Karamoja farmers urged to seize extended rains for Agricultural growth

Moroto, (UG);- Farmers in Karamoja have been advised to take advantage of the current onset of the rainy season, which, according to the Uganda National Meteorological Authority, is expected to last for three months compared to last year when it only lasted for two and a half months. 

Samuel Kayonga, an agricultural researcher at Nabuin Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NZARDI), urged the farmers to take advantage of the rains to engage in agriculture. 

Kayonga stated that the three-month raining period is adequate for farmers to engage in farming crops that are long and short-term, such as cereals like sorghum and Sesame/Simsim, and legumes such as cowpeas, pigeon peas, and vegetables. 

“We have cowpeas, Pigeon peas, Green grams, green grams sixty days they are already mature, let us take advantage of them” he urged, before encouraging farmers to form groups so that they can benefit from free advisory services, seeds, and other agricultural inputs. 

According to Mr Kayonga, NZARDI has 16 tractors that farmers in Karamoja can hire through their respective district agricultural officers at an affordable price compared to those in the private sector. He stated that NZARDI is also working to implement the use of walking tractors, which will be rolled out to farmer groups within the region soon. 

He also encouraged those who have hand hoes to make good use of them as there is no more time to waste. 

Mr Abataze James, a meteorologist with Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) told this website that the rains which began at the beginning of April are expected to last until mid-June 2024 and urged farmers to make use of the rain appropriately. 

“Last year farmers only had two and a half months to utilize the rains, but this year it is going to be three months,” he stated. 

Kalema Abubeka, another Senior Meteorologist at UNMA, said the region should expect hailstorms, strong wind, flooding, and logging in certain areas, especially in west Karamoja. He advised families with weak housing structures to relocate to safer places like the homes of other family members with strong housing structures. 

Kalema has also encouraged the community to use this period to plant trees around their homes that will act as windbreakers to protect their houses from strong winds. He said the rains may also damage bridges and roads, especially feeder roads, and urged community leaders to mobilize communities to work together to repair the roads to avoid incidents which may lead to loss of lives. 

The UNMA meteorologist also advised the people against crossing bridges when there is flooding as it may lead to them being swept away, as has happened in places in other districts in Eastern Uganda. 

According to UNMA, the Karamoja sub-region is expected to receive around 500mm of average rainfall with some areas, especially in western Karamoja, receiving more rains or above average.