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

2.3.3 Particular intensification potential
Intensification of agricultural production in southwestern Uganda could be based on some niches
and comparative advantages of the region. Among the key elements of the comparative advantage
are:
• Farmers’ and leaders’ willingness to intensify given the high population density and
the vulnerable environment (many farmers and leaders said that intensive agriculture
would allow them to concentrate on better land, leaving the vulnerable ones for other landuse,
i.e. perennials);
• Reasonable market access in most areas;
• Dense coverage by development organizations in some areas;
• Cool climate as a niche;
• Relatively plentiful labour
• Cash enterprises are already integrated in parts of the farming systems
These findings match well with the criteria used by IFPRI for the delineation of development
domains (Bolwig et al, 2001): agricultural potential, market access and population density.
Principle pathways for intensification in the southwest can build upon the following natural
capital assets or promising enterprises:
(1) Favorable environmental conditions – good agricultural potential
Soils without major inherent limitations, favorable climate and a highly diverse environment
related to the various altitudes, offer basic biophysical conditions to produce a wide range of
agricultural and forest commodities. Key factors are:
o Inherently fertile soils
As shown in figure 2.1 soils in the southwestern farming systems do not inherently limit
production potential. With appropriate management, most soils are suitable for producing
a wide variety of commodities.
o Climate
Except for the rift valley areas, the southwest of Uganda receives medium to high levels of
bimodal rainfall, sufficient to cover the needs of most crops. Mid May to early September
is a dry period where annual crops cannot grow without irrigation. The exception is the
highland valley areas that are currently being used for pasture and cultivation by farmers.
These lands can be farmed during off-seasons and farmers have invested in irrigation
channels. The cool climate is a niche for temperate crops, as evidenced by Irish potatoes
being a cash crop that can only thrive in cool environments but has a good market in the
urban centers where it is too warm to produce them. Similarly, it is expected that
temperate fruits can only grow in the highlands and can substitute for imported products in
the urban centers.
o Highland diversity
Highlands offer a wide variety of local growing conditions. Different temperature and
rainfall regimes based on altitude as well as soil diversity along the catena offer a wide
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