Feed the Future Multi-Year Strategy, Uganda, Public

Table 1. Yield Gap of Selected Feed the Future Crops (Kg/hectare)
Crop On farmer’s field On Research Station Yield Gap
Maize 551 5,000 – 8,000 807 – 1,352
Beans 358 2,000 – 4,000 458 – 1,017
Coffee 369 3,500 849
Banana 1872 4,500 140
Groundnuts 636 2,700 – 3,500 324 – 450
Source: DSIP
While Uganda benefits from having nearly half the arable land in East Africa, abundant rainfall, and two
growing seasons, the country is plagued with issues of disease and pests, declining soil fertility, poor
infrastructure, lack of access to finance, poor quality inputs, inadequate post harvest storage and
processing. Limited market information and clear evidence of collusion by traders at local and national
levels leaves small farmers with few options but to sell their produce for the lowest price possible. 17
Agricultural yields per hectare are significantly below potential, with the majority of Ugandan farmers
not using improved agricultural practices. Post harvest losses are high, with estimates of maize losses
varying from 10 to 25 percent.
Gender
Approximately 70 percent of all smallholder farmers are women, and women are responsible for 70
percent of overall agriculture GDP. Moreover, women are estimated to produce 90 percent of
Uganda’s total food output and 50 percent of the total cash crop production. Although there is
crosscutting awareness of gender as an economic issue and a government commitment to address the
issues of gender inequality, Uganda lacks the requisite data to identify the gaps, issues, and problems
that require a remedy.
Climate Change
Environment and climate change are also important factors in Uganda. Climate change models for
Uganda point to increasing temperatures in the medium term and thus, increased potential for
weather-related shocks to the poor. 18 It is predicted that a two degree centigrade temperature rise
will reduce Uganda’s coffee production by 80 percent. 19 This should be considered in light of a
prediction by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that world temperatures
will rise by 3.6 to 7.2 degrees centigrade in the next 20 years. Soil erosion and degradation reduce
farmer productivity and require new farming practices to reduce the vulnerability of small-scale
farmers. In 2003, the annual cost of soil nutrient loss due primarily to erosion was estimated at about
$625 million per year. 20 Adaptation funding under the Global Climate Change initiative will be key to
17 AgCLIR: Uganda – Commercial, Legal and Intuitional Reform in Uganda’s Agriculture Sector - September 2010
18 LTS, International, 2008: Climate Change in Uganda; Understanding Implications and Appraising the Response. A
scoping Mission for DFID
19 Dr. African Kangire – Uganda Research Center Kituza
20 Agriculture for Food and Income Security : Ag Development Strategy and Investment Plan: 2010/11 – 2014/15,
Republic of Uganda Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
12