Farmers should budget fodder as drought effects stretch into wet season

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OPINION

By Jamilu Muzinga

Farmers across Uganda are being urged to plan carefully for livestock feed as prolonged dry spells continue to stretch into the late grazing season. With unpredictable rains and extended droughts becoming the new reality, experts warn that fodder shortages could worsen if farmers do not adopt forward planning strategies.

Unlike in Europe, where winter dictates feed shortages, Uganda’s challenge lies in the increasingly erratic rainfall linked to climate variability. In many cattle-keeping regions—such as Karamoja, Teso, and parts of western Uganda—pastures have been severely stressed by the prolonged dry season. Even in areas that received scattered rains, grass recovery has been slow, forcing farmers to make tough decisions about how to manage dwindling fodder supplies.

Agronomists advise livestock keepers to resist the temptation of rushing animals onto recovering paddocks too early after rains.

It requires grass to grow grass, i.e. if you graze too early, you strip off the young shoots and prevent proper sward recovery. Current pasture growth rates in drought-hit regions are far below seasonal averages.

This means that farmers must continue to supplement with crop residues, silage, or hay while allowing natural pastures to rebuild.

Forward planning is now considered the most critical survival tool for livestock farmers. With silage production lower than expected in many areas, and the supply of crop residues like maize stover and sorghum stalks limited, farmers are urged to take stock of their fodder reserves. There is no point in waiting until December to realize your feed will not last until the next rains. By then, purchased feeds will be more expensive and harder to find.

Some farmers are already experimenting with innovative strategies—such as harvesting standing cereals for silage or planting quick-growing forages after early maize harvests. Though costly at first glance, these investments may prove worthwhile in cushioning herds during critical shortages.

With climate change now delivering both drier and wetter periods, scientists at Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) are encouraging farmers to diversify pasture species. Beyond the commonly used Napier grass and Brachiaria, the inclusion of legumes such as lablab and alfa alfa, or drought-tolerant shrubs and fodder trees like Luecina, and acacia, can improve resilience.

These species can continue growing during stress periods when traditional grasses slow down, the deeper-rooting shrubs and fodder trees last longer in dry spells, while grasses recover quickly once rains return. Together, they create a balanced system that sustains livestock.

Brassicas and forage sorghum, though not widely adopted in Uganda, are also being promoted as potential drought buffers. If established earlier in the season, they can provide emergency feed between June and August when natural pastures are at their weakest. Similarly, quick-growing grasses like oats or hybrid varieties can serve as short-term fillers after cereal harvests while protecting soils.

Uganda’s weather has become more unpredictable, with both prolonged droughts and sudden flooding events affecting livestock farmers. Experts emphasize that resilience depends not only on waiting for rains but on making strategic decisions well in advance.

Feed security is as important as food security. If we want our cattle, goats, and sheep to survive and remain productive, we must budget for fodder the same way we budget for household food. The time to act is now, not when animals are already starving. With climate extremes expected to intensify, patience, diversification, and forward planning are the key tools Ugandan farmers must embrace for sustainable livestock production.

The writer holder a masters of science in animal science