Farmers advised to embrace mechanized Agriculture

By Patrick Okino

Farmers have been encouraged to embrace mechanized agriculture, with experts noting that a tractor can plough between 10 and 15 acres of land per day, far surpassing the capacity of hand hoes, ox-ploughs, and donkeys.

Speaking at the Northern Uganda Agribusiness Expo organized by the Eastern Africa Grain Council in Lira City, agricultural machinery dealers urged farmers to adopt modern farming technologies to increase productivity and reduce the time spent preparing land.

Dorcus Najjemba, Marketing Manager at Meta Plant and Equipment, said mechanization is essential for farmers seeking to expand production and improve efficiency.

“A farmer who owns a tractor saves a lot of time during land preparation. For example, our 75-horsepower New Holland tractor can plough up to 15 acres per day, which is much more efficient than using ox-ploughs or hand hoes,” Najjemba said.

She revealed that the tractor is available at Shs110 million under a financing arrangement where a farmer pays an initial deposit of Shs10 million and clears the balance over three years.

“A farmer makes two installments per year because Uganda has two agricultural seasons,” she explained during the two-day expo held at Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute.

Derrick Mwanda, a Sales Executive at Meta Plant and Equipment, acknowledged the financial challenges facing farmers but said the company has partnered with several financial institutions to make tractor ownership more accessible.

“We are working with banks such as DFCU Bank, Equity Bank Uganda, Centenary Bank and Pearl Bank Uganda through the Agricultural Credit Facility to help farmers acquire tractors,” Mwanda said.

He added that tractors are a worthwhile investment because they increase production and consume an average of only four litres of diesel per acre during ploughing.

According to Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, only between 2 and 10 percent of farmers currently access or use tractor services, while more than 60 percent continue to rely on traditional hand hoes. Limited access to credit, high rental costs, and small land holdings remain major barriers to mechanization.

Lwanga Monday, a Sales Executive with Mascor Uganda, which deals in John Deere tractors, said farmers can acquire tractors by paying 20 percent of the purchase price and settling the balance later through bank financing.

“We have signed Memoranda of Understanding with banks to simplify the process. Farmers should not be afraid because it is now easier to acquire and maintain tractors,” he said.

Mercy Tibatemwa of Motorcenter urged farmers to utilize tractors to cultivate larger areas within a shorter period.

“One of the biggest challenges farmers face is losing valuable planting time because of reliance on hand hoes. Tractors can accomplish in hours what would take days using manual labour,” she said.

Tibatemwa added that Motorcare, through its Sonalika tractor partnership with Opportunity Bank Uganda, offers financing arrangements that allow farmers to pay 50 to 70 percent of the cost and acquire the machinery.

The Country Programme Manager of the Eastern Africa Grain Council, Paul Ocuna, said greater support is needed to help smallholder farmers overcome persistent challenges in the grain sector.

“The grain sector is the lifeblood of Uganda’s food system. It is central to household nutrition, national food security, and regional trade. For the sector to realize its full potential, stakeholders must collectively address the challenges that continue to hinder growth,” Ocuna said.

He noted that EAGC is promoting structured grain trade through grain business hubs where farmers can aggregate, store, and market their produce more efficiently.

Ocuna added that the council is transforming cooperatives into productive and profitable grain business hubs while providing market information through the Regional Agricultural Trade Intelligence Network, which monitors markets across 11 border towns in the region.

“We are also building skills and professionalism through the Grain Business Institute, one of our key pillars for capacity building and training,” he said.

The Northern Uganda Agribusiness Expo attracted more than 30 exhibitors and brought together agro-input dealers, agricultural machinery suppliers, irrigation technology providers, farm implement traders, and farmer groups. The event was held on Friday and Saturday in Lira City.

Dr. Barnabas Mudde, a Senior Research Officer at the Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute, commended EAGC for organizing the expo, saying it provides an important platform for showcasing agricultural technologies, networking, and farmer learning.

“This expo gives us an opportunity to showcase the technologies we have been developing while enabling farmers to interact, share experiences, and learn modern farming practices,” he said.

Dr. Mudde added that the partnership supports government interventions such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and promotes the adoption of high-yielding crop technologies, including maize and soybean varieties, which contribute to the implementation of Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.

Lira City Production Officer, Buruno Komkech, said the city is promoting market-oriented agricultural production aimed at improving food security and increasing household incomes.

“We are supporting enterprises such as apiculture, coffee growing, horticulture, maize, soybean, and other crops that can generate income for households,” Komkech said.

He noted that the city’s agricultural development efforts are focused on enhancing productivity and ensuring farmers engage in enterprises with strong market potential.