Kamuli, Uganda: At least 247 farmers in Kamuli District have adopted the government’s microscale irrigation programme, significantly increasing farm productivity and enabling year-round cultivation as the five-year project enters its final month.
The project, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), is expected to officially end in December after supporting farmers with solar-powered irrigation equipment and training.
Programme coordinator and Principal Engineer Eng. Tondo James Kasozi praised Kamuli farmers for their strong uptake, noting that the district contributed a remarkable share of the national total.
“Kamuli has 247 farmers out of 6,500 countrywide. This is an impressive number, and I thank the production department and the district agricultural officer for close coordination,” Eng. Tondo said during the project’s closeout meeting held at Century Hotel in Kamuli Municipality.
Farmers Receive Subsidised Irrigation Kits
Under the programme, farmers received subsidised microscale irrigation kits; pumps, pipes, storage tanks, sprinklers and drag hoses, powered by solar energy. “Through this project, we give equipment at a percentage. If the equipment costs Shs5 million, the farmer pays only one million and the rest is covered by government,” Eng. Tondo explained.
He said the programme has now entered its maintenance stage, urging district engineers to follow up with all beneficiaries to address non-functional equipment and ensure value for money.
Kamuli Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Mukiibi Nasser encouraged all farmers to embrace solar-powered irrigation technologies to boost food security and household incomes.“Farmers should embrace this programme so they can double their production. With irrigation, they can dig from January to January,” Mukiibi said.
He added that the district is committed to continuing the programme and supporting local farmers who want to expand irrigation-based agriculture.
The microscale irrigation project has been credited for enhancing resilience against climate change, reducing reliance on rainfall, and improving crop yields for small-scale farmers across Uganda.
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