Access to clean water for both domestic use and agricultural production remains a big challenge in several rural communities in Yumbe district.
Despite the establishment of block farms in the refugee-hosting sub-counties to support refugees by partners, not much has been achieved due to lack of water for production and overdependence on rain-fed agriculture.
In response to this challenge, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has implemented a motorised water system worth over over shillings 316 million in Kiranga village, Rigbonga parish, Ariwa sub-county in Yumbe.
The system, which has now been handed over to the district local government consists of four public standpipes (PSPs) for household consumption and a sprinkler irrigation system for agricultural use, is expected to enhance food security, economic resilience, and community well-being of over 450 direct farmer beneficiaries and to thousands of indirect beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries’ testimony.
Robert Sebit Zachariah, the chairperson for Moleta Ngun Network of 15 farming groups and six commercial farmers says they have seen light at the end of the tunnel.
He adds that they only relied on the rainy season in the previous years to plant cassava, sorghum, simsim and sunflower due to water challenges.
“Now, with the established sprinkler irrigation on an acre of land, we are going to invest heavily in vegetable and short-term crops throughout the year,” Sebit said.
According to Sebit, before the water was installed, each person would spend not less than shillings 2,000 on water and food daily while digging, which is no longer the case due to the presence of water and food like cassava.
“Water challenges has been a nightmare for us here and we depended on rains for cultivation and with the irrigation system in place, I believe this time we are going to make money through vegetable growing like tomatoes, cabbage and sukuma wiki among others,” Sebit adds.
Water to help supplement the food ratio.
Sebit said the water for production is a saviour for them to complement the small food given to them by the World Food Programme.
“Right now, we are getting 2kgs for a whole months, which sometimes cannot take us three days and we are in big challenge but our good relationship with the host community is what is saving us by them giving us land for cultivation and this water will be more than enough to save us from hunger only if we use the water meaningfully, though we still have the challenge of animals and dubious people who came and vandalise the pipes of the water,” he added.
Zulaika Adiru, a resident of Kiranga village, said she used to move more than 3km to get clean water for home use and relied entirely on rain to plant crops including green vegetables.
“I often landed into violence with my husband due to over delaying at a water source and sometimes family members spend days without bathing due to lack of water and this intervention is miraculous and I already see myself rich as I am going to embark on growing vegetables during dry season”, Said Zulaika.
Prioritise operation and maintenance
This water initiative has ensured that the community has been supported to have climate-resilient livelihoods through improved access to water, ensuring that both refugee and host communities can sustain agricultural production and enhance their quality of life.
NRC programme manager Christopher Kumakech said the water for production was designed to support the over 500 direct farmers in the block farms who have grappled with the lack of water for production for years.
Komakech said the current water system has the components for further extension to other parts of the sub-county and he called upon the community to get fully involved in the management of the water system.
“We would like to implore the community and the district leadership to ensure that this system remains operational and achieves the purpose for which it is established as we already have six commercial farmers with 15 farmer groups who only utilize about 200 acres out of 400 acres of land secured and this should be a motivation for more farmers,” Komakech said on March 21, 2025.
We are favored by God
Kiranga villag LC chairperson Khemis Asega said the intervention of water for production and consumption was miraculous for the village after spending years without water.
“This has been a grazing land but without water for consumption and animals as well as for production and by hosting many refugees, life here has been a disaster due to shortage of water for production, and we shall surely strive to jealously protect this water,” Asega said.
He added that the block farming is expected to boom with the introduction of the production water since only 200 acres have been utilised
The Refugee Welfare Council Three of Zone Five in Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, Thomas Henry Anguyo, commended the leadership of the districts and Office of the Prime Minister for identifying the area that has been predominantly a grazing land without water for construction of water for production and consumption.
Anguyo said many refugees with special needs and elderly resorted to consuming dirty water due to long distances to clean water sources.
Ariwa LC3 chairperson John Kale commended NRC for the project saying it has come timely and thanked the landlord for the offer of the vast land for block farming.
Kale asked the beneficiaries to protect the water system saying there are many wrong elements in the community who deliberately vandalise such huge investments for selfish reasons.
Kale called for extension of the water tap stands to other nearby communities who are equally facing significant challenges in clean water.
UNHCR wants livelihood transformation
Jackline from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Yumbe said sustainability has been a challenge in many such projects saying there needs to be a clear system for and guideline on sustainability by the district.
“We hope there are clear guidelines and strategies for which this system will be operated otherwise before 2025 ends, we might come back to see a white elephant. So, it is our prayer and hope and the district leadership has attested that this facility will be sustained for the betterment of host community and refugees.
She also emphasized on the issue of impact of the facility saying they are so much interested in water for farming since the district is implementing climate smart Agriculture initiatives in the district.
“We had so many systems of similar nature and many community members do not own such systems and they break down naturally and we want to see lives change because we say over 450 farmers will benefit but are their lives changing economically is what we must see properly”, Said Jacqueline.
District commits on sustainability strategy.
Yumbe water officer Bernard Magara encouraged the livelihood partners to consider the component of water for production in their forthcoming projects.
He said the water will be kept in good hands by forming the management committees both at the district and sub-county levels as well as forming the water user committee to monitor the operation of the facility.
“We have a limited coverage of water for production in the district and such interventions cannot be taken for granted, luckily the project gave us too motorcycles for monitoring,” Magara said.
Yumbe district Local Government secretary for natural resources and water Akim Banduga challenged the community to take advantage of the water facility to improve their livelihood by ensuring ownership and security.
“All these stakeholders will go back to the district and their various places and the facility will remain with you and when you don’t work hard, despite the beautiful installation and tapes stand, you will not know that it is a beautiful intervention and place guard this facility generously from any wrong doers,” he said.
Assistant settlement commandant zone three in Bidibidi refugee Settlement Christopher Angualia, who cited lack of functionality of such projects due to lack of ownership, urged the sub-county and district leadership to form a management committee and water user committee to ensure sustainability of the water facility.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: The district leaders and partners from NRC and OPM commissioning the motorized water source that was handed over to the district for management. (Credit: Robert Adiga)
