Rainy seasons have changed - report
THE rainy seasons in Uganda have changed in the last two decades, affecting agriculture, leading to increased poverty and posing grave health risks, according to a report to be launched today by Oxfam, an international NGO.
By Gerald Tenywa
THE rainy seasons in Uganda have changed in the last two decades, affecting agriculture, leading to increased poverty and posing grave health risks, according to a report to be launched today by Oxfam, an international NGO.
Titled ‘Turning up the heat, Climate Change and Poverty in Uganda’, the report, which contains views and testimonies of people on the impact of changed weather patterns on agriculture and pastoral communities, blames the situation on climate change.
“Most of the current warming is being driven by outpouring of green house gases from coal, oil and gas that powered the industrial revolutions in Europe and the US from about 150 years ago,†the report said.
“These gases act like an additional blanket on top of the layers of gases that naturally enclose the earth.â€
The report notes that the rainfall patterns have become erratic and destructive.
“On one hand is the more erratic rainfall in the March to June season, bringing drought and reductions in crop yields and plant varieties, while on the other is the rainfall towards the end of the year, coming in more intense and destructive downpours bringing floods, landslides and soil erosion.â€
Researcher John Magrath found that the seasons were not shortening, but rather becoming more unreliable.
“Rains may come early and then stop for long periods; they may come when it is supposed to be dry. People describe living through long periods of hot dry weather when it should be raining steadily, punctuated by very strong winds, thunder, lightning and destructive hailstorms,†stated the report.
“The crucial effect then, is that the growing period for crops is shortened.â€
The report also points out that there is little or no scientific evidence of less rainfall in total but notes that it is less useful because of its distribution and impact.
Uganda received a total amount of 1,410 mm of rainfall in 2001 and 1,378mm in 2006.
However in 2001 the rain fell over a period of 136 days with an average of 10.36mm per day, while in 200, it fell for over a period of 98 days, with an average of 14mm per day.
Across much of Uganda, the climate is bimodal, meaning that there are two rainy seasons; the first starting in March lasting until June and the second running from October/November to December/January.
“The relative importance of the two seasons for the crops varies around the country,†the report notes. In Karamoja the little rain can come anytime between March and September, with the most chance of rain falling in April,†said the report.
While the areas around the Lake Victoria basin tend to become wetter, meteorologists found that the droughts, that periodically affect the western, northern and north-eastern districts, are becoming more frequent.
“They found seven droughts between 1991 and 2000 with a particular long and severe drought in 1999/2000,†said the report.
Meteorologists and farmers note that besides the rains being erratic, they are heavier and more violent than in the past, the study observes.
“What matters for farmers is the effectiveness, timing and distribution of rain throughout the crucial growing seasons.â€
For East Africa, most scientists predict that the region will become wetter, but rain will come in heavier bursts. There can be more rain yet also more droughts.
“This type of rain may not only be less useful, it may be damaging, smashing crops and washing away top soil.â€
THE rainy seasons in Uganda have changed in the last two decades, affecting agriculture, leading to increased poverty and posing grave health risks, according to a report to be launched today by Oxfam, an international NGO.
Titled ‘Turning up the heat, Climate Change and Poverty in Uganda’, the report, which contains views and testimonies of people on the impact of changed weather patterns on agriculture and pastoral communities, blames the situation on climate change.
“Most of the current warming is being driven by outpouring of green house gases from coal, oil and gas that powered the industrial revolutions in Europe and the US from about 150 years ago,†the report said.
“These gases act like an additional blanket on top of the layers of gases that naturally enclose the earth.â€
The report notes that the rainfall patterns have become erratic and destructive.
“On one hand is the more erratic rainfall in the March to June season, bringing drought and reductions in crop yields and plant varieties, while on the other is the rainfall towards the end of the year, coming in more intense and destructive downpours bringing floods, landslides and soil erosion.â€
Researcher John Magrath found that the seasons were not shortening, but rather becoming more unreliable.
“Rains may come early and then stop for long periods; they may come when it is supposed to be dry. People describe living through long periods of hot dry weather when it should be raining steadily, punctuated by very strong winds, thunder, lightning and destructive hailstorms,†stated the report.
“The crucial effect then, is that the growing period for crops is shortened.â€
The report also points out that there is little or no scientific evidence of less rainfall in total but notes that it is less useful because of its distribution and impact.
Uganda received a total amount of 1,410 mm of rainfall in 2001 and 1,378mm in 2006.
However in 2001 the rain fell over a period of 136 days with an average of 10.36mm per day, while in 200, it fell for over a period of 98 days, with an average of 14mm per day.
Across much of Uganda, the climate is bimodal, meaning that there are two rainy seasons; the first starting in March lasting until June and the second running from October/November to December/January.
“The relative importance of the two seasons for the crops varies around the country,†the report notes. In Karamoja the little rain can come anytime between March and September, with the most chance of rain falling in April,†said the report.
While the areas around the Lake Victoria basin tend to become wetter, meteorologists found that the droughts, that periodically affect the western, northern and north-eastern districts, are becoming more frequent.
“They found seven droughts between 1991 and 2000 with a particular long and severe drought in 1999/2000,†said the report.
Meteorologists and farmers note that besides the rains being erratic, they are heavier and more violent than in the past, the study observes.
“What matters for farmers is the effectiveness, timing and distribution of rain throughout the crucial growing seasons.â€
For East Africa, most scientists predict that the region will become wetter, but rain will come in heavier bursts. There can be more rain yet also more droughts.
“This type of rain may not only be less useful, it may be damaging, smashing crops and washing away top soil.â€