Drought takes toll on farmers
Mar 08, 2011
HERMAN Mugasa whistles as his cows wallow in the mud on the banks of River Kafu, in Nakaseke.
By Joshua Kato
HERMAN Mugasa whistles as his cows wallow in the mud on the banks of River Kafu, in Nakaseke.
Mugasa normally keeps his cows in Kyankwanzi, near Kiboga, but because of the prolonged dry season, there is no more water in Kyankwanzi, hence the decision to move up north to Kafu.
“I came here in the middle of February. By then, the drought had been on for at least one month. There was no water and no pasture to feed the cows,†he says.
Mugasa is not alone. Along River Kafu are hundreds of cattle keepers herding thousands of cows. They are refugees from the biting drought.
A severe dry season has hit the country and the consequences are starting to affect farmers. Kiruhura, Mbarara and Isingiro districts in western Uganda are suffering the wrath of the current dry season.
In the central region, Mpigi, Gomba, Nakaseke, Nakasongola and Ssembabule are facing similar situations. It is the same story in Teso, Karamoja and West Nile.
Climate change has made seasons so unpredictable.
Normally, October and November are wet months. January and February are supposed to be dry, while rains return from late March to May.
“Some families have started going without food,†laments state minister for disaster preparedness Musa Ecweru.
This year, the expected heavy rains around March and May turned out to be short sprinkles with no impact.
The maize crop will be lower by around 70% in the next harvest because of the unexpected dry spell. The hunger levels have only been kept low largely because of a good cereals harvest in 2009/10. In many parts of Lango, Acholi and the east, farmers had stored some food.
However, the challenge will set in during the June-October cereals harvest.
“We are already having long dry spells, so we think that at best, we can only keep up with last year’s produce, but not surpass it,†predicts Opolot Okasai, commissioner for crop resources, Ministry of Agriculture.
Fresh food shortages have already been predicted in parts of Gomba, Mpigi and Teso, while cattle keepers in Rakai, Ssembabule, Mpigi, Mubende, Kiboga, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Masindi through Apac and areas of Teso have started selling off their animals since they cannot get both enough water and pasture.
“Before I came here, I sold 20 cows at sh200,000 each. Usually these cows fetch sh450,000 each,†Mugasa says.
He adds that it is safer to sell off part of the stock and remain with what you can manage.
During every drought period, cattle keepers lose hundreds of animals.
In cattle corridors like Ngoma in Nakaseke district, at least 25% of animals are lost during every dry spell. Half of the cattle keepers here migrate in search of water whenever there is a dry spell.
Normally, they drive their herds to the various shores of rivers and lakes. In Nakasongola, Nakaseke and Luwero for example, they move towards Lake Kyoga, River Lugogo or River Kafu. In Ssembabule, they move towards Ntuusi, which is gifted with various water reservoirs and on the shores of River Katonga. In Teso, it is again Kyoga and the River Awoja confluence that saves the day.
This is certainly an inconvenience they should be helped to avoid.
During this migration, the risks of diseases increase. On many occasions, President Yoweri Museveni, a cattle keeper himself, has voiced concerns about the continued movement of cattle because of the risks of diseases, and promised to construct water dams all over the country to stop these migrations.
“We need to construct water dams so that this unnecessary movement of cattle is stopped,†Museveni said.
But the policy makers do not construct most of the promised dams. By 2005, there were around 1,000 water dams constructed across the country.
However, most of them have silted and less than half are usable. For example, although a plan to construct at least 50 water dams across the country was finalised in 2004, only 30 of these were constructed. These dams were supposed to be constructed in vulnerable areas like Karamoja, Ssembabule, Rakai, Nakasongola and other areas.
Water sources, no irrigation
The Government has for many years ‘promised’ to solve the water for production problem across the country. They have also promised to empower farmers to start practicing irrigation agriculture.
However, this has not been implemented. Uganda’s adaptability to irrigation remains at 1%, compared to Kenya’s 15%, yet, there are plenty of water bodies in Uganda.
There is no reason for farmers to suffer every time there is a dry spell, 10% of the country is covered by water bodies and wetlands of which the entire country, excluding Karamoja share equally.
Government intervention
The Government has a programme to construct water dams and valley tanks. But it is the pace of the construction that has got farmers worried.
On average, a single water dam can facilitate at least 4,000 cattle. This means that a district like Nakasongola, which has over 200,000 cattle needs at least 50 dams. A standard dam costs at least sh25m to construct, less than a quarter of money paid for a double-cabin pick up truck.
Many of the dams constructed in the 70s are silted and easily dry up during dry spells. This is why more dependable dams are needed.
“Plans are underway to de-silt many of the water dams in the cattle corridor to tap into the next rains,†water and environment minister Maria Mutagamba says.
Individual farmers countrywide, especially those with farms near water sources have irrigation initiatives. For example in Masaka, both Erias Luzinda and Ssebatta Musisi have integrated irrigation schemes for their farms.
Luzinda’s system cost over sh100m. It has a generator and water pumps. While Ssebata’s uses gravity.
Another large estates farmer who is using the advantage of having a water body near him is Ssembeguya of Ssembeguya Estates in Ssembabule district.
He is using one of the huge man-made water dams to irrigate his orange orchard.
Smaller farmers are adopting small scale irrigation systems, ranging from Wonder water pumps to drip irrigation systems.
“Irrigation is the way to go for farmers and this must be our priority as leaders,†the Vice - President Gilbert Bukenya, who has a medium size irrigation system says.
Julius Okello, a farmer in Dokolo who also runs a medium size irrigation scheme for his rice and maize farm, explains the gains:
“You are able to produce all year round,†he says. His system cost around sh15m, and can effectively operate over two acres of land.
Promotion of cheap but effective irrigation schemes must be prioritised by the Government. Wonder pumps cost as low as sh250,000. Prices go higher depending on the size and effect.
A little empowerment of farmers can help them irrigate further. Farmers should be helped to harvest some of the excess water during the flooding for future use.
Underground water tanks that are not affected by weather changes should be dug up in strategic regions of the country. That is the only way the country will stop seeing famine and hunger eating away this country.
HERMAN Mugasa whistles as his cows wallow in the mud on the banks of River Kafu, in Nakaseke.
Mugasa normally keeps his cows in Kyankwanzi, near Kiboga, but because of the prolonged dry season, there is no more water in Kyankwanzi, hence the decision to move up north to Kafu.
“I came here in the middle of February. By then, the drought had been on for at least one month. There was no water and no pasture to feed the cows,†he says.
Mugasa is not alone. Along River Kafu are hundreds of cattle keepers herding thousands of cows. They are refugees from the biting drought.
A severe dry season has hit the country and the consequences are starting to affect farmers. Kiruhura, Mbarara and Isingiro districts in western Uganda are suffering the wrath of the current dry season.
In the central region, Mpigi, Gomba, Nakaseke, Nakasongola and Ssembabule are facing similar situations. It is the same story in Teso, Karamoja and West Nile.
Climate change has made seasons so unpredictable.
Normally, October and November are wet months. January and February are supposed to be dry, while rains return from late March to May.
“Some families have started going without food,†laments state minister for disaster preparedness Musa Ecweru.
This year, the expected heavy rains around March and May turned out to be short sprinkles with no impact.
The maize crop will be lower by around 70% in the next harvest because of the unexpected dry spell. The hunger levels have only been kept low largely because of a good cereals harvest in 2009/10. In many parts of Lango, Acholi and the east, farmers had stored some food.
However, the challenge will set in during the June-October cereals harvest.
“We are already having long dry spells, so we think that at best, we can only keep up with last year’s produce, but not surpass it,†predicts Opolot Okasai, commissioner for crop resources, Ministry of Agriculture.
Fresh food shortages have already been predicted in parts of Gomba, Mpigi and Teso, while cattle keepers in Rakai, Ssembabule, Mpigi, Mubende, Kiboga, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Masindi through Apac and areas of Teso have started selling off their animals since they cannot get both enough water and pasture.
“Before I came here, I sold 20 cows at sh200,000 each. Usually these cows fetch sh450,000 each,†Mugasa says.
He adds that it is safer to sell off part of the stock and remain with what you can manage.
During every drought period, cattle keepers lose hundreds of animals.
In cattle corridors like Ngoma in Nakaseke district, at least 25% of animals are lost during every dry spell. Half of the cattle keepers here migrate in search of water whenever there is a dry spell.
Normally, they drive their herds to the various shores of rivers and lakes. In Nakasongola, Nakaseke and Luwero for example, they move towards Lake Kyoga, River Lugogo or River Kafu. In Ssembabule, they move towards Ntuusi, which is gifted with various water reservoirs and on the shores of River Katonga. In Teso, it is again Kyoga and the River Awoja confluence that saves the day.
This is certainly an inconvenience they should be helped to avoid.
During this migration, the risks of diseases increase. On many occasions, President Yoweri Museveni, a cattle keeper himself, has voiced concerns about the continued movement of cattle because of the risks of diseases, and promised to construct water dams all over the country to stop these migrations.
“We need to construct water dams so that this unnecessary movement of cattle is stopped,†Museveni said.
But the policy makers do not construct most of the promised dams. By 2005, there were around 1,000 water dams constructed across the country.
However, most of them have silted and less than half are usable. For example, although a plan to construct at least 50 water dams across the country was finalised in 2004, only 30 of these were constructed. These dams were supposed to be constructed in vulnerable areas like Karamoja, Ssembabule, Rakai, Nakasongola and other areas.
Water sources, no irrigation
The Government has for many years ‘promised’ to solve the water for production problem across the country. They have also promised to empower farmers to start practicing irrigation agriculture.
However, this has not been implemented. Uganda’s adaptability to irrigation remains at 1%, compared to Kenya’s 15%, yet, there are plenty of water bodies in Uganda.
There is no reason for farmers to suffer every time there is a dry spell, 10% of the country is covered by water bodies and wetlands of which the entire country, excluding Karamoja share equally.
Government intervention
The Government has a programme to construct water dams and valley tanks. But it is the pace of the construction that has got farmers worried.
On average, a single water dam can facilitate at least 4,000 cattle. This means that a district like Nakasongola, which has over 200,000 cattle needs at least 50 dams. A standard dam costs at least sh25m to construct, less than a quarter of money paid for a double-cabin pick up truck.
Many of the dams constructed in the 70s are silted and easily dry up during dry spells. This is why more dependable dams are needed.
“Plans are underway to de-silt many of the water dams in the cattle corridor to tap into the next rains,†water and environment minister Maria Mutagamba says.
Individual farmers countrywide, especially those with farms near water sources have irrigation initiatives. For example in Masaka, both Erias Luzinda and Ssebatta Musisi have integrated irrigation schemes for their farms.
Luzinda’s system cost over sh100m. It has a generator and water pumps. While Ssebata’s uses gravity.
Another large estates farmer who is using the advantage of having a water body near him is Ssembeguya of Ssembeguya Estates in Ssembabule district.
He is using one of the huge man-made water dams to irrigate his orange orchard.
Smaller farmers are adopting small scale irrigation systems, ranging from Wonder water pumps to drip irrigation systems.
“Irrigation is the way to go for farmers and this must be our priority as leaders,†the Vice - President Gilbert Bukenya, who has a medium size irrigation system says.
Julius Okello, a farmer in Dokolo who also runs a medium size irrigation scheme for his rice and maize farm, explains the gains:
“You are able to produce all year round,†he says. His system cost around sh15m, and can effectively operate over two acres of land.
Promotion of cheap but effective irrigation schemes must be prioritised by the Government. Wonder pumps cost as low as sh250,000. Prices go higher depending on the size and effect.
A little empowerment of farmers can help them irrigate further. Farmers should be helped to harvest some of the excess water during the flooding for future use.
Underground water tanks that are not affected by weather changes should be dug up in strategic regions of the country. That is the only way the country will stop seeing famine and hunger eating away this country.