Agricultural experts have intensified efforts to increase Irish potato production in Uganda’s Buganda region through the use of organic fertilisers, primarily produced from cow dung, in a bid to restore soil fertility and boost yields.
The initiative, led by Itracom Fertilisers Uganda, seeks to challenge the long-held perception that Irish potato farming is not viable in Buganda due to soil degradation.
Researchers say that improved soil management combined with organic inputs could make potato farming both productive and sustainable in the region.
The project also aims to enhance household incomes and strengthen food security by reintroducing Irish potato cultivation to areas where the crop has historically underperformed.
Trials are ongoing to develop and test seven Irish potato varieties suitable for different soil textures across Uganda.
Musa Majid Marjan, farm manager at Itracom Fertilisers Uganda, said the intervention focuses on rebuilding soil structure and restoring nutrient balance using locally produced organic fertilisers.
“We are producing seed varieties which will undergo trials in different regions of the country,” Marjan said, adding that demonstration farms have been established to showcase how organic fertilisers perform under Buganda’s agro-ecological conditions.
Itracom’s country representative, Jeanluc Birigimana, explained that the project includes a 50-acre demonstration farm dedicated to Irish potatoes, alongside a 13-acre site for beans and peas to encourage crop rotation and improve soil health.
“When we started growing Irish potatoes here, many people told us it would not work,” Birigimana said. He noted that the demonstration sites are designed as practical learning centres for farmers and agricultural extension workers.
The project currently occupies 100 acres of land, out of the 130 acres initially proposed by the investor following guidance from President Museveni.
The total investment is estimated at USD 180 million.
Agricultural analysts believe the initiative could reshape perceptions of Irish potato farming in Buganda and contribute to national food security if adopted widely by smallholder farmers.
