By Davis Buyondo
The Government has unveiled a mega solar-powered water supply and irrigation system in Kalungu district.
The project is aimed at providing a sustainable solution to water shortages and effectively reviving the devastated agricultural lands.
The initiative comes at a time when the district is grappling with unreliable rainfall, chronic water shortages and unproductive soils.
State minister for water Aisha Sekindi said the project will not only help solve the problem of water shortage for irrigation, but will also create jobs and improve people’s livelihoods.
In a message delivered by Sekindi’s personal assistant, Ruth Komugisha, the minister urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the facility to ensure the project achieves its intended goals.
“Without enough water, crops wither or completely dry up, causing farmers huge losses. This not only leads to food shortages, but also has a great impact on the country’s economy,” Sekindi said.
According to Joseph Wasswa, a senior engineer from the water ministry, the farmers have, for generations, depended on rain-fed agriculture where planting and harvesting are done based on the cycles of the seasons.
Wasswa noted that the project will equally solve rampant wetland encroachment, since several farmers have been encroaching on these ecosystems for water and fertile soils.
The project is currently supplying water to crops on 12 acres of land at Lukaya-Lutente village, but the ministry plans to expand it to support neighbouring progressive farmers.
Financed under the UK Export Finance Loan of 83,259,240.49 Euros (sh340.8b) and the Government contributing 10,859,904.51 Euros (sh44.4b), the project commenced on July 26, 2021, and the contractor, Nexus Green Limited, completed it on July 26, this year.
This brings the total cost to sh385.2b.
“In this first phase of the project, we hope to construct 400 sites countrywide to address the water shortage. We hope to have the second phase in two years, and it will focus on progressive farmers who need water for irrigation,” Wasswa explained.
The Lutente facility comprises a water source, 32 solar panels, a pump, a transmission main, a 40,000-litre reservoir and a command area.
The system uses a lesser jet to supply water to typically commercial horticulture crops, like tomatoes, watermelons, onions, macadamia, avocado, cashew nuts, passion fruit, sweet potatoes and coffee.
What district leaders say
Kamaadi Nyombi Mukiibi, the Kalungu district chairperson, said as rainfall becomes unreliable and the scorched soils unproductive, many farmers are compelled to find solace in wetlands where water and fertile soils are still available.
He lauded the Government for the initiative, emphasising that such development projects should not be politicised.
The resident district commissioner, Paddy Kayondo, said they will closely monitor the project to ensure it benefits the farmers and the district.
He emphasised that for such mega initiatives to succeed, effective monitoring is important.
According to Kayondo, the success of the Lutente project was because of the active participation of local leaders from the beginning.
Farmers comment
Mohammad Ssonko, a passion fruit farmer, who is also one of the beneficiaries, the irrigation project will help his crops thrive during the dry season and produce improved yields throughout the year.
“With the water, agriculture cannot fail. The irrigation allows us to plant without waiting for the rain,” he said.
David Ssaazi, a sweet potato farmer in Lutente, mentioned that horticulture is one of the most challenging farming activities in the absence of adequate water supply.
To Ssaazi, the long drought and irregular water supply can cause crop failure and, consequently, great financial losses.
Emerson Kayanja and James Africa, both tomato farmers, said they plan to expand their plantations due to the reliable water supply system.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Mukiibi (right) interacts with water ministry officials at the launch of the solar-powered irrigation project. Photo by Davis Buyondo
