them improve on their outputs.

Mechanisation focuses on production (land opening) without addressing the complete value chain to markets, which is a disincentive to mechanised farming. On the other hand, it displaces unskilled farm labour, causes environmental pollution, deforestation and erosion. Other challenges include limited access to financial services for farmers and in-adequate knowledge base of farmers in mechanised farming.

21 January - February, 2015

Urban Farming

Have you heard about Kadogo Kitchen Garden farming?

EA Agribusiness team

Do you know that you can increase your life span by growing your own fruits and vegetables? Homes today, than ever before, relay on food from markets to feed their households. On average, 70% of East Africa’s house holds spend on buying food from urban Markets. Ironically, Homes in rural areas too buy food from markets rather than grow their own.

A

nd, with the increasing rate of urbanisation that has made land such a highly priced asset, most homes can hardly grow food to meet their domestic demand.

However, agriculture is such an enterprising venture that irrespective of the size of the land, a person can grow food and save especially if it is an extended family, by domestically growing fruits and vegetables through backyard farming The East Africa Agribusiness team spoke to Eng, Oliver Ndegwa, from a Kenyan company called Agro Tunnel International the inventor of Kadogo Kitchen Garden.

The Green House Kadogo concept is appropriate for kitchen garden farming, scientific research, seedlings and aquaphonics. All vegetables and fruits can be grown from one green house in a very small space; as small as one square meter beds.

In addition, the land size required is small so does the size of the green house (5x5) meters. This means it is suitable for the urban and peri-urban dwellers. Vegetables and fruits can be grown within 30cm interspacing in the same green house.

One is required to have a plan and prepare adequately in order to venture into this lucrative venture. Once the green house is in place, dig and harrow to a fine tilth, apply organic manure on top of seed bed followed by topping organic fertilizer. The 5x5 meters green house can accommodate at least 150 tomato plants.

Compared to other farming methods, this model enable a farmer manipulate temperature, humidity there by suit any climate. Crops grow faster without direct reliance on rainfall hence more output throughout the year. Poor

22 January - February, 2015

A ‘kadogo kitchen garden’ engineered by Agro Tunnel Uganda.

households in this business have been able to increase their purchasing power while saving up to 80% of their grocery budget. Value addition can be done on fruits and vegetables by altering their colour and form thereby increasing the shelf life of perishables. This model reduces post- harvest losses of green produce especially through processing. Value addition promotes food security through provision of nutritious foods throughout the year.

Nutritional benefits reaped from intake of vegetable salads contribute immensely in promoting a healthy household and society. They have a rich supply of minerals and contribute to building a strong immune system. Fruits and vegetables have low caloric content hence suitable for weight loss diets. Once the farmer harvests the Fruits and vegetables products, the family should supplement the family diet and the surplus taken to the market. Marketing the product should be organised and planned to bring commercial value to the farmer.

It is important to identify the potential markets, whether restaurants, Nyamachoma joints or micro-green groceries, for the pre-prepared

farming. Packaging and making the product known by potential customers through advertising will help in selling the product. With about UGX 2,850,000, one is able to acquire a green house which will give a minimum output of UGX 3,600,000 in six months. I.e.

10 kgs per plant x 600 plants x UGX 600/=.

The green house Kadogo for 3m x 6m of 600 plants at a cost of UGX 2,850,000 is ideal for the farmers who are entering this venture for the first time. It is important to start small, learn, get the experience, know the challenges and expand when you are sure of the venture.

Kachumbari is the local name for vegetable salads commonly made from a combination of vegetable fruits. It can be served cold, raw or sometimes slightly cooked. Kachumbari can be served on its own or accompanying other dishes.

For more information about this topic, contact: Eng. Oliver Ndegwa on +254722520083/ +2547335200 83/+256783141426/+256770520083 Email: agrotunnel@gmail.com Website: www.agrotunnel.tobiasmuma.info/

Urban Farming

1

Carrot

Carrots are easy to grow using either method of sowing seed directly in the garden on open ground or through a black plastic mulch. They are easily grown in a raised bed or container garden, as well as the traditional backyard vegetable garden.

Carrot seed need soil that are crumbly and easy broken into so as grow long and slender.

Mix compost and well-aged manure into your garden soil before planting carrot seeds so that your carrots have access to a steady supply on nutrients during the growing season.

Carrots also need a steady supply of water in order to grow properly, and to become sweet and juicy.

2

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are always a good choice when planning a container garden in a sunny location. There are over 7,500 tomato varieties to chose from.

Quality soil is required for tomato growing as well as “tomato cage” for support, preventing the branches from breaking.

Moderate quantities of water and fertilizer are required for better results.

3

Peppers

Peppers not only add a delightful flavor to many dishes such as stir fry but also add an enticing rainbow of color to all your tasty recipes.

Seed are grown indoors transplanting outdoors, at soil temperature of 65 degrees. They need moderate wetness around the roots.

Top 5

Vegetables to grow in your garden A perfectly ripe, juicy tomato, still warm from the sun.

Sweet carrots, pulled from the garden minutes (or even seconds!) before they're eaten. Growing your own vegetables is one of those activities that balances practicality and indulgence. In addition to the convenience of having the fixings for a salad or light supper right outside your door (or on your windowsill), when you grow your own vegetables, you're getting the most nutritional bang for your buck as well. Here are 5 simple crops you can grow in your home garden

Pepper plant branches are brittle and break easily, so it is good advice to stake tall plants.

At harvest time, snap or clip with shears, firm ripe peppers from plants as needed. If left on the plant until fully mature, peppers often become larger and turn red. Plants may grow and produce for several seasons in warmer climates.

4

ONIONS

Planting onions in any type of home vegetable garden is simple and easy. It does not take a lot of space in your vegetable garden and there are various delicious varieties to grow.

Onions Seed germinate in 7-10 days and take 120-160 days to harvest. Onions are a delicious compliment to many foods and flavors.

5

Cabbages

Cabbage is easy to grow from seed, though one can chose to transplant. Their seeds are sown indoors, 1/4 inch deep and 2 inches apart In the garden however, the seedlings are planted slightly deeper than they grew in flats.

Space 6 to 12 inches apart in rows 1 to 2 feet apart.

Cabbages need to be wellwatered, you can risk splitting the head if you water too much.

They are harvested when the heads are large, firm and the plant has reached it’s maturity date, you can usually cut out the entire head to harvest. You don’t need the rough outer leaves, just the tighter inner head. Cut through the stalk at soil level.

23 January - February, 2015

Average Commodity Prices: As at January, 2015 Commodity Agwedde Beans Apple Bananas Beef Cassava Flour Cavendish (Bogoya) Coffee (Arabica) Cow Peas Dry Fermented Cassava Exotic Chicken Exotic Eggs Fresh Cassava Goat Meat Groundnuts Irish Potatoes Kayiso Rice Local Chicken Local Eggs Maize Flour Maize Grain Matooke Matooke (kg) Milk Nambale Beans Nile Perch Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes Pineapple Pork Processed Honey Simsim Sorghum Flour Sorghum Grain Soya Beans Sun Dried Cassava Sunflower Super Rice Tilapia Turkey Upland Rice White fleshed Sweet Potatoes Yellow Beans

Units kg kg kg kg kg kg kg kg Bird Tray kg kg kg kg kg Bird Tray kg kg Bunch kg Litre kg kg kg Whole kg kg kg kg kg kg kg kg kg Whole Bird kg kg kg

Average RP 1, 750 2, 100 8, 150 1,000 3, 550 6,000 3,050 700 11, 550 9, 250 900 9, 300 3, 800 1, 200 2, 500 20, 150 14, 850 1, 550 600 21, 200 1, 150 1, 300 1, 850 11,000 800 2,050 8, 650 11, 800 5,050 1, 800 1, 200 2, 300 750 950 2, 950 9,050 49, 800 2, 550 900 2,050

WP 1, 500 1, 650 6, 900 800 2, 900 5, 700 2, 700 650 9, 800 8,050 700 8, 150 3, 200 1,000 2, 150 16, 850 12, 850 1, 300 450 18,000 900 1, 100 1, 600 9, 200 550 1, 650 7, 300 10, 900 4, 300 1, 550 1,000 1, 850 650 850 2, 600 7, 700 44,000 2, 300 700 1, 800

Central RP 2,000 2,050 8, 300 1,050 4, 550

WP 1, 500 1, 500 6, 250 750 3, 500

3, 550 800 12, 150 8, 700 1,050 9, 950 4, 150 1, 300 2, 550 22,050 16, 250 1, 550 650 22, 200 1, 150 1, 400 2,000 12, 250 1,000 1, 950 8, 450 14,000 5, 450 2,000 1, 550 2, 650 900

3, 150 700 9, 650 7, 600 700 8, 100 3, 300 950 2,000 17, 650 13, 500 1, 250 500 17, 850 850 1, 150 1, 600 9, 550 600 1, 450 5, 950 12,000 4, 300 1, 700 1, 250 2,050 750

3,050 8,000 52, 800 2, 650 1,000 2, 300

2, 600 6, 650 45, 350 2, 300 650 1, 900

Eastern RP 1, 550 2, 150 8, 500 900 2, 800 6,000 2, 500 600 11, 650 8, 950 800 8, 750 3, 450 900 2, 200 14,000 13, 650 1, 500 600 23,000 1, 350 1, 350 1, 700 10, 650 300 2, 450 8, 500 12,000 4, 750 1, 600 850 2,050 650 1, 100 2, 800 10,050 52,000 2, 300 750 2,050

WP 1, 250 1, 750 7, 750 750 2, 300 5, 850 2, 250 550 10, 500 8, 250 650 8,000 3,000 750 1, 950 12,000 12, 300 1, 250 550 19, 800 1,050 1, 150 1, 400 9, 350 250 2,000 7, 750 11, 500 4, 250 1, 350 700 1, 700 600 1,000 2, 500 8, 550 47, 650 2, 100 700 1, 850

Northern RP 1, 500 2, 850 8, 500 1, 150 3, 600

WP 1, 250 2, 400 7, 500 1,050 3, 150

2, 500 900 11, 500 11, 500 850 9, 500 3, 650 1, 750 2, 300 21, 350 15,000 2,000 650 15, 850 950 1, 450 1, 900 10,000 600 3,000 8,000

2, 200 750 10, 150 8, 600 700 9,000 3, 150 1, 600 2,050 18, 850 14,000 1, 750 500 14, 350 850 1, 300 1, 750 9,000 500 2, 500

4, 500 2,000 900 1, 550 700 800 2, 800 15, 650

3, 950 1, 900 700 1, 350 600 700 2, 400 14, 350

2, 300 800 2,000

2,050 650 1, 850

Western RP 1, 850 1, 650 7, 650 950 2, 950 6,000 3,050 700 10, 500 8, 950 900 8, 750 3, 650 1, 100 2, 800 22, 750 13, 650 1, 350 500 21, 300 1, 100 1,000 1, 750 9, 650 850 1, 550 9, 250 10,000 5, 200 1, 900 1, 450 2, 200 750

WP 1, 650 1, 350 7,000 800 2, 450 5, 500 2, 750 600 9, 150 8, 200 750 8, 100 3, 250 950 2, 600 19, 400 11, 850 1, 150 400 18, 800 950 900 1, 550 8, 650 700 1, 300 8, 400 9,000 4, 700 1, 500 1, 150 1, 950 650

3,050 7,050 30,000 2, 650 900 1, 750

2, 400 6,000 27,000 2, 500 750 1, 550

FIT Uganda Ltd Promoting Innovation in Business Services

The markets in the table above are representative of our collection points therefore for more information on daily prices of the above commodities to could reach us on Email: info@fituganda. com, Tel:- +256414 532 393, Toll free 080020855 To subscribe to the weekly prices on email:- send your request to infotrade@fituganda. com To receive information on your phone send the request to 8555 e.g Coffee Masaka send to 8555

Ask the Experts

With Kevin Hauser, Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery

FARM BUSINESS PLANNING ADVICE

Apple Varieties in East Africa Apples have been grown in East Africa for decades, but the varieties have been limited to just a few “low-chill” ones such as Anna, Dorsett Golden, and Winter Banana. Many farmers have been lifted out of poverty by taking up apple growing, as the crop is high-value and in demand as East Africans are increasingly exposed to South African imports.

L

ocally-grown apples on the other hand fare poorly when competing with imported apples in the market. The “low-chill” varieties are early season apples, which have a soft, tender quality that bruises easily and do not keep well.

They can have an astringent, chalky taste that some find unpalatable. The color is not a uniform red, and they all ripen at once seasonally within a few weeks of each other, glutting the market and lowering the price. With no refrigerated storage or shipping, the farmer must settle for whatever middlemen will pay or lose the crop.

Anna and Dorsett Golden originated in warm climates; Anna in Israel, and Dorsett Golden in the Bahamas. But most modern apple breeding programs are focused on finding apples that with withstand colder climates, not tropic ones, and developing a new apple variety can require planting tens of thousands of seedlings and testing over decades, which is not within the reach of most tropic government or university breeding programs.

However, Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery of Nakifuma, Uganda, has imported over 50 varieties of apple planting material from the southeastern area of the United States including North Carolina, Alabama, and Virginia. This region has tropic-like heat and humidity in the summer, and millions upon millions of apple seeds were planted there over the last 200 years for establishing hard cider

An apple farmer in Uganda. They’ve been growing apples there since 2005, and farmers have been lifting themselves out of poverty and sending their kids to university from the income apples have brought to this highland area.

(alcoholic apple juice) orchards.

Most of the varieties sprouted from these seeds produced poor quality eating apples, tasting like grass or like cotton (which still made decent cider), but once in a while a quality eating apple was discovered that was well-adapted to the heat and humidity of the area. Cuttings of these better apples were shared among neighbors, and if picked up by a nursery would be given a name and listed in a catalog.

Apple trees have a long life, and trees over 100 years old are not uncommon. When grown well, the taste and quality can equal or surpass any

imported apple in the market.

However, apples are amazingly adaptable, and trials have shown that some of the apples bred for colder climates also readily adapt to warmer ones.

Of special interest to East African farmers are varieties from disease-resistance breeding programs such as PRI (Purdue, Rutgers, University of Illinois) that have developed fungal-resistant varieties that resist scab and powdery mildew, two of the main apple diseases in the tropics.

Apples are still an exotic crop in the tropics, and require specialized training and care to get them to fruit properly, much more so than semi-tropic fruits like citrus or avocado. Without this training they take on a vigorous, unproductive form that bears lots of leaves but no fruit.

Higher altitudes have been traditionally used for apple growing in the tropics, but even these areas receive insufficient cold to mimic the apple’s native environment, and specialized training must be utilized. But the farmer that commits to education and training can be rewarded with a valuable crop that pays for the effort.

Monthly seminars on apple culture are held at the Nakifuma Apple Center outside of Kampala, Uganda, and more information is available at

By Kevin Hauser is the Executive Director of Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery jb@kuffelcreekapplenursery.com www.kuffelcreekapplenursery.com

25 January - February, 2015

Organic fertilizers have many benefits to your crops It is time for planting again and farmers are struggling to buy inputs for use in planting maize, beans and other crops. Apart from seeds, the other most important input is fertilizer. Of course, many farmers planting maize will buy Diammonium Phosphate (DAP). But, chemical fertilizers will not help much.

A

t least many farmers have noted that even after using chemical fertilizers, the crop yield in their farms have reduced over the years. The major reason for this is the continued use of chemical fertilizers, which have depleted their soils. Fertilizers such as DAP, Urea and CAN tend to lower the soil pH, which causes acidity and leaching of essential nutrients from the soil; any crop planted in such soil cannot do well. The best solution for farmers in such situations is to switch to organic fertilizers.

Organic fertilizers have many benefits for the soil. Unlike chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers reduce acidity in the soil and do not cause leaching. They do not kill beneficial microorganisms in the soil. Organic fertilizers also help improve the structure of the soil including the circulation of air, which sustains beneficial microorganisms that help release nutrients to the soil. The major nutrient that crops such as maize require is nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Apart from these, growing crops also require micro-nutrients such as copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca) and sulphur (S).

Natural fertilizers have immense benefits for the soil and crop production. They add soil organic matter, improve soil structure and preserve essential nutrients that crops need in order to grow well.

The most important step farmers can take is to ensure that any organic fertilizer they use has these nutrients in sufficient quantities in order to provide their crops with adequate nutrients for each of them. Below are some of the organic fertilizers that farmers can buy in place of chemical fertilizers to restore soil fertility and get good crop yields and income.

How much fertilizer to use when planting All farmers mix chemical fertilizers with maize seed when planting. The conventional thinking is

that the germinating seed will use the nutrients in the fertilizer to grow well and vigorously. But this is not the case; every seed at germination utilizes the nutrients stored within itself during the first 7 days.

After this period the seed will have exhausted all its reserves of stored nutrients and it will therefore

require supplementation of nutrients through fertilizers. By planting maize seed together with fertilizers, farmers hope that the seed will use the fertilizer after it has exhausted its reserves of nutrients. What exactly happens is exactly the opposite of what the farmers expect- when you apply chemical fertilizers such as DAP when planting, they can have two effects- The fertilizer is acidic in nature so it burns the seeds, therefore no germination will take place. If it is raining heavily, the fertility causes the leaching of essential nutrients such calcium, potassium and magnesium.

Back to the issue of the germinating seed, farmers do not need to plant their maize with chemical fertilizers. Currently there is new technology that involves dressing the seed with organic fertilizers that are well balanced in terms of nutrients. After dressing, the farmers can plant and wait until the maize has germinated; they can then spray their crop with the same organic fertilizers (see table below), which are relatively cheaper in comparison to chemical fertilizers. The maize yield will be the same or even better than that planted using chemical fertilizers.

Important maize planting tips ■■ Before, planting buy seed that is suitable to your area. Seeds are developed specifically for particular areas; if farmers, uses seed that is not recommended for their areas, they will encounter problems with their maize due to rotting, diseases or even low yields.

■■ Always plant early, maize that is planted early has an advantage over that which is planted late. Early planting will reduce incidence of diseases such as MLN and even crop vigour.

■■ Farmers should only buy varieties that they know or understand very well. Never plant a new variety in the whole shamba; isolate a section of the farm and plant any new variety, observe its performance and only

use it if it does well in terms of yield, disease resistance, weight and other parameters such as taste etc.

■■ Always buy seed from recognized agrovet shops. All genuine seeds have company labels with a Kenya Plant Health Inspection Service tags showing lot number and other details.

Some agrovet shops stock fake seed obtained from commercial maize.

■■ Aways practise crop rotation to reduce chances of diseases. Divide your farm into blocks and rotate crops from different plant families such as, beans, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes in order to avoid diseases such as the Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN).

UGANDA NATIONAL ROADS AUTHORITY A Well Developed Roads Network

A BETTER ROAD NETWORK THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MANAGEMENT AND STAFF OF UGANDA NATIONAL ROADS AUTHORITY WISH ALL UGANDANS HAPPY NRM DAY CEREBRATIONS As you travel up-country, you can see observable evidence that our roads are getting better and Uganda National Roads Authority is delivering on its mandate. UNRA is determined to contribute to national development through better and safe roads.

Currently there are over 1,900km of roads under construction and another 1900km will commence in 2015.

Completed Major National Roads and Bridges since 2011 Project

New Roads upgraded to tarmac

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Kampala-Gayaza - Zirobwe

Kabale – Kisoro – Bunagana/Kyanika

Nyakahita-Kazo(Funded by AfDB/GOU)

Kazo – Kamwenge (Funded by AfDB/GOU) Fort Portal – Bundibugyo-Lamia (Funded by AfDB/GOU) Mbarara – Kikagati – Murongo Bridge

(Funded by GOU) Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya road (Funded by GOU)

Roads Rehabilitated

9

Busega – Mityana (Funded by GOU)

12

Malaba/ Busia – Bugiri (Funded by GOU)

10

11

13

14

Kampala – Masaka Phase 1 (Funded by GOU)

41

44

101 68

75

103 75

92

Tororo-Mbale(Funded by GOU)

48

18

Mubuku bridge on Kasese-Rwemi road

-

Daca,Ure,Eventre and Uzurugo on Wandi

-

19

20

21

22

Sept. 2012

February 2014 March 2014

March 2014 June 2014

December 2014

April 2014

52

Bulyamusenyu Bridge

17

August 2011

82

63

154

Bridges Constructed

February 2011

June 2012

Masaka – Mbarara (Funded by EU and GOU) Jinja-Kamuli(Funded by GOU)

Date completed

57

15

16

36

Matugga – Semuto - Kapeeka

Km

-

Aswa Bridge

-

Kilembe bridge on Kasese-Kilembe road

-

Ayugi and Ire Bridges on Atiak-Moyo-Afoji road Total

-

Awoja bridge (Mbale-Soroti road)

-

Nalubale Bridge at Jinja(Rehabilitation)

-

1,055

July 2012

August 2012

December 2014

December 2014

August 2012

November 2012 April 2014 May 2014

May 2014

May 2014

June 2014

November 2014

27 January - February, 2015

Issue 33 JANUARY 2015

Major Road and Bridge Projects under Construction There are over 1900km of major roads under construction

Road Project

KM

Status

New roads under upgrade to tarmac

1

Gulu-Atiak road (Funded by WB/GOU)

74

2

Vurra – Arua – Koboko – Oraba (Funded

by WB/GOU)

92

3

Ishaka – Kagamba (Funded by GOU)

35

4 6 7

Nakapiriprit – Moroto road GOU) Kampala-Entebbe Express with a spur to Munyonyo

(Funded by

93

Highway 51

(Funded by China EXIM bank/ GOU) Kamwenge-Fort Portal (Funded by WB/ GOU)

65

8

Atiak –-Nimule (Funded by JICA/GOU)

37

9

Mbarara-Bypass (Funded by EIB/GOU)

40

10

Mpigi-Kanoni

64

11 12 13

(Funded by GOU)

Ntungamo-Kakitumba/Mirama Hills

37

(Funded by DFID/TMEA/ GOU) Expansion of Kampala Northern Bypass

17

(Funded by EU/EIB/GOU Mukono-Kyetume-Katosi/Kisoga-Nyen ga (Funded by GOU)*

-

74

16

Luuku-Kalangala (Staged upgrading 66 under PPP) Kanoni-Ssembabule-Villa Maria (Funded 120

by GOU) Acholi Bur – Musingo (Funded by GOU) 86

17

Olwiyo - Gulu (Funded by GOU)

70

18

Gulu – Acholi Bur (Funded by GOU)

86

19

Musiita-Lumino-Busia/Majanji(Funded by GOU)

14 15

104

90% of the works done and the project will be completed by June 2015 ( China Henan International Cooperation)

90% of the works done and the project will be completed by June 2015) (Chonqing International Construction Corporation)

50% of the works done and the project will be completed by December 2015 . (Dott Services Limited) 52% of the works done and the project will be completed by January 2016 (China Road and Bridge)

30% of the works done and the project will be completed by December 2017 (China Communications Construction Company)

20% of the works done. The project will be completed by January 2016) (China Railway 7 th Group) 30% of the works done (China Railway Wuju (Group) Corpora tion)

-

13% of works done ) (China Railway 7 th Group)

10% of works done (Energo Projekt)

Physical works have commenced in September 2014 (Zhongmei En gineering Group)

-

Physical works have commenced. (Mota Engil)

10% of works completed. (SBI JV RCC) 30% of works completed (Spencon)

Physical works have commenced. (China Railway No.3 Engineering Group)

Physical works have commenced. (Chonqing International Construction Corporation)

Physical works have commenced. (Zhongmei Engineering Group)

Physical works have commenced (China Railway No.5 Engineering Group) Contractor mobilizing. January 2015 (China Railway 18 th Bureau Group)

Roads under Rehabilitation/Reconstruction

20

Kampala (Busega)-Masaka (Phase ll) Funded by GOU

21

Mbale- Soroti (Funded by GOU)

104

22

Kawempe-Luwero-Kafu (Overlay) (Funded by GOU)

166

23

Mbarara (Buteraniro) – Ntungamo (Funded by EU/GOU)

59

24

Ntungamo-Katuna Road (Funded by EU/GOU)

74

25

Mukono – Jinja (Funded by GOU)

52

28 January - February, 2015

51

96% of works completed. The project will be completed in February 2015 (Reynolds Construction Company)

95% of the works done. Mbale-Soroti will be handed overat the end of March 2015. (Dott Service) 95% of the works done and the road will be completed April 2015 (Energo Projekt)

90% of the works done and the project will be completed by March 2015 (SBI International Holdings)

75% of the works done and the project will be completed by June 2015.

(SBI International Holdings) 70% of the works done and the road will be completed by June 2015.

(Sterling)

The Roads Magazine 37

26

Kafu-Kiryandongo (Funded by GOU)

43

Kamdini-Gulu (Funded by GOU)

62

27

Kiryandongo-Kamdini (Funded by GOU)

29

Pakwach-Nebbi (Funded by GOU)

28

30 31

2 nd Nile Bridge at Jinja

34

36

Kyanzuki-Kasese-Kilembe road

38

39

Birara Bridge

Ntungwe

bridges

Pakwala,Nyacyara, Goli and Nyagak-3 bridges in Nebbi

in

Cido bridge on Nebbi-Goli, Nebbi dis trict Leresi (Butaleja) bridge on ButalejaLere si-Budaka road Nyalita-Kapchorwa-Suam road Total

60% of works done (Sterling)

-

Under Construction. 50% works done

-

-

-

Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in January 2015

Under Construction. The works will include construction of 6km access roads. 10% 0f works done.

-

-

10% of works done ) (China Communications Construction Company)

6 -

Mitaano and Kanunugu

37

4

Bridges under construction

Apak Bridge

35

30

Namanve Industrial Area roads (Funded

by GOU)

32

33

58

30% of the works done. The project will be completed by Dec 2015.

(Energo Projekt) 10% of works done ) (China Communications Construction Company)

Under Construction. 15% works done Under mobilization stage

Under construction. 60% works done

Under Construction. 50% works done

-

Under Construction, commenced in October 2014

-

Under Construction, commenced in October 2014

-

1920

Under Construction, commenced in October 2014

A total of over 1,900km of roads are due to commence. The following roads will commence in 2015:

Road Name

New Roads for Upgrade to Tarmac

1

Kigumba-Masindi-Hoima-BulimaKabwoya (Funded by AfDB/GOU)

3

Design and Build of Mubende-KakumiroKibaale-Kagadi (Funded by GOU)

5

Rukungiri-Kihihi-Ishasha-Kambuga/KihihiKanungu-Kambuga (Funded by AfDB/GOU)

7

Muyembe - Nakapiripirit (Funded by Islamic Development Bank)

2 4

5 8

9

10

11

12

38

Km

Status

135

Bid evaluation completed. (Due diligence stage).

107

Bid evaluation ongoing.

Bid evaluation completed. (Due diligence stage).

Masaka-Bukakata (Funded by BADEA/OPEC)

41

Kyenjojo-Kabwoya (Funded by WB/GOU)

105

Bids evaluation completed. Report submitted to WB for “No Objection� to award contract.

Tirinyi-Pallisa-Kumi/Kamonkoli (Funded by BADEA/ OPEC/GOU)

111

Procurement ongoing

112 94

Procurement ongoing

At project preparation

Mbale-Bubulo-Lwakhakha (Funded by AfDB/GOU)

55

Procurement ongoing

Kapchorwa-Suam ( Funded by AfDB/GOU)

73

At project preparation.

Zirobwe-Wobulenzi

Hoima-Butiaba-Wanseko

Kayunga - Galiraya

25

111 88

At project preparation.

At project preparation.

At project preparation

29 January - February, 2015

Issue 33 JANUARY 2015

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Kampala-Jinja Expressway/Southern Bypass

80

At project preparation

Kampala Flyover Project

5

At project preparation

30

Kampala-Mpigi Expressway

Ring road ( Seeta- Namugongo-Kiira- Matugga-Wakiso/ Najjanakumbi- Busabala )

84 60

Masindi Port- Apach-Lira

30 31 32 33 34 35

36 37 38

At project preparation At project preparation

Roads for Rehabilitation

70

At project preparation

Kyenjojo-Fort Portal

50

Procurement ongoing

20

Procurement ongoing

(Funded by GOU)

Ishaka-Rugazi-Katunguru

(Funded by GOU)

Sironko-Namusi-Muyembe

(Funded by GOU)

Mbale-Nkokonjeru Iganga-Tirinyi

Nansana-Busunju

Iganga 窶適aliro

(Funded by GOU)

32

102

(Funded by GOU)

47

(Funded by GOU)

32

(Funded by GOU)

Mukono-Kayunga-Njeru

Fort Portal-Hima-Katunguru Kampala-Mukono

55

94

(Funded by GOU)

93 20

(Funded by GOU)

Upcoming Bridges 29

At project preparation

Ora Bridge Aji Bridge

-

( Funded by GOU)

-

( Funded by GOU)

Kabaale(linking Kyankwanzi to Ngoma in Nakaseke)

-

Kasozi(Lugogo) bridge (linking Ngoma-Buruli) Nalakasi-Ariamoi-Kotido-Kaabong-Kapedo road Kaabong(Kaabong)-Ariamoi-Kotido-KabongKapedo road Lopei bridge on Ariamoi-Kotido-Kaabongkadepo road

Maliba bridge on Nkenda-Bugoye-Nyakalingi road, Kasese Ruboni bridge on access to MT. Mageritta tourist site, Kasese Nyamugasani(Kasese)-Kinyamaseke-KisingaKibirizi road Total

-

1931

Procurement ongoing Contract Awarded

Contract Awarded (Dott Service) Contract Awarded

Contract Awarded (Sterling)

Contract Awarded (SBI International) At project preparation At project preparation Under Procurement Under Procurement

Contract award stage Contract award stage

Procurement under process Under procurement Under procurement Under procurement

Under procurement

Under Procurement

UNRA CUSTOMER CARE CENTRE In our effort to help serve our customers better and obtain feedback from all our stakeholders, we have installed a Customer care hotline and email to be able to listen to you better.

Talk to us!

031-2233111/113 or 041-4318111/113, Email roadinfo@unra.go.ug Website http://www.unra.go.ug

30 January - February, 2015

The Roads Magazine 3

9

Opinion

The fertile roots of Rwanda’s green revolution Better fertiliser provision has helped millions of Rwandan farmers boost yields – a model that could be replicated elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. Before Rwanda’s crop intensification programme, few fertiliser companies would export to the country, says the former agriculture minister.

L

ess than a decade ago, most Rwandans experienced hunger three months of the year. Now, most of the country is food secure, in part because farmers can access yield-enhancing fertilisers and profitable markets to sell their produce.

Analysis What is the millennium development goal on poverty and hunger all about?

The first MDG set out to halve 1990 poverty and hunger rates by the end of this year. As the deadline approaches, we look at what progress has been made In 2006, Rwandan farmers did not have the tools needed to boost food production. As a small landlocked country in central Africa, most fertiliser companies would not even consider exporting their product to the nation beyond a small quantity for tea and coffee estates. While more than 80% of Rwandans were farmers, only a small fraction were able to access fertilisers.

Recognising the need to produce more food, we worked across time zones on a strategy enticing the private sector to bring fertilisers and seeds into the country. The centrepiece became the Rwandan government’s flagship crop intensification programme – reducing seed and fertiliser costs for farmers and increasing access to productivityenriching supplies. These interventions helped shelter Rwanda from the effects of the 2008 world food crisis by keeping food prices and availability stable.

We travelled across the outskirts of Kigali after the first year of the programme and saw first-hand how local farmers doubled the amount of food produced. Many even tripled their yields.

The farmers said their neighbourhood shops were now stocked with fertiliser and improved seeds.

This policy environment became the driving force behind a new era of agriculture for Rwanda.

According to 2012 government statistics, fertiliser use more than doubled, from 18% in 2005-06

By Dr Agnes Kalibata & Dr Amit Roy

to 38% in 2010-11. Farmers now had excess produce to sell. “In 2005-06, households sold around 18% of their agricultural output on average; by 2010-11 the average proportion of output sold had risen to 25%,” said the survey. And perhaps more staggering, per capita GDP grew by 62% from US$333 to US$540.

In some countries, such increases do not always benefit poor people. Yet in Rwanda, the poverty rate decreased from 57% to 45%. The nation’s per capita GDP now stands at US$730. According to

the World Bank, 45% of poverty reduction can be attributed directly to agriculture.

Today, Rwandans are focusing not only on growing more food, but more nutritious food.

As a result of a partnership between HarvestPlus and the government, a third of the nation’s households are producing healthier crops using improved bean seeds fortified with micronutrients. But improved seeds are not enough. Fertilisers containing micronutrients are also necessary. Recent field trials show that productivity increases by 40% when fertiliser nutrients match soil characteristics. In Rwanda, micronutrient trials are doubling maize yields and sky-rocketing potato production.

Rwanda’s agricultural revolution can serve as a model for other nations Rwanda’s agricultural revolution can serve as a model for other nations to unlock policy and market constraints. Fertiliser initiatives that open markets, strengthen nutrition and spur partnerships will empower farmers towards improved livelihoods.

The first steps to building farmers’ access to fertiliser and other technologies are an enabling policy environment and strong leadership. Rwanda’s significant strides in economic growth would

Before Rwanda’s crop intensification programme, few fertiliser companies would export to the country, says the former agriculture minister

31 January - February, 2015

Research not have been possible without the revitalised input markets brought about by the 2006 Africa fertiliser summit and resulting Abuja declaration on fertiliser for an African green revolution.

This momentum began when African heads of states endorsed the 2003 Maputo declaration on agriculture and food security.

The Abuja declaration declared fertiliser “a strategic commodity without borders” and listed concrete actions to improve its access for smallholders. The Maputo declaration committed governments to spend at least 10% of their budget on agriculture, allowing new policies to be financed. Today, both declarations are the markers that African Union member countries use to measure progress towards food security.

For these policies to have ground-level impact, farmers must access timely market opportunities

to prevent post-harvest losses. Public-private partnerships are generating greater market participation and boosting agribusiness. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa and its partners, including the International Fertiliser Development Centre, are investing in better links among governments, the private sector and smallholder organisations, and encouraging governments to develop private-sector friendly policies. The African Green Revolution Forum brings all players together to address industry opportunities and challenges.

In his Nobel lecture the late Norman Borlaug said fertilisers fuelled the green revolution in Asia of the 1960s. As the world population increases to a predicted 9.6 billion in the next 35 years, farmers must grow 60% more food on the same amount of land, with food demand increasing by

178% in sub-Saharan Africa. Rwandan farmers have demonstrated that dramatic yield increases are possible, and there has been similar growth in several sub-Saharan countries.

There is no doubt that effective fertiliser policies, innovative technologies and market-building partnerships can power a green revolution in Africa. The question is no longer how but when.

And it will take all of us working together to make it happen.

Dr Agnes Kalibata served as Rwanda’s minister of agriculture and animal resources from 2008-14. She is now president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.

Dr Amit Roy is president and CEO of the International Fertiliser Development Centre

Researchers make beans count for the poor Scientists have bred 30 new varieties of "heat-beating" beans designed to provide protein for the world’s poor in the face of global warming, researchers announced last week. Described as "meat of the poor", beans are a key food source for more than 400 million people across the developing world, but the area suitable for growing them could drop 50% by 2050 because of global warming, endangering tens of millions of lives, scientists say. "Small farmers around the world are living on the edge, even in the best situation," says senior researcher Steve Beebe.

C

limate change will force many to go hungry, or throw in the towel, sell their land and move into urban slums if they don’t get support."

Many of the new varieties, bred to resist droughts and higher temperatures, put traits from less popular strains, such as the tepary bean, into pinto, black, white and kidney beans.

Beebe says the new varieties were bred through traditional crossing of different species, rather than more controversial genetic engineering whereby traits are artificially transferred.

The discovery was made after scientists examined thousands of strains of beans stored in "gene banks". They were actually searching for types of beans that could withstand poor soils when they found genes to help create the "heat-beater" beans, Beebe says.

SOME of the 30 new types also have higher iron content to help increase their nutritional value, says the Consultative Group for Interna-

32 January - February, 2015

New designer beans can help the world cope with global warming.

tional Agricultural Research, the research group that is backing the new discoveries.

New heat-tolerant beans might be able to handle average global temperature increases of 4ºC, the medium-term worst case scenario for global warming, researchers say.

If the new strains can handle even a 3ºC rise in average temperatures, the bean production area lost to climate change would be limited to about 5%, they say.

Bean growers in Latin America and subSaharan Africa — including Nicaragua, Haiti, Brazil, Honduras, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo — are likely to be the worst hit by global warming.

Some of these countries, dependent on their small farmers to feed themselves, are not in a good position to adapt to a planet that is warming up.

Clayton Campanhola, director of plant production and protection at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, says the discovery of new "climate smart" bean strains is a big deal.

"It’s important to have innovation," Campanhola says. "We need to promote access to these seeds for small farmers ... it’s a major achievement."

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