Kaberamaido farmers hail micro irrigation initiative

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Farmers in Uganda's eastern district of Kaberamaido have expressed optimism in a newly launched micro-irrigation project, saying it will boost the production of vegetables, especially during the dry season.

The project was launched this week in Olep cell, Okeratok ward in Ochero sub-county.

The residents of Ochero town council have been relying on vegetables from Bugisu sub-region. 

Resident Peter Opio Juba from Agule cell said many people have been struggling to access food during the dry spells.

"This [micro irrigation project] is one of the projects that can help fight shortage of vegetables. We shall learn and even act to see that we are food-secure," he said.

The scheme will enable the growing of cabbages, tomatoes, onions, eggplants, and others.

To benefit, land for crop production should be within the reach of the irrigation project.

Having borne the brunt of long dry spells firsthand, farmer Joseph Wabwire from Kaburepoli village said: "This micro irrigation project will now be a solution".

'We have no excuse'

During the dry seasons, it is projected that farmers will hire convenient plots of land on which to grow vegetables to feed their families as well as for income.

“With this project now available for us, we shall be better. We actually need such leaders who lead the locals to know what is supposed to be done," said Wabwire.

Olep cell, where the project was launched, is a lowland area with a high water table, making it easy to have the micro irrigation project.

Farming is the mainstay of this community.

“We do not have any excuse for not having food during the dry season like it has been happening. We should be able to have some food," said Michael Etonga, the LC1 of Olep village.

How it works

The micro irrigation project is a government initiative where an interested farmer co-funds in order to benefit from it.

A host farmer should be able to contribute 25 percent of the total project cost as the government foots the 75 percent on condition that there is an assured source of water.

This particular micro-irrigation project was launched at John Paul Eremu’s home who has been able to meet the conditions of having the program.

Upon being a host farmer, one is expected to share and allow the neighbours to learn from the established micro-irrigation project.

The micro-irrigation project at Eremu’s home was worth sh27 million.

It is one of the 11 projects worth sh240 million meant to be implemented in different areas of the district and having different host farmers.

Another nine projects have already been established, which will bump it up to a total of 20 micro-irrigation projects in Kaberamaido.

Several district leaders said this particular government programme was an intervention to uplift farmers to improve their livelihoods.