Bulambuli, Uganda — Farmers in Uganda’s Bugisu Subregion are facing mounting challenges as chemical fertilizers erode soil quality, leading agricultural experts and officials to push for a shift to organic practices.
During a recent workshop organized by Feed the Future Uganda at the Buginyanya Zonal Agricultural Research Institute (BUZARD), farmers and experts discussed the unsustainable impact of inorganic fertilizers on the region’s slopes.
According to Dr. Ambrose Wabyoona, Senior Crop Husbandry Officer with Feed the Future Uganda, soils on Mount Elgon’s slopes are rapidly losing fertility due to overuse of chemical fertilizers, which cause erosion and degrade soil health.
“Farmers are increasingly trapped in a cycle where they must rely on these costly fertilizers to grow anything, but the soil quality keeps worsening,” he explained.
Farmers shared their struggles, including Beatrice Namono, an onion grower from Sironko, who explained her land’s dependency on chemicals despite high costs.
Oliver Kishelo, a coffee farmer, criticized the prevalence of counterfeit inputs that further damage soil and harm crop quality, impacting income.
District officials from Bududa and Bulambuli called for urgent action to end this dependency.
Bududa Agriculture Officer Stephen Wachawa and his Bulambuli counterpart, Alfred Sekele, urged farmers to switch to organic options like cow dung and mulch, which retain moisture, boost beneficial organisms, and are more cost-effective.
“Extension officers must guide farmers toward these sustainable methods,” said Wachawa.
This call aligns with recent research by Feed the Future Uganda and the Ministry of Agriculture, which found that 70% of Bugisu’s farmers rely on inorganic fertilizers.
This dependence not only harms the soil but also increases vulnerability to mudslides and erosion, a serious threat on Bugisu’s steep terrain.
By embracing organic practices, Bugisu’s farmers could restore soil health, reduce costs, and break free from reliance on unsustainable chemical inputs, experts say.
Feed the Future Uganda pledged continued support through training on composting and organic pest management, aiming to help farmers secure a sustainable future for the region.
