Farmers in Yei River County of Central Equatorial State have decried the prolonged period of sunshine characterized by little or no rain which is affecting the growth of crops in the first season of cultivation.
Phillip Sabote who is one of the active farmers dealing with legumes explained his worries about the lack of rain in the area citing that should the situation remain (lack of rain), then damages would be hard on the farmers.
He wondered what might have prompted these climatic changes that seem to be experienced for the first time in the area.
Phillip predicted that it is deforestation that contributes to the drought that affects the agriculture sector if it continues for so long.
The farmers advised the people to avoid cutting down trees in big numbers to attract rainfall that will help in both growth of crops and human consumption.
“I am so worried that the continued period without rainfall will affect us badly. I have two and a half hectors of beans but since rain is not consistent, it will seriously affect its growth in the garden. Am anticipating that the cutting down of trees in big numbers is contributing to this. I advise those who always deforest the environment to stop and let the government take serious measures against those who do the practice, “advises Sabote.
Another farmer Wani John Edward who cultivated one and a half hectors of maize complains that delay and inconsistent rainfall have contributed to poor yield.
He believed that continuous inconsistency of the rain in the area will contribute to poor harvest.
John predicted that this Year will experience hunger because most of the crops are not doing well in the garden as a result of little rainfall.
Wani equally blames the inconsistency of rainfall on cutting down of trees in big numbers that makes it difficult to attract rain.
The farmer calls on the government to regulate the cutting down of trees and encourage re-afforestation to replace the ones which are cut down.
“I have cultivated one and a half hectors of maize but because of lack of rainfall, it is not growing well. Usually, rain begins early here at least by March we should have started cultivation but this Year, things are different.it started to rain late and was inconsistent as well. So it is a big challenge that we are facing now. If it continues for so long, it is going to contribute to hunger because most of the people who cultivated are complaining of rain. We believe that it is climatic changes coupled with man-made practices that are contributing to the prolonged period of sunshine, “He explains.
Meanwhile, Edmond Taban Gogo central Equatoria state director-general in the directorate of horticulture in the ministry of agriculture forestry and environment says Yei is agricultural land and most of its people are agriculturalists.
He adds that agriculturalists in Yei produce food for both consumption and income generation.
Edmond regrets that the inconsistency and unreliable rainfall will cost the farmers a lot because they will not harvest enough despite having cultivated larges areas.
Taban terms the rain sporadic or not constant and he believes that it is climatic changes which were predicted earlier.
The agriculturalist blames the climatic changes on some man-made practices like massive cutting down of trees that hampers attraction
The official discourages people from deforestation to overcome the challenge of delay in rainfall.
“Yei has ever been known as an agriculture producing region and most of its people are agriculturalists since it is one of the activities they are addicted to but only the delay in rainfall this year is contributing to law production.it is clear that most of our people involve in the massive falling down of trees which as a result contributes to such issues. For us to overcome this challenge, we need to discourage deforestation and encourage re-afforestation to replace the trees that have been cut down and the improve the atmosphere, “advises the expert.
Most areas in greater Yei are known for agriculture producing people but since the onset of the 2016 crisis, it has affected the area so much that the rural areas became inaccessible and the other farmers were displaced and others went as refugees.
It is the first time such climatic changes happened especially during the first cultivation season.
