Upland rice production in Kabarole is a flop.
The farmers there say that the rice production has been pushed to the drain by lack of land.
Upland rice is commonly grown in Rwimi Sub County in the parishes of Kakonga, Kadindimu and Kaina.
Rice farming was introduced in the sub county in 2006 after the Area based Agricultural Modernization Programme carried out trials and found that the area is suitable for rice growing because of the warm temperatures in the area.
Because of its high demand in the district and outside, farmers are forced to increase on the production but unfortunately, they are being held back by lack of land.
In Kakonga parish, Eunice Kezia,a farmer has planted rice on one and half acre of land and would want to plant more because she has many customers who purchase her rice, but she is unable because of shortage of land.
She says that she built a two-roomed house on the remaining piece of land, leaving her with no more land.
Kezia also says that landlords rent out pieces of land to rice farmers at a high cost
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Simon Musinguzi, a farmer in Rwimi town council says that after every harvest, he gives some of his produce to the landlord in exchange for land to temporarily grow his rice.
Amos Mugume, the Kabarole district production coordinator,says that with the help of the National Crops Resources Research Institute in Namulonge, they are training the farmers on the effective use of fertilizers which will help to increase rice production on the small pieces of land.
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Last month, Rwimi Farmers Association requested President Museveni to give them part of the land, belonging to Rwimi Prison and they plant more rice.
Statistics from the district production department, indicate that there are 3000 households growing rice on a small and large scale, producing 2,800 tones of rice a year.
