CalciGrow and Fanisi fertilizers were launched by Chiromo fertilizer Ltd at an event organised by Digital Green Investment Agency Ltd, (DIGIA) in Kampala recently. This aimed to increase the uptake of these products where we (UNYFA) also took part.
CalciGrow is an organic mineral fertilizer. For balanced crop nutrition, the fertilizer has to be used together with NPK, DAP & UREA fertilizers. It removes acid in soils to maximize nutrient availability and increases crop yields and profitability.
Fanisi fertilizers are scientifically formulated to optimize plant health and yield potential for various crops, soil and climate conditions in which these crops are grown.
The Managing Director of Chiromo fertilizer Ltd, Arjun Paunrana, noted the declining fertility rate of Ugandan soils and increasing acidity of the soil.
“While other farmers want to go organic (sustainable) they don’t realize that they are mining the land. I fully believe wherever there’s a problem, there’s a solution. The problem we are facing in Uganda is declining soil fertility. Farming is like mining. If we don’t put back the calcium in the soil, it will be depleted year-round,” he adds. “Fertilizers are wasted in acidic soil.”
“We have been manufacturing fertilizers for more than 40 years. We have decided to make fertilizer formulations that are tailored for the crop. For instance, the fertilizer for a potato is not the same as that of maize,” says Arjun.
Madira Davidson, Managing Director, Digital Green Investment Agency Ltd, (DIGIA) revealed that the only way for agriculture is going digitally. “No digital no heaven for agriculture.”
He emphasized embracing digital innovations as the only pathway to agriculture. He further called for long term partnerships as an avenue to ease resource mobilization in the agricultural sector. “Can we have long term collaborations to develop the sector.”
According to Deo Latigo, Inspection officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, (MAAIF), “Our role as the ministry is to promote the use of quality inputs, to increase productivity and to shift farmers from subsistence farming to commercial farming. And we can only do that if our farmers have access to quality agricultural inputs. We are aware that our soils are no longer the way they used to be.”
Latigo highlighted the need to provide access to information to farmers through training. “We should train farmers because information is key. If you don’t have information, you can’t go further. We also train farmers on savings, and also fertilizer use is embedded among others.”