How Uganda’s agricultural calendar fuels food insecurity
Dr Emmanuel Ssentongo Lugwana in the vegetable garden at Master Cares Hospital Beteremu. PHOTO MICHAEL J SSALI
What you need to know:
As the world marks the midpoint to the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Africa faces a stark reality: despite efforts made, the continent is not on track to meet the food security and nutrition targets of SDG 2 on zero hunger
According to Elizabeth Ampaire, an agronomist, the impact of climate change is felt most during the lean periods when delayed rains mean that planting is postponed, leaving food stocks stretched thin.
As the world marks the midpoint to the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Africa faces a stark reality: despite efforts made, the continent is not on track to meet the food security and nutrition targets of SDG 2 on zero hunger.
The Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth of ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2025 seem increasingly elusive.
Recent estimates reveal that nearly 282 million people in Africa; about 20 percent of the population were undernourished in 2022, marking an increase of 57 million people since the Covid-19 pandemic began. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 868 million people were moderately or severely food-insecure, with over one-third (342 million people) experiencing severe food insecurity.
In Uganda, the situation is dire. As of January 9, 2023, the World Food Programme (WFP) Hunger Map reported that 16.4 million Ugandans were facing insufficient food consumption. While multiple factors contribute to food insecurity, a closer examination reveals that the root of the problem lies in the agricultural calendar.
The impact of the agricultural calendar
Uganda’s food security is heavily dependent on the agricultural calendar. The country experiences two main farming seasons: the first rainy season from March to June and the second from September to December. These seasons dictate planting, growing, and harvesting, making food supply and market prices highly seasonal.
According to Drake Namanya, an entrepreneur and data scientist, between November and February, farmers sell their harvests to meet financial obligations, such as school fees, household expenses, and business investments. This period sees a surplus of food, leading to lower prices. Milling machines work at full capacity, processing maize, rice, and millet for home consumption and commercial sale. Food insecurity is typically minimal unless an agricultural season has been disrupted by climate change.
“However, from March to July and October, food insecurity peaks, with May and June being the hardest months. Households deplete their food stocks while awaiting the next harvest. Farmers face financial constraints, and the crops planted in March are not yet ready for harvest. This scarcity leads to price surges, making food unaffordable for many low-income families.”
During food surplus periods, traders purchase grains at low prices, storing them for future sale. As food stocks decline between March and July, traders strategically control market prices, leading to significant price increases. For example, maize prices can jump from Shs800 to Shs1,000 per kilogramme in December to Shs1,800 by July, a staggering 80 percent profit margin. This market manipulation exacerbates food insecurity for millions of Ugandans.
Challenges aggravating food insecurity
The traditional agricultural calendar is becoming increasingly unreliable due to erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and unexpected weather events. Delayed rains can push planting seasons forward, reducing yields and exacerbating hunger periods. Climate change-induced floods and droughts further threaten agricultural productivity. According to Elizabeth Ampaire, an agronomist, the impact of climate change is felt most during the lean periods when delayed rains mean that planting is postponed, leaving food stocks stretched thin.
“The unpredictability of weather patterns has forced farmers to gamble on their crops, sometimes planting too early or too late, resulting in low yields. Without irrigation infrastructure, the reliance on rainfall puts Uganda's food security at great risk,” she says.
Even when farmers achieve good harvests, inadequate storage facilities lead to losses of up to 30 percent of their produce due to pests, mold, and spoilage. Poor storage forces farmers to sell off their produce at low prices immediately after harvest, leaving them vulnerable to food shortages later in the year.
“In many rural communities, farmers lack proper granaries, forcing them to store maize, beans, and other grains in their homes, where they are susceptible to rodents, insects, and humidity. The lack of investment in modern storage solutions, such as silos and airtight storage bags, means that Uganda continues to suffer from avoidable food wastage,” Namanya says.
Most Ugandan farmers practice subsistence farming with limited access to competitive markets, agricultural loans, and advanced farming techniques. Poor road networks hinder the transportation of food from surplus regions to food-deficient areas, exacerbating regional disparities in food availability.
For example, northern Uganda often experiences food surpluses, but due to poor road infrastructure, transporting food to the central and western regions is expensive and inefficient. Farmers in remote areas struggle to sell their produce at fair prices, further limiting their ability to invest in improved farming practices.
Strategies to break the cycle of food insecurity
To mitigate food insecurity linked to Uganda’s agricultural calendar, several measures need urgent attention. Ampaire promotes the use of irrigation and climate-resilient farming techniques in order to reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
She says, “By investing in irrigation and drought-resistant crops we can stabilise food production. Expanding irrigation schemes will enable farmers to grow crops throughout the year, reducing the seasonal hunger gaps that occur due to erratic rainfall patterns.”
The agronomist also recommends establishment of modern silos, cooperative storage banks, and enhanced drying techniques that can reduce post-harvest losses and improve food availability year-round. Community-based storage facilities, supported by government subsidies, could help farmers store their produce for longer periods and sell when market prices are more favourable.
She adds that, “Greenhouse farming and diversification into alternative crops can help maintain food supply beyond the traditional agricultural calendar. If farmers can grow vegetables, fruits, and fast-maturing crops during off-seasons, households will have access to a steady food supply, reducing reliance on staple grains alone.”
Training farmers on efficient storage techniques, market trends, and climate adaptation strategies can improve food security resilience.
Agricultural extension services should be strengthened to provide timely information on weather patterns, best farming practices, and access to financial services that empower farmers to make informed decisions.
Namanya recommends government-backed food reserves and price stabilisation measures can protect both farmers and consumers from extreme price fluctuations.
By creating a food reserve system where surplus food is stored and released during scarcity, Uganda can avoid the drastic price hikes that worsen food insecurity.
