Dry spell wipes out Karamoja’s first wheat harvest

What the report says

More than 40 farmers in Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region are facing losses after a prolonged dry spell destroyed over 200 acres of wheat, according to The Independent Uganda. The crop was part of the region’s first major wheat-growing effort, introduced this year by the government through the Karamoja Mixed Farmers Cooperative Society Limited. The project was meant to support commercial agriculture and diversify Karamoja’s economy, alongside other crops such as cashew nuts, cotton, sunflower, macadamia and glutinous sorghum.

The report says the dry conditions began in mid-May and continued through the growing season, causing wheat to wither after germinating. Farmers from Nakapiripirit, Napak, Kotido and Abim districts had planted the crop in May using government-provided seed, but only about 40 of more than 100 interested farmers proceeded. The newspaper said each participant spent substantial amounts on seed transport, ploughing and planting, only to see the harvest fail.

Farmers quoted in the article said they received planting guidance but no specialised training, and some also cited livestock movement as a challenge. A cooperative leader described the losses as severe, saying some seed was never planted because of drought concerns and late delivery. The group wants more seed, seedlings, irrigation support, mechanisation and training before trying again. In broader context, Karamoja has long struggled with rainfall variability, so the failed wheat trial underscores the difficulty of introducing rain-fed commercial crops without reliable water access.