According to the project plan, the pilot scheme will run from the selected five sub-counties per district targeting a total of 120,000 smallholder households. It also has a component of supporting oil seed production and the construction of the 2500 kilometers of community access roads to ease the transportation of produce.
The multi-billion water projects such as Kobebe in Moroto, Arechek in Napak, Longoromit in Kaabong, Kaomeri in Abim, and Kailong in Kotido which were constructed between 2009 and 2011 are now silted due to the poor management by the pastoral communities.
Jonathan Moru, a farmer from Nadunget sub-county in Moroto district, laments that despite having over four acres of land prepared for planting, he is unable to proceed without seeds.
Dr Paul Okullo, the Nabuin Zonal Agricultural Research Institute Director said that the idea of walking tractors was conceived after realizing that most farmers had less than five acres of land which is not cost-effective for big tractors.
The project is expected to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change by utilizing trees to influence rainfall, maintain a clean environment, improve soil fertility, and prevent soil erosion.
In the recent report released by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification-IPC, more than 86,000 children aged 6 to 59 months and 10,000 pregnant or lactating women are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition across all the nine districts of Karamoja between February 2023 and January 2024.
Now the officials are saying that ending malnutrition is possible but it requires a concerted effort by all the stakeholders from both government and development partners to advocate for increased resources.
The analysis indicates that all nine districts of Karamoja, namely Kotido, Kaabong, Karenga, Nabilatuk, Abim, Moroto, Napak, Amudat, and Nakapiripirit, have been classified as IPC Phase 3. This classification signifies a crisis level of food insecurity, leading to a surge in malnutrition rates.
The farmers are currently carrying out preparations of their gardens as the entire Karamoja is predicted to have enhanced rainfall from March to May, according to the UNMA forecast.
According to the LC V chairpersons, while at Morulinga State Lodge last year, President Museveni promised to procure over 200 tractors for distribution to each sub-county across the nine districts and two municipalities in the region.
The residents say the ongoing drought has worsened the hunger situation forcing them to resort to environmentally degrading activities to get income for buying food. The leaves from the tree can be used as sauce.
Dr. Paul Okullo, the Director of Research at Nabuin Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute says that they have distributed crops that take a short period to mature to help farmers to cope with the weather pattern of the region.
Currently, the pastoralists from the districts of Napak, Pokot in Amudat, and Turkana from neighboring Kenya have entered the areas of Sebei and Teso to search for water and pasture for their animals.
Simon Lokoru, a bee farmer in Katikekile sub-county in Moroto district, says that he decided to venture into beekeeping because the activity requires low investment since the requirements are just bee hives and a few simple tools for harvesting.
Simon Nangiro, the chairperson Karamoja Elders association says they have realized that food production is important and they need back their land since wildlife revenues do not benefit the community.
Louse Beye, the Nadunget sub-county LC V councillor in Moroto district, says that the family fell ill and developed running stomachs immediately after eating food suspected to have been infected by the pests.
“When the traders of Uganda meet with those from Kenya and South Sudan in the market, they bargain as you the animal owner keep quite and the one who will pay more is the one takes the animal,” Mathew Lokol a cattle dealer we found in Nadunget market said with a contented smile.
