FARMERS TURN TO LOCAL METHODS OF IRRIGATION TO COPE WITH DRY SPELL IN WEST NILE.

By Anslem Ojaru

Farmers in westnile have now turned to using local methods of irrigation given unpredictable weather changes brought about by the negative effects of climate change in the region.

Uganda usually experiences two planting seasons — the first usually stretches from the end of February to June across the country and the second season is from August to January. Because of the unpredictable rain leading to a long period of dry spell

Nicodemus Bandua a farmer says despite the dry spell, he has continued using the local irrigation method. “We are doing what we call local irrigation system, where we are using watering cans jeerycans, bottles, to grow some short term crops what we are adding is mulching, anything we plant we mulch immediately so that the water we add there will be sustained for a long period of time.” Bandua said

Christine Ayikoru a farmer puts it that there is need for mindset change on the traditional way of farming. “We should now be leaving our traditional ways that we used to plant in March, we used to plant in this season, this time now all farmers should only look at the rains drops, we have to prepare our lands earlier and wait for rains, the moment It rains we should plant any type of crop at any time we should no longer depend on the tradition because if we depend on tradition we are going to get lost.” Ayikoru added.

According to David Edaku, the weather focal person in Arua district it is predicted that westnile will receive suppressed rain in May. “Ideally we should embrace hard work even if the situation change let’s build resilience and see how to move on we have not reached that level of karamoja region or areas of Sudan so let praise God that we are still lucky.” Edaku said.
 
With the rainy season becoming more variable in length and droughts more abundant it has had a negative impact on agriculture.