Abstract:

Groundnut is the second most widely grown legume in Uganda, after beans. It is well
accepted for cultivation and consumption. The use of groundnut as a food and cash crop has
increased substantially because of an increased awareness of protein shortages in the country
Groundnut is high in protein and oil content and with the costs of animal protein becoming
more prohibitive this crop is even more important now.
Despite the high local demand for groundnuts, farmers’ yields continue to be low, averaging
560 kg/ha of dry seed. However, yields of over 1,750, kg/ha have been achieved in
experimental plots, indicating a good potential to improve farmer's yields. It is, therefore,
possible to increase groundnut production if the growers could improve or adopt improved
production practices such as proper spacing, use of good quality seed, and control of pests
and diseases.
This guide is therefore, intended to provide the farming community especially serious
growers with some basic information, with the hope that it will help them improve on their
production practices, some of which may have been overlooked or ignored.