Why irrigation could be a game changer for food security in Arua

It is common in Arua District or any other part of the West Nile Sub-region to find young men seated by the roadside or in trading centres claiming that no meaningful agricultural activity can be undertaken due to bad weather.

The long dry season in the area (November to February) often pushes many people out of their fields. But some farmers with innovative ideas have adopted methods of how they can do farming throughout the year.

Those who have adopted irrigation farming say the system is the most sustainable. One such farmer is 34-year-old Richard Lematia of LEMZ farm located in Euata Village, Vurra Sub-county in Arua District.

“As many farmers are crying of dry weather, for me I see it as an opportunity, we get better prices for our produce,” Mr Lematia says in an interview.

While he uses a shallow well as a source of water at his farm, he urges farmers to practice irrigation in valleys where there is enough supply of water. Mr Lematia realised that he could rent a nearby plot of land to grow tomatoes and other vegetables using drip irrigation.

He says the first irrigation machine is the watering can, which costs about Shs20,000 but the cost increases as the technology advances.

“I am able to produce the vegetables and other crops all seasons because I store the water in a tank, which I use for irrigation. Farmers here need to be skilled with the knowledge so that food is produced in abundance,” he said.

Ms Zabella Andezu, another farmer, says: “People scramble for our vegetables when we take them to the market. The simple irrigation machine has been the game changer. At least all the children no longer linger at home because we pay the school dues promptly.”

The Arua District Agriculture Officer, Mr Nelson Adile, says they are currently implementing the World Bank-funded micro-skilling irrigation project.

“This is a co-funding project where the farmer provides 25 percent and the government 75 percent. But it has limited many farmers since they often fail to raise the 25 percent to acquire the solar-powered irrigation equipment,” Mr Adile says.

A dealer in irrigation equipment in Arua City, Mr Kizito Caku, says the prices of their machines range between Shs20,000 and Shs15 million or more, depending on accessories that may be needed for the pump.

“Irrigation is the best way to fight hunger. We have machines for both small-scale and large-scale farmers. Farmers need to adapt to these technologies to boost production and income,” he says.

Mr Ronald Dricile, a resident of Olevu Village, Orivu Parish, Odupi Sub-county in Terego District, says he gained courage after being trained on how to practice climate-smart agriculture. He grows sukuma wiki (collard greens), cabbage, okra and other greens while the farming group where he is also a member grows tomatoes.

“Every week I earn between Shs120,000 and Shs150,000 from the sale of these vegetables. I used to carry them to Okpotani market but these days buyers come to the garden and buy,” he says.

Mr Earnest Marku, a resident of Village 5 in Imvepi Refugee Settlement, said with declining food rations supplied to them by the World Food Programme, they had to train in climate-smart agriculture.

The Terego District chairperson, Mr Wilfred Saka, says with unpredictable weather conditions in the refugee hosting areas, there is a need to adopt new technologies.