Climate change causes fall in Nsenene harvest

Grasshoppers also known as Nsenene, a cherished delicacy in Uganda, usually swarm in November as a peak season, drawing many to harvest them and sale. Many Ugandans and non-Ugandans enjoy the delicacy of fried, roasted, boiled and steamed.

This year however unlike other years has seen significantly lower numbers of grasshoppers being harvested. This disturbing phenomenon has caused immense disappointment and financial loss among those who heavily invested in the business in anticipation of the usual abundance in November.

The Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi while addressing the Media today on cabinet decisions attributed this change to climate change.

He highlighted that the heavy rains could have potentially disrupted the grasshoppers breeding cycle resulting in the altered volumes of grasshoppers, impacting both harvesters and businesses reliant on the numbers.

The Minister expressed his sympathy for the affected businesses and urged proactive measures.

He also emphasized the pervasive effects of climate change and stressed the need to invest in ICT and Technology to enable early identification of such shifts, allowing for informed decisions and adaptive strategies in the face of environmental changes.