Dry spell leaves Lango farmers fearing food crisis
Farmers in Lango Sub-region are fearing worsening food insecurity after scorching temperatures and unpredictable rainfall disrupted planting and wilted crops across the region.
The prolonged dry spell has left some farmers unable to plant their second-season crops, while others who planted in July say their young crops are wilting under the heat.
A survey by the Daily Monitor between Sunday and Monday found that changing rainfall patterns have disrupted farming in several districts, with some crops failing to germinate or producing below expectations.
Temperatures across parts of Lango, Acholi and Karamoja have risen to between 33°C and 37°C, further increasing concerns among farmers who depend on seasonal rainfall.
In Apac, many farmers had not planted maize, beans, groundnuts, sunflower, soybeans and other crops by the end of August, when they would ordinarily be planting or weeding.
Those who have planted are worried that the continued sunshine could dry out seeds before they germinate.
‘We are now helpless’
Mr Richard Opio, a farmer in Adok Village, Olelpek Parish, Apac Sub-county, said the area had not received sufficient rain for planting for about a month.
“We are now stranded without any hope of planting, since we are seeing no signs of any rainfall — the weather appears as if it's already the dry season,” Mr Opio said on Monday.
“We are now helpless, so we are appealing to the government to come to our rescue through whatever intervention, otherwise we are already seeing severe famine coming,” he said.
Mr Opio, who grows oil-seed crops including groundnuts, said farmers were increasingly uncertain about whether they would harvest enough food and cash crops this season.
Ms Mary Adongo, a farmer from Amorigoga Village, Abongomola Sub-county in Kwania District, said the situation could deepen food insecurity in the coming months.
She said much of the produce harvested during the first season had already been consumed or sold, leaving households vulnerable if the second season fails.
“The crops I planted in July, during the onset of the second rainy season, have already been wilted by the scorching sun — this is the first time I've witnessed this kind of heatwave in recent years,” Ms Adongo said.
She added that declining production could push food prices higher as supplies become scarcer.
Early planting pays off
For some farmers, however, early planting has helped cushion the effects of the changing weather.
Mr Peter Okello, a maize and soybean farmer from Awilo Village, Lwala Parish, Okwerodot Sub-county in Kole District, said his crops were performing well because he planted at the beginning of the rains.
He said farmers who planted maize in late July and early August recorded better germination than those who delayed planting.
“There used to be heavy rains in August, but we are all aware of climate change — if you want any harvest, you need proper timing of the rainfall patterns through early planting,” Mr Okello said.
He said farmers who planted early after rains arrived in February also benefited while others waited for the traditional planting period.
Food prices rise
The effects of unpredictable production are already being felt in Lira's food markets, where traders report rising demand against limited supplies.
Mr Patrick Ogwal, chairperson of the Lira Produce Dealers Association, said maize grain is selling at about Shs1,150 per kilogramme, while beans cost between Shs3,000 and Shs4,000 per kilogramme depending on the variety.
“Beans sold at Produce Lane are imported from the Mutukula border point in Tanzania. People from here [Lango sub-region] no longer grow beans compared to the past,” Mr Ogwal said.
Sim-sim sells for between Shs5,500 and Shs6,000 per kilogramme, while groundnuts cost between Shs4,500 and Shs5,000.
Ms Molly Apio, a produce dealer in Lira City, said traders were increasingly sourcing beans from Bugisu and other areas because of declining local supplies.
She said maize was also becoming harder to source, raising fears that prices could increase further if the dry conditions persist.
Farmers seek irrigation
Rev John Christopher Okwang, chairman of Alito Joint Christian Farmers' Cooperative Society in Okwerodot Sub-county, Kole District, said nearly half of the cooperative's 16,820 members across Lango, Acholi and parts of Karamoja had reported crop failures linked to the heatwave.
He called for investment in irrigation, including solar-powered boreholes, reservoirs and dams, to help farmers produce food beyond reliance on seasonal rainfall.
“The government is giving farmers an irrigation system at subsidised prices, but the main challenge is that farmers do not have water sources to sprinkle their gardens,” Rev Okwang said.
Mr Maclean Otim, the Kole District agricultural officer, attributed some of the changing weather patterns to activities such as wetland encroachment and deforestation.
He said farmers should keep their gardens prepared and seeds ready so they can plant as soon as adequate rainfall returns.
“Farmers should have their gardens prepared and seeds ready so they can plant immediately when rain comes,” Mr Otim said.
He also encouraged farmers to use drought-tolerant varieties, harvest and store rainwater, adopt irrigation where possible and diversify their livelihoods.
Wetter season ahead?
The current dry spell comes against forecasts of potentially wetter-than-normal conditions in northern Uganda during the October–December 2026 rainfall season.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) has indicated that parts of the Greater Horn of Africa, including areas of Uganda, could receive above-average rainfall during the season.
The expected rains could improve water availability for crops and livestock, but they could also expose communities to flooding, soil erosion, crop losses and damage to roads and homes, particularly in areas with poor drainage and degraded land.
The prospect of sharply contrasting weather conditions is increasing pressure on farmers and authorities to prepare for both drought and excessive rainfall.
Communities have been urged to clear drainage channels, protect wetlands and watersheds, strengthen early-warning systems and prepare emergency response measures.
Farmers are also being encouraged to use agroforestry, tree planting, mulching, water harvesting and erosion-control measures to protect their land.
The World Meteorological Organisation has warned that the developing El Niño is expected to influence rainfall and temperature patterns in the coming months, although its effects vary by region and do not automatically mean every area will experience heavy rainfall.
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