Poor soils in Kamuli district are ruining many farmers’ crop harvest this season.
Farmers URN spoke to say despite good rains and sunshine in the past season, most of them have only harvested have less than half of what they expected due to poor soils.
Hussein Tibitangwa, a farmer from Namisambya village in Kitayundwa sub-county, blames his low harvest to crumbly soils in his four acre garden in which he planted maize and cabbages.
He only got six bags of maize instead of the usual 12-15 bags from two acres planted and about 1000 cabbages instead of 10,000 from the other two acres planted.
His maize was stunted and the cabbages were few and small in size.
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Robinah Basalirwa, a farmer from Butimbo village in Butansi sub-county, says the soils have not been given a chance to rest. Nor do the farmers apply manure and other fertilizers which are unaffordable.
She harvested only 20 kilograms of beans from one acre and two bags of maize from the other acre.
She says the harvest has dwindled down by two –thirds compared to what she usually got from her garden over the last five years.
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Isabirye Kibedi says he realized the soils are poor after his crops begun becoming pale. On consulting the district agriculture extension officials, he was told the soils lack some plant nutrients. He then lobbied for some fertilizers from the National Agriculture Advisory Services officer. He got them but they could not save his maize, beans and ground nuts.
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John Mpawulo, Kamuli district agriculture officer, says farmers have been taught how to practice soil conservation methods but always need to be reminded. Due to absence of funds refresher programmes are not often held.
