Research: Oil palm is a novel commercial crop in Uganda and as such, research is paramount in regard to identifying and addressing challenges associated with production of the crop in the country.
Is oil palm adaptable to agroecology in Uganda?
Oil palm, a lucrative vegetable oil crop in the world, showed promising adaptability to some agroecologies in Uganda from studies carried out in the 1970s resulting in first commercial establishment in 2005 in Bugala Island, Kalangala district.
How many hectares will Uganda need under oil palm?
OPUL’s Damanik said Uganda will need 100,000ha under oil palm if it is to fully substitute its palm oil imports at the current consumption rates. He adds that such production can only be achieved through oil palm because of its higher yield of oil compared with other crops, which would require a lot more land.
What are the major challenges facing oil palm in Uganda?
Fusarium wilt of oil palm and Basal stem rot [ 15] are the major challenges facing oil palm in Uganda. These diseases have posed a threat to the oil palm commercial production currently at its infant stage. Fusarium wilt is the most important disease of oil palm in Africa and is notable in replanted fields [ 48 ].