WEST NILE FARMERS COUNT LOSSES AS CLIMATE CHANGE HITS CROP PRODUCTION

Maize Plant affected by prolong dry spell in Kamaka-Maracha district (Photo: Radio Pacis)

By Onzoma Albert

Arua City

The farmers in the West Nile region are experiencing poor harvest during the first farming season, primarily due to prolonged dry spells caused by changing climatic conditions. These adverse weather patterns have severely impacted crop production, resulting in lower yields and substantial financial losses for farmers. Livestock farmers have also been affected, facing severe shortages of pasture and water sources.

Joel Awuzu, a tomato farmer in Arivu Sub-county, Arua district, reported losing investments in seeds, land preparation, and labor, with little to no produce to sell or consume.

“We are this time expecting very little harvest yet you have spent a lot of money and we are really urging government to come to our rescue, like for us tomato farmers we are supposed to earn 7 million on one quarter land of tomatoes but this time we are not looking at that money because the yields has so much been affected by the previous dry spell we experienced in the region” he said.

Insufficient soil moisture has been a key factor, leading to stunted crop growth and halted grain-filling in cereals and legumes.

Prolong dry spell affected maize and sunflower field in

Etori Ward, Arua City (Photo: Radio Pacis)

Dickson Draalia, Chairman of the Etori Farmers Development Forum, confirmed that this season’s harvest was significantly lower than previous seasons, appealing for government intervention.

“The dry spell got most of our crops at the planting stage and others at flowering stage which affected their growth and became a challenge for us farmers, if there could a support from the government to us as local farmers in the region we would welcome it because it will help us in terms of acquiring irrigation equipment to mitigate the issue of climate change, the support could improve crop production and yields for us farmers in the region” he said.

Dr. Willy Nguma, the Arua District production officer, acknowledged the significant impact of the dry spell on agriculture this year.

He urged farmers to adopt adaptive strategies such as agroforestry and climate-smart agriculture to enhance resilience for the upcoming planting season, which runs from August to December.

“The rains came after prolonged drought in the region we now want to encourage of farmers to make use of the current rainfall, this time I encourage our farmers to adopt the practice of planting of cereal crops like maize, beans, groundnuts, even plant cassava and heap potatoes as well, because these are crops that can save their families from starvation and improve food security” he said.

Agricultural and environmental experts have appealed to farmers to maintain regular contact with local departments and report emerging challenges.

This engagement allows responsible authorities to provide ongoing training and technical support to help farmers adapt to climate change, thereby improving future harvests.

Recurrent dry spells have disrupted planting cycles and destroyed standing crops. The recent dry spell has devastated rain-fed crops like maize, beans, groundnuts, and cassava, which often wither before maturity.

To cope, farmers are advised to build small farm ponds or utilize roof catchments to capture rainwater, plant drought-tolerant varieties, and use mulching techniques to retain soil moisture.

These practices aim to mitigate the impacts of climate variability and secure agricultural productivity amid changing weather patterns.