Government is in the final stages of installing twenty one micro scale irrigation sites in Amuria.
The development follows the successful installation of micro scale irrigation demonstration sites in the district.
The demo irrigation projects were installed in Wera Seed Secondary school, Canaan farm in Wera subcounty and at the farm of Mr Tom Ejeu a prominent farmer in Akeriau Sub County.
The irrigation demonstration sites have since proved a catalyst for farmers to appreciate the technology that will enable them engage in production even during the dry spell.
Mr Raymond Mutumba the senior Agricultural engineer said most farmers picked interest in the technology after learning from the farmer field schools that were conducted in the demonstration sites.
‘’ In the demonstration sites, we conducted farmer field schools were farmers were trained on good agronomic practices and irrigation, this motivated most farmers to co-fund in order to have the irrigation equipment installed on their farms”, Mutumba said.
He said so far 21 farmers have fully co-funded for the installation of irrigation sites in their farms.
“As we speak right now 21 farmers have fully cofunded for the irrigation projects, they will be installed before the end of this financial year” , he promised.
Jennifer Akilimet the owner of Cannan demonstration farm says she has been able to increase production throughout the year using irrigation. In her farm, she grows onions, tomatoes, eggplant ,cabbage and water melon. She has also opened a fish pond that will enable her venture into fish farming.
“ I thank the government of Uganda for setting up a micro scale irrigation demonstration site in my farm, I am now engaged in production throughout the year” Akilimet remarked.
Ms Hellen Agadi the Headteacher Wera Seed secondary school, said the micro scale irrigation programme has encouraged technology transfer from one generation to another.
‘’ Our students usually learn from our irrigation site, they are also actively engaged in managing crops until they are ready and when they are ready they form part of the school diet” Agadi noted.
About UGIFT micro scale irrigation programme
The main aim of the Micro Scale irrigation program is to enhance the uptake of cost –effective micro irrigation technology by farmers in Uganda so as to improve farm productivity and their standard of living .
The programme is part of Uganda’s National Irrigation Policy which aims to create more irrigated land by the year 2040.
The government will pay between 25% and 75% of the total cost of the irrigation equipment, but with a maximum contribution 0f 7.2 million shillings per acre.
This means for example that if a farmer wants to irrigate 1 acre , he/she may pay between 2 million shillings and 8 million shillings depending on the farm situation and the irrigation equipment that the farmer chooses.
If the farmer wants to irrigate 2.5 acres , he/she may pay between 5 million to 20 million shillings depending on his or her farm situation and the irrigation equipment that he/she chooses.
Any farmer can express interest for support so long as he /she has a source of water and a piece of land.