ONE TREE, ONE CROP, ONE ACT OF RESILIENCE

Small Strides, Big Impact Climate change is no longer a distant threat; its effects are being felt across Uganda. Deforestation, erratic weather, and prolonged droughts threaten livelihoods, making action more urgent than ever. Tonight, we bring you the inspiring stories of two women in Lira who are leading the fight against climate change through climate-smart agriculture. AMBIENCE Along Lira-Alebtong road, Sarah Adongo’s tree nursery is more than a business, it’s a lifeline. Every day, she makes over 500 trips to a nearby stream to water her seedlings. It’s tough work, but the rewards are worth it. After losing her husband in 2019, Sarah had to find a way to provide for her children. With just 800,000 shillings, she started a tree nursery that now sustains her family. She grows and sells seedlings from as low as 300 to 20,000 shillings. Sarah’s work is crucial in restoring Uganda’s forest cover, which has dropped from 24% in 1990 to just 9% today. The country loses over 100,000 hectares of forest annually. According to World Meteorological Organization, greenhouse gas concentration has increased by 11.4% in 2 decades. This is worrying. Not far from Sarah, Veronica Ajwang, a fresh Kyambogo University graduate, is proving that farming isn’t just for the uneducated. She requested half an acre from her grandmother to start a horticulture business. Uganda’s agriculture sector is highly vulnerable to climate change. Unpredictable rainfall and rising temperatures threaten yields, making climate-smart practices, like Veronica’s, essential for food security. Lira District is taking action. Households must plant at least 10 trees annually, focusing on fruit trees for economic and environmental benefits. The Catholic Church has also mandated tree planting at every funeral. Yet, challenges remain. Carbon credits, a promising climate solution, remain largely unknown in Northern Uganda. Only two farmers in Lira currently benefit from this program. Despite these challenges, Sarah and Veronica prove that solutions exist, one tree, one crop, one act of resilience at a time. Real change begins with individuals. Their efforts show that economic empowerment and environmental conservation can go hand in hand. - Ends- Filed in Feb & Run on 1st Macrh, 2025