Written by Moses Akol
Uganda Red Cross has launched the distribution of seeds in northern Karamoja to take advantage of the early rains that have started in the region.
The seeds that include sorghum (Sekedo variety) and cow peas are being distributed to 4,000 households in Lokitelaebu, Romrom, Loposa ,Kamoru parishes in Kotido and Panyangara sub counties in Kotido district.
The district agriculture extension worker Kotido Mr Gibolo George tested the seeds for viability and launched the distribution. He lauded Red Cross for timeliness of the distribution and selection of the fast maturing seeds as advised by the district production office.
The latest press release by the ministry of water and environment (March to May seasonal forecast) released on 28th/02/2013 shows that Karamoja area is going to receive near normal to above normal rainfall that indicates that there will be normal rain this season.
The food security and livelihoods project supported by the German Red Cross has been sensitizing farmers since January 2013 to start opening gardens in order to allow early planting that will lead to improved harvest.
In some of the focused group discussions and community meetings held some issues were noted that lead to late planting and poor yields one of them being the cultural belief that the elders should first slaughter the animal to predict rain and no body is allowed to plant before the ritual is performed.
The other point is, less attention being given to cultivation especially by men who leave garden work to women and children thus less production, these are some of the contributing factors to hunger in the region.
After the sensitization farmers have pledged not to follow the cultural belief of slaughtering the animal before planting and to work together as a family to increase food production at the household level since world food has considerably reduced relief food distribution, So better harvests are expected in this region that is always famine prone if the farmers comply with what they have been told.