 |
|
Environmentalists blame it on Climate change |
|
|
Once a rich and fertile region, west Nile is now on its knees.
This year's poor rains have seen the region slip into food insecurity, and hunger has now descended into households, as gardens can no longer bring forth sufficient harvests.
Early this year, Moyo's farmers set out to plant crops as usual, but the seasonal planting rains failed to come round.
A humble wait soon became weeks then months ... it is then that it became clear that danger was looming.
A drought had set-in.
It is this drought, a climate phenomenon hither to un common in this region that for once altered the normal agricultural food cycle and spelling hunger and malnutrition in Moyo district.
Cracks into the social and economic fabric of homesteads are vivid, as most homes now rely on only one meal a day and hardly any extra food to sell for other domestic needs.
According to the district chairperson, Peter Eku this year's drought was the worst and longest to hit the district.
"In my seventy years on this earth, this is the harshest drought I have seen in this region, most people have no yields and entire crisis is to continue as there won't be harvest period ". Said Eku.
For a community whose 95% of the population directly depends on agriculture, lack of rains can only throw enough light to reveal how grave food insecurity is holding many hostages.
Hostage to hunger, malnutrition and rampant poverty.
To break lose from this dilemma, to stay alive, famers are now venting their anger and frustrations on to Mother Nature.
But as they struggle to cope through charcoal burning, encroachment on wetlands, riverbanks and forests, the damage left behind is likely to be repairable, further inducing the harsher effects of climate change.
Records at Environment Alert office indicate that farmers are digging deeper into the wetlands and riverbanks in search of moisture for growing crops.
And this is cause for worry and most streams and rivers are now heavily silted.
It is this silt together with the recent long drought that is claiming most of the districts water bodies.
According to the districts environment officer Mr Morris Edima, several flyers are now no more.
"Rivers like Ebihwa, Ayiro, Leyah, Ebemi, Koci and Nyawa have all dried, water stress for both humans and animals is now real" Edima explained.
Hallmarks of the long drought are not only visible still through dried river, but also in most gardens.
Some parishes are now receiving rain, but the damage on food crops is irreversible, Most are already stunted.
The usual planting and harvest periods have drastically changed.
The planting season of March and April had no rains, but instead the rains are now coming in the months of September and October the traditional harvest periods.
Such is the dilemma Moyo is now faced with.
It is meant to be harvest time, but most farmers have nothing much to
reap save for a few greens that the late rains have aided to crow
Majority of the households here serving on only one meal a day, even then it is far from nutritious and sufficient to maintain a healthy and active life.
It is these green locally known as Osubi and Malakwang that are saving the day in many homes.
And once in a while roast maize supplements, but it is not enough.
Much of it was burnt in gardens during the droughts, and the late rains cannot salvage it as have either completely dried up or are already stunted.
"Most homes can hardly afford single meal in a day, they also have nothing to sell in order to buy other essential food items".Sam Asusi secretary for production Moyo District.
Some sections of the civil society such as Environment Alert, link the current water stress and poor yields to climate change and climate variability.
According to the executive director Christine Nantongo, government's
efforts to help people adapt to current climate stress is largely lacking.
Nantongo identifies the laxity in passing the Food and Nutrition as one of the gaps that is worsening food insecurity in the country.
"We can wait even one more year, because people are dying. If government had the political will, it would put the Food and Nutrition Bill on the agenda of parliament". Christine Nantongo explains.
Efforts by Environment Alert and other development partners such as National Agricultural Advisory Services to support sustainable agriculture and National Management Resources, seem to be getting nipped in the bud as rains fail.
Such Environment Alert's nursery beds in Pamujo are meant to supply seedlings did not survive the long drought.
And the farmers that are meant to learn best practices from here and replicate them in communities can only look on.
Sot farmer.
As far as Moyo is concerned, the dream of food security only extends further by the day.
The elderly and children are baring the harshest effects of hunger.
Acute malnutrition is taking its toll on the children, an average of 7 children are admitted in the hospital due to Kwashiorkor and Malasmus, deficiency conditions.
Save for fast aid, the Hospital cannot do much.
The district's deputy Medical Officer Dr Jimmy Gpigo says the districts medical operations are severely under funded.
"The unfortunate thing about malnutrition is that you get permanent damage of vital organs like the liver, and the retardation coupled with trauma largely affects the mental growth in the long run". Dr Gpigo.
Food shortages seem to have been made worse by the elastic demand of food, by the induced sale of previous harvest to neighboring countries that are equally in urgent need.
Analyst reason that such a constant floe of food out of the region is only serving to seal the fate of many.
"Government needs to adopt the Kenyan stance where by food exportation is restricted in food insecure regions and instead promote food storage programs". Grace Maiso Program Manager Environment Alert.
Parliaments across the world are putting in place special panels and committees to deal with climate change, but funding remains elusive.
Hon John Kigyagi, the deputy chairperson of the Uganda climate change forum in parliament says there is urgent need of awareness even among legislators.
He adds that although adaptation is the way to go, polluting countries do not yet own up to fund such programs.
"The future lies in programs such as irrigation, fast yielding crops and renewable energy, we hope to convince the polluting countries in the December Copenhagen meeting to fund such programs,but so far they are elusive". Kigyagi said.
The other solution lies in what majority of the environmentalists call a fare deal, where adaption funds are availed to poor countries, as well as cut on emissions to keep the planet safe.
|
|
|
