Leaders asked to improve food security
BUNDIBUGYO.
Local leaders have been challenged to double their efforts to control climate change and food insecurity in Uganda.
The call was made by the Minister for Bunyoro-Kitara Affairs, Mr Ernest Kiiza, while sensitising local leaders in Bundibugyo District on fighting food scarcity and climate change affecting the country.
“Let us work hard and plant more trees and sensitise the communities on how to protect natural resources. People should refrain from rampant deforestation. We must emphasise the issue of food security” Mr Kiiza said on Wednesday.
He also highlighted the food insecurity in the country saying most the food crisis situation due to dry spell that occurred between May and June, which heavily damaged crops in many parts of the country.
He added: “Our biggest fear now is the current El- Nino rains in some parts of the country forecasted by the National Meteorological Department to last up to September 2017.”
The sub-regions of Karamoja, Teso, Lango, Acholi, Bukedi, West Nile, parts of Busoga and most districts along the cattle corridor have witnessed massive crop failure, leading to little harvest that has now resulted in the severe food crisis. The minister also said 25 per cent of the population in Isingiro District are in an emergency phase of food insecurity.
However, Bundibugyo, Kabale, Rukungiri, Kasese are among the districts which are food secure.
Mr Kiiza asked people to plant leafy vegetable taking advantage of the little on-going rains.
Currently, the government is distributing food relief items to people in severe food insecurity situation.
