Nutritionist Wants Cassava Growing Revived In Napak

31 August 2023, 7:29 am

Nutritionists have asked farmers to revive cassava growing to alleviate poverty and fight food insecurity in Napak district.

Although cassava remains the staple food for many communities in Northern Uganda, Karimojong has not yet adopted cassava growing as a food crop and the majority perceive it as a wild plant.

In 2001, the government introduced Cassava growing in Napak district as part of the effort to improve food security. The farmers gradually embraced the crop but later dropped due to a number of challenges such as prolonged drought, thieves, and diseases among others.

The Nutritionists argue that malnutrition and hunger in the households would be addressed by encouraging farmers to embrace cassava growing.

Judith Chelain, the Nutrition Manager at Catalyzing Strengthening Policy Action for Health Diet and Resilience Organization- CASCADE challenged farmers to consider reviving the cassava growing to ensure food security.

Justin Tuko, a farmer in Iriri Sub County, Napak District said that they were the first to start cassava growing but their efforts were frustrated by the thieves who used to steal it from the garden

Abraham Nangiro, the Napak District Agricultural Officer noted that cassava growing has been the main crop that has been helping farmers along the greener zone.

Nangiro said that cassava is a perennial crop that takes a long time to mature and during the dry season the pastoralists end up grazing their livestock in the gardens.

He said that adaptability became a problem for most farmers and many have retreated from cassava growing.