Just how significant is maize to Uganda?
Right after 6 many years of Ugandan boarding college with possessing maize as a day by day meal (typically termed “posho“), I am not significantly keen on it as a food.
Yet, maize is the most hugely cultivated and traded crop in Uganda. It is also the major food resource in institutions these kinds of as colleges, prisons, military and the police. Aside from meals for human intake, the crop is an critical component in livestock and poultry feeds, as properly as a really desired starch utilised in the fermentation of local non formal alcoholic brews.
To underline the great importance of this crop, the governing administration of Uganda has prioritized maize as one of the 10 agricultural crops inside of the Rural Enhancement and Nationwide Zoning Approach.
So with the over in mind, how do you proceed to grow maize and as a result aid the authorities in its objective of poverty alleviation?
Very first THE Negatives
1. Fluctuating charges
Maize in Uganda has customarily been developed during the wet seasons of Mid-February or March to June, and 2nd rains from Mid-August to December. As a outcome, the complete sale and retail costs of maize grain and flour fluctuate significantly with reduced selling prices just after the classic harvest season and higher price ranges all through “off seasons”. These fluctuating charges are also a final result of current market inefficiencies in Uganda as farmers normally absence of information and facts on much more acceptable costs.
There are nonetheless two methods for the “innovative contemplating” Ugandan farmer:
a) Marketplace Details Solutions (MIS). These give common information and facts by using SMS, radio and their websites. Illustrations that have not too long ago been set up include things like farmgain, agrinet and ratin. They give retail/wholesale rates for Kampala, up region markets and in some situations regional markets (such as Kenya).
Warehouse Receipt Technique (WRS). Its introduction was pioneered with aid from the Globe Meals Programme (WFP)who get a significant element of maize in Uganda. This procedure will allow a farmer to just take their make to a designated warehouse where by it is dried, graded, packed and stored. The warehouse receipt they (the farmer) acquire is evidence of storage and it can even be used as security to get a bank loan (60% of worth of grain) from selected banking companies.
Storing of the item by the farmer right until a time when charges stabilize or when they can locate a appropriate consumer aids them have additional control about their develop as opposed to when unscrupulous middlemen rule the market.
2. Drought
Local weather change has resulted in a lot less than predictable rains, even in Uganda which has historically had acknowledged wet and dry seasons.
In purchase to counter this, we would propose that the “advanced thinking” farmer commit in a water reservoir and simple mechanical pump program like the “wonder pump” which charges around $150.
Another solution is to use improved seed types. All those designed in Uganda like the Longe versions (Longe 1, Longe 4, Longe 5 et al) are drought resistant kinds. Numerous seed companies in Uganda market them (in the array of Shs. 2000-2500 for every kg).
AND NOW THE Professionals
1. Inter-cropping
Maize can be inter-cropped with beans. This has various positive aspects together with improved profitability from the identical acreage and lowered have to have for fertilizer (as beans obviously fertilise soil).
Care must even so be taken just before thinking about inter-cropping as crops have distinct cycles and there may possibly be issues in use of say mechanized implements like tractors.
2. Good Return on Investment decision (ROI)
I make the adhering to assumptions in producing my estimate:
a) The farmer has 15 acres (about 6 ha), embraces irrigation and plants Longe 5 enhanced seed types
b) The farmer can entry a low-desire rate loan (10%) from a co-operative modern society to which he belongs. This mortgage will finance invest in of gear and
c) The farmer is providing maize grain (and not maize flour).
On the basis of the previously mentioned, I estimate the Return on Expenditure (ROI) for this sector is as follows:
· Startup funds (A): Shs.34,188,000
· Profitability (B): Shs. 24,331,975
· Return on Money (A/B): 1.405 a long time
Last phrase
My particular dislike for maize as a foodstuff apart, disregarding this important crop would appear to be a relatively “quick-sighted” decision as growing maize must practically surely be integrated in the portfolio of a really serious Ugandan investor or entrepreneur.
Its numerous use not only for human food use but for animal feeds can make it a very essential crop. In addition it has export prospects via WFP (aid aid) and to our neighbors like Kenya and Southern Sudan.
Additionally, the introduction of the revolutionary warehouse receipt program usually means that in addition to enabling farmers choose when to offer (for this reason decreasing fluctuating costs) it can now be used as safety for financial loans. Lack of entry to financial loans for agriculture has long been a stumbling block to advancement of the sector. It appears maize is contributing to resolving this difficulty.