Climate change threatens harvests, farmers warned

23 July 2026, 3:46 pm

By Emmanuel Mwaka and Brian Oloya.

Farmers in Northern Uganda have been advised to adopt climate-smart farming practices as erratic rainfall continues to disrupt agricultural production across the region. Agricultural and disaster management experts say monitoring weather forecasts and aligning planting seasons with rainfall patterns are critical to safeguarding food security, improving household incomes, and building resilience against climate change.

Speaking to Speak FM, Otim Faustine Charles Obeke a meteorologist at the office of the prime minister explained that regional rainfall seasons have become increasingly unreliable, with seasonal outlooks now lasting only three to four months.

He noted that while the March to May season traditionally supports primary crop production, recent June and July forecasts showed rainfall heavily disrupted by prolonged dry spells.

Otim added that the current wet conditions are expected to persist through the end of July, offering a crucial window for farmers to prepare their land.

Meanwhile, the Disaster Preparedness officer in the Office of the Prime Minister, Emmanuel Okecho, has called on stakeholders implementing climate-sensitive projects to plan well in advance to minimize losses caused by unpredictable weather patterns.

Okecho emphasized that projects involving crops such as cocoa and coffee require proper timing, with seedling distribution and planting aligned to the anticipated rainfall seasons to ensure higher survival rates and better yields.

He further encouraged beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) and livestock restocking programmes to integrate livestock farming with crop production as a sustainable diversification strategy that can strengthen household resilience, improve food security, and reduce poverty across the Acholi Sub-region.

The Chairperson of Amuru District Local Government, Christopher Odongkara, has attributed the growing food insecurity in Amuru District and the wider Acholi Sub-region to the effects of climate change, coupled with farming practices that prioritize cash crops over food production.

Odongkara noted that many farmers predominantly cultivate cash crops, which are often sold immediately after harvest, leaving households with limited food reserves. He urged communities to strike a balance by investing in food crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes, and other staple crops to improve household food security and resilience against climate-related shocks.

Mr.Komakech Ricci the District Production Officer (DPO) of Amuru district called on local communities to accept that climate change has permanently altered historical weather cycles. He warned against relying on traditional seasonal timing and advised residents to capitalize immediately on the ongoing rains for land preparation to prevent future food shortages.

Additionally, the DPO advised farmers to make full use of government-supplied irrigation equipment and consult local agricultural extension workers for technical guidance.

Adding to the call for adaptation, Amuru District Planner Patrick Rubangakene affirmed that local leadership will step up efforts to help farmers read and apply meteorological data

The Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) has forecast generally below-normal to near-normal rainfall across much of the country during the June August 2026 season. According to the seasonal outlook, northern and eastern Uganda are expected to receive near-normal to below-normal rainfall, while southern Uganda is likely to experience a prolonged dry spell.

Meteorologists attribute the forecast to unusually warm sea surface temperatures, which are influencing regional weather systems and altering the movement of moisture into the country.