David Mafabi
1 November 2008
Karamoja — In an unprecedented move, the Uganda People's Defence Forces has joined hands with residents in the famine stricken Karamoja region to engage in mass agriculture.
Despite the long spells of drought in the sub-region, this year's harvests from a few farmers visited during the tour of the area reflect that the region has fertile soils that can support the growth of sim sim, beans, maize, sunflower, millet, sorghum, potatoes, onions and cassava among others.
With the Lord's Resistance Army war almost history and disarmament of the Karimajong partially complete, under Uganda People's Defence Forces guidance, the sub-region has adopted a new programme to start farming for both subsistence and commercial purposes to end famine and poverty due to over reliance on traditional pastoralism.
Whereas many people think that the Karimojong can not change their traditional life style, the UPDF 3rd Division Commander, Brig. Patrick Kankiriho who is spearheading the new farming programme with drought resistant and high yielding crops, thinks differently.
" Although this region has a long dry spell, it also has two seasons that can support plant growth. This year's harvests from a few people who took up farming can attest to this," Brig. Kankiriho said.
According to Brig. Kankiriho, Karamoja has fertile soils in the flat terrain areas, two farming seasons and relatively good rains, favouring plant growth. Brig Kankiriho says this should be utilised to transform Karamojong from relying on traditional pastoralism to modern crop farming.
The 407 Brig. Commander, Lt Col. Michael Ondoga said: "The leaders should inculcate among the people a culture of tilling their land for farming rather than depending on cattle while looking unto government and World Food Programme (WFP) for free food supplies.
UPDF has supplied about four tonnes of short term, high yielding cassava cuttings that are doing well in Kaabong, Nakapiripirit, Moroto, Kotido districts and is looking to donors to supply the region with cereal seeds, potato cuttings and upland rice to engage all Karimajong in farming as a basis for development of the region.
The Army is targeting a situation where majority of the Karimajong would besides keeping animal, grow crops. At Namorotot Parish in Nakapiripirit District, the beans and ground nuts are doing well under the close supervision of the local leaders. When Daily Monitor visited the area, farmers were harvesting the beans for the second season.
The Vice President, Dr Gilbert Bukenya, who early August toured Karamoja to popularise the government's Prosperity for All programme after assessing what was on ground, dubbed his anti-poverty campaign " I believe Karamoja can feed Uganda,"
Dr Bukenya donated one tonne of improved Nerica V upland rice variety to Iriiri Sub-county in Bokora County and remarked: "We shall fight together to end hunger and poverty in Karamoja using farming. What we need is the leaders to mobilise the Karimajong to engage in farming and other profitable ventures."
The residents of Ngoliarite Sub-county in Bokora County have already started moving in this direction by forming Naroo Savings and Credit Co-operative Society and engaging in farming.
The chairman of the co-operative society, Mr Peter Namiya says they are determined to use their local Sacco and farming to transform their community.
Moroto LC5 Chairman Ken Peter Lochap said: "My local government is in the final stages of seeking overall objective of improving the living conditions of the Karimajong through engaging them in farming alongside nomadic pastoralism, provision of water retaining centres and projects in areas of education, health, and environment."
Research by Moroto, Nakapiripiriti Religious Leaders Initiative for Peace [MONARLP] an NGO, reveals that more Karimajong are engaging in farming. "After the success of the UPDF disarmament programme and sensitisation of the masses about the value of crop farming, many Karimajong are slowly dropping the traditional attachment to the cattle and are adopting to farming," reads the report in part.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
