Climate change calls for crop diversification in Acholi Sub-Region

31 December 2025, 5:13 pm

By Golden Vicky Ayiro

With the changing weather patterns, farmers in the Acholi sub-region have been encouraged to embrace crop diversification and perennial crop growing as a strategy to increase household income, improve livelihoods after harvest, and cope with changing weather and climatic conditions.

In Pader District, Kidega Micheal, a cotton farmer from Odani Village, Opate Parish in Atanga Sub-County, says unpredictable climatic conditions have placed many farmers at risk of famine. He explains that most farmers mainly planted food crops and sold much of their harvest to survive, a situation that may leave them without food or money during the upcoming dry season. Micheal further advises farmers to invest in perennial crops such as coffee and cocoa, as well as cash crops like cotton, which performs well in both dry and wet seasons.

Micheal calls on households that still have food reserves to save for the dry season and urges farmers to prioritize crop diversification in the next planting season. He encourages the cultivation of multiple crops such as cassava, soya beans, maize, and cotton within the same area instead of relying on a single crop.

Meanwhile in Omoro District, Ceaser Oyaro, a coffee farmer from Wii-Atoo Village, Teegot Parish in Akidi Sub-County, notes that coffee harvesting in Northern Uganda usually runs from November to January. He says that although farmers are still harvesting, the current dry spell has significantly reduced yields.

Oyaro explains that under favorable weather conditions, coffee can be harvested twice a year, but the changing weather patterns have negatively affected productivity. He advises coffee farmers to regularly water their plants—at least once a week—during the dry season to prevent wilting.

He adds that he planted his coffee in 2019 and has so far harvested for three years. According to Oyaro, the best time to plant coffee is at the onset of rains, around the end of March. He encourages farmers to invest in coffee, noting that it is a perennial crop that can last up to 60 years.

Oyaro also expresses joy over the benefits of intercropping, saying he grows matooke alongside coffee to provide shade. He says he harvests matooke twice within two years before the first coffee harvest, which helps support household income.

In Agago District, cultural leader Rwot P’otong Kasimiro Ongom acknowledges the importance of perennial crops and urges farmers to adopt them as a long-term solution to food security and income stability. He attributes the changes in climatic conditions to rampant tree cutting in the region where over 1000 trees are lost daily in Agago alone.

Sydou Adolatono, the Pader District Production Officer, emphasizes that crop diversification helps farmers mitigate risks associated with climate change and pest outbreaks while improving soil health and increasing overall agricultural productivity.