'Selling harvest for alcohol to blame for Teso hunger'

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As the country joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Food Day, today, October 16, 2024, agricultural experts are warning farmers against the sale of crops to buy liquor.

The celebrations in Serere district are under the theme Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future, which shall have experts reflect on how best the country can secure its people from hunger.

Statistics from the agriculture ministry indicate that the regions of Teso, Bukedi, North and West Nile are highly affected by food shortage, which exposes its people to malnutrition.

Commissioner of agricultural extension and skills management Henry Nakelet Opolot says in Teso, most farmers sell their harvest to buy alcohol.

“As much as climate change has highly affected the farmers. However, some farmers have decided to sell the little harvest for drinking alcohol and that exposes the region to famine,” Opolot said.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the world's farmers produce enough food to feed more than the global population yet, hunger persists. (Photo by Godfrey Ojore)

Currently, Teso is facing hunger, with Soroti District authorities reporting an imminent crisis due to crop failure.

“Gweri county with a population of over 40,000 people is highly affected following crop failure attributed to lack of rain. It’s a matter that requires the Government to be on standby to help them,” Soroti LC5 chairperson Simon Edoru said during his state of the district affairs address recently.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the world's farmers produce enough food to feed more than the global population yet, hunger persists. 

"Around 733 million people are facing hunger in the world due to repeated weather shocks, conflicts, economic downturns, inequality, and the pandemic. This impacts the poor and vulnerable most severely, many of whom are agricultural households, reflecting widening inequalities across and within countries," FAO says.

“If the children do not get good food at the age of 1-5 years, then they are at risk of getting stunted not only in the body but in the brain,” Opolot said.

He urged the people of Teso to refrain from degrading wetlands and cutting down trees from charcoal.

Fisheries state minister Hellen Adoa, who is also Serere District Woman MP, implored the farmers to invest in an affordable irrigation system to enable farming even during the dry season.

“We shall also discuss the issue of Iteso venturing into livestock farming using improved breeds so as to improve the economic standards of our people,” Adoa said.