Omoro hailstorm victims appeal for food aid

Omoro, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | At least three hundred farmers in Lakwana sub county, Omoro district are seeking relief food and seeds from the government. The farmers drawn from more than 100 households lost more than 200 acres of crop garden on Thursday last week that were nearing harvest due to overnight rainfall accompanied by hailstorms.

The affected crops included soya beans, maize, beans, sweet potatoes, green peas and cassava among others. The farmers say that they only managed to get very little harvest as opposed to what they had projected.

Joseph Bongomin, one of the farmers in Lujorongole Parish told URN that the heavy rainfall and hailstorm destroyed his 15-acre crop garden comprising soya bean (4acres), sim sim (6) and cassava (5) leaving him stranded.

Bongomin called on the government to provide food aid and seeds for the people arguing that they only rely on their crop harvest for survival.

Mary Akello from Lagwee-dola village, who also lost three acres of green peas (lugwidi) to the hailstorm explained that she is now in despair and fears that her household will suffer famine if the government does not support her with food aid.

She says that she had also planned to get seeds from her bean harvest for the second planting season which is just a month away but her dreams are now shattered. Betty Akongo also from Lagwee-dola village lost two acres of maize and beans to the hailstorm and is now helpless.

Akongo explained that the last thing she expected was the devastation from the hailstorm that has affected her source of food and income. Morris Okot Odong, the Lakwana sub county LC 3 chairperson said that they are aware of the damage caused by the hailstorm.

He says that a list of the affected farmers and the magnitude of damages on their crops are being compiled for onward transmission to the district.

*****

URN