Climate change puts smallholder farmers at risk
“Many smallholder farmers, especially women in the cattle corridor, are disproportionately affected by climate change shocks,” Agaba says.
A farmer stands in a dry maize garden in Katakwi district. Agaba warns of looming famine in Lyantonde and Katakwi districts. (Courtesy photos)
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Smallholder farmers, particularly women in Uganda’s cattle corridor, are bearing a disproportionate share of the impact of climate change, with erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells threatening food production.
Dr Job Ezra Agaba, a lecturer and researcher at Makerere University, says the situation is particularly worrying in Lyantonde and Katakwi districts, where farmers are facing both flooding and drought.
“Many smallholder farmers, especially women in the cattle corridor, are disproportionately affected by climate change shocks,” Agaba says.
He cites the two districts as examples, noting that heavy rains often flood gardens, while prolonged dry spells leave crops withered.
“We visited those districts and discovered that many villages have not had rain since April,” he says, adding that farmers planted beans, maize and groundnuts, but the crops dried up.
Agaba has called on the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness to prepare for a looming food crisis in the affected districts.
He was speaking at a national policy engagement for the WOSFER (Building Women Smallholder Farmers’ Empowerment and Adaptive Capacities) project, implemented by Makerere University. The meeting was held at Skyz Hotel on Thursday, August 27.
Over the past two years, Muhanguzi and her team have used digital tools to equip hundreds of smallholder women farmers with climate-smart agricultural practices, including early and proper planting, irrigation and access to timely weather information.
The team distributed mobile phones to 384 beneficiaries, who receive daily text messages and voice calls with weather and agricultural information.
The researchers also work with agricultural extension workers at sub-county level to provide farmers with advice guided by weather forecasts.
Agaba urged the Government and other stakeholders to strengthen support for smallholder farmers through timely weather information and hands-on training in climate-smart agriculture.
“Organise community barazas and give farmers the information they need to increase their yields,” he appealed.
He also called for the provision of drought-resistant seeds and stronger extension services at sub-county level to ensure farmers receive adequate support.
Estetuta Bogere, from the Association of Uganda Professional Women in Agriculture and Environment and a member of the research team, says gender norms further constrain women farmers.
“Women produce food for the family as men look on. Couples need to work together,” she says.
Meanwhile, Dr Isaac Mugume, Assistant Commissioner for Weather Forecasting Services in the Department of Meteorological Services at the Ministry of Water and Environment, warned Ugandans, particularly farmers, to prepare for El Niño conditions, which may bring torrential rains, storms and lightning.
The rains could trigger flooding in some districts, while other areas may experience drought.
El Niño can disrupt farming through extreme weather, including intense drought, excessive heat and heavy flooding, all of which can damage crops and kill livestock.
“We pledge to continue monitoring the atmospheric conditions as they develop, and will alert you accordingly,” Mugume said.
Explaining the phenomenon, Mugume said El Niño typically occurs every five to seven years and is associated with unusual warming of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean.
The warming increases moisture in the atmosphere, resulting in extreme rainfall in some areas and prolonged drought in others.