Govt urged to probe Shs 42bln Tochi Irrigation Scheme

OYAM, October 27, 2023 – Legislators on Parliament`s Committee on Equal Opportunities have asked the government to launch an investigation into the Tochi Irrigation Scheme in Acaba Sub-county, Oyam district.

The chairperson of the committee who is also the Kole district Woman MP, Judith Alyek made the call during their visit to the facility on Monday. Alyek called for a probe following the revelation by the Oyam district chairperson, Benson Dila that a number of equipment supposed to serve the Shs 42 billion irrigation scheme are not on site.

Dila said the project whose construction kicked off in 2016 was to cost Shs 28bln initially but the amount would later be raised to Shs 42bln, raising some questions that need answers.

The construction of the scheme to enhance rice production, improve food security and fishing was completed two months ago and handed over to Tochi Irrigation Cooperative Society. Ambitious Company Limited undertook the construction works of the project funded by the African Development Bank [AfDB].

“We want to see value for money and as a district we need an investigation otherwise we shall not receive it [Tochi Irrigation Scheme] in its current status,” he said.

MP Alyek also concurred with Dila, adding that the bill of quantities for the project was not shared with the district, and that tractors were not delivered to the farmers who are the beneficiaries of the project.

“The communities don’t have the tractor to plough their gardens and the excavator to make the water channels were not delivered yet a lot of money has been sunk in the project,” she said.

The irrigation scheme was planned to benefit 1,000 farmers in the district, and according to Eng. Richard Aceng, the chairperson of Tochi Irrigation Cooperative Society, the district leaders should seek more information from the Ministry of Water and Environment.

“If they need information about the project, they should contact the Ministry of Water and Environment,” he said, adding that more equipment like tractors will be given to the farming community soon.

“The tractor is on the way and I advise the farmers not to worry,” he added.

Among what has been constructed, according to Richard Anyuru, the irrigation scheme’s secretary of water user committee, include the main reservoir which accommodates 10 billion liters of water for production, main concrete water channels, 11 farm sheds, farm roads, administrative block, and store which accommodate 5,000 tonnes of rice, as well as 1,200 plots being allotted to different farmers.

https://thecooperator.news/govt-hands-over-tochi-irrigation-scheme-to-oyam-farmers/

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