Improved seeds
Experts are concerned that farmers are slow in adapting to new technologies aimed at countering and reducing effects of climate change, which could in turn impact on their farm produce. Speaking during a stakeholders meeting on farmers’ readiness for adaptation to climate in agriculture, the executive director, DENIVA-Uganda, Justus Rugambwa noted that government is supplying farmers with improved seeds and breeds of animals but these have not helped improve farming practices due to ignorance on how to use these technologies. Rugambwa advises government and stakeholders to integrate indigenous knowledge with new technologies so as the country copes with changes in climate patterns.
Meanwhile, the programme officer at DENIVA, Annie Grace Akwango shows need to urgently address effects of climate change that have a direct impact on the people and communities. She points out gas emissions from vehicles, motorcycles and factories and floods that are a result of encroaching on wetlands.
DENIVA-Uganda with support from USAID has left farmers in the districts of Kamwenge, Jinja, Rakai, Ibanda, Kasese and some districts of Teso empowered with knowledge on the quality of seed as well as new technologies to adapt to climate change in a bid to improve agricultural output.