Kaweeri coffee plantation, the largest coffee plantation, is poised to revolutionise large-scale coffee growing in Mubende and Uganda by introducing the new state-of-the-art fogger irrigation system at its coffee nursery. The nursery currently produces 300,000 cuttings, 40,000 coffee, and 20,000 shade tree seedlings annually and is now set for unprecedented growth and development. These seedlings are planted on the 1,700-hectare coffee plantation and distributed to other smallholder farmers in the Mubende district and surrounding areas, ushering in a new era of prosperity for the region.
Kaweeri coffee plantation previously relied on manual labour to irrigate all the seedlings in the nursery bed. This required employing over 30 people to work in the nursery bed daily. This was expensive and led to labour shortages at the farm for other activities.
The manual labour used could have been more efficient and effective. Water puddles developed in the nursery because of ineffective water application. The seedlings were also being destroyed in the irrigation process because of manual handling and the high number of people involved in the application process. Sometimes, some areas needed to be more effectively irrigated, which led to water stress due to low soil moisture content. Low soil moisture leads to wilting, stunted growth, or even dying of the seedlings.
The plantation also faced challenges related to water access. The plantation’s proximity to nearby communities led to competition for limited water resources.
The Kaweeri Coffee plantation nursery was in dire need of an irrigation system that would alleviate the burden of labor-intensive tasks, ensure effective and efficient water use, and most importantly, prevent any damage to the precious seedlings.
Patrick Kiguta, The Engineering and Processing Manager at Kaweri Coffee Plantation Farm, discovered Sprinktech as a walk-in customer at its head office at 7th Street Industrial Area, Kampala, Uganda. He was immediately impressed by Sprinktech’s unparalleled expertise and extensive experience in irrigation systems.
Patrick interacted with Sprinktech engineers about the water and irrigation challenges at the Kaweri Coffee plantation.
After an extensive design process, an irrigation system solution was developed.
Sprinktech Limited designed and installed a mist irrigation system in the nursery. The mist irrigation system uses misters to spray water as a mist. Misters or foggers are micro sprinklers that dispense very fine water droplets to plants in mist or fog.
The mist irrigation system was preferred because water is sprayed uniformly on the crop, preventing puddle generation. The water jet does not directly impact the crops, so they are not damaged. Mister systems are very versatile because they operate under low pressure. Mist irrigation increases the efficiency of water use and improves environmental sustainability.
The newly installed irrigation system is expected to significantly increase the nursery’s seedling production. This increase in production is not just a boost for the Kaweeri coffee plantation’s revenue, but also a promising development for the livelihoods of small-scale farmers, whose income is directly linked to the nursery’s seedlings.
The nursery’s production will increase because the installed irrigation system ensures the correct soil moisture content. Low soil moisture leads to wilting, stunted growth, or even seedling death.
The newly installed irrigation system has significantly reduced the labor requirement for irrigation in the nursery from 30 people to just 1 person, while also cutting down the irrigation time by 50%. This not only showcases the efficiency of the system but also the increased productivity it brings.
The Kaweri Coffee Plantation nursery irrigation project demonstrates the immense potential of irrigation to transform agriculture, enhance food security, and improve livelihoods. Kaweri Coffee Plantation supports sustainable agriculture, empowering farmers and contributing to economic growth in rural communities. Sprinktech Limited is proud to be part of these efforts.
