KACHWEKANO — The classroom moved to the garden on Tuesday as IGUKA Agriculture students gathered around a soil testing kit for a hands-on practical at Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (KaZARDI) in Rubanda District.In the photo, the students — some in white laboratory coats, others in casual wear — are seen keenly following a demonstration in an open field, with a soil testing kit placed on a table in the middle of the group. A facilitator holds up a sample, explaining each step as the students watch, take notes and ask questions.
The practical focused on the most important step many farmers skip: testing the soil before planting.
The students were taught how to collect a proper soil sample from different points in a garden, mix it, label it, and test it for pH and key nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
“Many farmers in Kigezi apply fertilizer without knowing what their soil needs,” the facilitator told them. “That is why some spend a lot of money and still get low yields. Soil testing tells you exactly what to apply and how much.”
The students also learned how to read the colour changes and results from the kit, and how to translate those results into simple advice a farmer can understand — which crop suits that soil, which fertilizer to use, and when to apply it.
KaZARDI, established in 1937, is one of the oldest agricultural research stations in Uganda. It leads research for the South Western Highlands covering Kabale, Kisoro, Kanungu, Rukungiri, Rubanda and Rukiga districts, with special focus on Irish potatoes, beans, sorghum, apples and vegetables.
For the IGUKA students, the day was about more than just a practical mark.
One student said the session had changed how she views farming. “We have been learning about soil in class, but today we have touched it, tested it and seen the results ourselves. When we go back home, we can now help our parents and neighbours test their soil instead of guessing.”
Lecturers who accompanied the group said IGUKA is committed to practical training that produces graduates who can work directly with farmers, not just in offices.
The university will continue working with KaZARDI and other NARO institutes to give students field exposure, internships and research opportunities.
