Abstract:

Uganda has a total area of 241,038 sq. km, with a land area of about 236,000 sq. km comprising cultivated areas, arable but uncultivated land, rangelands, mountains and built up areas. 16% of the total area constitutes water and swamps while 7% is under forests. Rainfall averages 900-1,300 mm per annum and the favourable climate over much of the country allows the cultivation of a variety of tropical and subtropical crops throughout the year. Over 88% of Uganda’s population lives in rural areas and are engaged in agriculture (MAAIF, 1996). Uganda’s GDP is generated mainly by the exploitation of natural resources and the whole agricultural sector (cash and food crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry) is based on using or harvesting the natural resources. In 1986 agriculture accounted for 58% of GDP and in 1998/99 accounted for 43%. Of the 43% contribution to GDP of agriculture, food crops account for 71%, export crops 5%, while livestock, fisheries and forestry sectors account for 17%, 4%, and 3% respectively. Only 33% of food crop output is marketed compared with 66% of livestock products. 56% of agricultural GDP consists of subsistence production for own consumption and is non-monetised. About 50% of the construction and 30% of the manufacturing sectors are directly dependant on natural resources such that in 1995, the nature based GDP was about 56%, (NEMA, 1996).