Late Rains Force Ntungamo Farmers to Replant Crops

Farmers in Ntungamo District are replanting crops after delayed rains disrupted the second planting season, leaving seeds ungerminated and crops withering in the fields. The losses come as meteorologists warn of potentially heavy rainfall, lightning and warmer-than-average temperatures across Uganda.

According to the Ministry of Water and Environment’s Department of Meteorological Services, Uganda’s September–December 2026 seasonal outlook points to near-normal to above-normal rainfall across much of the country, alongside warmer-than-average temperatures.

The timing and intensity of rainfall are expected to vary by region, with some areas facing risks associated with excessive rain.

For farmers in Ntungamo, the return of rainfall offers an opportunity to replant, but the delay has increased production costs and raised concerns about yields, household incomes and food security.

In Ntungamo and other parts of southwestern Uganda, the second planting season typically begins with land preparation in August, followed by planting in early September.

However, prolonged dry conditions in 2026 disrupted the cycle, leaving seeds planted during the dry spell unable to germinate.

Farmers are now replanting in October in an effort to recover their losses and take advantage of the returning rains.

While some farmers with access to water sources have managed to maintain their crops, others have suffered losses following months of dry weather.

Between April and August, scorching temperatures reportedly affected livestock, coffee, banana plantations and other crops, threatening household incomes and food supplies.

Ntungamo Resident District Commissioner Miriam Kagaiga Mugisha has urged farmers to resume agricultural activities as the rains return, particularly by planting crops with reliable markets.

“The rains have come. Let’s go plant matooke, coffee, cassava because there is market. Let’s go and work,” Mugisha said, encouraging farmers to use the season to improve food security, household livelihoods and reduce crime.

However, rising seed prices are adding to the financial burden. A kilogramme of beans now costs between Shs4,500 and Shs5,000, up from about Shs3,000 during the previous planting season.

The increase is putting additional pressure on farmers who must spend more on seeds and labour to replant crops lost during the dry spell.

Repeated planting also threatens to deplete household resources before farmers can earn income from their harvests.

Ntungamo District Production Officer Dr Yake Basulira has urged farmers to plan their agricultural activities according to weather patterns and adopt climate-smart practices in crop production, fisheries and livestock farming.

Basulira recommends drought-tolerant crop varieties, seasonal planning, certified seeds and guidance from agricultural extension workers to improve productivity and reduce losses during periods of unreliable rainfall.

The district has also distributed organic fertiliser to improve soil fertility and support crop production.

Basulira further encouraged farmers to make better use of available agricultural machinery, including tractors allocated to savings and credit cooperative organisations (SACCOs) and institutions.

“We have a number of tractors which were given to respective SACCOs and institutional tractors. Let’s utilise them for mechanisation and industrialisation. Let’s work towards value addition, post-harvest waste management and development of the agro-industry,” Basulira said.

As farmers replant, agricultural officers face the challenge of helping households recover from the losses while improving their resilience to increasingly unpredictable weather.

Timely planting, access to affordable quality seeds, appropriate farming methods and better use of agricultural machinery could help reduce future losses and strengthen food security in the district.