Dozens of local farmers in Gulu are counting losses after hot weather dashed their hope of getting bumper harvests this season.
Some have so far suspended farming activities after their crop gardens turned into a bed of hard rock.
Mr Charles Owot, a vegetable farmer in Acholi-Nyek, Lalogi Sub County said his tomatoes garden has turned into a nightmare after the hot temperatures withered part of his crops.
“I cannot irrigate my crops because it is very labor intensive,” He said.
He says his prayer is for God to open the heavens so that at least he gets something out of what he worked hard for.
Another farmer, Ms Alice Auma from Pakwelo parish says she can no longer harvest her groundnuts despite the fact that it is now ready.
“The soil has become so hard and whenever one tries to uproot, some of the pods will remain in the ground. This is a loss,” She explained.
The most affected farmers are those who have planted beans, simsim and tobacco.
Mr Anthony Ongom, 85, blamed the current harsh weather on the gods that he said are not happy with f human activities such as, theft, fighting and neglect of some of the rituals that Acholi practiced for centuries
“If farmers continue to disobey some of the wishes of the gods, they will continue to suffer,” He said.
But Dr. Rita Laker-Ojok, a Crop Value Chain Specialist with Appropriate Technology-Uganda notes that over the years, Gulu’s temperatures have increased by between 1.8 and 2 degrees due to the large quantity of green house gases that have been emitted into the atmosphere by industries and motorists.
Dr. Laker- Ojok says what the farmers are experiencing is a reality of climate change.
She raised fear that the rising temperature will greatly affects local farmers especially in Africa who solely depend on agriculture as major source of livelihood.
