Theft of Irrigation Equipment Poses Major Threat to Farming in Mpigi

Farmers in Mpigi District are counting heavy losses following a wave of thefts targeting vital irrigation infrastructure, including solar panels, water tanks, pumps, pipes, and sprinklers. The criminal activities are significantly undermining efforts to make local agriculture less dependent on unpredictable rainfall and seasonal weather shifts.

At Najjuuko Farm in Mpigi Town Council, a Shs47 million investment supported by the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Programme (Ugift) was recently ruined when thieves stole a 10,000-litre water tank and essential piping. Farm managers believe the thieves possess technical knowledge of the systems, as dismantling the infrastructure requires familiarity with its setup. Similar incidents have hit other local farmers, leaving expensive setups operating well below capacity and stalling coffee production.

The rising insecurity comes at a critical time when the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries is rolling out the Irrigation for Climate Resilience Programme (ICPR). The multi-billion shilling initiative requires participating farmers to contribute 25 percent of the infrastructure costs. Local leaders have warned that persistent theft could discourage farmers from investing their hard-earned money into government-backed projects if their security cannot be guaranteed.

Agricultural ministry officials have advised farmers to weld solar panels during installation and use protective sleeves for water pumps to deter criminals. Meanwhile, local authorities are urging farmers to adopt affordable surveillance technology to safeguard their investments, as police investigations into the recent string of thefts continue.

Read more details about this story on the Daily Monitor.