TESO, March 6, 2024 – The latest rainfall outlook for March-May 2024, released by the Uganda National Metrological Authority [UNMA] shows that Central-eastern and North-eastern regions could receive above-normal rainfall this year compared to the previous year.
According to UNMA, the Central-eastern region comprising districts of Soroti, Serere, Kumi, Kalaki, Bukedea, and Ngora is expected to receive high rainfall from March till mid-June when it will relax.
Meanwhile, the Northern-eastern region that comprises Katakwi, Amuria, Kapelebyong, Napak, Abim, Amudat, Nabilaku, Nakapiripirit, Kotido, and Moroto among others is expected to receive onset rains around mid-match. The districts are currently experiencing dry conditions punctuated with light isolated showers.
However, the Acting Director UNMA, Bob Alex Ogwang said that the season onset rains are expected around mid to late March and peak level around May. The rains, according to Ogwang, are expected to relax around early to mid-June.
According to weather forecast, Teso and Karamoja among other regions of the country will receive more rains this season than last season. This, Dr. Ogwang said, is an opportunity for the farmers to maximise crop production and harvest enough water for livestock.
On the negative side, the predicted rains are likely to result into flash floods, disruption in health system delivery, disease outbreak such as malaria, diarrhea, and destruction of food crops leading to food insecurity in some parts of the country.
UNMA also is warning that the expected onset rains are likely to be characterised with isolated thunderstorms, strong winds, lightening and hailstorms. UNMA in its advisory, discourages use of phones, taking shelter under trees and walking or playing in the rain to void being struck by lightning.
UNMA is also advising district health teams to continuously sensitise communities on disease control measures, intensify their efforts on disease surveillance, equip community health workers with essential medicines to treat vulnerable people and active rapid response teams.
Advice to the farmers
Rajab Ogogolo, Kumi District Production Officer said farmers should take advantage of the initial rains this month to prepare their land for the new planting season.
He urged the farmers to plant fast-maturing crop varieties that are resilient to adverse effects of climate change, saying this will help the farmers to minimise losses.
“We are advising our farmers to start preparing their land in readiness for planting by the middle of this month when we expect continuous rainfall. And this preparation involves going for fast maturing crops that will withstand the depressed rains that will come to an end in June,” said Ogogolo.
Further more, Ogogolo advised farmers to practice integrated pest and disease management, plant highbred crops to utilise high expected moisture and prepare for proper preservation and value addition for increased household income.
He also advised livestock farmers to strategically deworm their livestock before or at the onset of rains, spray their livestock regularly against ticks, tsetse flies and other biting flies, and practice strategic vaccination on the onset of rains.
Farmers Speak out
Mary Sagali, a farmer from Abim district said that although, UNMA has predicted good rains, they shall have to consult elders to confirm the fortune.
According to her, weather officials have several times been predicting rain and it doesn’t come or sometimes comes later than expected.
She revealed that farmers in Abim district have been relying on their traditional foretellers to predict rain and the fate of harvest. “There is a mountain that we always monitor, when we see light on top of it during the first rains, it is a sign of bumper harvest, so immediately we start planting crops, it works,” Sagali explained.
However, Mary Adeke, a farmer from Katakwi district noted that the foretellers have always failed the farmers when it comes to predicting rain, saying she will rely on the advice of weather experts.
On his part, Paul Esogu, Deputy Speaker Amuria district appealed to the weather experts to always give the farmers information on time so that they are able to prepare their gardens and start planting early to minimise losses.
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