We’re Sitting on Gold and Still Going Hungry

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I’ll be honest. I listen to a lot of conversations about Uganda’s economy. Many of them sound the same, hopeful, polished, careful not to offend. Then I listen to Mark Dieleman everyday.

But for this conversation, I had to pause more than once. Not because it was complicated, but because it was uncomfortably clear.

Mark didn’t come to Uganda to observe. He came to build. Raised in a Dutch farming family, agriculture is his system of thinking. And when he looked at Uganda, he didn’t see scarcity. He saw abundance. Fertile soil. Reliable rainfall. Two growing seasons. Ideal altitude.

The kind of conditions many countries spend billions trying to simulate. And yet, we are underperforming.

The Sentence That Changes Everything

This reframes the entire conversation;

A farmer in the Netherlands can produce potatoes cheaper than a farmer in Uganda.

Let that sit for a moment. A country with limited land, colder conditions, and environmental constraints is outperforming one with natural advantage.

That’s a systems issue. not just a farming issue. And yes, it’s also about decisions. But those decisions are shaped by access, knowledge, risk, and incentives.

What’s Really Affecting Productivity

What stood out in Mark’s breakdown is how practical the gaps are.

Not theoretical. Not abstract. Just everyday realities.

1. The Seed Problem (And the Cost Trap)

Many farmers replant what they harvest, often the smaller or damaged potatoes. It makes sense. It reduces immediate costs. But over time, yields decline, disease resistance weakens, and productivity drops.

Certified seeds can produce significantly higher yields—but they cost more upfront. So farmers are caught in a difficult position;

• Save money now
• Or invest for higher returns later

Without access to affordable financing or guaranteed markets, many choose survival over optimization.

2. Soil Without Recovery

Crop rotation is not always practiced consistently. Not because farmers don’t understand it, but because land is limited, demand is high, and income is immediate. So the same land is used repeatedly. Over time, the soil loses nutrients. Diseases build up. Productivity declines.

It’s all the pressure.

3. Limited Crop Protection Systems

Uganda’s climate supports strong crop growth, but also strong disease cycles. Late blight, for example, thrives in the same conditions that make farming possible.

Effective protection requires;

• Consistency
• Variety in treatment
• Access to different inputs

But when options are limited or expensive, farmers rely on what’s available, even if it’s not enough.

The Bigger Gap: Access to Innovation

One comparison stood out; Uganda has about 12 potato varieties. The Netherlands has over 300. That difference is not just about numbers. It represents;

• Years of research
• Investment in testing
• Systems that support innovation

The real opportunity here is collaboration, not competition.

Partnerships that allow Uganda to test, adapt, and scale proven solutions faster.

“Stop Eating the Layers of the Road”

Mark makes a comment

“Stop eating the layers of the road.”

It’s a phrase that goes beyond infrastructure. It speaks to efficiency. To accountability. To how resources are used, or misused. Because when systems leak, progress slows.

And everyone feels the cost.

So What Does This Mean for a Middle-Class Uganda?

This conversation was about potatoes as much as it is about alignment. A middle-class economy is not built by one group alone but;

• Farmers with access to better inputs
• Systems that support long-term productivity
• Policies that enable—not restrict—growth
• Individuals willing to invest in better practices

We must look inward.

What Can Actually Change (Starting Now)

If you’re a farmer;

• Explore improved seed options, even in small quantities
• Practice rotation where possible, even on a limited scale
• Seek out training or cooperatives that share knowledge

If you’re in policy or business;

• Improve access to quality inputs
• Support financing models for farmers
• Build systems that reduce risk, not increase it

If you’re a student or professional;

• Ask better questions
• Push for collaboration
• Look at agriculture as an innovation space, not just a traditional sector

The Real Lesson

And sometimes, the most valuable perspective comes from someone who can see both the opportunity and the gap, clearly.

His message isn’t that we are failing. It’s that we are not yet fully aligned with what is possible. And that’s a different kind of conversation. Because alignment can be built.

Uganda does not lack potential. It does not lack resources. What it needs is stronger connection between;

• Knowledge and practice
• Opportunity and access
• Systems and people

Growth is waiting, and it doesn’t happen from one big change. It happens from many small, consistent, coordinated decisions.

Listen to the full conversation with Mark Dieleman on the On Uganda.

Then ask yourself:

Where can I contribute to doing things better?

Because the future we’re aiming for won’t be built by one sector.

It will be built by all of us, working better intandem.

Written by

Aggie Patricia Turwomwe

Strategy / Podcast / Sport

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