Farmers across the Greater Kibaale region are counting heavy losses as bean prices continue to fall sharply. Last season, a kilogramme of beans fetched between Shs1,800 and Shs3,000.
This season, prices have sunk to between Shs500 and Shs1,500. The drop in prices has been blamed on the oversupply of beans. Farmers say middlemen are taking advantage of their desperation by buying cheaply during harvest and later reselling at higher prices when planting season begins.
Mr Peter Natugonza, a resident of Kijungu Village in Kagadi District, says he invested Shs1.2m in labour, fertiliser and seeds for his five-acre garden but harvested far less than expected.
‘After deducting all the expenses, the money I had was not enough to sustain the business for the next season. As farmers, we need better prices because we invest a lot but earn very little. If things continue like this, many of us will abandon bean cultivation altogether,’ he says.
He adds that farmers have complained about price fluctuations for years but there has been no meaningful government intervention. Mr Simon Mugand, a farmer, says he expected more than Shs1.5m from his 2.5-acre farm but earned only Shs980,000 after harvesting eight sacks instead of the expected 16.
‘I had to pay labour, support my family, and clear hospital bills worth Shs750,000. It is now extremely difficult to plan for the next season,’ he says.
In Kibaale District, Ms Kezia Asiimire, another farmer, says many of her colleagues have left their beans unharvested because the prices are simply too low. Continuous rains have now caused some of the unpicked beans to rot or germinate again.
‘I came to this area and hired land with the hope that beans would bring good money. But during the harvest, I was shocked to find that a kilogram of beans was only Shs500, and that was after lengthy negotiations with the buyer. I have five bags of beans stored in my house, and more are still in the garden. The rains are destroying them, and they have even started germinating again,’ she says.
Mr Moses Kabanda, a farmer who invested more than Shs1.4m in renting land and managing his three-acre farm, said he expected 15 sacks but harvested only nine.
‘The continued decline in prices is discouraging us farmers. There is a need to improve market systems and establish fair, regulated prices that protect farmers,’ he says.
Mr Francis Kahwa says he was supposed to repay a Shs2m loan but failed after the prices dropped far below his expected income of Shs5.5m.
‘After trying to cover the loan, I was left with nothing for capital,’ he says. ‘I could not even afford transport and storage fees, which forced me to sell immediately after harvest despite the low prices.’
Kibaale District principal agricultural officer Hassan Matovu says the shift from maize to beans contributed to this season’s oversupply.
‘Last season, farmers faced losses due to falling maize prices, prompting many to switch to beans. This resulted in overproduction and the price decline we are seeing now,’ he says.
He adds that Uganda previously exported much of its food to neighbouring countries, but regional insecurity and changing economic conditions have reduced cross-border trade.
‘Insecurity in some of our neighbouring countries has limited international trade, affecting our export potential. Additionally, countries like South Sudan, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have steadily improved their own agricultural sectors, reducing their dependency on Ugandan produce,’ he says.
He, however, applauded farmers for maintaining good production standards and advised them to form cooperatives to reduce storage costs, strengthen bargaining power and build more stable markets.
Farmers are urging the government to act, saying regular inspections, clear pricing guidelines and strict regulation of middlemen are needed to restore confidence in the agricultural sector. Agriculture remains a major pillar of Uganda’s economy. According to recent data for FY2023/2024 and preliminary figures for FY2024/2025, the sector contributes between 24 percent and 26.2 percent of the national GDP and remains the main source of livelihood for millions of Ugandans.