Mining affecting quality of soil, says official
Women look for gold in a rock at Acerere Gold Mining Site in Nakapiripirit District in 2018. Experts say mining affects the quality of the soil. Photo | File
What you need to know:
- The project is expected to reach about 400,000 farmers, especially with the first pillar which is supporting access to finances.
An official has warned that mining can affect the quality of soil and affect crop production.
While representing the minister of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, Mr Frank Tumwebaze, at the launch of the Fertiliser Financing for Sustainable Agricultural Management Project, last week, the executive director of National Agricultural Advisory Services (Naads), Dr Samuel Mugasi, said recent studies concluded by Africa Soil Health Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, observed that mining activities continued to lower production.
“If not quickly addressed, it [problem] will undermine the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs], especially on poverty and zero hunger,” Dr Mugasi said.
He called upon farmers to utilise fertilisers to increase food production levels in the country.
With Uganda continuing to lag in fertiliser use, the African Fertiliser and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) in alliance with Africa Fertiliser Financing Mechanism (AFFM) and the African Development Bank (ADB) will increase access to fertilisers for farmers to be able to increase production and productivity at farm level.
“In Uganda, we apply two kilograms per hectare but mainly for the large-scale farmers, the sugar cane plantations, tea estates, ordinary farmers are not applying any fertilisers and we aim to make sure that we increase fertilizer use to increase production and productivity at farm level,” Dr Mugasi said.
The project is expected to reach about 400,000 farmers, especially with the first pillar which is supporting access to finances.
Renewing the law
The government is focusing on reviewing the Agrochemicals Control Act of 2006 to make it able to address the challenges farmers face with fertilisers on the market. Government is also planning to do soil mapping countrywide to let farmers know what type of fertiliser to apply.
