A prolonged drought which started in May and and has now continued for more than two and a half months has disrupted the traditional farming seasons and caused widespread crop loss in northen Teso and Karamoja.
For many households the first growing season is the crop that provides food for consumption in the home whereas the second harvest is to supplement the previously harvest food stocks stored at home.
Many staple crops such as millet, maize and groundnuts have dried up before reaching maturity. Even cassava, which is typically a fallback or reserve crop has rotted due to prolonged intense heat and lack of moisture.As any food supplies from the previous year are running low this means families are left with little to eat.
As well as the increased risks of malnutrition the failure of crops has a huge impact on household finances and therefore a family’s ability to pay school fees or medical bills. Many children end up being forced out of school. The prices of any food at the market also increase dramatically.
TDT has sent funds to support the distribution of food supplies and fast maturing seeds, such as cow pea and sorghum, for 100 households in the communities of Odimai, Osilon and Osukusukun which are considered the worst affected villages in the area. The distribution will target the most vulnerable such as the elderly, pregnant mothers and widows.