New Vision (Kampala)
10 July 2009
editorial
Kampala — Famine looms in many parts of the country, the most affected being northern and eastern Uganda. Though most politicians blame drought alone, several factors are involved, including a rapid population growth.
Two years ago the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) warned that by 2012 eastern Uganda would reach a crisis in which the amount of land available would not be able to feed the population under the current farming systems. NEMA predicted this crisis would spread to the entire country by 2022.
Uganda's population growth rate of 3.4% puts pressure on land especially in rural areas where the majority of the population lives. It is estimated that at this rate Uganda's population, now about 31 million, will grow to 50 million by 2020. By then the amount of land available per person will be one-third of what it was in 1991 yet the soil will be less fertile due to overuse.
To avert this crisis, we need to change the way we use land. First, the majority of the rural people have to be supported to find alternative sources of income, such as jobs in urban areas and the cottage industry.
The ones that remain tilling land should be supported with new high-yielding crop varieties, better farming methods and good market for their produce. All this requires good planning and involvement of various stakeholders including Government, NGOs and development partners.
At the same time, serious efforts must be made to control population growth rates. This should include education for all girls, availability of friendly family planning services and supplies and sensitising the masses.
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