Crop Production and Inputs
Increase crop production and yield through research
Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the Ugandan economy. It contributes about 20 percent of GDP, accounts for 48 percent of exports and provides a large proportion of the raw materials for industry. The sector employs 73 percent of the population . About 4.0 million households in Uganda survive on small-holder farming and a significant proportion, (about 30%), of the population live below the poverty line and suffer food insecurity
Coffee is the most important cash crop throughout all the years, making it the top export business earner since the 1980s. It has also specialized in the production of 2 types of Coffee, which are Arabica and Robusta coffee
Maize is the most important cereal crop in Uganda providing over 40% of the calories consumed in both rural and urban areas. The crop has increasingly become a staple food in many parts of the Uganda
production of fruit and vegetable is gaining importance. Despite agricultural practices being weak, farmers in Uganda make a reasonable profit margin from their farm plots.
Crop Production Inputs
Herbicides
These include Agro Chemicals that are used to manage weeds. They can be selective (only killing certain type of weeds) or can be non-Selective (can kill all types of plants). Farmers are properly trained on use before using them.
Fungicides
These are Agro Chemicals used to manage fungal infections. They can be organic such as Bio Cure F or they can be inorganic such as Mancozeb. There are also contact, trans laminar and systems options available. Farmers can use them to prevent or cure fungal infections. Farmers are properly trained before using them.
Vegetable Seeds
These include Agro Chemicals that are used to manage weeds. They can be selective (only killing certain type of weeds) or can be non-Selective (can kill all types of plants). Farmers are properly trained on use before using them.
Equipment and Machinery
We have simple tools such as Hand hoes, Forked Hoes, Slashers, Spade Etc. We also have Equipment such as for Irrigation, Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling and Value Addition. Machinery for farm operations are also available..
Crop Seeds
Field crops include; maize, beans, soybean Etc. We have Hybrid and open-pollinated varieties. The seeds are high-yielding, Drought and disease-tolerant, early maturing, and fortified with essential nutrients for children and pregnant women. Higher returns from these crops require a bigger acreage/land size..
Fertilizers
These can be organic or inorganic but we advise farmers to use both such that they can meet short term crop needs (inorganic fertilizers have high nutrient content and can easily be released to the soil) while at the same ensuring that the soils are productive over the long period (organic fertilizers: improve soil physical properties such as ability to withhold water, nutrients, buffer PH and keep a high micro-organism population etc.). Farmers are properly trained before using the products
Insecticides
They can be organic such as cimetidine or in organic such as Cypermethrin. There are also contact and systemic options that can be used by the farmers. Farmers are properly trained before using them.