Ankole Farmers Forced to Sell Prime Cattle for a Pittance as Drought Wipes Out Pastures

Pastoral communities across the Ankole sub-region are facing immense hardship due to a relentless drought that is devastating their livelihoods. Districts including Kiruhura, Kazo, Isingiro, and Mbarara are experiencing critical water shortages and the complete drying up of grazing lands.

This environmental crisis has resulted in drastically reduced milk yields and severely emaciated livestock, pushing many farmers into distress sales. “Most people are beginning to sell off their cows because there is no water for these animals; the pastures have dried up,” stated Mr. Safari Mugyenyi, Chairperson of Sanga Town Council in Kiruhura district.

Livestock traders are capitalizing on the farmers’ desperation, offering rock-bottom prices. Cattle that were once valued at Shs3 million are now fetching as little as Shs700,000. The cost of transporting water via bowsers, at Shs300,000 for 10,000 liters, is prohibitively expensive for most, sustaining a herd for only a single day.

Farmers like Mr. Enos Nyakusiima have already lost three cows due to the lack of water and pasture, with some animals being sold for as low as Shs300,000. The situation is dire, with warnings of impending poverty, animal starvation, and potential insecurity as people seek desperate measures for survival.

While some farmers have invested in mitigation measures like water harvesting and digging dams, these efforts are proving insufficient against the prolonged dry spell. The demand for water from community dams now far exceeds supply, depleting reserves rapidly. Local leaders are appealing to the government for urgent intervention, specifically requesting investment in large-scale water infrastructure, including dams and irrigation schemes, to ensure a sustainable water supply for both livestock and communities.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ankole-farmers-sell-shs3m-cows-for-shs700-000-as-pastures-dry-up-5566742