Uganda, May 4 -- Nothing is perhaps more important to the farmer than good quality soil. It is the medium in which plants are anchored and it is the main source of their nutrients. All farmers want to grow their crops on fertile ground in order to achieve high yields.

Good soil is as important to agriculture as evenly distributed rainfall. In the course of their work it is important that farmers are mindful of sustaining soil health by avoiding farming practices that degrade it.

It is not quite correct to think that the best way to sustain soil quality is continuous application of fertilisers or manure. Rather, the farmer should be more concerned about how to preserve the inherent natural qualities of the soil.

Prof Julius Zaake, a lon...