STOP BURNING CROP RESIDUES: FARMERS TOLD AS EXPERTS PUSH FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

A farmer burning crop residues (Courtesy)

By Martin Anguyo

Arua City

As farmers across the West Nile sub-region complete harvesting of their first-season crops, agricultural experts are urging them to abandon the widespread practice of burning or dumping crop residues and instead convert them into organic manure to restore soil fertility and increase agricultural productivity.

The appeal comes amid growing concern over declining soil health, which continues to undermine crop yields despite favorable rainfall and increased adoption of improved seed varieties. Agricultural officers argue that while many farmers focus on planting and harvesting, limited attention is given to replenishing nutrients lost from the soil after every farming season.

Speaking during a farmers’ meeting in Katrini Sub-county, Terego District, and Production Officer Geoffrey Anguzu said crop residues such as maize stalks, bean haulms, cassava leaves and other plant materials should be returned to gardens through composting or mulching instead of being burnt.

“The practice of recycling crop waste into organic manure improves soil structure, increases water retention, enhances microbial activity and gradually restores essential nutrients that crops require for healthy growth” Anguzu said.

Agricultural experts warn that continuous cultivation without replacing lost nutrients has left many gardens exhausted, forcing farmers to rely on declining yields year after year.

They note that the increasing cost of inorganic fertilizers makes organic manure one of the most affordable and sustainable alternatives for smallholder farmers.

Concerned farmer Martin Oyondo acknowledged that many farmers have traditionally viewed crop residues as waste, yet they remain one of the cheapest sources of organic matter capable of improving soil fertility.

“I appeal for continuous sensitization, saying many rural farmers still lack practical knowledge on compost preparation and soil conservation practices” Oyondo requested.

Former Katrini Sub-county LC III Chairperson Moses Maandebo Bakole urged farmers to embrace conservation agriculture by protecting their soils from erosion while utilizing locally available organic materials to maintain productivity. He said restoring soil fertility is essential not only for increasing household food production but also for safeguarding future agricultural livelihoods.

“Communities should adopt integrated soil management practices, including mulching, contour farming, composting, agroforestry and proper disposal of crop residues, arguing that sustainable agriculture begins with protecting the soil” said Baakole.

Agricultural extension workers say the campaign comes at a critical time when climate variability is exposing degraded soils to increased erosion and moisture loss. They argue that improving organic matter in soils will help farms retain water during prolonged dry spells while reducing dependence on expensive agricultural inputs.

With agriculture remaining the backbone of livelihoods in West Nile, experts believe that transforming what has traditionally been regarded as farm waste into valuable organic manure could significantly improve food security, household incomes and environmental sustainability.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), more than 33 percent of the world’s soils are moderately to highly degraded, largely due to erosion, nutrient depletion and unsustainable farming practices.

In Uganda, agriculture supports about 70 percent of the population and contributes roughly 24 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Studies by the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) indicate that poor soil fertility is responsible for yield losses of between 30 and 50 percent in many farming areas, while the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) estimates that Uganda loses an average of over 80,000 hectares of productive land annually to land degradation and soil erosion.

Experts say increasing the use of organic manure, mulching and other soil conservation practices remains one of the most cost-effective strategies for reversing declining soil fertility and sustaining agricultural production.