In a concerted effort to address declining soil fertility and enhance agricultural productivity, Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening fertilizer use, irrigation, and soil management practices.
Organised by AGRA, The two-day stakeholder workshop, which brought together government officials, private sector players, agricultural researchers, and development partners, academia explored key interventions to enhance soil fertility, increase access to agricultural inputs, and improve extension services.
Despite the government's commitment to transforming the agricultural sector, several critical challenges remain namely:
The High Cost of Agricultural Inputs with Farmers struggling with the rising costs of fertilizers, which range from Ug Shs 250,000 and sometimes even beyond, making them unaffordable for many smallholders. There is a need for subsidies or innovative financing solutions to improve accessibility.
Farmer also are faced with low levels of agricultural commercialization as many farmers remain trapped in subsistence farming due to limited access to improved inputs and markets.
There is a need to make agriculture a viable business where farmers see tangible financial returns.
The limited awareness and knowledge gaps poise q significant barrier to fertilizer adoption especially on proper usage, soil fertility management, and the importance of soil testing and mapping.
The ministry is launching a "Farmer, Know Your Soil" program to educate farmers on soil health and fertilizer use.
Fake Fertilizers and Quality Control Issues is yet another hurdle with the market flooded with counterfeit agricultural inputs, including fertilizers, which reduce productivity.
In response, the government is setting up a dedicated authority within the Food and Agriculture Authority to regulate and oversee fertilizer quality control.
The country is stills grappling with weak agricultural extension services – Uganda’s extension service system faces severe constraints, with a 1:2000 extension worker-to-farmer ratio.
The country has 9,627 extension worker positions, yet only 4,272 are filled, leaving a gap of 5,355 vacancies. Many extension officers are also overburdened with administrative tasks rather than technical advisory roles.
Experts also emphasized that purely organic farming alone will not sustain global food demands. Instead, a balanced approach integrating organic and inorganic fertilizers is necessary to maintain soil health and boost productivity.
In response to these challenges, the government outlined a series of interventions aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainable soil health such as
Reviewing the National Fertilizer Policy – The 2016 National Fertilizer Policy is under review to improve access, affordability, and responsible use of fertilizers. The government is also finalizing Fertilizer Control Regulations under the Agricultural Chemicals Control Act.
Strengthening Agricultural Extension Services – The government has committed to reviewing and professionalizing extension services, ensuring extension workers are properly trained and equipped to support farmers.
Promoting Soil Testing and Mapping – Plans are underway to establish 69 integrated soil testing laboratories across the country to help farmers understand soil conditions and optimize fertilizer use.
Developing a Fertilizer Fund – The government included a Fertilizer Fund in the budget framework paper, aiming to provide financial support for fertilizer procurement and distribution.
Uganda currently applies only 3 kg of fertilizer per hectare, far below the recommended 50 kg per hectare applied in other African countries. The government’s strategy aims to bridge this gap through improved extension services, increased farmer awareness, and investment in irrigation infrastructure.
According to Henry Nakelet Opolot, Commissioner for Agricultural extension and Skills Management at MAAIF, the ministry is prioritizing immediate implementation of soil health programs to ensure farmers understand soil fertility management and make informed fertilizer decisions.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Bwino Fred Kyakulaga, who served as the chief guest, stressed the importance of collaboration between government, private sector players, agricultural researchers, civil society, and development partners to address Uganda’s soil fertility challenges.
“With the right policies, investments, and farmer education, we can transform Uganda’s agricultural sector, improve productivity, and secure food security for future generations,” the minister noted while officially closing the workshop.
As Uganda pushes forward with its ambitious agricultural transformation agenda, key focus areas will include reducing fertilizer costs, strengthening extension services, tackling counterfeit fertilizers, and promoting sustainable soil health practices.
With coordinated efforts from all stakeholders, the country is better positioned to achieve its Vision 2040 goal of a modern, commercialized agricultural sector.