Minister Tumwebaze urges farmers to seize early rains for planting

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Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze has said it is a blessing that the rains have come a bit early and urged farmers to start preparing their gardens for planting.

“Fellow farmers, the rains have come a bit early. It’s a blessing. Let's have the fields ready for planting. Our agency, NARO [National Agricultural Research Organisation], has produced various resilient crop varieties for planting,” he said.

The minister made the call via X, formerly Twitter, on Monday (July 21).

“We must secure both our foods and feeds for our homes and herds,” he added.

Uganda generally experiences two major rainfall seasons: March–April–May and September–October–November–December, which are the first and second rainy seasons, respectively, according to the Uganda National Meteorological Authority.

However, the authority notes that the northern region and parts of the eastern region usually experience substantial rainfall during the June–July–August season.

NARO guidelines advise farmers to plant crops such as beans at the onset of rains.

In March this year, the organisation released new crop varieties, including NAROPO 14 Irish potatoes, NAROBAN 5 bananas, and E10, E11, and E12 millet varieties, among others.

MPs okay sh400b

On January 25, 2023, Parliament’s Budget Committee recommended that sh400b be provided annually in 2024 and 2025 for food security and related interventions.

This is according to the committee’s report on the National Budget Framework Paper for the financial year 2023/24 to 2027/28, which was approved by the House.

The committee observed with great concern that Uganda has no clear strategy or policy in regard to food security and avenues for its full implementation across the country.

“The country has resorted to ad hoc methods of attending to hunger-related crises when they erupt at any one given time, and any given crisis that results from natural calamities and hazards,” the committee said.

It also noted that the intermittent occurrence of hunger-stricken regions in the country called for a formidable approach with clear regulations, policies, and funds in place.

“The committee, therefore, recommends that sh400b be provided annually in the next two years for food security and related interventions (food production, silos and stocking),” it said.

MPs also stated that “there is need to sensitise and mobilise the populace to better approaches in regard to food security, revitalise the tradition of silos/the granary tradition of old”.