Uganda’s agriculture is mainly rainfed. While farmers make efforts to increase food output to respond to the demands of a fast growing population, they are vulnerable to losses attributed to fluctuating weather patterns due to the global climate change. Therefore, it is necessary to explore ways of improving production in rainfed agricultural systems to save farmers labour and input costs in situations where the grain harvest would be zero due to crop failure. In this study, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) AquaCrop model was evaluated for its predictability potential of maize growth and yields. The study was conducted at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK) in Uganda for three seasons. Maize growth and yield data was collected during the following seasons: Season 1, September to December 2014; Season 2, March to July 2015; and Season 3, September to December 2015. The model was calibrated using season 1 canopy cover data. The relative errors of simulated canopy cover ranged from −0.3% to −13.58% for different stages of the crop growth. The deviation of the simulated final biomass from measured data for the three seasons ranged from −15.4% to 11.6%, while the deviation of the final yield ranged from −2.8 to 2.0. These results suggest that FAO AquaCrop can be used in the prediction of rainfed agricultural outputs, and hence, has greater potential to guide management practices towards increasing food production.

Tomato production systems in developing countries are characterized by high post harvest losses. Due to the perishability of tomatoes, lack of awareness and knowledge of postharvest handling techniques, and poor packaging, farmers encounter 20%-50% postharvest losses. Farmers use traditional baskets, wooden, and plastic crates as packaging materials during transportation of tomatoes. However, tomatoes are often damaged due to the size and inner rough surface of crates and the difficulty in handling. The need for fresh tomato at the consumer requires a packaging that protects tomatoes against physical damages, increasing its shelf life prior to consumption. Packaging is important in ensuring quality, easing handling, extending the shelf life during storage and transportation of food products. However, the conventional use of synthetic-based materials for advanced packaging contributes to environmental problems because of their non-biodegradability and health concerns. This review article highlights the different materials used for packaging tomato and the prospects of using papaya, as a precursor for developing tomato packages.

Background: Uganda's energy needs are heavily reliant on biomass sources. This dependency of Uganda's burgeoning population on biomass for household and commercial purposes is posing pressure on natural resources such as forests. This study was carried out to investigate the utilization of some of the country's highly produced agricultural waste for the creation of biofuels.Methods: Pineapple peels, banana peels and water hyacinth were utilized for generation of both carbonized and uncarbonized briquettes. Physical properties and calorific values for the developed briquettes were determined through thermogravimetric analysis and using a bomb calorimeter.Results and conclusion: Pineapple peel carbonized briquettes had the highest calorific value (25.08 MJ/kg) followed by a composite of banana peels and pineapple peels (22.77 MJ/kg). The moisture content for briquettes ranged between 3.9 to 18.65%. Uncarbonized briquettes had higher volatile matter (ranging between 62.83 and 75.1%) than carbonized briquettes (ranging between 22.01 and 24.74%). Uncarbonized briquettes had shorter boiling time (ranging between 27 and 36 minutes for 2.5 liters) than carbonized briquettes (ranging between 26 and 41 minutes). Water hyacinth alone produced briquettes with low calorific values (16.22 MJ/kg), however, calorific values increased when mixed with banana (20.79 MJ/kg) or pineapple peels (20.55 MJ/kg). The findings reveal crucial information on how agricultural wastes might be used to augment the energy sources pool in order to protect the environment and creating social stability in the community.

Only 42% of Uganda's population has access to electricity. The population continues to use firewood and charcoal as a source of energy, which leads to depletion of forests thus to climate change. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential of biogas production from jackfruit waste, banana peels, and pineapple peels when co-digested with cow dung as an alternative energy source. Substrates for each waste were co-digested with varying proportions (0%, 25%, and 50%) of cow dung using laboratory-scale 250 mL anaerobic digestors. The total biogas generation for jackfruit waste, banana peels, and pineapple peels after 30 days of anaerobic digestion was 82.3, 189, and 262 mL, respectively. When jack fruit waste, pineapple peels and banana peels were co-digested with 25% cow dung, the total amount of biogas produced increased by a factor of two and three, respectively. However, 50% of cow dung only significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved for jack fruit waste by two folds. Therefore, the results indicated that jackfruit waste, banana and pineapple peels can be used for biogas production to augment energy supply.

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