Kitgum farmers urged to return to gardens after suffering losses

KITGUM– Famers under East Acholi Cooperative Union [WACU] in Kitgum district have been advised to prepare for the second season after their crop gardens were hit by an unexpected drought in the first season of planting.

Established in 1969, EACU has 107 primary societies with each having between 300- 500 members who are part of the union. The union covers the districts of Agago, Pader, Kitgum, and Lamwo.

Henry Komakech, the WACU manager, says most crops have dried up in the gardens due to the prolonged hot sun, making the farmers count losses, but he encourages them not to lose hope.

“The most affected crops are maize, millet, soybean and groundnuts, according to the data from the various primary cooperatives under West Acholi Cooperative Union,’’ he said.

He urged farmers to embark on how best they can utilise the second season to recover what has been lost in the first season.

Komakech however advised cooperators to take up agricultural insurance cover in the future so that not all is lost. Government has established an agricultural insurance scheme managed by the Bank of Uganda.

He however acknowledged that the cooperators do not have the capacity to have an irrigation scheme in place, which he said would help farmers water their gardens in case the dry season strikes.

“At the moment, we are working with the district agricultural officer on how best the farmers can be helped in the second season,” said.

It is only cotton that is doing well but other crops have all been affected by the harsh weather, he noted.

Charles Okot, Chairperson Gem- Onyot Cooperative Society Limited said farmers who grow cassava, soybean, and groundnuts, are fearful to return to the gardens in the next season, given the farm losses they suffered in the first season.

“Most of the resources were spent in the first season and there has been very low output. In such a scenario how do you expect a farmer to carry on with the next season?” He asked.

He urged government to come to the farmers’ rescue, reasoning that some farmers got loans from the banks whuch expect to be paid.

Joyce Larubi, one of the farmers under Mucwini Cooperative Society, said there for diversification given the losses farmers are making in farming because of climate change.

“We don’t know what to do. The only source of livelihood, which is farming, has come under threat due to climate change. Government should come up with a clear solution for us,’’ she lamented.

Last year many farmers lost crops in the farmlands as the district was hit by the dry season.

https://thecooperator.news/prolonged-dry-spell-bothers-nwoya-livestock-farmers/

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