A GIS-Based Land Suitability Analysis for Maize, Bananas, and Pineapples in Luwero District, Uganda.

Context and background  Luwero District, Uganda, is an agriculturally significant region where maize, bananas, and pineapples are key cash and food crops. However, farmers often face challenges related to declining soil fertility, unpredictable climate conditions, and inefficient land use planning. A GIS-based land suitability analysis provides a systematic approach to identifying the most suitable areas for cultivating these crops by integrating environmental factors such as soil type, rainfall, elevation, and land use patterns. This study aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity by offering data-driven insights that support sustainable land management and decision-making for farmers and policymakers in Luwero District. Goal and Objectives: The goal of the study was to assess and map the suitability of land for maize, banana, and pineapple cultivation in Luwero District using a GIS-based approach to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. The objective was to analyze key environmental and land-use factors such as soil properties, rainfall, temperature, slope, and elevation to determine the most suitable areas for these crops. By integrating GIS and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), this study aimed to provide data-driven recommendations. Methodology: The methods and analysis involved the following steps: (1) data collection on biophysical factors such as climate, soil type, and topography; (2) use of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assign weights to each factor based on their relative importance for maize, banana, and pineapple cultivation; (4) creation of land suitability maps for each crop using GIS spatial analysis; and (5) validation of the results through field observations and surveys of local farmers. Results: The land suitability analysis revealed that Luwero District has varying levels of suitability for maize, bananas, and pineapples. The results showed that 18% and 32% of the district was highly and moderately suitable for maize, 22% and 37% for bananas, and 24% and 36% for pineapples. 24% and 41% of the district were suitable for three and two crops respectively. Analysis of the generated maps can be used to guide agricultural planning, decision-making, and sustainable land use management in Luwero District.