By Joseph Masereka
A section of cotton and maize farmers in Kasese are decrying the invasion of pests and diseases which has affected the quality and quantity of production.
The farmers mainly from the areas of, Kirembe, Kyababinga and Central Division say the pests and diseases have invaded their gardens amidst other challenges such as price fluctuations of farm produce and prolonged drought.
Bright Mumbere from Kirembe Information Center KIC says the prime crisis is the witch weed locally knows as Kayongo (stringer SPP weed) and pesticide-resistant pests such as bollworm worms, yellow termites and cotton stunners that affect the germination of the seeds.
Mumbere who asked immediate intervention from agricultural extension officers, asked farmers for cooperation in bid to overcome the farming challenges.
Judith Ithungu and Simiyoni Masereka, both farmers, say earning from the maize production has gradually declined due to the effects of stringer weed and pests thus affecting their production.
The duo further complain that the inputs outlay the output over price fluctuation. They have since asked for government’s intervention regarding market for the produce.
They say such intervention would help them to eradicate poverty and get tuition for school outgoing children. “In every acre we invest 500,000 -1,000, 000 shilling but the input outweighs the output,” said Ithungu as she explained the losses they are incurring.
The vice chairperson LCI, Kirembe Cell Aganatia Lhuhala Bwambale, blamed the pest resistance in the area to agricultural extensional workers who do not execute their roles.
He added that his area farmers are counting losses due to lack of knowledge on how best they can control pests and disease.
However, the Municipal Agricultural Officer Asanairi Bukanywa blamed farmers for using poor agricultural practices including premature harvest of crops which lowers the quality and quantity of the produce.
‘’I want to caution farmers who use bad farming methods to stop. This lowers the quality and quantity of the produce thus affecting price,” stated Bukanywa.
He asked farmers to use intercropping and crop rotation methods to get rid of stringer weed from their gardens.
It should be remembered that during his recently visit to Kasese district at Kaguta playground, President Museveni discouraged small scale farmers against cotton growing.
Kasese district is one of the leading producers of cotton in the entire country but Museveni says the effort invested in the production of this cash crop does not match the dividends obtained from the crop.
He argued that growing of cotton should be left to people who own huge chunks of land like 100 acres while those that have up to five acres should adopt a four-acre development strategy.
Under the four-acre development strategy, Museveni says a farmer should plant one acre of food crops, plant another acre of fruits, one other acre of coffee and finally one for pasture and animal husbandry.
Currently, a kilo of cotton is bought at between 2,000-2500 shillings in Kasese District.
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