Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) a viral disease of cloven-hoofed livestock was confirmed recently in the cattle corridor of Ankole, affecting the districts of Isingiro, Ibanda, Kiruhura, Kazo, Sheema, Lyantonde and Mbarara. In the aftermath, the government announced a total ban on the movement of livestock to curtail its spread.
George Canopowonya, a farmer in Matidi Sub County in Kitgum district says the dry spell that commenced in mid-May has affected both cash and food crops that have reportedly failed to sprout and are withering at their critical production stage.
The refugees say that the cut in food aid ration to them by the World Food Program -WFP in April has negatively impacted their livelihoods and left most of them helplessly surviving on one meal a day.
The WFP in April 2020 announced a 30% reduction in the relief food ration it distributes to refugees and asylum seekers, in Uganda. It also warned that further cuts could follow.
According to Amos Lugoloobi, agro-industrialization will be achieved through different strategic actions including developing Commodity Value Chains linking national, regional, district and sub-county level commodity off-takers to private nucleus farmers.
LAbout 539.3 hectares of the total 1,012 hectares of wetland in Kwania is already encroached on by residents. The leaders are also accusing LCI Chairpersons of frustrating efforts in the fight against encroachment on wetlands.
Zeferiyano Byaruhanga, one of the affected farmers in Nyakanyinya II in Kasaana Sub-county, says that an infected banana turns color and hardens. He says the bananas turn into black or brown while the leaves dry up.
The Nakasongola District Veterinary Officer Dr Sam Eswaggu says that the movement of animals and sale of their products in Kakooge town council have been restricted as they monitor the spread of the disease.
The new market is located along Makaka- Kampala highway just about 300 meters from the road toll market in Lukaya trading center where the vendors have been operating for several years.
Alima Komuhangi says middle men only come and tell them that the prices have gone down without giving them any explanation. The farmer who also buys fresh cocoa from other farmers for resale asks the government to intervene and stabilize the prices.
Apollo Jjuuko Kasiita, the Lwengo Resident District Commissioner, says the piglets were delivered at the time of the Foot-and-Mouth quarantine without the required documents.
Although it primarily affects animals, the virus can be transmitted to humans through the handling of animal tissue during slaughtering or butchering, animal births, conducting veterinary procedures, or the disposal of carcasses. Human infections have also resulted from the bites of infected mosquitoes.
One of the farmers called John Lokol URN that the management of Koge Company Limited, based in Soroti, convinced farmers in the area to give them their produce to add value on it but since then the company has failed to pay them their money.
The Ibanda District Veterinary Officer Dr Hillary Arinaitwe says that Foot and Mouth disease has since spread out to other areas of Ibanda South, and Ibanda North.
Robinson Kule another farmer from Kisinga says he is contemplating abandoning the business because of the endless losses he is incurring because of thieves.
Dr. Patrick Barasa, the Busia district veterinary officer says that the district has a population of over 400,000 chicken and they have identified three major diseases that are killing the birds. The diseases are vaccinable and they includes Newcastle which is the major one, Fall pox and fall typhoid.
With no options due to lack of agricultural extension workers and entomologists to offer advice to the farmers over the worms in their areas, farmers in their wisdom have locally started using ash with intentions to prevent the damage of the worms on the crops as well as contain further attacks.
