Technologies for intensification in SW Uganda ... - Foodnet - cgiar

o Input availability, costs and knowledge
With the few exceptions of contract farming, all smallholder farming in southwestern Uganda can
be described as low external input farming. Basic supplies of pesticides and veterinary drugs are
available in the main towns and trading centers. Uganda is well known for its very low use of
fertilizer. As a cause or consequence, or both, it is not surprising that fertilizer availability is poor
in the southwest, even in many of the trading centers.
Asked why they wouldn’t use inputs farmers cited both high costs and lack of knowledge as
reasons. Indeed, use of a good number of inputs do not appear to be profitable under current
economic conditions, i.e. fertilizer for low value crops such as sorghum. However, on the other
hand farmers reported total losses of crops that could have been prevented with relatively cheap
inputs. Equally, overcoming the above-mentioned issues on product quality will require improved
management including increased input use.
Evaluating economic returns to inputs under on-farm conditions use should form the basis for
appropriate recommendations. Knowledge of extension workers and farmers on appropriate and
economic input use levels needs to be strengthened. Also, working with input dealers to review
the units for sale may enhance the use of inputs as farmers often prefer to purchase smaller
quantities.
o High poverty rates and low capitalization for investments
We were not able to obtain precise measures of poverty nor how poverty relates to farm
investments. However, much is known about the nature of the relationship from studies in other
countries. There are efforts underway to develop highly disaggregated poverty maps for all of
Uganda (with the World Bank and AERC). When these are completed, these additional data will
be important to better understand the nature of constraints to intensification as well as
opportunities for targeting interventions.
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