Farmers in Kabarole District are registering improved agricultural productivity following support from the Local Economic Growth Support (LEGS) Project, which provided a tractor to Kijura SACCO to ease land preparation and reduce production costs.
The LEGS Project, funded by the Government of Uganda and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and implemented by the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC), aims to improve rural livelihoods and accelerate economic transformation in 17 districts across the country.
In Kabarole, the project supported Kijura SACCO Ltd with a tractor in 2024 under a co-funding arrangement in which the government contributed Shs84 million (60%) while the SACCO raised Shs56 million (40%), bringing the total cost to Shs145 million.
Farmers report reduced costs and higher yields
Robert Abigaba, a farmer from Munsiso Village in Kabende Sub-county, says the tractor has significantly reduced the cost and time spent on land preparation while improving crop yields.
Abigaba, who has been a member of Kijura SACCO for two years, says mechanisation has transformed farming among members.
“Since the SACCO acquired the tractor, it has made a big difference in our farming activities. The time spent preparing land has reduced and we are now able to plant within the right season,” Abigaba said.
He explained that before the tractor was introduced, farmers relied on manual labour, which was expensive and time-consuming.
“Previously, it would cost about Shs250,000 to prepare an acre using labourers and it could take up to four days. Now we pay about Shs120,000 per acre using the tractor and it is done in a very short time,” he added.
According to Abigaba, mechanisation has enabled him to expand his farmland from nine acres to sixteen acres, resulting in increased production.
“When we were farming manually, I would harvest about five to seven bags of maize per acre. But after we started using the tractor, the yield increased to about ten bags per acre,” he said.
He noted that deeper tilling done by tractors helps improve soil productivity compared to shallow manual digging.
“When a tractor ploughs, it goes deeper into the soil and buries grass and debris, which later turn into manure. This improves soil fertility and increases yields,” he explained.
However, Abigaba appealed for additional equipment to meet the growing demand among farmers.
“One tractor is not enough because many farmers want to use it. If the government could provide another tractor and even a planter, it would help us maximise production,” he said.
Gerald Ngiramahoro, the General Manager of Kijura SACCO, said the tractor has significantly improved farmers’ productivity and boosted membership in the SACCO.
“We thank the Government of Uganda, through the LEGS programme, for providing us with a tractor that is helping smallholder farmers cultivate their land and increase productivity,” Ngiramahoro said.
He revealed that the tractor was received in January 2024 and has since helped improve members’ household incomes.
“Our farmers were previously relying on manual labour, which limited production. With the tractor, farmers are now cultivating larger acreage and producing more,” he said.
Ngiramahoro said the SACCO intentionally set lower charges for tractor services to make them affordable to farmers.
“Private tractors were charging about Shs250,000 per acre, which was expensive for many farmers. For our members, we charge between Shs100,000 and Shs140,000 depending on the terrain,” he explained.
He said the tractor has also attracted new members to the SACCO.
“Last year alone, we received about 2,400 new members. Many joined because they wanted to benefit from the tractor services,” Ngiramahoro said.
Kijura SACCO currently has about 10,000 members and prioritises service delivery over profit-making.
“As a cooperative, our focus is not to make huge profits but to help our members improve their household incomes and move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture,” he added.
Ngiramahoro also revealed that demand for the tractor has expanded beyond Kabarole District.
“We initially thought the tractor would serve farmers in Kabarole only, but we are receiving requests from Kyenjojo, Bunyangabu and Kasese districts. This shows the demand is still very high,” he said.
The tractor has also created employment opportunities, including jobs for operators.
Rashid Mwesigwa, the tractor driver, said the job helped him rebuild his life after losing his previous employment.
“I had stayed home for two years without a job, and I had loans in banks while still constructing my house. When the SACCO acquired the tractor, they looked for an experienced operator and I was given the opportunity,” Mwesigwa said.
He says the job has enabled him to clear his debts and support his family.
“The tractor is very busy and I plough about 14 acres a day. With this job, I have managed to clear my debts, complete my house and support my child who is now at university,” he said.
Officials from the Microfinance Support Centre are currently conducting a week-long inspection of the LEGS Project in the Kabarole zone to assess its impact on beneficiaries.
The LEGS Project is designed to support groups, reduce poverty, and boost rural incomes through agricultural development, improved water infrastructure, and market access in 17 districts.
