Barley' Success Stories
This is the success story of Bazimaziki Peter of Kisoro District, Nyarusiza Sub county, Gitendere parish in Bitongo village. Bazimaziki started Barley production in 2016, alongside wheat growing on his small farm. In 2017 Grainpulse (formerly Savannah Commodities Company) in collaboration with Uganda Breweries Company Limited, decided to expand barley production in Kisoro District. A baseline survey was conducted, and a decision was reached to recruit farmers for barley production during the second growing season that runs between September to February every year.
Successful Barley Farmer Story: More Yields Than Ever Witnessed Before in Kisoro.
Bazimaziki in his Barley field at milking/grain filling stage.
This is the success story of Bazimaziki Peter of Kisoro District, Nyarusiza Sub county, Gitendere parish in Bitongo village. Bazimaziki started Barley production in 2016, alongside wheat growing on his small farm. In 2017 Grainpulse (formerly Savannah Commodities Company) in collaboration with Uganda Breweries Company Limited, decided to expand barley production in Kisoro District. A baseline survey was conducted, and a decision was reached to recruit farmers for barley production during the second growing season that runs between September to February every year.
Kisiro district in the western region of Uganda was chosen as a pilot starting in two Parishes of Gitendere and Rukonge in the sub-county of Nyarusiza. Bazimaziki was among the first group of farmers recruited, majority of whom had grown barley before. During our initial visit to one Bazimaziki Peter he had this to say, “The best farmer here in Kisoro can only harvest 2 to 3 bags of barley (200-300kgs per acre) in a good season.” At the time Bazimaziki had already planted one acre of barley and during a later follow up he disclosed that he was only able to harvest 280kgs.
Proper nutrition and crop management of the barley crop is crucial to optimize yields. Therefore, the main goal of the Grainpulse-Uganda Breweries initiative was to train and equip farmers with crop agronomy knowledge, in addition to supplying them with certified barley seed and offering a market for their harvest. Soil testing is important in order to determine any nutritional deficiencies and adjust fertilizer application accordingly, supplying the plant exactly with the nutrients it requires. As a first step in partnership with the Agritech startup Akorion which is working to digitally connect Ugandan farmers with high quality farm inputs and marketing services; the Grainpulse team took soil samples from Bazimaziki’s field. This was a first for Bazimaziki and he was now learning the benefits of soil analysis and why a balanced soil is key to save fertilizer costs and optimize yields.
Akorion field staff carrying out soil sampling at Bazimaziki’s field.
Unsurprisingly the soil sample results from an Entebbe laboratory indicated Bazimaziki’s soils were deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The first step to reverse this negative situation was to recommend Bazimaziki to try the Grainpulse NPK fertilizer blend for barley, which meets exact the nutritional requirements of the crop. Both nitrogen and potassium are the nutrients required in the high quantity to ensure high barley yields. The barley fertilizer was delivered together with certified barley seeds from Uganda Breweries Company.
Bazimaziki (second left) alongside other farmers in Kisoro receiving certified barley from the Grainpulse -Uganda Breweries team. Grainpulse Aggregator Henry Musinguzi, monitors Bazimaziki field a few weeks after germination.
Seed germination occurred after two weeks and our agronomist continued to monitor the crop while supporting Bazimaziki with crop management advice. Come harvest time he was able to harvest 785kgs from the one acre of barley as compared to 280kgs in the previous season when he had planted without fertilizers. The best part was also unlike in the past he didn’t have to struggle to find a good market for his harvest, because soon the Grainpulse aggregator (Henry Musinguzi) was at hand to buy the barley at a good market price and transport it for processing.
Agronomist Simpson Twino (on the left) monitoring the buying of Barley grain from Bazimaziki aggregator Henry Musinguzi.
Bazimaziki is on record testifying that his experience with the Grainpulse-Uganda Breweries initiative has improved his life tremendously. So far, he has been able to pay school fees for his children and re-roof his house. Based on his positive experience made an appeal to his fellow barley farmers in Kisoro, to adopt the use crop-specific fertilizers for optimum yields. The close to triple improvement in yield that was witnessed is a good start for smallholder farmers like Bazimaki and with further improvement in agronomy practices he can achieve even higher yields. A well-managed barley crop in optimal conditions can yield up to 2000 - 2500 kgs per acre.