Production and marketing aspects of Cabbage a) Area and production The cabbage is one of the most widely grown

vegetables in Uganda. It is a valuable part of the diet in the urban areas and important vegetable for internal trade. Total vegetable production in Uganda including cabbage was 344,000 MT in 1990. The area under cabbage production was recorded as 77ha producing some 2,601MT. The average yields of cabbage are estimated between 20 34 MT/ha. Cabbages are grown in all districts of Uganda. Kabale district has the highest production of 525T (20%) from an area of 15 ha. Mbarara, Kasese and Bushenyi districts also produce significant quantities. Mpigi, Masaka, Kabale and Kabalore districts are also important producers. b) Farming system Cabbages are usually grown as sole crops under rainfed conditions in Uganda. Mostly women and the youth grow cabbage on small plots ranging from 100 sq metre to 0.25 ha, in home gardens or on borrowed land especially in the swamps. They are produced only from imported seed. The common cultivated varieties of cabbage in Uganda are:Drumhead (large), Sugarloaf (large), Copenhagen market (medium) and Red drumhead (small). c) Input use Cabbage is a heavy feeder. Where available organic manure is applied and worked in the soil at land preparation or at planting. Because cabbage is generally a full season crop, producers split the recommended fertilizer application rate of 650 kg/ha NPK, applying some as a broadcast after crop establishment and the reminder as a side-dressing as plants begin to form heads. d) Pests and diseases Cabbage suffers from many pests and diseases. The most troublesome diseases in all areas of production are Fusarium, clubroot, black leg, black rot and downy mildew. Of the insects affecting cabbage, aphids, the larvae of several moths or butterflies, and the cabbage root fly are some of the most serious pests. These insect pests and diseases are controlled routinely with various chemicals. e) Profitability Analysis The total cost of production of cabbage is estimated at Ush 14,814,600/ha. These costs include seed (USh 16,500), land preparation (USh 175,000), fertilizers (USh 720,000), chemicals (Ush 600,000), labour (Ush 3,732,000), and 5% of revenue of miscellaneous expenses. A Ugandan producer selling one head of cabbage at Ush 300 500 (at a spacing of 45cm x 45cm, number of heads/ha is 49, 382) can expect a gross margin of Ushs 6,648,180 to 16,484,580/ha/season. f) Post harvest care and processing of Cabbage Cabbage heads are harvested when firm and well sized. Sometimes the producers delay harvest and allow head size to increase or harvest early and sacrifice some yield to gain some price advantage. Cabbage is cut selectively by hand and trimmed to the desired number of leaves. It is field packed or moved in bulk to a

packing shade for grading and packing. Cabbage for market is usually packed in sacks, and loaded on to trucks for transit.

g) Marketing and marketing channels for Cabbage Most cabbage grown in rural areas is for home consumption but excess is placed in stalls constructed along the main throughways and sold at roadside markets. Youngsters may also carry the cabbages on bicycles to the neighboring towns for sale to market vendors who retail them to customers. Market gardening of cabbages is carried out near the large towns of Kampala, Jinja, Mbale, Mbarara, etc, where relatively larger acreages of cabbages are grown basically for sale to these towns. There is currently no production of cabbages for export in Uganda. In addition to provision of food, cultivation of cabbages provides ready income to the farmer. The key players in the marketing of cabbage in Uganda are producers, retailers, wholesalers and consumers. h) Constraints to cabbage marketing Poor quality produce, postharvest handling, distribution and marketing, and inadequate storage facilities set severe limitations to sustainable production and marketing. During rainy seasons, there is a large supply of cabbage, resulting in a market glut and low prices, while in the dry season; the supply is limited to the few grown in the swamps and in the highland areas of Kigezi where it rains regularly. Other constraints like lack of capital, poor rural access roads, lack of transport affect production and marketing of cabbages.