The Kasese district Secretary for production Julia Masika has expressed fears of hunger and poverty in the 2012 following the abandonment of food crops by farmers opting for cotton this season.
Speaking to Kasese Guide Radio yesterday, Masika who is also the Munkunyu sub-county woman district councilor said farmers have not planted enough food crops which indicates that they will not save money from the cotton harvest.
The cotton season that starts in August runs concurrently with food crops cultivation especially beans, maize and ground nuts.
Masika said that the situation in January and February next year will force farmers to buy food for home consumption because there will be low harvest.
She said poverty may not be dealt with if people use cotton incomes to buy food instead of using the money for investment and paying school fees for their children.
She urged farmers to also consider the food crops that can grow well in cotton gardens like Maize so that they are assured of what to eat during harvest.
