Over 390 boreholes to scale up irrigation
DODOMA: THE government plans to drill 390 boreholes and distribute irrigation pumps across 15 regions as part of a wider drive to transform agriculture, improve food security and reduce farmers’ dependence on unreliable rainfall.
The nationwide initiative will benefit 15,022 farmers organised into 769 groups and bring 13,518.75 acres under irrigation, boosting productivity and supporting year-round farming.
Speaking in Dodoma recently, National Irrigation Commission (NIRC) Director General Raymond Mndolwa said the programme complements the government’s ongoing investment in large-scale and strategic irrigation schemes by focusing on smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth.
He said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to improving agricultural productivity and strengthening food security through reliable access to water.
“We have been directed to find practical ways of enabling low-income farmers to increase productivity and improve their livelihoods. That is why, alongside major irrigation projects, we have intensified borehole drilling and the distribution of irrigation pumps to smallholder farmers,” Mr Mndolwa said.
He said the pumps are intended for farmers cultivating land near rivers and lakes, enabling them to practice environmentally sustainable irrigation and increase production throughout the year.
Mr Mndolwa said the government had procured 2,000 irrigation pumps, with the first batch of 1,000 already delivered to Mwanza, Mara, Kagera, Kigoma, Simiyu, Geita and Katavi regions.
The pumps will be distributed to 769 farmer groups comprising 6,335 women and 8,702 men.
“These pumps will help farmers move away from relying solely on rainfall and enable them to cultivate throughout the year, leading to higher production and increased household incomes,” he said.
The NIRC chief said 390 boreholes have been drilled across 15 regions, with Dodoma receiving the highest number at 93, followed by Manyara and Tabora (44 each), Geita (42), Singida (32), Njombe (30), Tanga (22), Iringa (20), Mara and Morogoro (17 each), Coast Region and Arusha (10 each), Mtwara (8), Mbeya (7) and Ruvuma (5).
ALSO READ: When farmers lead, agroecology delivers food security and resilience
Mr Mndolwa said the government has also started procuring 500 pumps for the boreholes, with 100 already received, another 100 in transit from the manufacturer and the remaining 300 under procurement.
He added that a further 1,000 solar-powered irrigation pumps will be supplied to areas facing electricity shortages, expanding irrigation in underserved communities.
Mr Mndolwa said the boreholes are drilled on farms owned by organised farmer groups but remain public assets to guarantee equal access and long-term sustainability.
He said all beneficiary groups are registered under relevant laws to strengthen project management and enhance government revenue collection.
The programme is also expected to create more than 4,000 jobs for young people through the installation, operation and maintenance of irrigation systems.
Mr Mndolwa said the government’s long-term goal is to make irrigation a key driver of agricultural transformation, food security and inclusive economic growth.
