Mwajuma Masika, a resident of Habitant Cell, shared her struggles after hiring two acres of land for 400,000 Shillings and spending another 400,000 on seeds and labor. Despite her investment, she only managed to harvest three sacks of maize and 30 kilograms of beans.
Farmers in Hima Town Council, Kasese District, are grappling with poor crop yields attributed to prolonged dry spells and unreliable rainfall. The majority of the farmers, who cultivate maize and beans, say this season’s harvests fell far below expectations, leaving many in financial distress.
Mwajuma Masika, a resident of Habitant Cell, shared her struggles after hiring two acres of land for 400,000 shillings and spending another 400,000 on seeds and labor. Despite her investment, she only managed to harvest three sacks of maize and 30 kilograms of beans.
Masika, who financed her farming through a local Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), is worried about repaying her loan due in January.
//Cue in: “Baitu season enu…
Cue out: …kikumi kikumi.”//
Janet Muhindo of Nyangereka Cell planted 19 kilograms of beans on a rented half-acre of land but harvested just 30 kilograms, selling at 3,500 shillings per kilo. Another farmer, Zowa Nzyabake from Nyangereka Cell, invested over two million shillings in cultivating seven acres of maize but only managed to harvest five sacks. She fears her returns of less than 500,000 shillings will not recoup her investment. Zowa called for irrigation schemes to mitigate the effects of erratic weather patterns.
//Cue in: “Nami pangishya acre…
Cue out: …loss eri banekha.”//
Hima Town Council District Councilor, Christopher Happy, warned that the poor harvests might lead to food scarcity in the area. He cited Nyakakindo, Karungibati, Nyangereka, and Kisenyerezi as the most affected areas, where dry spells and wildlife invasions from Kibale National Park have compounded the challenges faced by farmers.
//Cue in: “Nabanywani baitu ba…
Cue out: …habwa enjojo.”//
The farmers have called for urgent interventions, including the introduction of irrigation schemes and measures to address the encroachment of wildlife, to prevent future losses, and to secure food supplies for the community.
Basaija is a graduate of Uganda Christian University (UCU-Mukono) holding a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication.
He is a currently pursuing a fellowship in Gender Communications at Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications Nairobi, Kenya and expected to graduate in 2025.
He also boosts of numerous training's in the journalism arena.
Before joining URN, he had served as documentation support personnel, radio presenter and a news editor.
