Comparative Advantage of Kaberamaido

The district has natural endowments such as fertile soils which produce high yield crops in season. However, the crops are normally affected by the unpredictable drought conditions.

Agriculture

The district is endowed with tropical fruits such as mangoes and oranges which yield plenty of fruits seasonally. Mangoes provide food for the locals during the season and replaces part of the daily meals. Most of the trees are communally owned so there are no restrictions on harvesting. The mangoes normally overwhelm the locals and are wasted.

The natural fruit endowments provide a good potential for fruit juice production.

Cattle production

The district is a cattle area. The Kumam are traditionally cattle keepers though this was disrupted by the Karimojong cattle rustlers in 1986. However, restocking is on going and cattle rearing is picking up. The district provides market for traders from Juba in Southern Sudan and other parts of the country. The cattle markets have however been overwhelmed by the Juba traders.

Aquaculture
The district is favourable for fish farming because it is endowed with a number of swamps. The soil conditions (clay soil) are also favourable given the high retention capacity. Currently, 169 fish ponds are functional.

Lake fisheries
The district is advantaged in the area of lake fisheries since part of it lies on Lake Kyoga. There are also major swamps such as Olianai, Omabor, Abalang and Omunyal and small streams scattered in the district which drain into Lake Kyoga.

All these natural and artificial water bodies are endowed with fish species, which are of commercial value and rich in high quality animal proteins and other nutritive and medical values.

Bee keeping/Apiculture

There is good potential for apiculture (deliberate rearing of honey bees for production of honey and other bee products) in the district.
The common bee races present in the district are Apis mellifera scutella and Apis mellifera adansoni which have adapted the nomadic behaviour of swarming when environmental conditions become adverse and / or being continuously disturbed.

Honey production and other bee products

Bee farmers in the district are largely small scale honey producers who are not organised and produce and process individually.

Due to inadequate extension services and training materials, bee farmers lack skills in production, processing and marketing of honey and other bee products.

Besides, these farmers have limited processing and storage facilities for honey in the district.