Kalangala is a district in Lake Victoria in Uganda. Palm oil is growing in Kalangala is done on a large scale on Bugala, Bubembe and Bunyama Islands in Kalangala district.
The Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has launched a national project rollout to scale Oil palm production to different parts of the country.
Through a ten-year project called National Oil Palm project (NOPP) the ministry is to expand production from originally Kalangala district. The oil palm project in Kalangala district began way back in 2002
The Palm Oil Farms in Kalangala
People grow palm oil on a large scale on Bugala, Bubembe, and Bunyama Islands in Kalangala district. Before palm oil was introduced to this region, the forests covered the entire area, and people subsequently cut them down to make room for palm oil plantations.
Benefits of Palm Oil Growing
Palm oil is an incredibly efficient crop, producing more oil per land area than any other equivalent vegetable oil crop. Globally, palm oil supplies 40% of the world’s vegetable oil demand on just under 6% of the land used to produce all vegetable oils.
- Palm Oil growing in the area has also created jobs for the locals as farm workers and out growers.
- According to several studies, palm oil plantations can also restore degraded land and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Why are Palm Trees are So Spaced?
If you have noticed, you’ll see that the palm trees are spaced between three to six feet away from one another.
Planting the oil palms too close together causes their roots to interfere with each other, and the leaves don’t receive enough air and sun, resulting in a low yield. The palms take 4-5 years to mature for sustainable harvest.
Palm Oil Workers Residences
I was fortunate enough to pass via The palm oil workers’ residences. These are the homes of the palm oil workers. Palm oil workers are people who work in palm oil plantations here in the Island.
The houses have a simple design with a school, large playground and access to services within the zone.
