By Wasukira A*, Wagoire W. W, Chemayek B, Wobibi S and Lukwago G. Corresponding author: awasukira@gmail.com and directorbugizardi@rocketmail.com

1. Revamping Wheat Production in Uganda
Contribution from EAAP
Wasukira A, Wagoire W. W, Chemayek B, Wobibi S and Lukwago G.
Buginyanya Zonal Agricultural Research & Development Institute
Background Characteristics New approaches
Introduction Land utilized for wheat Structure of wheat research and development
Three of the major challenges facing the Eastern Africa sub-region are rising levels of 33 to 45% of total land owned in the wheat growing districts of Uganda is
poverty, food insecurity, and high rate of unemployment especially among the youth. used for wheat production which shows there is potential for increasing Introductions
To alleviate these challenges, the region has to clearly articulate its development
agenda covering all key sectors of the economy.
land under wheat production.
3.5
Wheat in Uganda is adapted to the highland areas of Mt Elgon in Eastern Uganda and Mutation
3
highlands of south-western Uganda. Wheat production in these areas is largely breeding
characterized by use of rudimentary cultivation techniques, un- reliable seed sources 2.5
and lack of extension information which have limited the yield potential of wheat 2
Land (ha)
production in the country (Mubiru, 2000; Wagoire, 2006). Early development of this Total Land
Adapting Variety release
Rains 1
Yield trials (3
crop was confined to large scale farms (>2 ha) in Kapchorwa and Bukwo, but this
1.5
Rains 2 management and Extension
seasons)
pattern is changing with small farmers taking up wheat farming on smaller plots 1 options support
especially in south western Uganda. In all these areas, the crop may be grown twice a 0.5
Project objectives
year – first cropping season in the year is usually March to July/August (Season A) and
the second is August/September to December/January (Season B) (Wagoire et al.,
0
Bukwo Kapch Kween Kabale Kanungu Kisoro
1. To develop and enhance wheat germplasm
Wheat Producing Districts
2002; 2006). 2. To fast-track identification of new varieties with resistance to Ug99
Total land owned and land each rain season 3. To develop heat-tolerant and fertility use-efficient wheat varieties
Wheat research and development was largely sustained with limited support from
Labor utilization in wheat production 4. To optimize agronomic management practices for diverse growing agro-
partners like IAEA, FAO, CIMMYT, ICARDA, and Uganda government. Research has ecologies
now been boosted by a grant from World Bank under the East African Agricultural Wheat production in Uganda is largely on small scale farms of 0.2 to 2.0ha 5. To increase the quantity and quality of certified seed and promote its
Improvement Project (EAAP) with Ethiopia as the Centre of Excellence for Wheat. and the main farm labor resource is family labor with limited use
EAAP is implemented by Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and aims at sharing of mechanization.
knowledge, skills and experiences across the region on the wheat value chain. This
paper therefore gives the characteristics of wheat production in Uganda and progress
so far made.
Climate, Altitude and Soils for wheat production
The climate of Mount Elgon shows an approximately bimodal pattern of rainfall, with
the wettest months occurring from April to October. Altitude in the wheat districts
ranges from 1945 to 2400masl. The soils on Mount Elgon are from the Andisol order
("developed in volcanic ejecta")
Key outputs
• 2 wheat varieties released in 2005
• 3 mutated Pasa wheat lines at Multi-location yield trials
Wheat grain farm yields and utilization in Uganda • 10 introduced wheat lines at Advanced Yield Trial
District Yield (t/ha) Harvest (t) Home (t) Friend (t) Market (t) Seed (t) • Updated status of wheat industry in Uganda documented
Bukwo 2.29 2.75 0.30 0.08 2.16 0.11 • Fertilizer utilization for wheat production validated
Kapchorwa 1.79 1.29 0.08 0.03 0.86 0.04
Kween 1.51 0.99 0.15 0.02 0.68 0.18
• Old farmer preferred wheat varieties characterized
Kabale 1.21 0.27 0.07 0.05 0.11 0.04 • Modern wheat rust screening glasshouse acquired
Kanungu 0.97 0.34 0.10 0.03 0.17 0.04 We acknowledge the financial and technical support from all our
Layout of wheat fields in South West Uganda Kisoro 0.77 0.25 0.05 0.01 0.16 0.05 development partners.