Over 50 youth farmer groups in Nakifuma have reaped significant benefits from a training on tomato grafting technology. The Horticulture team under the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), a research unit of NARO, held a tomato grafting training on May 14 at AG Eco Farm Centre in Nakwero, Wakiso District. The training was aimed at equipping young farmers with advanced techniques to improve tomato yield and quality while minimising chemical use and disease management challenges.
I used to just squeeze seeds from fresh tomatoes straight into the farm, but now I have learned how risky that is, the training was a life changer.
Charles Ssemambo, a farmer from Kalagi
“This coming season I am going to plant tomatoes because my worry was that I needed a huge piece of land to benefit from it commercially but I have now learned that even with small space, if used wisely, can bring in great earnings,” Priscilla Tulina, another farmer said.
Farmers, stop spraying with chemicals because these chemicals are cancerous and at the end of the day, they affect all of us,” warned, a horticulture expert, during the training session.
Moreen Logose
On top of the good agronomic practices, she also urged farmers to start small and only advance to planting on large chucks of land when they are sure they can manage diseases associated with tomatoes.
If you are planting tomatoes, you don’t need to start with an acre. Begin with something small and then advance after you are sure you can manage the diseases. Management is key, and you need to have some money on you because the diseases will not wait for you.
Logose also emphasised the importance of proper field management saying that many farmers tend to neglect it but it plays a role in yeid return.
You should not plant tomatoes in one area season after season. Ensure the field has not had crops from the same family as tomatoes for at least two seasons, she added.
Dr. Idd Ramathan, another expert from NaCRRI who shared practical tips for farmers crippling with the cost of manure, said tomatoes require pampering and constant monitoring.
You need to add manure and boosters but ensure you stick to the recommended spacing. Pruning is also vital to reduce weeds and branches because tomatoes need light. Avoid being office farmers, he said.
I’d advised farmers more so those with limited resources to purchase manure for their farms to use alternatives including human urine and rottings from fruits and vegetables.
For instance, I use my kids’ urine, add ash and bitter leaves. However, don’t use fresh urine because it’s too acidic; let it ferment first. Similarly, you can use kitchen waste, such as tomato and banana peelings. Leave them to rot and then disperse them in the garden, he added.
Meanwhile, the training highlighted that starting small and scaling up, managing diseases meticulously, and using available resources efficiently can lead to successful tomato farming.
Many farmers who shared their views said they left the training better equipped to handle the challenges of tomato cultivation and more confident in their ability to produce high-quality, chemical-free tomatoes.