Embracing drip irrigation technology to stimulate smart farming: a study in Dokolo District, mid-north Uganda

Abstract

This study was intended to investigate the potential of embracing drip irrigation technology as a strategy to stimulating smart farming in Dokolo district. We adopted a descriptive design on one of the farms that has employed the technology benefiting approximately 80 community members. Data were collected using in-depth interviews and observations and it was analysed using a thematic analysis based on the key aspects that emerged in the study. The outcomes suggest that the merger of key beneficiaries, the irrigation system, architecture and the solar power station have the potential of translating farming communities in Dokolo district into smart farmers even if the initial cost as well as cost of maintenance are very high thus the need for government to subsidise farmers during importation of such machinery. These outcomes may be used as contributions for the mid-north farming communities to benchmark and seek means of adopting group-based irrigation schemes for continuity and higher crop yields. This paper contributes to available knowledge by emphasising the centrality of irrigation in the era of longer periods of drought that continue to disappoint farmers country-wide.