Land suitability evaluation for coffee production in Omoro District, Uganda

Abstract

Coffee is one of the most traded commodities the world over, only second to oil and it is the largest revenue earner for Uganda. Despite the fact that Government of Uganda has expanded coffee production to non-traditional coffee growing areas, coffee production in Omoro and Northern Uganda is yet to take root amidst low seedling survival and low yields. The study aimed to investigate the suitability aspects for coffee production in Omoro. Specifically, i) to assess the suitability of land for coffee production in Omoro District based on key soils and soil related requirements ii) to assess the coffee growing management practices in Omoro District and how they relate to the suitability of the district for growing coffee (iii) to assess the economic feasibility of growing coffee in Omoro District. To achieve this, a study was conducted in Omoro where a three-stage satisfied sampling design covering the 6 sub counties of Bobi, Koro, Lakwana, Lalogi, Ongako and Odek in Omoro district was undertaken and a total of75 farmers were interviewed. The data was collected and analysed using SPSS and A30-meterdigital elevation model (DEM) from the SRTM downloaded from US Geological Survey(USGS)website was used to derive the climate, topography/slope suitability and erosion hazard suitability. The result reveals that 61.5% of the land in Omoro is suitable for growing of coffee. In consideration of management practices, farmers in Tochi Sub counties are doing better than their counterparts in Omoro County. Additionally, coffee production is economically viablein all the sub counties in Omoro. This implies that low coffee production in Omoro is not attributed to poor land suitability but it could be perception and a mind-set issue that prevents farmers from engaging in coffee production in Omoro. Besides, perception and mind-set issues, the labour intensiveness involved in managing coffee farms amidst poor extension services are limiting factors in coffee production in Omoro. Therefore, Coffee production should be promoted across all the sub counties of Bobi, Ongako, Koro, Lakwana, Lalogi and some parts of Odek. The Benefit Cost ratio is positive and more than 1 implying that coffee production is economically viable in these areas. There is need to invest in yield enhancing technologies so that more output can be achieved that will generate more revenue and profits. Further studies with regard to farmers’ perception to coffee production in Omoro should be instituted.