Did you know that you can profit from most crops in Uganda? Because the country is a treasure trove of agricultural products. From subsistence, cereal, or cash crops to dairy, livestock, and aquaculture the potential is boundless. Coffee and tea have long been two of the country’s main agricultural focus for export. But in the past few years, farmers and businesses have shifted their focus towards other profitable products.

The shift to include more varieties of products on farms has increased income and foreign exchange in the country. Uganda’s agricultural landscape is evolving every day. Research societies and other interested business owners are exploring livestock and fish farming, mushroom cultivation, and producing fruits. 

These alternatives to the trustee tea and coffee have seen major acceptance in the region.

Subsistence crops like Matooke bananas are the backbone of Uganda’s food security.

Cereal crops are the main source of income for lots of smallholder and backyard farmers.

Uganda has always been a haven for livestock and dairy produce alongside fisheries.

Export crops like cocoa and cotton need more focus and input to combat the decline in yield.

Uganda’s main food source comes from farmers keeping a portion of the produce to feed their families and communities. An important crop for them is Matooke or cooking bananas. For some reason producing and selling Matooke is the main income source for a lot of families.

Smallholder farmers are using crop rotation to farm different crops during the harvest season. Cassava is an easy-to-farm crop with high demand in the region. The yield for Cassava is around 90 sacks from one acre of well-managed farmland. Another crop that fits well in most farming systems is soya beans. Soya bean grows very well on soils where maize was cultivated. Soya bean also has utility as a base product for oil extraction and animal feed.

In regions like Lango, Bunyoro, and parts of West Nile, sunflower is considered a profitable cash crop. The oil being cholesterol-free is highly sought after in the international markets. Farmers can extract 100 liters of oil from 300kg of sunflower seed yield.

The majority of arable land in Uganda is sitting idle. Only 30% of the total arable land is used for cultivation. There is a lot of potential for livestock farming in this vast land. 

Livestock and dairy is a good source of profit. The highest profit earner among these products is poultry farming. The chicken population estimated back in 2017 was around 57 million. They deal with both eggs and meat on small and large-scale operations. In the last 50 years, egg production saw a massive boost from 8620 tons in 1971 to around 45000 tons in 2020. Meat production increased similarly from 15000 tons to 70000 tons.

 Piggery is widely practiced in all regions of Uganda. Pig farming has been in the country for a long time as well. The demand for pork outstrips supply very often in the region. The country is one of the largest per capita consumers of pork. Most pig farmers do their work on a small scale with 10-15 pigs and women own over half of the pig units and pigs.

 Dairy farming in Uganda comes from cattle like cows, goats and sheep. The whole sector changed drastically during the 1980s, Zero-grazing system transformed smallholder dairy farms. There are other methods as well like semi-intensive or fenced production to increase the yield of milk. Overall the livestock and dairy industry is a lucrative one to turn a profit.

Uganda’s fish production is over 15000 tons from aquaculture. This includes small-scale, commercial fish farms, community reservoirs, and minor lakes. The most popular among the fish species in the country is Tilapia. 

Catfish is another interesting species. The North African Catfish grows fast and can adapt to different climate situations. For this, farmers are inclined to produce them to reduce the cost of maintaining the species. Catfish production exceeded 40000 tons and overtook tilapia’s annual production. A single pond with 10000 catfish can bring up to 100 million Ugandan shillings every harvest. Each catfish sells for 10000 to 150000 depending on its size.

Lake fishing is also a valuable source of income. Lake Victoria is a great resource for the fishing industry in Uganda and neighboring countries that share it. This lake has the potential to yield over 800 million USD worth of fish every year.

Maize stands out as Uganda’s most crucial cereal crop along with finger millet and sorghum. 40% of the calories consumed by the populace comes from maize. Maize cultivation directly supports over two million households in the country. The largest share of maize production comes from the small-scale farmers. The district of Kapchorwa mostly relies on its maize for income and food security.

Uganda produces up to 350000 metric tons of rice each year. In terms of exports, this amount can generate around 100 million USD. However, due to high consumption within the country, Uganda has to import rice. The target was to produce around 700000 MT by 2020 but Uganda desperately fails to meet the domestic demand let alone start exporting. Over 90% of the country’s rice output comes from farmers in the Eastern and Northern parts of the country.

Sorghum and Finger millet are respectively the second and third most important cereal in Uganda after maize. Finger millet cultivation covers a total land area of 437000 hectares. Farmers can grow these in both sub-humid and arid regions. These cereals can withstand harsh environments with ease. Organizations working to increase the yield for these cereals have released twelve improved varieties in the country. The SEMEI 2 (U15) and PESE 1 (P224) are the most cultivated varieties right now.

Cotton, Tobacco, and Cocoa are the fundamentals of export markets in Uganda. The country exported 37 million USD worth of cotton in 2020 with a decline in the following years. The introduction of sunflower and sim-sim seeds to fertile lands was the cause of the reduction in cotton farming. Even with a decline Uganda exported around 20 million USD worth of cotton in 2022.

Where cotton fell off, cocoa took the lead in 2022. In this year alone the net worth of exported cocoa was over 60 million USD. Uganda is the 15th largest cocoa exporter ranked as the 5th most exported product from Uganda. The vast amount of arable land available can be a great source for increasing cocoa and cotton production to get more foreign exchange. There is heavy potential in that sector.

Uganda’s agriculture has excellent diversity. The competition between these products increases the net worth of each product. The growing demand in the world created a market where countries with resources like Uganda can take full advantage of their produce. This does two things. Improves food security for the region’s people and creates job opportunities for them.

The various profitable crops, livestock, and fisheries options are not being utilized to their full extent. There is much to do in the country to maximize output and profit. But with enough resources and more arable land coming into play, Uganda is sure to become a powerhouse of food security and profitability in the future.