ISSN 2348-1218 (print) International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations ISSN 2348-1226 (online) Vol. 9, Issue 2, pp: (59-65), Month: April - June 2021, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
Drip irrigation as a smart farming technology: a microstudy of a solar-powered water pump in Lira city, mid-north Uganda 1 1
Rachael Mary Anena, 2David Mwesigwa
MA student, Discipline of Public Administration and Management, Lira University, Uganda
2
Senior lecturer, Discipline of Public Administration and Management, Lira University, Uganda
Abstract: This microstudy aimed to investigate the adoption of drip irrigation to enhance smart farming technology in Lira city. A descriptive design was employed targeting one farm and data was collected using a transect walk within the site coupled with observations and in-depth personal interviews. All data was qualitative and it was analysed using thematic analysis. The outcomes suggest that the drip irrigation technology and the amount of resources invested have the potential to contribute to smart farming technologies in the city and beyond nonetheless, low adaptation may delay the success of this goal. The outcomes of this study may be used as basis for the city authorities and other neighbouring districts to scale out this technology given that climatic conditions have become very unreliable yet demand for food at both household level and community level is rising. This paper makes a contribution to the growing body of knowledge y highlighting a key prospect for smart farming that can enhance sustainable farming towards food secure households and communities. Keywords: Drip irrigation, technology, smart farming, lira city, water.
1. INTRODUCTION Worldwide, the largest irrigation potential is reported by India, 139.5 million, followed by China with 70 million hectares and Pakistan with 21 million. While the irrigation potential in Cambodia has never been estimated in terms of physical area, which could be irrigated considering water and land resources, it could be at least 1 million hectares. For those countries without data Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea and Timor-Leste the irrigation potential is estimated as the total area equipped for irrigation, in order to be able to calculate a regional average. The irrigation potential of Southern and Eastern Asia is estimated at, at least, 292.5 million hectares, of which 72% corresponds to India 48% and China 24% (Penati, 2020). The countries in South Asia (including India) account for 58 percent of the total irrigation potential of Southern and Eastern Asia, followed by East Asia (including China) with 25% and Mainland Southeast Asia with 12%, whereas Maritime Southeast Asia represent barely 5%. It is currently estimated that the total water managed area represents 64% of the irrigation potential in the region, ranging from 89% in East Asia, and 84% in Maritime Southeast Asia to 56% in South Asia and 43 percent in Mainland Southeast Asia. The preceding century has seen unprecedented growth in irrigation projects on a global level. The use of tube well irrigation has decreased the cost of using groundwater, and the subsidization of large reservoirs and canals has been used to achieve food security. Worldwide, irrigated land has increased from 50million hectares in 1900 to 267million hectares today (Gleick, 2000). Much of this increase has been in developing countries. Between 1962 and 1996, the irrigated area in developing countries increased at about 2 percent a year, leading to a near doubling in irrigated land. For example, in 1950 India had an irrigation potential of 22.6million hectares. By 1993-94, this had grown to 86million hectares (Saleth, 1996). Between 1949 and 1998, the amount of land in China under irrigation increased from 16million hectares to 52.3million hectares. This represented a change from 16% to 40% of China‟s total farmland (Guangzhi, Yuansheng &
Page | 59 Research Publish Journals