Farmers in Karamoja are progressively transitioning from Pastoralism to agro-pastoralism and crop farming. In 2026, the number of acreage under crop production increased significantly, with farmer growing crops such as sorghum, green gram, groundnuts, sunflower and beans. However, the prolonged dry spell across Karamoja sub-region over the last three months(April-June) has left crop fields scorched, transforming what were once green, thriving gardens into dry, flammable brown grass. For local households, this devastating drought has not only wiped out their crops but has also stripped away their expectations of producing enough food to feed their households and earn income. The , erratic rains and relentless dry spells have triggered widespread crop failures, forcing many communities to look to the government and humanitarian aid agencies for food aid to avert the looming hunger.
Amid these challenges of climate change, NAROsorg2, a drought-tolerant sorghum variety developed by the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) is emerging as a beacon of hope for farming communities Karamoja. The variety is specifically bred to withstand the semi-arid climate of areas that experience unreliable rainfall like Karamoja. NAROSorg2 has three unique features i.e., short maturity (It matures fully within three months compared to traditional varieties that take four-six months); its drought tolerant (it is highly resistant against unreliable and scarce rainfall); and pest resistance (Birds do not easily attack the crop).
Besides being drought tolerant, Narosorg2 is early maturing, and not eaten by birds. And now local farmers have named it “Akarengit lo Nabuin” (meaning the red sorghum from Nabuin). With support from the Office of the Prime Minister, Nabuin ZARDI has embarked on a program to increase access to quality adaptable seeds for Karamoja. Nabuin ZARDI does this through producing and distributing basic seed to individual farmers and training in the production of Quality declared seeds. One such beneficiary of the seed production intervention in Ms. Grace Akol, a farmer from Lopeny Village in Napak District. Ms. Akol received five kilograms of NAROsorg2 seed from Nabuin ZARDI, which she planted on a single acre of land. The results were outstanding, she harvested more than 20 bags of unthreshed sorghum. The yield provided food to feed her household of 18 members, but also enabled her to save good seed to plant in the following season. “This season the rains have been very scarce. Since I planted, it has only rained three times, but I am still confident that I will harvest something,” Akol shares. Adopting NAROsorg2 completely transformed my family’s outlook on farming”
Akol’s success has quickly rippled through her community. Recognizing the crop’s resilience, many of her neighbors have requested for the seed to plant their own fields, prompting her to call on Nabuin ZARDI to increase seed distribution in her village. She has also had to share her harvest with some of her neighbors as they lack what to eat. She now actively encourages other local farmers to adopt improved varieties from NARO to help reduce hunger and poverty in the region. Akol has also appealed to Nabuin ZARDI to continue distributing these improved seeds in Karamoja so that more households can grow and secure better yields.
The Story of Ms. Akol gives credence to the government of Uganda efforts to fund Agricultural research innovations that addresses the most pressing livelihood challenges. As climate change continues to intensify droughts across Karamoja, resilient crop varieties like NAROsorg2 are essential pathway towards building resilient farming systems and breaking the cycle of recurrent food insecurity in the sub region. For Nabuin ZARDI we call on partnerships to support and promote climate adapted varieties to smallholder farmers in the region. This is the best avenue to overcome food insecurity and maintain the current peace and stability being experienced in the region.
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