Farmers in Kween district, eastern Uganda have expressed concern over the next harvest prospects as their crops continue drying up en masse following a persistent dry spell since mid-March.
The most affected areas include the sub-counties of Ngenge, Kiriki, Sundet, and Chepsuknya town council which are situated at the lower belts of the district.
Farmers had planted various crops such as maize, beans, sorghum, and sunflower during the first planting season. Farmers like Bosco Chekwoti in Makunga village have seen their five-acre maize and bean crops dry up just as they were starting to flower.
The harsh weather has devastated the plantations, raising fears of food scarcity among farmers in the affected sub-counties. Satya Chesiyoi is also troubled as his six acres of maize have dried up due to the prolonged dry spell. He had anticipated a bountiful harvest, but all his efforts have been in vain.
“I honestly invested a lot in this plantation of mine but, currently there is no hope for a jolly harvest as expected,” says Chesiyoy.
Fred Kizza from Toboswo village had a sunflower garden that was ravaged by the disaster. He had expected a great harvest due to promising rains during the planting season. However, the dry spell has dashed his hopes.
“For the last three years, we’ve been experiencing the same loses caused by drought, and it is making some of us worry if farming is our call,” he said.
Fred Kiplangat, the chairperson LC III of Ngenge sub-county, has called on the government to consider implementing additional irrigation schemes to mitigate the recurring drought-related losses.
“If the government is to step in, which I know they are obliged to, the best solution for the dry spell in the lower sides of Kween is to construct more irrigation points in the affected sub-counties,” he said.
Adding that each of the sub-counties should have at least one irrigation scheme. Currently, the Ngenge irrigation scheme only serves a few farmers involved in rice growing, neglecting the other three sub-counties.
Nelson Yesho, the Kween district agricultural officer, explains that while the upper belts of the district receive moderate rains suitable for farming, the lower belts, including the four sub-counties, have been battling drought during planting seasons for the past three years.
This has led to significant agricultural losses in the affected areas. Yesho advises farmers to consider planting drought-resistant crops to cope with such natural occurrences.
“Sometimes we cannot blame ourselves for the dry spell, for it is a natural occurrence however, we advise farmers to plant drought-resistant crops,” he said.
Original source: The observer
