· Many farmers in urban and peri-urban communities depend on their livestock for subsistence. For them disasters like flooding, drought, earthquake and war can be extremely devastating. Disasters not only leave people without an immediate source of food and potable water, but their livestock as well. If animals are supplemented with green hydroponics fodder and water, their owners get milk and meat.
· Often times, as a result of drought, farmers lack a way to feed and water their cows. Farmers are forced to sell off their animals very cheaply before weight loss or death — thus losing money. Not only does this situation have direct negative impact on the individual farmer, it also worsens the economic situation for entire communities — making them dependent on the government support and hand-outs from charitable organisations.
· Many farmers are switching from communal to zero-grazing, as pasture land availability becomes scarce, and increased drought conditions make it unproductive.
Hydroponics maize fodder is nutritious, palatable and digestible and can be grown in low cost devices with locally home grown grains. Against impeding climate change, hydroponics fodder production is an effective alternative technology for sustainable zero-grazing dairy cattle production in different regions of Uganda.
