By Marion Kabagenyi
Sugarcane farmers in Masindi district have started creating buffer zones along sugarcane plantations to reduce the possibility of wildfire damage.
The sugarcane farmers from 18 villages, among others, Kyabakama, Marongo, Pakanyi, Rubona, Ntooma, Kibali, Kihonda, Kisalizi, Kibwona, Kimanya, Kikkube, and Mihenbero, believe that with positive action against fires, the sugarcane can be protected this year.
The Chairperson of Masindi Sugarcane Out-growers Association Limited (MASGAL), Robert Atugonza, says the move will involve clearing approximately 20 feet of area between the cane block plantations and the neighbouring food security gardens, natural grass, or bushes as the dry season sets in. According to Atugonza, this time around the year, the dry season between December and March is usually characterized by uncontrolled wildfires caused by the indiscriminate burning of bushes, which are predominately prevalent each year in Masindi district.
MASGAL has 7,400 farmers growing sugarcane on 33,000 hectares of land in Masindi district, While Kinyara Sugar Limited grows sugarcane on 21,000 hectares of land.
Caption: Aerial photo of sugar plantation with fire lines in Masindi district
Sande Joshua, a sugarcane farmer from Marongo, says that with advice from Kinyara Sugar Limited and closely working with the police, they have also formed the village’s security teams to guard sugarcane from thieves who use motorcycles, saloon cars, and tricycles for transporting stolen sugarcane.
Several groups, including hunters who, while in pursuit of edible rats, livestock farmers in dire quest of fresh pasture for their animals, and crop farmers who clear farmlands for the next planting season, have always been faulted for igniting bush fires.
Aldon Walukamba, Communications Manager at Kinyara Sugar Limited, the company supporting MASGAL farmers in the Masindi district, says they will also create defensible spaces between the sugarcane blocks to avert fire spreading to other plantations in the event that fire spreads across the buffers.
“We appeal to our valued sugarcane farmers in Masindi district to create fire lines of up to 18 feet between sugarcane plantations, but also deploy village patrol teams to protect and report any suspected sugarcane thief in every plantation registered with us,” said Walukamba.
According to Walukamba, the innovations will not only protect the cane from destruction by wildfires but also avert the possible horrific loss of life, property, and personal possessions of the benefiting farmers. Walukamba also says the company will, in the meantime, provide some resources to help beneficiary farmers control fires and theft of sugarcane from growers, out growers and Kinyara Sugar Limited nucleus sugarcane estate.
Kinyara Sugar Limited experts train out grower farmers in modern agronomic techniques including protecting sugarcane from fire
Masindi Resident District Commissioner Emmy Ngabirano says apart from creating the buffer zones, security will enhance surveillance and also deploy personnel to monitor unscrupulous persons and arsonists with intentions of igniting fires on the plantations.
This comes after Masindi district outlawed the carrying and transportation of sugarcane on light vehicles within Masindi district.
Ngabirano also stressed the need to sensitize the residents to the dangers of bush burning, the sugarcane project, and the fight against environmental destruction.
In the past one year alone, close to 3,000 acres were lost to fires in Masindi district.
