Rocks for Crops- 301

Uganda is a landlocked country in central East Africa, north and west of Lake Victoria. The landscape of central Uganda is characterized by gently undulating hills and broad valleys at elevations between 1,000 and 1,500 m above sea level. The western part of the country consists of rolling mountainous land, and the Ruwenzori Mountains, an uplifted block at the flanks of the Western Rift Valley. The south-eastern section of the country, at the border with Kenya, is dominated by the Mount Elgon strato-volcano. Agriculture dominates the economy, contributing 44 % of the GDP, and employing an estimated 80 % of the working population. The main food crops of Uganda are plantains, cassava, sweet potatoes, maize and millet. The main export crops are coffee and tea. Other crops include sugarcane, potatoes, beans, tobacco, cotton and groundnuts. Non-traditional agricultural exports include cut flowers. At present, mining plays only a minor role in the economy of the country. The Kilembe copper mine at Kasese and the copper smelter at Jinja closed in 1978. Approximately 1.1 million tonnes of cobalt-rich tailings from the Kilembe mining operation are currently being treated using bioleaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning techniques. Other small mineral related-activities include gold exploration in the south-eastern part of the country and industrial mineral development. Geological outlin