FORT PORTAL – Farmers in Fort Portal City and the rest of Rwenzori Sub region have been urged to embrace agroecology as one way of addressing the current global threats caused by climate change.
According to Paul Kusiima, an agroecologist at Food-Feed-Forest [Triple F] Agroecology Demonstration Centre in Fort Portal City, the emphasis should be put on agricultural practices that favour nature while yielding healthy food.
“Seasons in Rwenzori Sub-region have also been affected by world’s greatest global warming threat which is as a result of poor farming practices including bush burning, deforestation among others which have been previously done to clear ground for crops,” Kusiima said.
He argues that there is no need to cut trees to open up land for farming but rather farmers should endeavor to get knowledge about how to utilise the standing trees as they farm.
Using an example of passion fruits, Kusiima said farmers have gone ahead to clear bushes and cut down trees to grow passion fruits, and yet trees can favour the proper growth of such fruits.
“Our farmers only need to change their mindset and also learn that climate change effects can be addressed with good agricultural practices. Imagine people have continued to plant eucalyptus trees in wetlands,” he said.
He however said farmers can still grow crops and conserve the environment if they embrace agroecology which does not destroy the environment, or nature.
“Farmers must do away with a perception that they have to first cut trees or burn bushes to secure land for cultivation because it directly impacts negatively on our mother nature,” said Kusiima.
He said they should however learn to utilise the bushes and forests for gardens saying there are climbing crops that can be planted on trees.
Agriculture being a key source of income, Kusiima appealed to the non-governmental organisations and government agencies concerned with environmental conservation, to sensitise the public on farming practices that are less harmful to nature.
“It’s high time our leaders and NGOs prioritised agroecology because the local farmer in the modern world needs to know what to grow, where, how, and why? For instance, indigenous crops are highly encouraged in this concept not only for nutritious food but because they are nature friendly,” he noted.
The Fort Portal City production officer, Dr. Stanley Businge urged farmers to utilise extension workers for guidance on climate-smart agriculture.
‘Farmers need to use extension workers in their respective areas. Extension workers should also take an initiative to sensitise farmers and encourage them because climate change affects all of us,” Businge said.
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