Rukungiri – Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, employing a vast majority of the population, with figures consistently around 70% (or 68-70%) of the working populace, making it the largest employer and a core driver for growth, especially for youth and women, despite relying heavily on rain-fed subsistence farming.
However, the introduction of micro-scale irrigation program in Uganda by the government of Uganda changed the game of farming and farmers are now enjoying agriculture by reaping big from the activity.
In Rukungiri district, the local Farmers who embraced irrigation system to increase crop production during the dry season have boosted productivity and food security.
Farmers say they are planting seeds using the small scale irrigation schemes established by the government across the district and they are harvesting the rewards.
Now, the farmers have embraced micro-scale solar irrigation schemes promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. The micro-scale irrigation program targets farmers growing crops between 0.5-2.5 acres of land.
Under the program, the government contributes 85 per cent of total costs for solar equipment and its installation. At least over 800 farmers have expressed interest in acquiring solar-powered irrigation equipment and district production department is conducting farm surveys for over 120 farmers.
Apparently farmers in Rukungiri district at Bugangari small scale irrigation scheme are planting coffee and banana sackers amidst strong sunshine hitting the district on a daily basis.
The scheme, whose construction cost was shs. 28 M is benefitting over 500 families in Bugangari sub- county Rukungiri district.
Mr.Edson Muhwezi 45, a farmer and a resident of Bugangari sub- county says the establishment of Bugangari small scale Irrigation Scheme has relieved them from burden of fetching water to water the growing the coffee seedlings and banana sackers.
“We are doing our farming in an easy way because we no longer fear drought whether in rainy or dry season we continue with our farming activities and this has helped us to yield a lot from farming” Mr. Muhwezi said.
Muhwezi added that since the establishment of the scheme, farmers levels of income have increased by 10 %.
” Before the scheme we could harvest matooke twice a month but now we harvest them thrice a month thus an increment in our levels of income. So we thank the government for this scheme.” Muhwezi said.
In Eastern division Rukungiri municipality, Ms Florence Tumwesigye a farmer says with small scale irrigation farming is enjoyable.
” I surely enjoy farming nowadays because it is no longer tiresome as it used to be few years ago. Whether raining or shining I do farming as usual”
Ms Tumwesigye said.
Ms. Tumwesigye , who owners 2 hectares of apples says her harvests have increased by 20% compared to last year when she was not yet connected.
Mr. Christopher Mugisha Obadiah, a farmer and a resident of Ruhinda sub- County says that the micro solar irrigation scheme is cheaper and involves no extra labor costs like other schemes.
Mr. Amanya Alfred, the Rukungiri district agriculture engineer advised farmers to continue using small scale irrigation scheme since it is affordable to rural farmers and increase productivity.
“The district intends to enable over 10,000 farmers to acquire micro-small irrigation kits but these will need to contribute at least 25 per cent of the total cost needed to purchase it” Mr. Amanya said.
Mr. Pius Onek, the Rukungiri district production officer said the introduction of small scale irrigation scheme in the district has greatly transformed the livelihoods of farmers in the district.
” Farmers do farming throughout the whole year and their harvests have also increased thus increased sales of their produces. The scheme is so benefitting so farmers should embrace it and have their lives transformed financially. Mr. Onek said.
What is Small Scale irrigation scheme?
Small scale irrigation scheme is a government program that introduced to help farmers carry out farming throughout the whole year.
The program is being funded by the government of Uganda with support from World Bank with an intension of increasing food security in the country.
The program is also being implemented in 40 districts across the country.
Under this program a farmer irrigates a small plot. For example, a farmer can use a pump to take water from a nearby stream and a hose to distribute the water in the plot.
The micro- scale irrigation program supports farmers to purchase and use individual irrigation equipment and helps farmers to cope with dry spells and produce during the dry season, transition to higher valve crops such as horticultural crops and coffee and hit the market when prices are more advantageous.
