Agago, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Several farmers in Agago District are grappling with losses after Groundnut Rosette Illness, which wiped out heaps of of acres of their groundnut fields.
Groundnut Rosette Illness is a disease that spreads by aphid vectors and severely stunts and distorts groundnut crops, main to very low yields.
The disease is infamous for its skill to minimize yields by as much as 100% in extreme cases, yet for heaps of farmers in Agago district, groundnuts are extra than appropriate a prick, nonetheless a an foremost source of earnings, meals, and livelihood.
In sub-counties love Omiya Pachwa, Parabongo and Kalongo Town Council, farmers reported that the important thing indicators of misfortune began in behind Would possibly well, with yellowing leaves and stunted progress showing in scattered patches. By mid-June, entire fields had succumbed.
Samuel Okello, who grows groundnuts on a natty scale every yr, knowledgeable Uganda Radio Community that he has misplaced five acres to the disease, after investing extra than a million shillings in planting.
Korina Adong, a farmer in Akado ward in Kalongo Town Council, acknowledged she spent 370,000 shillings to plough, plant and weed an acre of groundnuts, nonetheless the total acre has been devastated by the disease.
“I in actuality have misplaced every part. I inquire of the agriculture officers to give us the records and pesticides to relief our crops free from the disease subsequent season,” acknowledged Adong.
Charles Ojwee, the Agago district agriculture officer, explained the district had taken a while with out grappling with groundnut rosette. He attributed the outbreak to adaptations in climate.
Ojwee pledged that the agriculture site of job will subsequent week sensitise the farmers on the radio on measures to rob to retain an eye fixed on the spread of the disease.
Ojwee critical that within the intervening time, farmers whose crops are affected would possibly maybe well restful uproot and bury or burn the infected crops to forestall the spread of the disease to other crops and gardens.
Groundnut Rosette Illness is thought about the most destructive disease of groundnuts in sub-Saharan Africa.
Farmers in Agago estimate that as much as 500 acres of groundnuts were devastated by the disease this season.
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