MASAKA – Farmers in Masaka City are counting heavy losses after nearly four months of persistent sunshine and prolonged drought that have left vast gardens of coffee, matooke, and other food crops completely dried up.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The dire situation came to light during a field visit to Kanabukulilo village, Bisanje Ward in Kimanya-Kabonera Division, Masaka City, where the State Minister for Local Government, Hon. Justine Nameere Nsubuga, met affected farmers and assessed the extent of the damage.
During their candid engagement with the Minister, farmers decried the devastating drought while simultaneously raising grave concerns over the growing circulation of counterfeit fertilizers and other substandard agricultural inputs flooding the market.
They reported losing considerable sums of money on products that proved entirely ineffective, failing both to rejuvenate depleted soils and to deliver the bumper harvests they had been confidently promised, leaving many farmers feeling cheated and desperate.
Minister Nameere expressed deep concern over the devastating toll of the prolonged dry spell on household incomes and food security, noting that many families who depend solely on agriculture now face an uncertain future.
She voiced disappointment with extension workers and production officers, stressing that losses could have been minimized had they adequately guided farmers on climate-smart practices to mitigate dry spells.
“Some of these losses could have been reduced if the responsible officers had effectively played their role in sensitizing and guiding our farmers on climate-smart practices,” the Minister said.
The Minister revealed that the government recently signed a new irrigation project, with Masaka City among the beneficiaries, aimed at strengthening farmers’ resilience to climate shocks and supporting year-round production even during prolonged droughts.
She further pledged to engage the Office of the Prime Minister to explore emergency support for the affected farming communities, whose livelihoods have been severely crippled by the dry spell.
“The suffering we have witnessed in these fields is a stark reminder that we can no longer leave our farmers at the mercy of the skies. Government is stepping in, with irrigation, emergency relief, and a firm crackdown on those who exploit our farmers with fake inputs,” Minister Nameere noted.
The Minister also called for strict action against dealers in counterfeit agricultural inputs, stressing that the government remains fully committed to delivering both immediate relief and sustainable long-term solutions to the challenges besieging farmers.
Meanwhile, the farmers have since appealed for quick intervention, saying they need access to genuine inputs, irrigation facilities, and practical guidance to recover from the losses and prepare for the next planting season.
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