Groundnut farming is a key agricultural activity in Uganda. It is vital to millions of smallholder farmers’ food security, nutrition, and income. Groundnuts, or peanuts, are the country’s second most important legume, after beans. Farmers grow groundnuts on about 260,000 hectares in Uganda, 24.6% of the total arable land. Farmers have spread groundnut farming to other parts of the country over the years. They primarily practice it in the northern and eastern regions.

The crop is prized for its nutrients. They include essential proteins, vitamins, and oils vital to rural diets. Groundnut is widely consumed. In Uganda, roasted nuts, groundnut paste, and oil are popular. The sector is important, and yet it is faced with many challenges. Yields average 800 kg per hectare, far below the potential of 3,000 kg. Demand for groundnuts is rising. They are used for therapeutic food in refugee camps and to treat malnutrition. Groundnut farming is important. It helps with nutrition and income. Improving groundnut farming is critical to Uganda’s agricultural future.

Low productivity is the most pressing challenge for groundnut farming in Uganda. On-farm yields only average 800 kg per hectare. They could be more than tripled with optimal farming practices. Low-quality seeds are the major cause of this gap. Traditional seed varieties have low yields. They are also vulnerable to diseases, like the groundnut rosette virus. Many farmers rely on them.

The second challenge is vulnerability to pests and diseases. The Groundnut rosette virus is the most severe. It often wipes out large portions of the crop. Besides, farmers face pest infestations like the groundnut bruchid beetle. It damages stored products. The high cost of pesticides and fertilizers limits their use making it hard to fight these problems.

Poor market linkages are a third major challenge.Smallholder farmers often sell groundnuts for much less than the market price because they are unable to reach profitable markets. Limited postharvest storage facilities further exacerbate large postharvest losses. Other issues contribute to the sector’s underperformance. They are climate change, erratic rainfall, and poor extension services.

A key solution to boost low yields is to use better seeds, like the Serenut series. These seeds are high-yielding and disease-resistant. They resist the groundnut rosette virus and leaf miners. Farmers have significantly increased their use of these varieties. Some reports yield up to three times the national average for conventional seeds.

Better agronomic practices are also an important solution. NaSARRI and others organized training programs for farmers. These programs taught the best planting times, how to use organic fertilizers, and pest control. These programs had support from USAID and ICRISAT. The goal is to boost productivity. This must be done sustainably, without losing crops to pests and diseases.

Further, market linkages are being strengthened. The government and development groups are facilitating access to local and international markets. This includes encouraging value-added activities. These include processing groundnuts into paste or oil to boost farmers’ profits. Market access lets farmers sell their products at higher prices. This boosts their income and encourages them to grow more.

In Uganda, solutions for groundnut farming are implemented in a detailed, multi-step manner. They are driven by partnerships between the government, research institutions, and international organizations. Below is a detailed process of the implementation steps:

• Distribution of Improved Seed Varieties:
  The National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI) leads efforts to distribute improved groundnut varieties, including the disease—and pest-resistant Serenut series.  We distribute these seeds to farmers in key groundnut areas with partners like USAID. In eastern Uganda, farmers got Serenut 5R, a high-yielding, rosette-resistant variety that increased yields by over 50%.
• Farmer Training Programs:
  Several training initiatives are conducted to teach farmers improved agronomic practices. NaSARRI and partners, like ICRISAT, train on optimal planting, pest management, and soil fertility. In northern Uganda, farmers were trained to use crop rotation and organic fertilizers. This reduced soil depletion and improved crop resilience.
• Adoption of Mechanization Tools:
  The government, with help from international partners, is introducing small tools. These include hand-operated shellers and planters. They aim to reduce labor and boost efficiency. In Lira district, farmers using mechanized planters cut planting time by 30%. This allows them to cover more land.
• Promotion of Value Addition:
  Farmers should add value to their produce. They can do this by processing groundnuts into paste, oil, or therapeutic foods. In places like Soroti, local cooperatives have set up small processing units. Farmers can use them to turn raw groundnuts into higher-value products. This initiative has boosted incomes and reduced post-harvest losses.
• Market Linkages:
  Programs to link farmers to local and international markets have been established. Export agencies help groundnut farmers access international markets, especially in Kenya and South Sudan. Improved market access has increased farmers’ profits, incentivizing more participation in groundnut farming.

These solutions have greatly improved groundnut farming in Uganda. Farmers who adopted the new serenut seed varieties had a significant yield increase. In northern Uganda, yields doubled to 1,500 kg per hectare compared to the national average of 800 kg per hectare. The serenut varieties have boosted productivity. They also improved resistance to the groundnut rosette virus, cutting losses from disease outbreaks.

Farmers who process groundnuts into paste or oil have earned more. Small cooperatives in eastern Uganda have had success. They set up units that let farmers sell higher-priced, value-added products. This has raised profits by up to 30%, reduced postharvest loss, and stabilized incomes.

Also, the new market access has opened new opportunities for groundnut farmers. Linking Ugandan groundnuts to local and international markets, especially in Kenya and South Sudan, has raised their prices and demand. Uneven adoption is a challenge. But these results suggest a trend. They are for more profitable and sustainable groundnut farming.

Groundnut farming in Uganda has made significant progress. High-yielding, disease-resistant seeds and better farming methods have greatly boosted productivity. Also, better market links have raised farmers’ incomes. Groundnut farming is now more profitable and sustainable.

Long-term success requires investment in R&D as many farmers need access to quality seeds, modern tools, and profitable markets. The government and authorities must also develop disease-resistant crops and climate-adaptive farming.

Groundnut farming in Uganda is very promising. With support from government programs and global partners, Uganda will become a major player in regional and global groundnut markets. There’s also a focus on innovation. Sustained efforts can further unlock the full potential of this vital sector.