By Patrick Okino
A micro solar-powered irrigation scheme established by the Ministry of Water and Environment at Aromo Sub County in Lira District is transforming farming practices and improving the livelihoods of farmers.
The scheme, constructed under the Department of Multipurpose and Bulk Water Development-North at Dam Odoca village, is helping farmers cope with unpredictable weather, reduce crop losses, increase household incomes and improve food production.
Farmers are currently growing cabbage and watermelon on seven acres of land and expect to earn about Shs50 million from the harvest, according to Patrick Okuca, one of the beneficiaries.
“We are very happy because this irrigation scheme is providing water every year,” Okuca said during a recent farmer field day.
He said the farmers had turned to cabbage production on a large scale after adverse weather conditions severely affected farming in the area.
According to Okuca, Templar Engineers Consultants Ltd trained the farmers in agronomy, enterprise selection, input use and fertiliser application to help them identify farming practices and enterprises that perform well under irrigation.
“We have tested and discovered that it is more profitable than planting soybean,” he said.
Okuca appealed to the Ministry of Water and Environment to expand the scheme from the current seven acres to 17 acres to accommodate more farmers.
Florence Ojok, another beneficiary, expressed appreciation to the government for establishing the irrigation scheme, saying it was helping farmers cope with unpredictable weather that had contributed to crop failures.
She said the group had already harvested cabbage from half an acre and sold it for Shs4 million, an achievement that had motivated members to expand their farming activities.
“We want to thank the government for establishing the facility. It is a great opportunity for us because such a facility is not found in other places,” Ojok said.
Engineer Emmanuel Omutojo, Deputy Manager for Multipurpose and Bulk Water Development, commended President Museveni for the initiative and urged beneficiaries to protect the facility.
He warned farmers against vandalising or stealing irrigation equipment, particularly the solar panels and water pump.
“If for one day the solar panel and water pump disappear, the project is gone. Therefore, all of you are security of this facility,” Omutojo said.
He said the Ministry of Water and Environment was committed to supporting the farmers through continued capacity building and technical assistance.
“Our happiness is that the project is standing, and when we come here, people are making money,” he said.
Omutojo added that the ministry would continue supporting the farmers and providing capacity building to ensure the project delivers its intended benefits.