NOTICIAS

Uganda: Rice growers anticipate ready market

Tractors can help change the fortunes of farmers.

UgandaKampala — BETWEEN the year 2004 and 2008, farmers in Kapeeka, Semuto and Nakaseke grew only rice. A year ago, however, this changed, thanks to the intervention of Gen. Salim Saleh and Chinese investors.

“We got money from rice but with each season, our earnings dropped. So farmers decided to grow maize,” says Kapeeka LC3 chairman, Moses Ssenfuma.

Just after Kapeeka trading centre on the Kapeeka-Bukomero Road are acres of maize as far as the eye can see. The maize is flourishing despite the recent dry spell and the farmers use modern farming practices, courtesy of Gen. Saleh who donated tractors. According to the arrangement, the farmers can pay after harvesting. Salim Saleh gave at least two acres each to over 70 farmers to grow the maize.

If well-maintained, an acre of maize produces at least three to four tonnes. This means that each of the farmers expects six to eight tonnes in the December harvest.  “This was a dream come true. Before this scheme was introduced, I was scavenging around for food and money, but now I expect a good yield,” says Christopher Lubwa, one of the farmers.

The Kapeeka scheme is one example of how tractors can help change the fortunes of farmers. The scheme has had a positive outflow throughout the sub-county. “People from other parts of the sub-county have picked up the maize growing idea from this farm,” says Ssenfuma. Some of these have planted as large as five acres of maize. The farmers are buoyant because they have a ready market. The Chinese intend to buy a kilo of unprocessed maize at between sh400 and 500.

However, there are challenges. Since Kapeeka and Ssemuto sub-counties run along the famous River Mayanja, hippos regularly destroy the crops.

According to Ssenfuma, the population of hippos in River Mayanja has increased in the last few years. “We live in fear of these animals. One day, I found my maize shamba destroyed,” says Deus Luboyera. It is not only the hippos, there are also crocodiles. “Every other month, cows are killed by crocodiles. Since cows as much as sh500,000, this is big loss to the cattle keepers,” Ssenfuma says. There are also lots of monkeys and wild pigs which destroy crops.

The local leaders lament that the sub-county has got no vermin control officers because they cannot pay them. “We used to get someone from Luweero district. He once shot at one of the hippos, but Uganda Wildlife Authority officers warned him never to do it again. It is like wild animals have got precedence over human survival, yet this area is not a demarcated animal sanctuary,” Ssenfuma says.

Cassava was also recently attacked by a yet to be identified disease. Samples of the affected crops were taken to Kampala for testing and the results are still pending.

NOTICIAS