FARMING

1. This is the most important sector of Uganda's economy. More than 85% of Ugandans are either directly or indirectly occupied in agricultural activity and depend on it for their livelihood. In Uganda, and across Africa, over 70% of farmers are women.

90% of Uganda's agricultural production is of a subsistence nature based primarily on peasant cultivation.

2. The industry relies on manual labour using simple tools like hand hoes, machetes, or rakes and simple methods. It is carried out on a small-scale farms or individual family plots.

Most of the agriculture in Uganda is not market oriented. Most crops are grown for home consumption and only the surplus is sold in markets.

3. The traditional cash crops in order of importance are coffee, tea and tobacco.

There has been diversification since the late 1980s due to falling world market prices of the traditional cash crops. This ensures farmers' financial security when prices of certain crops fall.

Farmers now keep animals in addition to growing a wider range of crops. Non-traditional cash crops have been introduced such as vanilla, okra, pepper, pineapples, flowers, sunflower, simsim (sesame seed) and others. Of the non-traditional crops vanilla has been the most successful for the peasants. It is locally grown on small farms yet it fetches a very good price per kilogram; between 30 and 40 $US per kilo! Fresh cut flowers also bring in a lot of foreign earnings.

Food crops include maize, banana plantain (matooke), cassava (manioc), potatoes, millet, beans, sorghum, rice and soya beans. There are some large sugar cane and tea PLANTATIONS. Besides growing crops, LIVESTOCK is kept domestically and on large scale stock farms and ranches.

4. Importance of agriculture to Uganda:

· About 90% of Uganda's rural population is involved in agriculture.
· Supplies most of Uganda's food requirements.
. Generates income from food exports to neighbouring countries.
· Provides raw materials for agro-based industries.
· Products comprise about 60% of the total value of exports.

5. Problems facing agriculture in Uganda:

· Exports are susceptible to price fluctuations on world market.
· Products face competition from other producers in the tropics.
· Pests and disease; pesticides and fungicides are very costly.
· Uncertain weather conditions affect production.

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