Agago farmers appeal for fast-maturing food crop seedlings after devastating dry spell

4 July 2026, 10:13 pm

By Geoffrey Okwong

Farmers across Agago District have appealed to the government to urgently provide fast-maturing food crop seedlings after a prolonged dry spell destroyed crops planted during the first growing season, leaving many households facing hunger.

The appeal was made during a Saturday radio talk show featuring Beatrice Akori, the Minister for Northern Uganda, who discussed various government programmes including the distribution of hand hoes, livestock restocking, the Parish Development Model (PDM), and the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund IV (NUSAF IV).

During the call-in session, farmers from different parts of the district overwhelmingly asked for quick-maturing crop varieties, saying the prolonged sunshine had wiped out their maize and other food crops, leaving families without food and threatening the upcoming school term.

Obina from Lokole Sub-county welcomed the ongoing hoe distribution programme but said the drought had destroyed almost all maize crops. He appealed to the Minister and Acholi Members of Parliament to mobilise resources for fast-maturing maize seedlings, warning that many households may struggle to feed their children when schools reopen for the third term.

Santo Makmot from Lapirin Village also requested maize seedlings, saying the hoes being distributed would only be useful if farmers had seeds to plant after losing their crops to the dry spell.

An elderly caller, Maceliano from Acuru Ademi Parish in Agengo Sub-county, urged government to continue the hoe distribution while ensuring transparency in beneficiary selection. He also proposed the distribution of sorghum and vegetable seedlings, saying they would better support nutrition and recovery.

A community member who followed the programme through phone connection described the situation as a reflection of widespread hardship at grassroots level, noting that many households are currently struggling with food shortages after losing their gardens during the dry spell.

Speaking about the government intervention of hoe distribution, Francis Oceng, a resident of Patongo in Agago District, welcomed the initiative, urging communities to embrace it. He said such programmes should strengthen household food production and reduce dependence on external food supplies.

Oceng referenced past agricultural interventions and argued that strengthening small-scale farming could help reduce reliance on vegetables sourced from other regions such as eastern Uganda. He said promoting local production would empower communities and improve food security.

He added that agricultural support should focus on “production by the masses rather than mass production,” which he said would help communities become more self-reliant.

Oceng also proposed the formation of cooperative societies in every sub-county to improve livelihoods and strengthen collective production. He, however, criticised some local leaders for undertaking study tours without sharing knowledge or providing feedback to communities upon return.

Responding to the callers, Minister Akori said Agago District, through the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), had already written to the Office of the Prime Minister requesting emergency food relief and reporting the extent of crop losses caused by the prolonged dry spell.

She confirmed that she personally delivered the letter on Friday, 3rd July 2026, to the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, with copies to the Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Relief, to highlight the severity of the situation.

Akori added that a separate request for food crop seedlings had also been submitted to relevant government offices and pledged continued follow-up until support is secured for affected communities.

She further revealed plans to engage the Minister of Agriculture over the situation in Agago, noting that even as an area Member of Parliament she could not individually provide seedlings for the entire population. She called on leaders across the district to work together to mobilise government support and development partners to assist affected households.