With the unpredictable weather patterns in West Nile caused by the effects of climate change, reliance on rainfall for agricultural production is no longer sustainable if farmers are to achieve increased yields. In the past, farmers could easily predict the onset of rainy seasons.
However, this is no longer the case, as the region now experiences erratic rainfall, sometimes excessive, sometimes scarce, leading to prolonged droughts.
Traditionally, West Nile would receive its first rains in March, signalling the start of the planting season, however, this pattern has since changed.
Moyo District, in particular, has suffered extended dry spells from mid-December to April, a trend seen across the sub-region. These challenges are compounded by high poverty levels among farmers, many of whom cannot afford modern irrigation technologies.
The dependence on rainfall has left them vulnerable to crop failure, reduced yields, and growing food insecurity. As a result, farmers in West Nile are being encouraged to prioritise water management for agricultural production.
In Moyo District, Ms Anzoa Clara Ayaa, the Executive Director of Anzoa Fixed Farm, emphasised the importance of effective water management in ensuring food security, improving crop yields, and fostering economic stability in a region heavily reliant on rain-fed agriculture.
She said farmers should be supported to adopt affordable technologies such as solar-powered irrigation, rainwater harvesting tanks, and community-owned water systems.
Mr Innocent Ocaatre, the project coordinator at St Martin Comboni Missionaries in Palorinya Sub-county, underscored the importance of irrigation, explaining that it allows continuous vegetable production throughout the year.
‘With irrigation, crops can be grown without interruption year-round. In addition, greenhouses are critical in areas where open-field vegetable growing is not feasible,’ he explained.
He also urged farmers to embrace and apply the new technologies demonstrated at model farms.
Persistent challenges
Mr Ivan Iya, the field agronomist at Loluwesi Smart Farm in Toloro South Village, Vura Parish, Moyo District, said farmers continue to face challenges such as pests, diseases, and limited access to affordable credit.
‘We have a big problem, some Saccos charge high interest rates, making it difficult for farmers to purchase water-harvesting and irrigation kits,’ he said, appealing to commercial banks to extend agricultural loans to the region.
‘There are potential farmers here who could thrive with access to financial support,’ he added. Moyo District Production Officer, Dr Christopher Dratele, explained that the district trains farmers across different categories, from those outside the money economy to those engaged in value addition and export.
However, he said most farmers remain dependent on rain-fed agriculture.
Looking ahead
Mr Muddy Oyikuru, the project officer at the Agency for Community Empowerment, reported that the organisation has so far trained 1,388 farmers. He emphasised the need to introduce value-chain crops in the region through partnerships with other organisations.