SweetpotatoandpotatoproductionsystemsinUganda.pptVIP

Sweet potato and potato production systems in Uganda Sweet potato production by region ( tons) 岩棉板 岩棉管 硅酸盐保温涂料 硅酸铝 Potato growing regions in Uganda Irish potato growing districts Lakes and Rivers Potato growing districts Potato production by major producing districts (2000) Importance Sweet potato production mainly concentrated in densely populated, mid to high altitude areas (1000-2000m) Major food crop and production is spread evenly over the country (third most important after cassava and bananas) Currently number one food crop in the lake Victoria region potential benefits to poor farm households and urban consumers Especially when other crops fail or in specific seasons before the main harvest Off-farm employment to women and youth Importance of potatoes important food and cash crop especially in the highlands (Kabale) food security crop and sale in urban markets in other districts Consumed when there is a shortage of major staples e.g., banana, sweet potatoes it averts food shortage before major staples become abundant increase in demand for the commodity from the fast-foods industry that is quickly developing in many urban areas Production constraints Soils predominantly old rocks from the Pre-Cambrian era (3000 – 6000 million years) More than 2/3 has poor ferralitic soils (nearly lost all their mineral content through prolonged weathering) Few areas with highly productive volcanic soils Sandy loams in northern parts of the central region, eastern and northern Uganda (coarse particles, easily carried a way by wind and water, have low water holding capacity and are generally not fertile because of leaching but support sweet potato growing Climate Equatorial climate (temperatures moderated by altitude) Areas around Lake Victoria and the west and southwest receive the highest rainfall (1,500 mm ) areas in the center and northeast receive less than 1,000 mm Drought is reported as one of the major constraints for sweet potato production Drought reported