Professor Waswa Balunywa has expressed concerns about the distribution of hand hoes to farmers in Uganda, stating that it is not a solution to poverty. He was born in a village where hand hoes were the primary farming tool, and he questions why, decades later, they are still being celebrated as a significant intervention. Balunywa argues that while the intention to support farmers is commendable, the assistance provided must match the scale of the challenge faced by the agricultural sector.
Balunywa notes that agriculture has advanced globally through mechanization, improved seeds, irrigation, fertilizers, and digital technologies. However, in Uganda, millions of farmers still rely on hand hoes as their primary tool. The distribution of hand hoes in eight districts in Busoga, as well as communities in West Nile, Kigezi, and Bunyoro, has been announced. Balunywa argues that this should prompt serious reflection on the state of agriculture in Uganda.
The professor emphasizes that the problem is not the hand hoe itself but the economic condition of the farmer who depends on it. Many farmers cannot afford basic necessities like quality seeds, fertilizers, or access to reliable markets, trapping them in a cycle of low production and low income. Balunywa argues that providing another hand hoe may help with immediate cultivation but does little to change the circumstances that keep households poor.
Balunywa suggests that mechanization is crucial to transforming agriculture in Uganda. He proposes that governments, cooperatives, and private investors establish affordable machinery-hiring services, and that draught animals can provide a practical alternative where appropriate. This, he argues, would allow farmers to cultivate more land, reduce labor costs, and redirect their efforts towards other productive activities.
In addition to mechanization, Balunywa emphasizes the need for education and training for farmers. He suggests that farmers should understand not only how to cultivate an acre but also how much it costs to produce, where the harvest will be sold, and what profit they can expect. This would enable them to make informed decisions and improve their productivity.
Balunywa also argues that the mindset about poverty needs to change. Government assistance is important, particularly for vulnerable households, but it should build lasting productive capacity. The goal, he says, is to move people from subsistence to commercial production and from dependence to enterprise. This requires affordable finance, reliable markets, storage facilities, and better transport infrastructure.
Balunywa concludes that the distribution of hand hoes should not be celebrated as a symbol of agricultural progress in 2026. Instead, Uganda should focus on transforming agriculture through mechanization, education, and entrepreneurship. The country needs to think its way out of poverty, organize its way out of it, and produce its way out of it. The time for transformation, he says, is now.
Key points
- Prof. Waswa Balunywa criticizes the distribution of hand hoes in Uganda, saying it's not an effective solution to poverty.
- Balunywa argues that mechanization, education, and entrepreneurship are crucial to transforming agriculture in Uganda.
- The professor emphasizes the need for a mindset change about poverty, focusing on building lasting productive capacity.
