The Acomai irrigation scheme in Uganda has been launched, and the USD 19.9 million project aims ti improve access to water for farming in the Bukedea district of the Kamutur sub-county. It will later extend to the Bulambuli district as well.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is a funder, the bank revealed via a report, saying that it is also acting as a consultant on the project.
The services provided by this consultancy will include:
- reviewing designs to ensure correctness, completeness and compliance with nationally and internationally accepted standards, and updating as needed;
- supervising the irrigation infrastructure contract to ensure that the works are completed in accordance with the technical designs, drawings, specifications, contract conditions, quality assurance standards and sound engineering practice;
- and preparing final construction requisitions
“The consultancy services are expected to be executed for a duration of 36 months,” the country’s ministry of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries said in a joint statement with the AfDB. “The irrigation infrastructure works will comprise earth impounding structures, storage reservoirs, flood control structures, diversion head works, hydraulic intake and control structures, conveyance main canals, primary/secondary/tertiary canals, drainage systems, scheme access and farm roads, scheme office blocks and facilities.”
In Bukedea and Bulambuli, the projected Acomai irrigation systems will encompass 2 200 hectares of land. They will also include infrastructure including an administration building, two drying yards, a warehouse, a workshop, a bridge and 58 km of access roads.
Both programs are part of the ministry of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries’ Agricultural Value Chain Development Program.
The projects’ goal is to enhance agricultural production’s access to water, resulting in higher agricultural output. The initiative will also improve post-harvest management, agro-processing, value addition and market access.
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