More than 40 farmers in the Karamoja sub-region are counting losses after a prolonged dry spell destroyed more than 200 acres of wheat they planted in the region’s first major attempt to grow the crop.
The wheat project was introduced this year by the government through the Karamoja Mixed Farmers Cooperative Society Limited as part of efforts to promote commercial agriculture and diversify the region’s economy.
The initiative also targeted other cash crops, including cashew nuts, cotton, sunflower, macadamia and glutinous sorghum. The crops were expected to provide farmers with reliable markets while supporting plans to attract investors to establish an agro-industrial hub focused on value addition.
However, the wheat project has been severely affected by a prolonged dry spell that began in mid-May and has persisted, leaving farmers with dried crops and bare gardens.
More than 100 farmers had initially expressed interest in growing wheat, but only about 40 from Nakapiripirit, Napak, Kotido and Abim districts went ahead with the project. Each farmer cultivated up to six acres.
The farmers planted the wheat in May 2026 after receiving seed from the government. They say the crop germinated well initially but later withered under the scorching heat as the rains subsided. Each farmer is estimated to have spent about 3.5 million Shillings on transporting seed, ploughing, planting and other inputs.
Charles Moru, a farmer and Agricultural Officer in Iriiri Sub-county, Napak District, planted about six acres of wheat. He said the crop germinated well before the prolonged dry spell destroyed it.
Moru said the rains had been favourable earlier in the year, but conditions changed when farmers began planting in May.
Moru has since re-ploughed his gardens and is waiting for the rains to return so that he can try growing wheat again. He said although farmers did not receive specialised training in wheat production, he relied on his agricultural experience and successfully established the crop before the drought set in.
Moru said wheat had previously been piloted in Napak in 2014 and performed well, demonstrating that the crop can thrive in Karamoja when there is sufficient rainfall and proper management.
Norah Lokadio, a farmer from Moruita Sub-county in Nakapiripirit District, said the failed crop left her with significant losses. “All my effort on wheat growing yielded nothing,” she said.
Lokadio said she would like to try again next season but has exhausted her resources. Of the 200 kilogrammes of wheat seed she received, she has only 50 kilogrammes remaining. She said farmers were only guided on how to plant the crop and did not receive specialised training in crop management.
Lokadio said one of her friends who planted five acres managed to harvest only one basin of wheat because her garden was located near a mountain, where the crop received slightly better moisture. She also identified uncontrolled livestock movement as another major challenge to crop production in the region.
Mark Abuku, the Chairperson of the Karamoja Mixed Farmers Cooperative Society Limited, described the losses suffered by wheat farmers as catastrophic.
He said the government had donated 8,000 kilogrammes of wheat seed to farmers in the region, but only 3,690 kilogrammes were planted. Farmers harvested just 200 kilogrammes, while 4,310 kilogrammes were not planted because of fears of drought and the late delivery of the seed.
Abuku said the cooperative intends to promote wheat, cashew nuts and macadamia production as part of efforts to transform Karamoja into a major food-producing region. He said the initiative is aimed at improving food security, reducing poverty and creating jobs while positioning Karamoja as a food basket for Uganda and beyond.
Abuku appealed to the government and development partners to help farmers recover from the losses by providing more wheat seed and seedlings, as well as supporting irrigation and mechanisation.
The farmers say they are willing to try wheat farming again, but want better access to water, technical training, timely delivery of inputs and measures to control livestock movement before the next planting season-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
