Land degradation in Lango linked to population pressure

20 October 2025, 3:17 pm

By Agness Agilo

Farmers in the Lango sub-region have linked the increasing rate of land degradation and declining harvests to rising population pressure.

A survey conducted by Radio Wa across the region reveals that many farmers attribute environmental degradation to the growing number of people relying on limited land resources.

Katorina Acila, a 59-year-old widow from Apuru Parish in Aboke Sub county, Kole District, says her maize harvest has drastically reduced over the years. She recalls harvesting up to five bags from her three-acre plot in the past, when the land was fertile and allowed to lie fallow between seasons. However, with many grandchildren under her care, she now cultivates the same land continuously to feed her family.

Acila adds that she has since adopted modern farming methods, including the use of fertilisers, to help restore soil fertility.

A similar concern was raised by Yokosafani Opiga, a farmer in Alebtong District. He says population growth has forced residents to repeatedly cultivate the same plots without allowing the soil to recover, leading to severe land degradation. Opiga, however, has started dividing his land into smaller sections, practising bush fallowing on some plots to allow the soil to regenerate.

In Anyeke, Oyam District, Rose Anek, a 49-year-old mother of six, says her four-acre piece of land has become infertile due to continuous cultivation. She recalls better yields in the past, particularly from soya beans, which she sold to pay her children’s school fees. Anek notes that erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged dry spells have worsened the situation.

To cope with these challenges, Anek has resorted to using improved seed varieties — DK Triple 7, Bazoka, and Tembo — which are more resilient to harsh weather conditions, a measure she says has helped slightly improve her yields.

Meanwhile, Walter Ocen, the Lira District Environment Officer, acknowledges that rising population pressure has forced many people to move from upland areas and encroach on wetlands — a practice that contributes further to environmental degradation. Ocen reminds the public that wetland encroachment is illegal and punishable under environmental laws.

Globally, land degradation affects around 3.2 billion people, or 40 percent of the world’s population. It also threatens up to $577 billion in annual crop production due to pollinator loss, while 25 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions stem from land clearing, crop production, and fertilisation.