UNRELIABLE WEATHER PATTERNS, A TICKING TIME BOMB FOR FOOD SECURITY

Sacks of maize flour in the store. Photo by Anslem Ojaru
 
By Anslem Ojaru

Arua
The unreliable weather patterns are causing a stagnation in the produce market affecting the demand and supply of food produce.

Uganda experiences two season with the first being March and second in August.

Ebaduru Shabban the head of produce at Arua main market says locally they have not yet received new agricultural produce in the market from the previous planting season.

“The first season has already passed and we got negative this season we expect rain but now it is two months of sunshine, there is no rain we are now sealing the food of last year, but this coming season, we don’t know how it will be because if we have the local food we don’t buy food from the stores because everybody uses locals.” 

Shabban Ebaduru the head of produce in Arua  main market.
Photo by Anslem Ojaru

With the rains experienced last year, farmers put up a good harvest which increased supply in the market.

Mustafa Alokori a businessman dealing in agricultural produce says the changing weather patterns of the products may have an impact on food security in the coming year.

“There had been a surplus in supply, the demand is low, sales are low, and at the end of it all the profits are also like a year or two from now if our people are not carefully in managing what they have in plenty now I see trouble.”

According to the Uganda National Meteorological Authority press release on June 4, 2024, the June July and August forecast period is generally a dry season, the Northern region will experience rains until late June then a dry spell will set in until mid-July, occasional rains are expected to be established up to the end of the forecast period. The overall is there are high chances for near normal to above normal rainfall over most parts of the region.