Micro-scale Irrigation Program under SOROTI DLG

Soroti district was rolled under phase 2 of the Micro-scale Irrigation Program (UgIFT). The objective of the program is to support smallholder farmers acquire irrigation equipment and use them to engage in commercial oriented farming growing coffee, horticulture (vegetables & fruits) and pasture. Most farmers are being affected by climate change since rains don’t match with the known seasons.

This is a government program hosted under the production department at Soroti district. The whole of the financial Year 2022/2023 has been creating awareness about the program to local leaders and farmers.  

Stages involved

1.      

Awareness raising (through meetings, WhatsApp, Radio, T Website)

2.      

Farmer expresses interest through sub-county or district Agricultural Officer

3.      

Farmer receives a call preparing them for farm visit (farm visit takes atleast 3 hours)

4.      

Farm visit conducted for the prepared farmer (Assessing the water & land resources, farmer makes choice of irrigation equipment, farmer knows his/her co-funding range

5.      

Farmer makes part of his/her co-payment of the initial 1 million as commitment fee to initiate procurement etc

The local leaders were sensitized from the district including the heads of department, RDC, CAO, LC5, DEC memebrs , DISO, District Council to the sub-county Leaders; SACAO, LC3, Technical staff, sub-county council, GISO, and later to Parish where LC2 chairperson, LC1 chairpersons, Opinion leaders.

Having sensitized the leaders, they were requested to mobilise farmers to express interest in the program through Agricultural Officers at the sub-county or the District Agricultural Office.  

Program progress

Awareness Raising of local leaders

·        

1 District leaders’ meeting (RDC, DISO, CAO, LC5, DEC, District Council, Heads of Department)

·        

Extension staff from the 12 Sub- counties

Awareness of farmers

·        

Continuous   farmer meetings

Expression of Interest (EOI)

·        

210 Farmers across the district Successful EOIs    ( Arapai, 42, Asuret 21, Aukot 33, Awaliwal 19, Gweri 28, Kamuda 7, Katine 20, Lalle 05, Ocokican, 02, Oculoi 14, Tubur 19, Tubur Town Council 00

·        

Preparations for Farm visits

·        

210received phone call preparing them for farm visit

Farm visits

·        

88 farm visits successful

·        

12 Ongoing & 5 unsuccessful due to lack of water sources to support irrigation