Ugandan farmers raise alarm over soaring fertiliser prices
KAMPALA, November 6, 2026 – Ugandan farmers have raised concerns over rising fertiliser prices, warning that the increasing cost of agricultural inputs could disrupt seasonal production, reduce harvests and undermine household incomes.
The price increases have been attributed to disruptions in international supply chains linked to the Iran crisis, which resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route for energy and fertiliser products.
On the local agricultural wholesale market, a 50-kilogramme bag of urea is selling at about Shs 220,000 at several outlets in Kampala, while diammonium phosphate [DAP] costs between Shs 180,000 and Shs 200,000.
According to Farmgain Africa’s October 2026 Market Outlook Report, a 50-kilogramme bag of NPK 17-17-17 sells at Shs 140,000, although prices vary depending on location, supplier and stocking period.
Speaking at a virtual policy seminar organised recently by the International Food Policy Research Institute [IFPRI], research fellow Joseph Glauber said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had disrupted international trade in energy and fertiliser products.
The online dialogue, titled Double Exposure: How El Niño and the Iran Crisis Have Reshaped Food Security, examined measures to help farmers access fertilisers at subsidised rates amid the threat of a potentially strong El Niño weather phenomenon that could affect agricultural production, food prices and household food security.
The rising cost of farm inputs is already putting pressure on farmers, with some warning that they may be forced to scale down or abandon production.
“We are at the verge of abandoning production due to the high prices of production enablers, especially agro-chemicals. We can no longer buy enough for the farms, yet production has to continue,” said Byekwaso Kimanje, a farmer from Kaweeri Farmers Association in Ntenjeru, Mukono District.
Another farmer, Ngatya Musooba, from Kyankwanzi district, said the cost of agricultural inputs, particularly in rural areas, had doubled because of increased wholesale prices.
“Our agro-chemical shops in areas of Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Hoima and Mityana increased the prices of the fertiliser inputs, which has affected the majority of farmers, with many of us opting for traditional alternatives,” Musooba said.
Some farmers are increasingly turning to locally available alternatives, including animal manure, particularly from cattle and goats, and decomposed organic matter, to reduce their dependence on costly commercial fertilisers.
Other traditional practices include using mixtures of grass, ash and animal urine, alongside selected plant-based preparations, to support soil fertility and protect crops against pests and diseases.
The latest supply disruptions come after several years during which international grain and oilseed prices had generally declined from the highs recorded in 2022.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical passage for global energy and fertiliser trade, with disruptions along the route threatening supplies needed to sustain agricultural production in many parts of the world.
According to the Farmgain report, nitrogen-based fertilisers account for a substantial share of seaborne trade passing through the region.
Natural gas is a key raw material in the production of nitrogen-based fertilisers, while sulphur is used in manufacturing phosphate fertilisers.
Data from the World Trade Organisation [WTO] indicate that urea prices rose from about US$400 per metric tonne to more than US$850 in July before declining to US$453 in October. Over the same period, diammonium phosphate prices increased from approximately US$ 580 to US$ 770 per metric tonne.
A June report by the Economic Policy Research Centre [EPRC], titled How the US–Israel War with Iran Impacts Uganda’s Agriculture, estimated that Uganda imported fertilisers worth approximately US$ 54.75 million in 2024, with nearly 40 per cent originating from the Middle East and Gulf region.
The report recommends that the Government accelerate investment in domestic fertiliser production by strengthening existing industrial facilities in Tororo, particularly the Osukuru Phosphate Fertiliser Factory at the Osukuru Industrial Complex and the former Tororo Industrial Chemicals and Fertilisers (TICAF).
Meanwhile, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa [AGRA] has urged farmers to explore natural and organic fertiliser alternatives to sustain production amid rising input costs.
AGRA president Alice Ruhweza said locally available alternatives could offer farmers an affordable way of maintaining soil fertility while protecting the environment.
“African farmers now have the opportunity to apply the natural fertilisers, seamlessly with the soils and the natural environment protected. This will also command a better market on the international market with chemical-free production,” Ruhweza said.
The possibility of an El Niño event has added to concerns over the outlook for agricultural production, particularly among smallholder farmers in low-lying areas of southern, central and northern Uganda.
Weather forecasting agencies have projected heavy rainfall across much of East Africa, with Uganda expected to receive above-normal rainfall across the country through December 2026.
The impact of the weather conditions on agricultural production and fertiliser demand will depend on the strength and duration of the weather phenomenon, as well as local farming conditions.
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