Drought Devastates Bukomansimbi Coffee Farms, Threatening Livelihoods

Weeks of intense dry weather have ravaged coffee farms across Bukomansimbi District, Uganda, leading to widespread crop destruction and severe financial hardship for local farmers. Coffee, a vital cash crop for the region, has historically provided families with the means to cover essential expenses like school fees and healthcare. However, the current prolonged drought has withered countless coffee trees, leaving plantations brown and prospects for future harvests uncertain.

Farmers describe the dry spell as one of the worst they have encountered. “The coffee trees are drying up because of the prolonged drought. Many of us invested heavily in these gardens, but now we are watching them die,” shared Johnson Kawuma, a farmer from Kasaka Village. Adding to their woes, the heat has exacerbated the spread of destructive pests, with many small-scale farmers unable to afford the necessary pesticides.

This dual threat of drought and pests has resulted in “enormous losses,” according to Kawuma. Farmers are now appealing to the government for urgent assistance, including affordable agricultural inputs, irrigation equipment, and emergency support to revive their plantations before the next planting season.

Agricultural experts are emphasizing the need for climate-smart farming practices. Bukomansimbi District Agricultural Extension Officer Benedicto Kaweesa is encouraging farmers to adopt low-cost irrigation methods like bottle irrigation and to implement water conservation techniques such as mulching and rainwater harvesting. While a government Micro Irrigation Scheme exists, some farmers have been hesitant due to perceived high costs, though officials clarify that the government heavily subsidizes these systems, covering 75% of the expense.

Experts warn that without adopting water-efficient technologies, farmers face increasingly devastating losses as climate change intensifies dry spells. For many in Bukomansimbi, the immediate concern is salvaging their remaining crops and hoping for relief before their livelihoods are irreversibly damaged.

Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/360667/drought-leaves-bukomansimbi-coffee-farmers-counting-heavy-losses