RATIN

Farmers irrigate, lose crops in rainy season

Posted on December, 5, 2019 at 10:18 am


 
The skies continue to douse the country with unrelenting rain but that hasn’t stop farmers in the central Wakiso district from irrigating their crops.
 
And now they have lost their entire crop. They are crying foul. The unfortunate farmers are allied to Magezi-Muliro Farmers’ Association, which received the pilot demonstration mini irrigation scheme in Mabwombe village in Mende subcounty in Wakiso district.
 
Interviewed, Irene Nabukeera, the leader of the twelve affected farmers, said they irrigated their crops during the first days of the rainy season because they thought the rains would be intermittent.
 
She said they had planted high-value crops like sukuma wiki, green pepper, cabbage, watermelons, eggplant, tomatoes and onions. She said, however, the crops were swept by rains, leaving the land bare.   
 
Nabukeera couldn’t explain whether they received technical advice on irrigation. She instead argued that since the rains have been irregular in some seasons, they thought the rains may delay or be little.
 
She said that by the time they realized the rains were serious, it was too late. Eng. Nicholas Lubanga, an official from the Water and Environment ministry overseeing the project, said unintentional mistakes were inevitable since farmers were interfacing with irrigation technology for the first time.    
 
He said although the project is under the Environment ministry, they had advised farmers to seek technical support from extension workers on the best practices.  
 
Henry Lubulwa, the Wakiso district agricultural officer, said his department was available to guide farmers on the best use of the irrigation scheme but he was equally surprised that farmers could irrigate during a known rain season.    
 
Lubulwa said as climate change effects are becoming real in Uganda with prolonged droughts and the dry spell, the intervention of irrigation is inevitable. He, however, added that there is need to equip farmers with skills and knowledge of applying the technology if they are to benefit.
 
Mabwombe scheme is one of several irrigation schemes that were set up in several parts of the country by the Water and Environment ministry. The project, whose intention is to help in teaching farmers and disseminating information on irrigation technology, is valued at over Shs 450m.  
 
Several mini irrigation schemes have been constructed in Kasese, Lira and Soroti districts, among other parts of the country. The most recent one is situated in Mityana district. 
 
Source: The Observer