Kampal — Poor land conservation measures by farmers is the cause of increased food shortages, legislators have noted.

"Farmers have gone ahead to cut down trees to create more land for cultivation. They have even gone ahead to encroach on gazetted natural forests", said Ms. Dorothy Kabalisa Member of Parliament (MP) Kamwenge, a south western district of Uganda during the annual Farmers' forum held in Kampala recently. Legislators argue that the rise in temperature, redistribution of rainfall and frequent droughts and floods in several parts of the country are causing considerable damages to both crop and animal production.

"Campaigns such as cut one, plant three trees have not been utilized by farmers. Farmers' reluctance to adopt such programs will leave the country with no option but importing food which cannot be enough for the ever growing numbers of Ugandans", said Ms. Evelyn Naome woman MP Luka one of the newly created districts in the country.