FOOD INSECURITY: MP Asks Government To Commence Distribution Of Seeds For Second Season Planting

While the focus is on the most hit Karamoja region, reports of a nationwide famine are becoming louder and demanding government attention and intervention in form of food and seeds distribution.

On the floor of parliament on Thursday, Kilak North MP Akol Anthony raised the matter of food insecurity in the country and asked the government to commence the distribution of seeds given that the second planting season of the year has started.

He explained that farmers in the country lost a lot of crops because of weather, and now people are dying of hunger because they didn’t harvest any food.

“At the same time, we have received rain in the country as we talk now, but unfortunately, because most people lost their crops, and people rely on the first season for seeds to plant the second season, they don’t have seeds to plant in their gardens,” Akol explained.

He added: “Rt Hon Speaker, because of these reasons I have given, the situation is worse in the country; coupled with poverty, people cannot buy the seedlings,”

He continued: “This month of August is the time that people receive rain and they want to plant. Therefore, our request and prayer are that government urgently distributes seeds, especially maize and beans.”

It is reported that hundreds of people in Karamoja have succumbed to hunger. The situation is now being treated as an emergence. The government through the Prime Minister and members of the private sector and civil society are delivering relief food.

Similarly, the Kiboga Woman MP, Hon Nakimwero Christine Kaaya asked the government to expedite the feasibility study of agricultural insurance and its related application.

“Farmers planted nice quality seeds and expected to get better yield but the performance of the produce was poor,” she said.