Irish Potato and Rice farmers ask for improved seed varieties to boost production
A recently completed field survey on Irish Potato and Rice value chains in western and eastern Uganda, respectively by EPRC researchers has revealed that farmers lack access to high quality fertilizers and improved seed varieties for both rice and potatoes.
The survey, which started on 3rd May 2015 and ended on 26th May 2015, ran consecutively in both regions and was conducted under a project entitled: “Policy Action for Sustainable Intensification of Ugandan Cropping Systems (PASIC)”. Data was collected on the five different segments of the value chain. These included the agro-input dealers, seed multipliers, processors, traders and farmers. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to generate a coherent story that cuts across all actors.
The initial field observations reveal that, in western Uganda, there was inadequacy of improved seed with Kabale district having relatively more seed multipliers. Farmers in Kisoro mainly bought seed from the market and this had implications on the quality, indicated by high pests and diseases. In general, all farmers and processors talked to alluded to the fact there was a huge gap between seed supplied by Kachwekano Zard and that demanded by farmers. The researchers also found that potato farmers could not get market for their produce especially after a bounty harvest, while processors claimed they did not get enough potato to process. It was realized that the potato varieties farmers grew were not easy to process into value added products. This suggests the need for promotion of better potato varieties if farmers are to access markets and processors get enough processable potato.
In the Eastern region, weather vagaries are anticipated to create a huge rice supply deficit says Tony Odokonyero, the research field supervisor for the Eastern region. He explains that the current rice production season has been greatly affected by drought, for instance in Tororo. “After the long dry spell, heavy rain set in, and this flooded a considerable number of rice fields?, he says. The research team also noted that rice farmers are growing different rice varieties, but most farmers confessed growing local varieties, due to inaccessibility of improved rice seed. Improved rice seed multiplication is also thin on the ground, with just one rice seed producer in Tororo, none in Bugiri, and three in Butaleja districts. The researchers therefore note that, interventions aimed at improved rice seed dissemination amongst farmers are necessary.
In addition, gaps in rice processing infrastructure were observed, which call for the need to invest in, and/or upgrade rice processing technology. Firstly, the processing facilities were not evenly distributed within each district, requiring farmers in some parts of the districts to travel long distances looking for rice millers. Secondly, most of the rice milling machines did not have the capacity to grade rice, hence the inability of most millers to separate good and poor quality rice in the milling process.
Farmers in both regions also complained of fake fertilizers and other agro-inputs, and interactions with agro input dealers, indicated that the cause of selling fake products was poor storage facilities. Most retailers mixed agro-inputs with other merchandize like salt and soap.
NOTE: These are still preliminary findings based on field observations, the process of data entry and analysis have commenced and the final results will be shared in the Centre’s research working paper series once completed.