Soroti Leaders Mobilize Farmers for Micro Irrigation Scheme

Soroti's political leaders have been tasked to mobilize farmers to embrace the government's Ugfit Micro Scale Irrigation Scheme.

Deputy Resident District Commissioner Ronald Bakak made the call during a district stakeholders' sensitization meeting for district councilors held on 25^th October, 2024.

Bakak emphasized that political leaders are crucial in mobilizing community members to embrace government projects that drive societal change

“The community members listen to you as their leaders who represent their view and therefore urging to you to mobilize our farmers to embrace this program” said Bakak.

The production department organized a one-day stakeholders' engagement to inform councilors on the project's progress. Twenty-two farmers have expressed interest, and four farmer groups have acquired equipment through the matching grant scheme.

The government programme supports farmers in purchasing the irrigation equipment through a matching grant scheme, in which the cost of the equipment is co-financed by the farmer and the government.

Under the programme, farmers contribute 25 percent of the cost of solar-powered equipment, with the government covering the remaining 75 percent.

According to Mr Okello Moses Echeku, the Ag. District Agricultural Officer, four farmers have already fully paid for and are being connected to the solar system.

Okello said that the programme targets farmers who have a water source and are in possession of at least 2.5 acres of land with the main focus on vegetable farming.  “Access to the water source should not be more than 700 meters away from the gardens that need to be irrigated,” 

He added that the beneficiaries should also be willing to co-fund for the purchase of irrigation equipment at 25 percent as government meets 75 percent of the cost”, he said.

“Programme progress, there are 22 farmers across the district have expressed interest in participating in this program, farmers can procure irrigation equipment via a matching grant scheme in which four farmers groups have acquired the equipment already,” he said.