Many farmers had hoped for a bumper harvest during the September-December season but an insistent dry spell that lasted a year withered the crops resulting in poor harvests.
Michael Bagonza, the Chairperson of Mubuku Irrigation Settlement Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited, says that there is a need to reinforce the rivers with gabions and put in place machinery that can be used to routinely desilt the water channels.
Kasese Town Clerk, Eva Biira, told URN that the contractor - Techo Constructors - informed the Town Council leaders that they had not been given a certificate of payment and therefore lacked resources to continue with the work.
Abdu Mugisha, a senior agro-business officer in the MAAIF and a technical person in the FIEFOC-2 project, said they are creating awareness among farmers on where they can access different services, and the district production department will be the coordinating center for these market linkages.
Saidi Kisembo, a farmer from Nyakatonzi says that although Cotton Development Organisation-CDO announced the price of 2,300, middlemen are insisting on Shillings between 1,800 and 2,000 shillings which is frustrating farmers due to high costs involved in production. He added that they are also realizing low production due to poor seeds and lack of pesticides.
The shrub is a very adaptable species of flowering plant which spreads rapidly once introduced into a habitat and can inhabit a wide variety of ecosystems. It often outcompetes native species and forms dense thickets which suppress pastures and crops in cultivated farmlands.
Robert Kasaija, the LC 1 Chairperson of Katwe landing site, says crocodiles have killed more than 30 people and 100 domestic animals mainly cows and goats in the last three years.
Robert Kagyezi, one of the affected youth on the landing site blames the Ministry of Agriculture for selectively issuing boat licenses without considering old applicants and their locations.
Mobilised under Kataara Women’s Poverty Alleviation Group-KWPAG in Kicwamba Sub County of Rubirizi district, the farmers now have over 200 beehives spread along the boundary of the park and their agricultural fields.
According to the Ministry, the field survey findings will help them in planning for an effective intervention plan depending on the level of disease spread.
In 2007, the government resettled pastoralists mainly from the Basongora community on 3,500 acres of land curved out from land belonging to the Uganda People's Defense Forces, Ibuga and Mubuku prisons, Ibuga refuges, and settlement camps.
The disaster has majorly affected Kamuruli, Rwehingo, and Nyamugsani parishes in Nyakatonzi Sub County. The hailstorms and rains whipped the areas for over five hours Wednesday leaving crops and vegetation in pieces.
Obed Masereka, a butcher told URN that it's tough whenever it rains because the temporary market lacks shelter. He also says that the temporary market is far away from the town council center and only attracts a few buyers.
Joshua Ayebale, a farmer in Mubuku says that if the government had ensured quality the supply of quality cotton seeds to the farmers and provided the necessary incentives like pesticides, there wouldn't be a need to buy cotton seeds from elsewhere.
The regional quality manager Uganda coffee development authority, Gordon Katwirenabo says that although the legislation is meant to boost quality coffee production, they have received a lot of public criticism.
Matia Masereka, a farmer from Muhokya Sub County, says that since farmers tend to plant at the start of the rainy season there is a tendency for nearly all of them to harvest at the same time, which creates excess supply leading to low prices.
The cooperative chairperson, Augustine Kule whose family is also among the 30 agents' families camped at Booma grounds said they have sold some of their personal and company belongings to clear farmer’s debts but the debt still remains huge.
