Ugandan farmers count heavy losses as drought withers crops, weakens livestock

What the report says

Ugandan farmers are reporting major losses after a prolonged dry spell damaged crops, reduced pasture and water for animals, and put household incomes under pressure, according to The Independent Uganda. The report says the situation is affecting several regions, including Greater Masaka, Greater Luwero, Isingiro, Nakasongola, Bunyoro and parts of Teso, with coffee, maize, beans, sorghum, millet, cassava and other crops among those hit hardest.

In Masaka, farmers told the publisher that coffee plantations and food crops have dried up, leaving some households unable to pay school fees or service loans used for agricultural investment. In Luwero, farmers who planted after brief August rains later faced losses when the rains stopped. In Isingiro’s Nakivale Refugee Settlement, farmers said large areas of beans, maize and sorghum were destroyed. In Nakasongola and Bunyoro, dried valley dams and limited pasture are weakening livestock, while some cattle owners are considering moving animals closer to water sources.

The report also says milk production has fallen in parts of Teso because of heat, water shortages and poor pasture, while treatment costs for livestock have risen. One farmer in Kumi District said daily milk output dropped sharply from earlier levels. The article adds that even crops often seen as more drought-tolerant, such as sorghum, millet and cassava, are under strain.

Farmers are calling for government support, including drought-resistant seed, irrigation, water for livestock and cheaper inputs. The piece notes that Uganda remains heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture, and that national weather and environment officials have flagged water stress and food-security risks in several areas.