Subsistence Farming Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda's economy, with nine out of ten Ugandans making a living out of it. A proud farmer in Uganda with her corn crop

The average farm size is 1.78 acres – Kabale region Farms are very small women are responsible for much of the farming

Southern Uganda is wetter and has more crop farming Bananas (plantains) are the main food crop Here they have beans growing at ground level too

Any extra crops can be taken to market to be sold. If there is transport available to the market

Ankole, long horn, cattle Northern Uganda is drier and has more animal farming Ankole, long horn, cattle A major economic activity in the northern area is livestock rearing, with an estimated population of about 215,000 cattle, 220,000 goats and sheep and about 3000 donkeys.

Cattle raiders kill 140 in Uganda The Karimajong tribe are cattle rustlers and are nomadic.

Tea and coffee are two of the main CASH CROPS Small-scale coffee farmers in Uganda laying out their coffee beans to dry in front of their houses. Uganda is one of the countries most dependent on cash crops Coffee is grown at high altitudes

Most farmers are SUBSISTENCE FARMERS Most of these farmers depend upon their own work, the work of their families and the use of primitive tools. They save their seeds from one year to the next, use little or no fertiliser and no chemicals to protect their crops from pests.

The yield from the land of these farmers is generally very small and varies greatly from one year to the next. Even when there is a good harvest it is difficult to store the surplus or to take it to market to be sold, as roads and transport are usually poor or non-existent

So if one year is particularly bad and a harvest fails due to flooding or drought or such like, then where does the farmer get the money from to buy new seed?

This means many of Uganda's people are caught in the poverty cycle This means many of Uganda's people are caught in the poverty cycle. This cycle is very easy to fall into, it is increasingly difficult to break out of.

Education is really important – children can learn farming skills or skills for other work

During the election campaigns, President Yoweri Museveni had promised that if he was re-elected he would offer free education to four children in every family. Now that he has won state resources are not adequate to cover the costs.

It is really important that people get get cheap loans For very small amounts To invest in improving their farms Or starting small businesses This is the treasurer of a Credit Union

With her each of her loans, this woman bought more chickens to raise With her each of her loans, this woman bought more chickens to raise. She sells their eggs at market to earn extra income for her family.

Another successful entrepreneur Another successful entrepreneur. This Credit with Education participant opened a little restaurant in her house and serves lunch.

In densely populated Uganda, regional markets cater to as many as 10,000 people per day. Markets provide access to such things as flour, rice, salt, etc.

Most Ugandans grow food and earn money on small farms. Women grow most of the food crops while men spend more time growing crops to sell. Export earnings from these cash crops are the mainstay of the economy, especially coffee, Uganda's main export. But the dependence on a few primary commodities makes the economy vulnerable to international price changes. Visit: www.globaleye.org.uk/secondary_autumn2002/eyeon/index