Kampala — The growing of high yielding crops has made soils infertile, Julius Zake, a professor of soil science at Makerere University, has said.

Zake said the crops consume a lot of nutrients that cannot be quickly returned before the next season.

"Banana and maize can no longer do well in Mukono and Kayunga districts. The same will soon happen to Mbarara because we have seen the production of matooke reduce over time," he said.

Zake said the poor farming methods, like the removal of plant residues (suckers) while clearing the garden before planting and the use of inorganic fertilisers, have endangered soil organisms. Zake said the organisms improve soil fertility.

He was teaching farmers how to preserve organisms that increase soil fertility at a workshop last Thursday at the Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research Development Institute in Ntaawo village, Mukono District.

Dr. Mary Rwakaikara, a project coordinator, attributed banana bacteria wilt and other bean diseases like pithium to the destruction of soil enriching organisms.