rainfall, although it does still suffer from intermittent droughts such as in 1993–94.
4
Uganda’s favorable soil conditions and climate have contributed to the country’s
agricultural success. Most areas of Uganda receive enough rain to support subsistence agriculture. Some areas of the southeast and southwest can receive average
rain of more than 150 millimeters per month and in the north, there is often a short
dry season in December and January. The temperatures vary only a few degrees
above or below 20
C but are moderated by differences in altitude. These conditions
have allowed continuous cultivation in the south but only annual cropping in the
north, and the driest northeastern corner of the country has supported only pastoralism. Although population growth has created pressure for land in a few areas, land
shortages have been rare, and only about one-third of the estimated area of arable
land is under cultivation.
5 These favorable conditions have led to a steady increase in
the total agricultural production; the total number of livestock (cattle, sheep, goats,
pigs and poultry) increased from 72,175,000 in 2013 to 83,140,000 in 2015 and
86,355,000 in 2017.
6 Taking into account the fact that Uganda mostly exports
agricultural products (80% of total exports), Exports in Uganda increased to
333.85 US$ Million in October from 300.12 US$ Million in September of 2018.
Exports in Uganda averaged 129.61 US$ Million from 1993 until 2018, reaching an
all-time high of 351.73 US$ Million in May of 2017 and a record low of 12.39 US$
Million in July of 1993.
7
Uganda’s key agricultural products can be divided into cash crops, food crops and
horticultural produce. The most important cash crops are coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco
and cocoa. Uganda was second only to Kenya as Africa’s largest producer of tea,
exporting US$17.06 million of tea in 1996 and US$39 million by 1998.
8
Unmanufactured tobacco exports provided US$9.5 million in 1998, over 25%
more than in 1996.
9
The export of cocoa beans hit a recent high in 1996 with US$1.07 million in
export receipts, but this declined to $0.87 million in 1998.
10 The primary food crops,
mainly for domestic consumption, include plantains, cassava, maize, millet, and
sorghum. Total cereal production was 1.76 million metric tons in 1998, which
provided US$17.82 million of exports in 1998. This gain was in part negated as
imports of cereals were $30.9 million in the same year.
11 The more recent development of cultivating horticultural produce includes fresh flowers, chilies, vanilla,
asparagus and medicinal plants.
12 It is unclear how well horticultural production
4 Nations Encyclopedia (2018).
5 Byrnes (1992).
6 UBOS (2018).
7 Trading Economies (2019).
8 Trading Economies (2019).
9 Trading Economies (2019).
10 Nations Encyclopedia (2011).
11 Nations Encyclopedia (2011).
12 Nations Encyclopedia (2011).
56
E. Kasimbazi
4
Uganda’s favorable soil conditions and climate have contributed to the country’s
agricultural success. Most areas of Uganda receive enough rain to support subsistence agriculture. Some areas of the southeast and southwest can receive average
rain of more than 150 millimeters per month and in the north, there is often a short
dry season in December and January. The temperatures vary only a few degrees
above or below 20
C but are moderated by differences in altitude. These conditions
have allowed continuous cultivation in the south but only annual cropping in the
north, and the driest northeastern corner of the country has supported only pastoralism. Although population growth has created pressure for land in a few areas, land
shortages have been rare, and only about one-third of the estimated area of arable
land is under cultivation.
5 These favorable conditions have led to a steady increase in
the total agricultural production; the total number of livestock (cattle, sheep, goats,
pigs and poultry) increased from 72,175,000 in 2013 to 83,140,000 in 2015 and
86,355,000 in 2017.
6 Taking into account the fact that Uganda mostly exports
agricultural products (80% of total exports), Exports in Uganda increased to
333.85 US$ Million in October from 300.12 US$ Million in September of 2018.
Exports in Uganda averaged 129.61 US$ Million from 1993 until 2018, reaching an
all-time high of 351.73 US$ Million in May of 2017 and a record low of 12.39 US$
Million in July of 1993.
7
Uganda’s key agricultural products can be divided into cash crops, food crops and
horticultural produce. The most important cash crops are coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco
and cocoa. Uganda was second only to Kenya as Africa’s largest producer of tea,
exporting US$17.06 million of tea in 1996 and US$39 million by 1998.
8
Unmanufactured tobacco exports provided US$9.5 million in 1998, over 25%
more than in 1996.
9
The export of cocoa beans hit a recent high in 1996 with US$1.07 million in
export receipts, but this declined to $0.87 million in 1998.
10 The primary food crops,
mainly for domestic consumption, include plantains, cassava, maize, millet, and
sorghum. Total cereal production was 1.76 million metric tons in 1998, which
provided US$17.82 million of exports in 1998. This gain was in part negated as
imports of cereals were $30.9 million in the same year.
11 The more recent development of cultivating horticultural produce includes fresh flowers, chilies, vanilla,
asparagus and medicinal plants.
12 It is unclear how well horticultural production
4 Nations Encyclopedia (2018).
5 Byrnes (1992).
6 UBOS (2018).
7 Trading Economies (2019).
8 Trading Economies (2019).
9 Trading Economies (2019).
10 Nations Encyclopedia (2011).
11 Nations Encyclopedia (2011).
12 Nations Encyclopedia (2011).
56
E. Kasimbazi