The key crops include maize, millet, cassava, beans, bananas, ground nuts, sorghum, banana, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, simsim , rice , coffee, cotton, passion fruits, tobacco and tea among others. In 2014-2016 financial years’ production and key exports included the following among others;
Coffee
In FY 2014/15, coffee production amounted to 3,531,200 60Kilogram bags and exports of coffee for the FY 2014/15 amounted to 3,237,924 60-Kilogram bags worth US$ 402.903 million, in comparison to 3,651,769 60-Kilogram bags worth US$ 403.560 million in FY 2013/14. This reflected a 0.2% decrease in the export earnings which was highly due to the drought experienced in the second season 2014, reducing the volumes available for export. Also UCDA raised 5.8 million coffee seedlings; (4 Million Robusta, 1.8 Million Arabica seedlings raised) and procured 4200 liters of Chemicals and 12 sets of protective equipment for BCTB spraying and 30 motorized pumps to control pests/diseases in coffee.
Over the medium term, the sector targets to increase production to 20 million bags by 2020, valued at approximately USD 2.4 billion
Tea
The total acreage of tea planted increased from 33,100Ha in FY 2013/14 to 41,152 Ha in FY 2014/15. This increased Tea production from 65,900 MT in 2013/14 to 66,000 MT in 2014/15. Of the Tea produced, 57,700 MT were exported in FY 2013/14 (89%), whilst 58,000 MT were exported in FY 2014/15 (88%). This decline in proportion of tea exported is attributed to the increasing consumption by the domestic market. Tea earnings from exports increased by 9%, from US$ 82.511 million in FY 2012/13 to US$ 89.900 million in FY 2014/15.
Over the medium term, the sector targets to increase production to 135,308 MT by 2020, valued at approximately USD 190 million.
Cotton
Under Cotton sub sector; lint production in FY 2014/15 stood at 17,275 MT of lint. This was in comparison to the same period in the FY 2013/14, where lint production amounted to 14,594 MT of lint. Cotton lint production therefore increased by 18.07%. Of the total amount of lint produced, 16,757 MT were exported in FY 2014/15 valued at USD 22.04 million, compared to 14,156 MT exported in FY 2013/14.
Also, 4,150 cotton seed growers were registered and trained on crop establishment and crop management. CDO also distributed 27,160 units of pesticides and 180 motorized and knapsack spray pumps to seed growers. Approximately 9,050 acres of cotton were established under seed multiplication by end of Sept. 2015. The sector targets to produce 64,750 MT by 2020, valued at approximately USD 113 million.
Cocoa
Under cocoa; the number of cocoa seedlings distributed and planted increased from 1,739,000 in FY 2013/14 to 3,550,003 in FY 2014/15; hence increasing cocoa production by 9%, from 22,010 MT in FY 2013/14 to 24,008 MT in FY 2014/15. Cocoa exports earned Uganda US$ 58.029 million in FY 2013/14 compared to US$ 67.200 million in FY 2014/15, an increase of 15.7 % in earnings. The sector targets to produce 71,000 MT of Cocoa by 2020, valued at USD 200 million.
Rice
Rice production in 2014/15 amounted to 237,000 MT, of which 54,799 MT were exported. This generated USD 30.26 million for the country. The sector targets to produce 680,000 MT by 2020, valued at approximately USD 376 million.
Maize
Maize production in 2014 amounted to 2.9 million MT, of which 141,789 MT were exported. This generated USD 80.07 million for the country. The sector targets to annually produce 10 million MT by 2020, valued at approximately USD 5.7 billion. Exports are projected to increase to USD 279 million annually.
Bananas
Banana production in 2014 amounted to 4.6 million MT, of which 99,169 MT were exported. Banana exports generated USD 4.8 million for the country in 2014. The sector targets to produce 13 million MT by 2020, valued at approximately USD 630 million. Annual exports from Banana are projected to increase to approximately USD 13.6 million per year.
Beans
Beans production in 2014 amounted to 1.011 million MT, of which 31,796 MT were exported. This generated USD 49.35 million for the country. The sector targets to produce 10 million MT by 2020, valued at approximately USD 2 billion. Annual beans exports are projected to increase to USD 63 million by 2020.
Source:MAAIF 2016/17