Tororo farmers urged to embrace climate-smart agriculture
Annette Kiza, Business Development Manager at East West Seed Company, guides farmers on tomato growing. PHOTO | JOSEPH OMOLLO
What you need to know:
- This call was made by food and agricultural experts who emphasised that failure to adopt such practices could significantly affect future generations, exacerbating food shortages and malnutrition caused by climate change and other factors.
Farmers in Tororo District have been urged to adopt climate-smart agriculture practices, including planting resilient crops that can withstand varying weather conditions, particularly during dry seasons, to boost production.
This call was made by food and agricultural experts who emphasised that failure to adopt such practices could significantly affect future generations, exacerbating food shortages and malnutrition caused by climate change and other factors.
The experts made this appeal on Sunday during a training session on Climate-Smart Agriculture, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, and supported by Tororo Municipality Member of Parliament Mr Yeri Apollo Ofwono. The training primarily attracted smallholder horticulture farmers, many of whom were disappointed after their crops were destroyed by droughts despite expecting high yields.
Ms Annette Kizza, the Business Development Manager at East West Seed Company, highlighted the ongoing threat of climate change to agricultural production in Tororo District, warning that it could impact productivity, harm the economy, and deepen poverty in the region.
She explained that food insecurity and malnutrition in the country are worsened by challenges such as poverty, limited access to clean water, inadequate infrastructure, and climate-induced disasters like floods, torrential rains, and droughts.
Ms Kizza suggested that local governments should make concerted efforts to address these challenges by encouraging farmers to adopt modern agricultural practices, invest in irrigation schemes, and promote sustainable development initiatives.
“To boost productivity, the government has developed strategies focusing on educating farmers about modern agricultural techniques that improve crop quality and quantity, protect soil from erosion, and promote water harvesting for irrigation during dry seasons,” she said.
“Unless we support smallholder farmers, we won’t solve anything. They face numerous challenges, including lack of access to improved seeds, poor market access, reliance on hand-held hoes, and low productivity. Without better tools and infrastructure, they cannot increase production,” she added.
The farmers also toured Maro Farm, a one-acre tomato garden, that initially required an investment of Shs1.3 million but is now expected to generate nearly Shs5 million due to strong market demand.
Located in Osukuru Town Council, Maro Farm, owned by Mr Yeri Apollo Ofwono serves as a model for how farmers can adopt modern practices to mitigate the effects of climate change and improve food security in the region.
Mr Ofwono explained that he lobbied for the training to expose farmers to knowledge that would help them transition from traditional farming methods to more sustainable practices.
He also emphasised the importance of reducing post-harvest losses by improving infrastructure for storage and transportation, promoting modern harvesting techniques, educating farmers on proper handling and storage, implementing effective pest control measures, using appropriate packaging materials, and investing in technology for managing post-harvest processes.
