Free Access | June 2012

Constraints to Fertiliser Use in Uganda: Insights from Uganda Census of Agriculture 2008/9

Authors/Editors: Mildred Barungi (PhD) ,  Goeffrey Okoboi

Abstract:

Uganda’s agriculture faces a myriad of challenges, which among others include low productivity, declining soil fertility and degradation of the natural resource base. To reverse and/or minimise the challenges, judicious use of fertilisers – both organic and inorganic is highly recommended. Yet, few agricultural households in Uganda use fertilisers and moreover, in quantities lower than the recommended. Using data from the Uganda Census of Agriculture 2008/9, this paper provides insights on key constraints to the use of fertilisers by agricultural households. Results indicate a spatial dimension in agricultural household use of fertilisers, implying spatially targeted rather than blanket interventions will be pertinent in the campaign to promote fertiliser use in the country. While the majority of farmers in Uganda do not use fertiliser due to high cost, results also indicate that lack of information and technical advice related to use of fertiliser- due to the low level of extension services outreach in the country, greatly impacts on adoption of both organic and inorganic fertilisers. Results further suggest that access to production-support services and facilities such as credit, irrigation and storage as well as ease of access to input and output markets significantly impact on fertiliser adoption. Finally, physical assets and human capital are important in the decision of agricultural households to adopt fertiliser.