By ALEX PITHUA
The torrential rains accompanied by hailstones pounded, destroyed crops in gardens leaving farmers in Zombo district in despair. Leaders in Zombo district said, the most hit hard sub-counties are Abanga, warr, Atyak, and Padea, Zombo town councils respectively.
The district production department confirmed that biannual and perennial crops which are heavily destroyed are beans, maize, cassava, coffee, avocados amongst others, plunging the predominantly agricultural communities into future looming hunger.
The LCV Chairperson of Zombo James Uruna Uyullu, in an interview with our journalist asserted they have mooted data collection of the affected farmers in an effort to submit to the ministry of disaster and preparedness for intervention.
It was alarming, and it was too serious to appeal to our community to report such incidents to the town councils and sub-counties authorities so that we can link with the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of disasters and preparedness. Uyullu stressed
The LCIII Chairperson of Warr sub county James Cekecan Apoi and his Abanga sub county counterpart, Richard Awekunimungu delved into the magnitude of the disaster in their respective areas, appealing for immediate support from the government.
“We received rain that was with hailstones. It has affected farmers in the villages of Achiru, Orwang, Ayida Nyamola, Dindu and Azi, therefore we appeal to the government to take our cries into consideration.” Cekecan
Cekecan added that major food crops are dismated hence worrying of hunger and families’ support including paying school fees.
“We were heavily affected by hailstones mostly in the parishes of Serr, Asina and Pamitu whereby crops which were affected are Coffee, and cabbages from the valleys now people are crying for support from the government.” Awekunimungu
Meanwhile a number of institutional structures including primary schools building has been depleted by the storms which lasted for hours on Thursday and Friday. Farmers in some sub-counties in Zombo district are recovering from Similar Catastrophe have felt yet again pinch from biting pains.
Earlier disaster and government intervention. The Office of Prime Minister (OPM) distributed food relief to 1,359 disaster-affected households in Abanga Sub County, Zombo district in January 2025.
The families were affected by a devastating hailstorm which swept across two parishes of Serr and Pakadha in August 2024. Several farmers in the area are counting significant losses which exacerbated the food shortage leading to hunger.
The 20,000 posho and 10,000 beans were distributed on Friday 16th 2024 at Abanga Sub County headquarters under the supervision of Zombo district resident commissioner. Each household received food relief of 10 kilograms of posho and 5 kilograms of beans.
Roselyn Uchida, a resident of Upanu village, says she lost income for the season amounting to 3 million Shillings and food for over five months as the hailstorm destroyed her coffee plantation, cassava and beans gardens.
