There will be no floods â€" experts
Mar 24, 2011
THE current rains across the country will not cause floods, the meteorological department has said.
By PROSSY NANDUDU
THE current rains across the country will not cause floods, the meteorological department has said.
The prolonged dry spell that hit the country from September to February this year did not allow the build up of moisture in the soils that can easily cause floods.
The head of seasonal forecasting and data processing at the meteorological department, Deus Bamanya, said the rains were expected to continue till the end of May.
“Flooding will not be experienced because the moisture content in the soil is not enough to increase the amount of water that comes with the rains,†said Bamanya.
He, however, warned that Kampala would experience flash floods due to poor drainage system and abnormal rainfall in some areas.
Areas around the Lake Victoria basin, south-western and south-eastern regions will experience abnormal rainfall, while eastern, north-eastern and West Nile regions will experience below normal rainfall.
Bamanya advised areas that are likely to receive below normal rainfall to plant early maturing varieties of crops.
For maize, they should plant Longe 4 and 5 because it takes a shorter time to mature compared to the hybrid.
Other crops include beans, vegetables, Sorghum which takes 90 to 105 days,same applies to millet,sweet potatoes among others.
The department also calls on farmers in areas that are receiving above normal rainfall to plant more crops that can be distributed to areas that will not have enough rainfall when the dry spell hits the country.
THE current rains across the country will not cause floods, the meteorological department has said.
The prolonged dry spell that hit the country from September to February this year did not allow the build up of moisture in the soils that can easily cause floods.
The head of seasonal forecasting and data processing at the meteorological department, Deus Bamanya, said the rains were expected to continue till the end of May.
“Flooding will not be experienced because the moisture content in the soil is not enough to increase the amount of water that comes with the rains,†said Bamanya.
He, however, warned that Kampala would experience flash floods due to poor drainage system and abnormal rainfall in some areas.
Areas around the Lake Victoria basin, south-western and south-eastern regions will experience abnormal rainfall, while eastern, north-eastern and West Nile regions will experience below normal rainfall.
Bamanya advised areas that are likely to receive below normal rainfall to plant early maturing varieties of crops.
For maize, they should plant Longe 4 and 5 because it takes a shorter time to mature compared to the hybrid.
Other crops include beans, vegetables, Sorghum which takes 90 to 105 days,same applies to millet,sweet potatoes among others.
The department also calls on farmers in areas that are receiving above normal rainfall to plant more crops that can be distributed to areas that will not have enough rainfall when the dry spell hits the country.