Alfred Kilama, a farmer in Pawatomero East Village in Purongo Sub-County reveals that for years, a tractor was hired at 80,000 shillings only to plough an acre of land but the price has increased between 90,000 to 100,000 shillings.
Adrine Twakiire, a farmer from Buhunga Sub County says that her two acres of coffee plantations were growing perfectly last year until they were invaded by a pest she could not identify.
FAO fears that widespread rainfall that started in March is expected to generate a dramatic increase in locust numbers in the coming months, with new swarms due to move from Kenya into South Sudan and Uganda. Estimates show that locust numbers could grow another 20 times during the upcoming rainy season unless control activities are stepped up.
Horyal Investment Holding Company Limited had planned to transport the laborers to Katunguru Pa Wod Ating Village in Ayuu Alali Parish in Palabek Kal Sub County to plant seed canes on 6,500 hectares of land this week.
Horyal Investment Holding Company Limited was due to transport the laborers to Katunguru Pa Wod Ating Village, Ayuu Alali Parish in Palabek Kal Sub County to plant seed canes this week on 6,500 hectares of land.
Addressing the press at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, State Minister for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama said that the government is going to spend 14 billion Shillings in the exercise that is targeting 51 districts that have been affected by the disease. All the 51, are districts within the cattle corridor, stretching from Karamoja, Teso, Buganda and Ankole.
Kitgum Resident District Commissioner William Komakech says armed rustlers have made repeated incursions in four parishes in Orom Sub County in the past few days. He says the most affected are Tikau and Obwore in Lolwa parish, Lumule and Latodore in Katutwo parish, Nakongera in Kiteny, Lokibarach, Kamintoo and Akilok in Okuti parish.
Godfrey Komakech, the Hoima District Production and Marketing Secretary who is also a member of the verification committee told Uganda Radio Network on Wednesday that they have suspended the verification exercise because of the COVID19 pandemic.
Bosco Ongom Cankura, the Lagoro Sub County Chairperson says the locusts have invaded all the four parishes of Lawko, Laber, Pawidi, And Lalano adding that they are posing threats to farming. Cankura cited that the young locusts have already started destroying maize crops belonging to local farmers in Lalano parish.
Moses Wanyama, a cattle keeper in Alupe village, says that it took him two weeks to realise that his animals are infected. He is worried that farmers in the area risk losing their animals to the disease if the remaining animals are not infected in time.
He said that the animal infected other animals in the area and that the disease is spreading very fast.
Agriculture Minister Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja says that they are currently unable to buy nose masks because of the stiff competition for them with countries that want to protect their people from the virus. They were also unable to get some of the pesticides that they use to spray locusts.
Roselyne Mananu, a mother and resident of Fofo landing site in Hoima district says the situation is appalling. She calls on the government to intervene to the residents’ situation and provide relief food.
Unlike the yellow swarms of locusts that invaded the country in February, the new breed of locusts is brownish in colour. According to Kumi District Production Officer Rajab Ogogl, the new breed consists of very young, strong and destructive locusts.
According to the Amudat District Senior Agricultural Officer Joseph Marimoi, the locusts entered through Karita Border area and spread throughout Karita Sub County in the areas of Akou lee, Nacemato, and around the mountains but spread to the Town Council yesterday afternoon. He explains that the insects however migrated in dense swarm westwards towards Nakapipripirit and Nabilatuk districts.
Michael Lakony, the Amuru district chairperson also said that over 200 casual workers are stuck in Attiak Sugar Plantation belonging to Horyal Sugar factories and are struggling amidst shortages of enough food, health services, clean water and other necessities among others.
The proposed assistance will be channelled to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which has been mandated to mobilize resources on behalf of the African Union. The nine beneficiary countries are Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.
Benon Mugisa, a herdsman in Buseruka in Hoima district, says life has become extremely difficult for them now that they cannot sell animals since they no longer access markets.
Juliet Namakula, one of the affected residents blames the Chinese Investors of Zhong Rice Estates; currently operating in Lwera, for interfering with the Lake Victoria shorelines as they draw water for irrigating their plantations.
Associate Professor Alex Ariho, the Director-General of Excel Hort Consult Agribusiness incubator in Biharwe, says that farmers need to borrow a leaf from religious leaders who have embraced social media tools and platforms to maintain contact with their flock.
Last week the District Security Committee in Hoima and Kikuube districts suspended all fishing activities on the lake Albert waters, as a measure to control the spread of Corona virus disease COVID-19.
