Technical staff of Victoria Seeds Limited accompanied by farmers showcasing the harvest of vegetable fruits from the demonstration site at Odeye small scale irrigation scheme. Photos by Sharon Akello
By Sharon Akello
Dokolo: Farmers utilizing the Odeye Small Scale Irrigation Scheme at Olweny in Agwata Town Council, Dokolo District have been advised to maintain the scheme for more benefit.
In 2018, the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), established the shs720m irrigation scheme, to support small farmers’ groups to grow vegetables such as cabbages, green pepper, eggplants, onions, watermelons and tomatoes during dry seasons.
The scheme, which sits on 24 acres, is divided into plots with drip pipes spread across gardens. The water for irrigation is pumped from a nearby dam using a giant solar power system into six huge water tanks before it flows into the gardens through the drip pipes.
Besides the drip pipes, the scheme has a big nursery bed, a greenhouse, and a residential house for the security guard.
Old drip pipes, pests and diseases reported
However, a few years after the establishment of the irrigation scheme, only 12 farmers are using the scheme, out of more than 120 farmers who were using the scheme in the beginning.
Several farmers complained that the vegetable varieties they were planting like Kalenda F1 and Tembo F1, are susceptible to bacterial wilt, unlike the local varieties highly demanded by the local market.
Moses Ogwang Omaso, a farmer, said more than 100 farmers abandoned the scheme as the drip pipes became old and dysfunctional.
Omaso explained that people always perceive such programs as solely for the government and fail to maintain it.
“…this one started very well, but it is failing because government has pulled out and left its management to farmers who don’t have resources and the capacity to maintain it,” Omaso said.
Support from Victoria seed limited
Nelson Ogut, the Chairperson of Odeye small scale irrigation scheme said when farmers abandoned the irrigation scheme, Victoria Seeds Limited supported the remaining farmers with free seeds for planting.
The vegetable seeds supplied by Victoria Seeds Limited such as green pepper, onions, eggplants, pumpkins and tomatoes, were planted and are almost ready for harvest.
Ogut said the intervention by Victoria Seeds has improved farmers’ food security and income, reduced cases of domestic violence and brought team work and unity among members.
He requested the government to support them with equipment and resources such as tractors and loans, to support their dream on opening large acres of land.
“We also request the government to replace the drip pipes which were installed way back in 2018, but are now old and broken,” he added.
Morish Ogwal, a Research and Development Officer at Victoria Seed Company Limited, expressed disappointment that most of the farmers have abandoned the irrigation scheme yet the government injected a lot of resources into it.
Ogwal said the seed company is “sensitizing farmers to go back and utilize irrigation scheme, because the place is very fertile yet more than 60% of it redundant.
He advised farmers who abandoned the scheme because of crop diseases, to opt for disease-resistant varieties.
According to Ogwal, the availability of water for vegetable production also attracted them to work with the farmers around the scheme, to empower them with skills and sensitize them about the new high-yielding crop varieties.
Farmers change enterprises
Mary Omedi, a member of Can Onoto Wa Women’s Group, said they are growing high yielding tomato varieties called palma, water melon, pumpkin, green pepper and cabbage among others which is helping them to support their families.
“The benefit I have got from vegetable production is that last year I was able to buy a cow using the money I got from here and that cow has now produced a calf,” she said.
Omedi advised fellow farmers to resume using the irrigation scheme, saying a great percentage of income among the rural communities can only be got through farming.
She revealed that farmers who remained are reaping big from high vegetable demand during the dry season.
“That is why I am appealing to my fellow farmers let us continue with growing these crops because it is lucrative,” Omedi said.
Christine Auma, the treasurer of Odeye small scale farmers group, said she is earning more after changing to a new tomato variety.
“For instance last year I got Shs1.3m from the sale of tomatoes,” Auma said.
The profits from the vegetable growing has helped Auma to start building a permanent residential house, and open a piggery and poultry business.
“The money is helping me to pay school fees for my children,” she added.
Need for mindset change
Richard Enyang, the Dokolo District Production officer, advised farmers to take up the responsibility of managing the irrigation scheme, because the government does not have a budget to maintain it.
According to Enyang, the government gave the farmers the responsibility of care-taking the scheme and its technical supervision to the district leaders.
“Government established the scheme and handed over the full management to the local leadership because they are the ones to benefit,” Enyang said.
He attributed the abandonment of the irrigation scheme to poor management by the leadership of the scheme.
