Mr. Cathbert Natukunda, an Agriculture Field Extension Officer, working with Caritas Kabale Diocese narrates why Farmers in Kigezi region especially those with less than an acre of land should aim at growing 3-month crops over sorghum.
In Kigezi, especially Kabale, most small holder farmers cultivate less than an acre. Land is scarce, hilly, and must support a whole household. With rising costs of food, school fees, and health, waiting 6-7 months for a harvest is no longer practical for many families.
Sorghum has long been a traditional crop in Kigezi. For many generations, households have grown it for home consumption in porridge making and local brew. It is drought tolerant, stores well, and grows on poor soils. But farmers do not sell sorghum because it is surplus. They sell because of family needs to raise money for school fees, medical bills, or other urgent expenses. Prices are mainly inflated, with a kilo selling at 1,000 UGX during peak seasons.
The real problem is time. Sorghum takes 6-7 months to mature. When a large portion of small land is under sorghum, there is limited food supply for half the year. For a family with less than an acre, that creates a long hunger and income gap.
Farming in Uganda among farmers with less than an acre of land should focus on growing crops that mature and reach harvest quickly. This helps households to easily access food for home consumption and also sell for household needs. In Kabale’s cool climate, crops like Irish potatoes, cabbages, and beans are ideal because they are ready in 90-100 days and fit well on small plots.
Instead of investing much of the little land in sorghum for both home consumption and commercial purposes, farmers should be strategic. Reserve only a small piece for sorghum, just enough for home consumption. This ensures the family still has porridge without tying up the whole farm for 6-7 months.
Utilize the other pieces of land for fast crops like beans, Irish potatoes, cabbages, and other vegetables that mature quickly. This way, a farmer gets food from sorghum later in the season, but also gets food and income from fast crops within 3 months.
Sorghum will remain important in Kigezi for culture and food storage. But for farmers with less than an acre, it should not take up all the land for 6-7 months. The better strategy is to reserve a small piece for sorghum for home consumption only, and utilize the rest of the land for 3-month crops like beans, Irish potatoes, and cabbages. This ensures families in Kigezi have food now, income now, and can still have porridge from sorghum growing.