Farmers have been rallied to embrace the new varieties of quick-maturing crops to boost food production in Karamoja. The region has long been grappling with insecurity and climate change that has adversely impacted food production in the region.
Dr. Paul Okullo, the Director of Research at Nabuin Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute says that they have distributed crops that take a short period to mature to help farmers to cope with the weather pattern of the region.
Dr. Okullo said the crops are drought tolerant and resistant to pests and disease and this could alleviate the risk of food insecurity among the households.
According to Okullo, they have introduced iron-rich beans that are good for fighting hunger and malnutrition among children.
‘’We have disseminated planting materials for maize, cassava, millet, and sorghum which are quite common in Karamoja, these seeds if managed well can solve hunger crises in the families’’ Okullo reiterated.
Okullo said they are also putting trials on different species of trees that can grow well in the dry lands to improve tree coverage in the region.
Mary Gorreti Kitutu, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs says that the ministry is coordinating with other institutions like the Uganda Prisons to grow enough food in the green belts across the region for emergencies.
Kitutu revealed that as rains prepare to come, they have sent their team on the ground to do community sensitization on the early cultivation.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa says that the Karamoja region can be turned into an agricultural hub that can supply the country with agricultural products and it relieves the government from bringing food to Karamoja every year.
Rose Lilly Akello, Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity and also the woman Member of Parliament for Karenga district said the government should address the insecurity in order to win the fight against hunger.
Akello urged the government to support farmers with irrigation systems and tractors so they embark on commercial agriculture.
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