Effectiveness of drip irrigation in enhancing smart farming: a micro-study in Oyam district, mid-north Uganda

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of drip irrigation in enhancing smart farming in the mid-north of Uganda. A descriptive review was adopted targeting one smart farm in the district. Data was gathered by means of an interview guide and a farmers’ observation guide, and it was analysed using content analysis correspondingly. The outcomes suggest that drip irrigation does not represent a large fraction of irrigation systems in mid-north Uganda and the world in general; however, a number of new drip irrigation systems are being set-up notwithstanding the very slow pace. Further revelation suggests that farmers can benefit from drip irrigation through gaining knowledge and skills from visits and advises from the frequent visits; being a source of income when the produce are sold; as well as providing food security for families, the adjacent community and the district as a whole. Nonetheless, drip irrigation faces challenges of dearth of commitment by some members of the family, untimely delivery of agro inputs, over cultivation of the land and very expensive inputs. It is obvious that drip irrigation technologies are essential in enhancing smart farming in Oyam district, mid-north Uganda and the country as a whole. The outcomes of the study can be useful as a source for scaling out drip irrigation in the region and beyond especially when mounting a parameter on integration of drip irrigation on community development agendas for small-holder farmers as targeted by the government’s agricultural cluster development programme. This article contributes to the budding body of information on smart farming by emphasising obtainable prospects, which can generate more pro-active small scale drip irrigation technologies