The construction of the Atari basin irrigation scheme is already underway, and is expected to be completed by December 2026.
This project, which is funded by the government of Japan through its aid body, the Japan International Cooperation Agency is intended to benefit the people of Kween and Bulambuli, some of two districts through which the river Atari flows.
During the commissioning of the scheme on Thursday, March 27, Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries highlighted how this Shs 73 billion project would ensure that there is substantial water to allow for all year round crop production in Kween and Bulambuli.
However, even beyond that, it is expected to be a game changer to the economics of the areas concerned. This project emerged from the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) through which the Coalition for African Rice Development was established, aimed at doubling rice production in Sub- Saharan Africa to 56 million tonnes by 2030.
Related to the aforementioned, is Japan’s drive to realize the millennium development goal of eliminating hunger. In light of that, Alfred Tsekeli, the District Production Officer in Bulambuli noted that with 680 hectares (1700 acres) to be covered by the irrigation scheme, there is great economic potential, that can transform people’s lives.
“Presently, one hectare, which is equivalent to two and a half acres, produces about two and a half tonnes or rice. That is 2500 kilograms of rice. But with better management, as is projected from this irrigation scheme, there is potential to harvest four and a half tons from one hectare,” Tsekeli said.
Undoubtedly, a doubling of the production would be a big boost to the 479 land owners that are in the Atari river basin. Essentially, the farmers herein have an opportunity to produce at least 1.7 million kilograms of rice in a year.
Simply put, with rice costing at least Shs 4000 a kilogram, just over a dollar, the grand total, in just one season of planting and harvesting, at least Shs 6.8 billion would be made. Yet, because of this Atari irrigation scheme, problems of drought should be overcome, meaning that the farmers have the ability to grow rice throughout the year, including during the dry spell between January and March.
If that can be fully covered, then, Shs 21 billion can be made by the farmers in this area, barring price set-backs as ordinarily happens in this country. In fact, Tsekeli said that when the rice harvests have been huge, the prices have fallen as low as Shs 2000.
Yet, even if that was the case, because it is difficult for prices to remain the same throughout the year anywhere in the world, Shs 10 billion for the rice industry in Bulambuli and Kween throughout the year, would not be bad business especially for the general livelihood of the common man.
In addition, because of the potential of this project, Sasayama Takuya, the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, who graced the occasion in the Atari river basin, pledged to aid the Ugandan farmers in Kween and Bulambuli more with new fertilizers, in order to boost their yield.
That said, beyond the fact that the Atari irrigation scheme is geared towards making sure that the farmers in Kween and Bulambuli get constant water supply for their crops, it is also intended to control flooding.
In the past, rain water has remained logged in people’s gardens, leading to crops getting destroyed by too much water. But with the construction of the new facility, it will also help reduce flooding by sucking out excess water from the gardens.
According to Benon Lwanga, the Atari project coordinator, once the irrigation scheme is complete, it is going to be connected to different water channels bringing in rainwater into the river.
The way the irrigation scheme works, is that it has different water in-let and outlet gates that can be opened at different times for easy water flow to where and when it is needed. On the other hand, the farmers in the Atari river irrigation scheme basin cover wide acreage, which is hard to navigate going the labour intensive way.
Instead, machinery for capital intensive production is what they appealed for, and Tumwebaze duly promised them two tractors soon.