The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has launched the distribution of 173,913 bags of fertiliser supplied by ITRACOM Fertilizers Uganda under a Presidential directive aimed at restoring soil fertility, increasing agricultural productivity and improving farmersโ incomes.
Launched at MAAIF headquarters in Entebbe, the programme targets farmers engaged in strategic enterprises such as coffee, tea and cocoa. Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze said the intervention forms part of Governmentโs broader agricultural transformation agenda and urged farmers to embrace soil testing and precision agriculture to maximise yields.
Permanent Secretary Maj. Gen. David Kasura-Kyomukama noted that Ugandaโs fertiliser use remains low at about 2โ3 kilogrammes per hectare, far below the continental average of 22 kilogrammes and the Abuja target of 50 kilogrammes. He said the initiative aims to restore soil fertility, raise productivity and increase farmersโ participation in the money economy.
State Minister for Agriculture Desire Muhooza said eligible farmers and farmer groups will receive the fertiliser free of charge, while ITRACOM pledged timely delivery and farmer support on proper fertiliser application.
To ensure transparency, MAAIF has established verified beneficiary lists, secure delivery points and district-level monitoring. The fertiliser will be labelled โGovernment of Uganda โ Not for Sale,โ and follow-up assessments will be conducted to evaluate its impact on crop productivity and inform future agricultural support programmes.
