KYOTERA: Farmers count losses as torrential rains hit farms

KYOTERA – About 800 farmers in Kyotera district are counting losses following torrential rains that have destroyed farms including about 300 acres of vanilla in Kiwumulo village in Kasaali Subcounty.

The LCI Chairman of Kiwumulo village, Mathias Njalwe said farmers had anticipated to harvest this month but are now counting losses.

He said and about 300 families have had their crops like banana, cassava and potatoes destroyed.

Njalwe who is also a farmer with five acres of vanilla said it was a terrifying moment when the torrential rains with strong winds that started swept people’s crop gardens.

He said even some of the trees that would have acted as wind breaks were also uprooted or broken by the torrential rains and ended up hitting vanilla.

Drake Kibilango said he will be unable to pay back the loan he used to grow 20 acres of vanilla which was destroyed by the rains. He said he was expecting to harvest 1,200 kilos before the rains hit.

Another farmer, Jastina Nandaula, 65, said all her matooke and vanilla were destroyed by the strong winds that also broke all the trees in her garden. She called upon the Office of the Prime Minister [OPM] to intervene, saying she is unable to feed her grandchildren.

“I have no hope that I will get food to feed my grandchildren during the coming school holidays,” she said.

Edward Bakabulindi said he was expecting to harvest 400kgs of vanilla in July this year but the crop has been destroyed by the torrential rains.

We last harvested vanilla in December last year while the harvesting season for this year is supposed to be in July but now the rains have destroyed the vanilla, which means we are going to make loans.

Kyotera district LCV chairman, Patrick Kisekulo said Kiwumulo is a model village for vanilla growing and that the population there has for long been exporting the produce abroad.

He said the destruction of the vanilla gardens by the torrential rains is a serious setback to the farming community as far as fighting poverty in the area is concerned.

Kisekulo: “The district agricultural department has been supporting this project of vanilla growing as an avenue to alleviate poverty in rural areas.”

He said the district local government has deployed technical staff to assess the situation and make a report to OPM.

https://thecooperator.news/bundibugyo-vanilla-farmers-mourn-losses-to-heavy-rains/

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