Forecast services 'being improved' to guide farmers

The Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is working together with the Metrological Department to strengthen forecast services to guide farmers to make informed decisions.

Agriculture minister Vincent Ssempijja said farmers need accurate information on weather changes to avoid making mistakes.

"We realized our farmers were lacking accurate information on weather projections. The meteorological department needs more funding to get more equipment to give accurate information," he said.

Sempijja was addressing a joint press briefing together with the Food Agricultural Organisation (FAO), ahead of the World Food Day - October 16.

This year's event is to take place in Lira under the theme: ‘Climate is Changing. Food and Agriculture must too'.

The ministry also wants all weather forecast messages to be passed on in local languages which majority farmers understand.

"We are also integrating the climate change component in all directorates to come up with sustainable adaptation interventions," added Ssempijja.

Agriculture minister Vincent Ssempijja in a handshake with FAO country director Alhaji M Jallow. (Credit: Tony Rujuta)

Statistics from MAAIF indicate that agriculture contributes nearly 20% of the country's GDP, and accounts for 48% of exports.  Statistics also indicate that about 80% of the country's population depends on agriculture.

The minister said government has already designed pro-poor approaches and interventions to enable agricultural systems cope with climate change.

"We have so far constructed 250 valley tanks. We are going to construct more small-scale farm valley tanks and dams for farmers in water-stricken areas in 56 districts of cattle corridor."

Ssempijja said they are to undertake 12 feasibility studies for irrigation schemes countrywide.

They also intend to intensify value addition to minimize post-harvest losses (30-40%) at household level and agro-processing to increase shelf life of produce targeting organized farmer groups.

 According to the FAO, Uganda loses about 800,000 hectares of crops annually due to climate change-related events.

While making a presentation on climate change and food security, the national consultant on climate change adaptation at FAO, Emmanuel Zziwa attributed the problem to drought, short term water scarcity, floods, landslides and inaccurate forecast services to alert farmers among others.

The most affects areas included highland areas like Elgon region, dryland from South Western Uganda to Karamoja  and low-lying areas like Butaleja which remain vulnerable to floods.

FAO country director Alhaji M Jallow said Uganda is faced with adverse climate change impacts such as erratic weather patterns, prolonged drought and increase in pests and disease outbreaks, which affects agricultural productivity.

He called on government to save the remaining forest cover, encourage tree planting, protect wetlands and other natural resources and encourage use of alternative energy sources that cause less pollution.