The difference between hunger and Contentment for the Communities in Nyakinama Sub County, Kisoro district this dry season is the number of people who have embraced the Kaboko Small Scale Irrigation Scheme which was recently handed over to the citizens by the Ministry of Water and Environment.
Kisoro district, by usual standards is considered a food basket for the region, rich in Irish potatoes, Bananas (Matooke), tomatoes and beans often experiences food insecurity in the dry season months of June- July and August.
Kaboko small scale irrigation scheme, has its water source at Lake Kaboko with 8 solar panels as the source of power for the submersible pump serving irrigable land of 10 acres.
The irrigation scheme with two plastic tanks each of 10,000 liters installed on a five-meter platform recently experienced some irregularities prompting the intervention of the Kisoro Resident District Commissioner Hajji Shafiq Sekandi.
Sekandi says, as a result of Shoddy work, the farmers had developed a negative attitude towards utilizing the Government scheme that has since been set up in the districts of Rukiga and Ntungamo.
“The system was not fully functioning well while some of its parts got damaged in a short period of time and beneficiary farmers could no longer make use of it”, Sekandi explained.
Alex Rusheesha, Senior Engineer at Ministry of Water and Environment, Directorate of Water Development, Water for Production Department said the ministry quickly responded to RDC’s complaint and met with the contractors who re-fixed the destroyed machines making the system fully functional.
Neretse Julius, one of the model farmers was praised for embracing the Irrigation Scheme adding that when the dry season kicks in, he will have capacity to feed his family and sell to the market at good prices because the demand will be a lot.
Neretse explained that, most farmers are stuck in the old way of doing things, completely depending on Nature and God however climate change effects are real, and more farmers need to think about a sustainable farming practice for the future generations.
The Nyakinama Sub County LCIII Chairman, Kamuhanda Bingira commended Government for such innovations that will help support communities alongside growing tourism in the area.
Kamuhanda explained that more lodges and campsites are coming up in the area by people interested in Water based tourism therefore people can tap into a growing market for food, vegetables and fruits to supply to the tourists.
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