How to fight termites in Nakasongola
I AM writing in response to Sauda Magoda’s letter that was run in Harvest Money on August 31 titled “Termites killing Nakasongola.†I grew up in Nakasongola and had an opportunity to carry out research about the destructive nature of some of the economic activities carried out in the area.
I AM writing in response to Sauda Magoda’s letter that was run in Harvest Money on August 31 titled “Termites killing Nakasongola.†I grew up in Nakasongola and had an opportunity to carry out research about the destructive nature of some of the economic activities carried out in the area.
Local farmers attribute the loss of vegetation cover in Nakasongola to termite destruction. This opinion cannot be overlooked but there are many other underlying factors that need to be put to light.
Termites utilise organic mat¬ter as a source of food and in its absence they utilise any organic material they come across, be it living or dead.
In a research conducted in 2004, the soil status analysis showed that the vegetation in areas with low organic matter content had been extensively destroyed by termites whereas termites, had lightly affected the vegetation in areas with high organic matter.
This means, since the termites survive on organic matter, any absence of it will result into termites eating any organic material that they come across in order to survive, be it a tree, grass or crop.
Research also revealed that vegetation loss due to termites is more serious in dry seasons. In the dry season, there is limited moisture in the soil. The moisture stress results into limited plant biophysical activi¬ties. As a result, the vegetation becomes highly susceptible to termite destruction.
We have to know also that termites are just adding onto a damage that had already been done and caused by the various activities carried out in Naka¬songola. Over-grazing, bush burning and deforestation have claimed more vegetation than termites have over a long period of time. There is not any more decomposing material on the ground for the termites to survive, so they have turned to be of great danger now.
In order to redeem Naka¬songola we need to look at a holistic approach to rejuvenate our environment and have a concerted effort not only by leaders but also the people on the grass roots.
We need to break the culture of believing in large numbers of livestock, burning the bush and cutting trees for charcoal.
We need to conserve the environment for the future because what we are facing now has been a built up from so many years ago.
Local farmers attribute the loss of vegetation cover in Nakasongola to termite destruction. This opinion cannot be overlooked but there are many other underlying factors that need to be put to light.
Termites utilise organic mat¬ter as a source of food and in its absence they utilise any organic material they come across, be it living or dead.
In a research conducted in 2004, the soil status analysis showed that the vegetation in areas with low organic matter content had been extensively destroyed by termites whereas termites, had lightly affected the vegetation in areas with high organic matter.
This means, since the termites survive on organic matter, any absence of it will result into termites eating any organic material that they come across in order to survive, be it a tree, grass or crop.
Research also revealed that vegetation loss due to termites is more serious in dry seasons. In the dry season, there is limited moisture in the soil. The moisture stress results into limited plant biophysical activi¬ties. As a result, the vegetation becomes highly susceptible to termite destruction.
We have to know also that termites are just adding onto a damage that had already been done and caused by the various activities carried out in Naka¬songola. Over-grazing, bush burning and deforestation have claimed more vegetation than termites have over a long period of time. There is not any more decomposing material on the ground for the termites to survive, so they have turned to be of great danger now.
In order to redeem Naka¬songola we need to look at a holistic approach to rejuvenate our environment and have a concerted effort not only by leaders but also the people on the grass roots.
We need to break the culture of believing in large numbers of livestock, burning the bush and cutting trees for charcoal.
We need to conserve the environment for the future because what we are facing now has been a built up from so many years ago.