URN.The farmers near the irrigation plants demand that the system is widely expanded to a wider coverage such that its benefits can be felt by the general public instead of limiting it to a few groups that are being served apparently.
Farmers in Kalungu District have appealed to the government for financial support to enable them to obtain the required capacity to benefit from multi-million water irrigation projects in the area.
In 2021, the government through funding from a joint partnership between the European Union and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) set up three solar-powered irrigation projects in Lwabenge, Bukulula, and Kyamulibwa sub-counties, to support the mitigation of climate change effects.
The three irrigation plants estimated at 300 million shillings each were set up to benefit organized farmer groups in Mabuye Village in Bukulula sub-county, Buwemba in Kyamulibwa sub-county, and Bugomola in Lwabenge sub-county.
But the farmers near the irrigation plants demand that the system is widely expanded to a wider coverage such that its benefits can be felt by the general public instead of limiting it to a few groups that are being served apparently.
Margret Nabakooza, one of the smallholder farmers in Bugomola village in Lwebenge argues that the irrigation system is largely serving medium farmers groups, leaving the majority subsistence farmers who equally need water to improve their food production capacity.
She explains that despite the presence of the water hydrants that connect from the main supply source, many people can still not tap onto the distribution lines to extend the irrigation system to their respective plantations, largely because they cannot afford the required equipment.
Nabakooza wants the government to support the local communities with farm pipes and other household irrigation equipment such that many people can also benefit from the scheme and be supported to transform from subsistence to commercial farming.
Patrick Ssembuuze, one of the farmers benefiting from the irrigation plant in Lwabenge sub-county, also acknowledges the need to expand the project to a wider community such that its already proven benefits can be shared generally in the area.
He explains that the entire sub-county has badly been affected by the long dry spell which has resulted in general crop failure for farmers who could not afford irrigation.
He says that the situation now requires that the bigger farm area is connected to the irrigation system, calling upon the government to step forward and directly support the farmers.
David Ssegawa, the Chairperson of Lwabenge Sub County wants the government to use the already benefiting farmers as pilot projects, which should motivate it to expand the coverage of the irrigation to a wider community.
According to Ssegawa, in Lwabenge sub-county, the irrigation plant is currently serving four farmers’ groups yet the system has the capacity of extending water to at least three villages, where people are already yearning for the project because of its benefit. https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-1885173889378683&output=html&h=345&adk=1590975256&adf=1543980850&pi=t.aa~a.3933768198~i.41~rp.1&w=414&lmt=1658490600&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=9833304535&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=414×345&url=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fstory%2Fkalungu-farmers-demand-financial-support-to-utilize-multi-million-irrigation-schemes&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=320&rw=384&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1658490600534&bpp=3&bdt=7464&idt=3&shv=r20220721&mjsv=m202207180101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Df673dcf29e716676-22fa0ff5cfcd00e5%3AT%3D1658146801%3ART%3D1658146801%3AS%3DALNI_MYMCHLIWk3Ke0xT8tP2Mkp0uYlm-Q&gpic=UID%3D00000789c2467025%3AT%3D1658249344%3ART%3D1658489899%3AS%3DALNI_MY1wp3-NQOlvPPnvS61C9Acl6YyJA&prev_fmts=384×1417%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C0x0%2C414x345%2C414x345&nras=5&correlator=7328764334479&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=394590582.1657529785&ga_sid=1658490594&ga_hid=1791100948&ga_fc=1&u_tz=180&u_his=6&u_h=896&u_w=414&u_ah=896&u_aw=414&u_cd=32&u_sd=2&adx=0&ady=4053&biw=414&bih=715&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=44759876%2C44759927%2C44759842%2C44763505%2C31060048%2C31064018%2C31062930&oid=2&pvsid=2857023694099131&tmod=2118086300&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fa%2Farchive.php%3FstatusId%3D4%26message%5B%5D%3D5%26message%5B%5D%3D5%26message%5B%5D%3D5%26message%5B%5D%3D5%26message%5B%5D%3D5%26message%5B%5D%3D5&eae=0&fc=384&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C414%2C0%2C414%2C896%2C414%2C715&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=8&uci=a!8&btvi=6&fsb=1&xpc=4pZpowC1MO&p=https%3A//ugandaradionetwork.net&dtd=19
Ssegawa indicates that once expanded, the irrigation system has the potential of turning around the agricultural fortunes of the people in the area hence contributing to the country’s economic development.
Ahmed Nyombi Mukiibi, the Kalungu LCV Chairperson says they have already presented the demands to the State Minister in Charge of Water Aisha Ssekindi who is the district Woman MP, imploring her to pursue the required direct response from the government.
