Floods destroy crops in western northern regions
Sep 19, 2011
THOUSANDS of families face starvation after rains ravaged several gardens in Kabarole and Amolatar districts last week.
By Hope Mafaranga and Fred Ogwang
THOUSANDS of families face starvation after rains ravaged several gardens in Kabarole and Amolatar districts last week.
In Kabarole, over 1,500 farmers in Kibiito, Kabonera, Kisomoro, Kibiito and Rubona sub-counties were affected by hailstorms on Wednesday and Thursday.
George William Manyindo, an affected farmer, said he lost two acres of tomatoes and three acres of bananas.
Manyindo of Kyakahinda cell in Kibiito town council, said he had invested over sh1m in the tomatoes. “I have nothing to feed my family, I will not even be able to pay school fees for my children,†he said.
Sulait Basaliza of Maligo in Kibiito sub-county, cried as he narrated the loss of his three-acre garden of green pepper. Basaliza said he expected to get sh600,000 from the crop.
“I was going to use the money to invest in a poultry project to increase my income. I am heartbroken that my dream will not come true,†he said.
Kabarole LC5 chairman Richard Rwabuhinga said Bunyangabu county was experiencing heavy storms after Kyatwa Hill Forest, which would have prevented the storm, was cut.
The local government minister, who is also the area MP Adolf Mwesige, said they would distribute seeds to affected farmers. The storms also left over 200 youth, who were engaged in commercial tomatoes farming, without a source income.
In Amolatar district, gardens belonging to several families were destroyed by floods. The crops included cotton, maize and simsim. Also, some families fled their flooded homes and are renting rooms in towns.
An affected farmer, Tom Okot of Awioyek parish in Epam sub-county said he had lost over two acres of his cotton garden.
THOUSANDS of families face starvation after rains ravaged several gardens in Kabarole and Amolatar districts last week.
In Kabarole, over 1,500 farmers in Kibiito, Kabonera, Kisomoro, Kibiito and Rubona sub-counties were affected by hailstorms on Wednesday and Thursday.
George William Manyindo, an affected farmer, said he lost two acres of tomatoes and three acres of bananas.
Manyindo of Kyakahinda cell in Kibiito town council, said he had invested over sh1m in the tomatoes. “I have nothing to feed my family, I will not even be able to pay school fees for my children,†he said.
Sulait Basaliza of Maligo in Kibiito sub-county, cried as he narrated the loss of his three-acre garden of green pepper. Basaliza said he expected to get sh600,000 from the crop.
“I was going to use the money to invest in a poultry project to increase my income. I am heartbroken that my dream will not come true,†he said.
Kabarole LC5 chairman Richard Rwabuhinga said Bunyangabu county was experiencing heavy storms after Kyatwa Hill Forest, which would have prevented the storm, was cut.
The local government minister, who is also the area MP Adolf Mwesige, said they would distribute seeds to affected farmers. The storms also left over 200 youth, who were engaged in commercial tomatoes farming, without a source income.
In Amolatar district, gardens belonging to several families were destroyed by floods. The crops included cotton, maize and simsim. Also, some families fled their flooded homes and are renting rooms in towns.
An affected farmer, Tom Okot of Awioyek parish in Epam sub-county said he had lost over two acres of his cotton garden.