Farmers
CMechanization of Agriculture in Uganda is mostly done using ox plough, because it’s the
cheapest and simplest method of mechanization and this can also be afforded by 10% of the farmers in the country especially those with animals. The rest up to 60% are still using the hand
hoes to grow crops and this is at subsistence level.
Approximately 30% of the farmers in Uganda use tractors to open and till the land. In the earlier years many farmers were able to use tractors to plough their fields because the agricultural system then was well managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, and they would access them.
The failure by farmers to mechanize production or to hire tractors has led to most of them
growing crops on small plots of land. And, in most cases, many plant the crops late leading to effects of drought, pest and diseases.
This leads to low yields which affect food security in Uganda. The truth of the matter is, not every farmer can afford to own a tractor. Small holder farmers ask for tractors from the few who owns them; leading to uncertainty, compromise on quality of tractors or equipment, and often, disappointment.
Solution:
To address the above challenges, Albertine Interventions for Development (AID) with the help
of our partners, we acquired a fleet of tractors and their implements and decided to offer tractor
hire services to farmers countrywide at prices that are subsidized making it cheaper for more
farmers to use tractors for farm operations including Ploughing, harrowing, ridging, planting,
weeding, irrigation, spraying, harvesting and transportation of farm produce to storage facilities
and market at reduced cost of hiring equipment, through equipment sharing. The proceeds
realized from the services offered by AID, are ploughed back in the organization, to ensure it
reaches a wider coverage of the farming communities in the country.
Details of the services offered by AID
Ploughing and LevelingOur tractors have modern Ploughing equipment that can plough and level your farm preventing
top soils from being carried away by strong winds or washed away by rain water. The leveling of
ploughed fields helps in the uniform distribution of water in the fields. Our modern farming
ploughs mounted to our tractors are of various types and uses depending on the soil types,
conditions and weather of the particular place. It improves air circulation in the soil that enables
the roots to respire easily
Harrowing Service
Harrowing is one of the most important soil preparation methods used by farmers. Our
harrowing implement helps in serving many purposes varying from leveling of heavy soil to
eradicating dead grass and to preparing the seedbed to for root aeration. Our harrowing
equipment helps in breaking up lumps of soil in an easy, efficient and fast manner to give a rich
finish to the soil, so it can be used as a seedbed.
Ridging Service
We offer ridging services to sugar cane growers, sweet potato producers, pasture and vegetable
producers and also an ideal practice for managing soil erosion.
Planting Service
We offer tractor planting services for sowing of different types of seed especially for beans, soya
beans, ground nuts, maize and sorghum that are offered in 4 row and 8 row options that helps in
sawing the plants in lines.
Transportation Services
We offer transportation services to farmers to enable them transport their farm produce to
markets and storage facilities using our four wheel drive tractors. Most of the rural areas in
Uganda especially in rainy seasons, there have been a problem of trucks failing to move as a
result of poor roads and that’s why AID came in with its strong implement to bridge the gap and
put a smile to most farmers in the rural setting.
