By Drake Nyamugabwa
Organic fertilizers include all animal waste including meat processing waste, manure, slurry, and plant-based fertilizers such as compost and biosolids, added to soil to provide nutrients to boost yields.
According to agriculture experts, organic fertilizers can offer numerous benefits, including extending soil life, improving water quality, boosting crop production, and Increasing yields.
However various rural farmers have expressed their grievances against the high prices of organic fertilizers from dealers which is undermining the high proportion of their gardens.
The farmers have urged value chain stakeholders of organic fertilizers to find ways of mitigating the high prices of fertilizers including subsidies during the planting season.
Angel Tushemerirwe a mixed farmer on a 2-acre farm in Kalagala, Bamunanika said that fertilizer prices have more than doubled since the start of 2024.
She said in this planting season, her main cash crops are tomatoes and maize but she is concerned about the increasing fertilizer prices she predicts will affect his production.
“Fertilizers take up to 30% of her costs of production with the other budget going to labor and buying seeds. They are central to my farm operations, last season I tried to use less fertilizers but I ended up with a poor harvest. I used three bags of conventional fertilizers,” she said.
She said that a bag of litter cost her about Shs15,000 adding that to cater for an acre, one may need about 8-10 bags. This season, she plans to use 250 Kg of manure for a proper harvest.
Another farmer Luka Masembe from Katikandegeya village who grows coffee, and bananas said that using fertilizers in his garden has greatly improved the yields, especially in his banana plantation.
He however said that the high cost of fertilizers this season is likely to affect his yield and production.
In an interview with Dr. Robert Muzira, the Project Principal Investigator, working with National Agriculture Research Organization, urged farmers to rethink bio-fertilizers which he said is key for Climate Smart farming while noting the advantages of organic biofertilizers compared to inorganic fertilizers.
“Unlike inorganic fertilizers, organic fertilizers remain in the soil for more than a single season, increasing the crop yield for many seasons thereby being a cost-effective option. The fertilizer is formulated to counter low crop yield and high prices of fertilizers which have often been unaffordable for the average farmer” he said.
Dr. Robert said that apart from climate change effects, declining soil fertility is the second highest challenge faced by crop farmers and that farmers have often turned to synthetic fertilizers which are expensive and easily seep out of the soil requiring re-application with every season.
“Biofertilizer is made of crop residue and animal waste. These two are easily available on most farms. They can be utilized to create effective foliage fertilizers good for climate-smart agriculture. Biofertilizers improve the soil texture and yield of plants. They do not allow pathogens to flourish. They are eco-friendly and cost-effective. Biofertilizers protect the environment from pollutants since they are natural fertilizers” he explained
While speaking to Karungi Allan at his fertilizer-making workstation along Gayaza-Zirobwe Road, located approximately 5Ks from Gayaza town although he didn’t reveal the various plant residues they use to make the fertilizer, he said, farmers are his source of the materials.
“Many farmers see them as weeds but we see them as resourceful materials. For example, we can ask a farmer to clear his garden full of blackjack which is one of the plants we use in making the fertilizer. Since the product is organic, they plan to plant their local materials to ensure they are not contaminated” he said
The Marketing Manager of SR company Stephen Amooti, who produces SR Fertilizer said that their product is a broad-spectrum organic fertilizer produced using organic materials with chicken manure through aerobic decomposition for improving soil nutrient content thus promoting plant growth and soil health.
He said that 1 bag of SR Fertilizer of 50 KG costs 60,000/=, It has 60% Organic matter, and other essential micronutrients good for various crops.
“It is suitable for all crops ranging from vegetables, cereals, grain crops, and all tree crops including coffee and banana. We recommend ring application, and broadcasting when doing high-density farming, apply along the canopy of the plant” he said.
It should be remembered that the president of Uganda has lately been traversing the country encouraging farmers to embrace his 4-acre model of farming if they must realize high harvests and economic transformation
Comments