REGIONAL SOILS DIVERSITY

ESL  operates a decentralised farming strategy to benefit from the regional unique diversity of Uganda's rich soils. According to agricultural statistical data for Uganda, the different regions of the country are endowed uniquely and differently. 

Furthermore the country is divided into 3 zones dictated by rainfall . The unimodal which is found above 3° North latitude and the rest of the country south of this latitude experiences bimodal rainfall pattern with transitional zones between latitudes 1° and 3° - (yieldgap.org). The mean annual rainfall varies from 510 mm in parts of Karamoja to 2160 mm or more in Sesse Islands. More than 1520 mm fall on Mt. Elgon, Kabale, Bundibugyo, Gulu, and on the island and on north western shore of Lake Victoria[7]. More than 1100 mm fall along a 360-km arc around Lake Victoria from Tororo to Rakai and along a straight belt of similar length striking north-west from Tororo to Gulu. Rainfall is deficient in Karomoja, along a salient extending from Tanzania through Ankole to Lake Kyoga.

Read the Annual Agriculture Survey 2018 (released May 2020) through the link below:

Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS)

https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/Annual%20Agricultural%20Survey%202018%20Statistical%20Release%20May%202020.pdf

Cereal crops grown in Uganda include; maize, finger millet, sorghum, rice, pearl millet and wheat in that order of importance. Other than wheat, these crops provide staple food for well over 50% of the population. They are also playing an increasing role in the provision of incomes of the rural households and the national economy. All these crops, other than wheat and rice, can be grown in most areas of the country. High potential areas for each crop are to a large extent, defined by rainfall amount and distribution. Maize requires medium to high rainfall that is well distributed throughout the growing season. As rainfall declines in duration and reliability, generally from south to north and westwards, finger millet becomes important. This in turn gives way to sorghum and finally pearl millet, as increasingly hardy crops that thrive in low rainfall environments.  Wheat requires cooler temperatures and is grown in highland areas of the country such as Kapchorwa , located in the eastern and north western parts of the country, respectively. 

 Finger millet is the second most important cereal in Uganda after maize. Its production is concentrated in the east, north and southwest of the country. Up to 65% country's acreage is in the districts of Apac, Lira, Gulu, Kitgum, Iganga, Kamuli, Soroti and Tororo.