By Prossy Nandudu
Although the Uganda National Meteorology Authority has predicted that heavy rains are declining, and that the dry spell is expected in the two weeks, district environment officers and extension workers, should guide farmers on kinds of crops to plant in areas prone to water logging.
Environment officers should also work with the agriculture extension officers go guide on the kind of crops to be planted in water logged areas or not, but share tips of managing water logged areas.
Such information will help farmers minimize losses they could incur due to heavy rains like rotting of some crops like beans, ground nuts among.
This is according to George William Omonyi, the manager weather forecasting at the Uganda National Meteorology Authority (UNMA).
In an interview on Thursday, Omonyi said information about weather patterns is shared with district local governments in time so that they can prepare communities.
Too much water leads to the yellowing of beans, leads to the falling off of flowers affecting pod formation, while groundnuts, the pods that could gave started forming rot whenever there is too much in the soil.
In an earlier interview with Hellen Aanyu Awujo a farmer from Kobwin Area Cooperative in Ngora district, Awujo said apart from ground nuts, other crops affected with water in one place are cassava tubers that rot away leaving the gardens with flies.
“When the rains come, they flood and some come with hailstorms that damage even what is left in the ground like cassava tubers which rot leaving the garden with flies. We appeal to government to help us with other ways of making money,” she said.
Tips to manage water logging
In the meantime, farmers should practice the following to manage water logged farms. Growing crops in raised beds. Practice good drainage system. Mulching. Minimizing seepage inflow. Proper irrigation management, among others
