Doho Rice Scheme facts for kids
The Doho Rice Scheme is a special farming area in Butaleja District, Eastern Uganda. It uses a system called irrigation to grow rice. Irrigation means supplying water to land or crops to help them grow, especially when there isn't enough rain.
Rice farming in Doho started way back in 1942. This was during World War II, and the rice was grown to help feed the soldiers. After the war ended, rice production slowed down until 1972. Farmers faced problems like the River Manafwa flooding their fields and not having enough water during dry seasons. Because of these challenges, the farmers asked the Government of Uganda for help.
In 1976, the government officially set up the Doho Rice Scheme. The Chinese government provided money to help build it, and the project was finished in 1984. The Doho scheme is very large, covering about 2,500 hectares. A hectare is a unit of area, roughly the size of a sports field. This scheme supports over 10,000 farmers. Some farmers grow rice directly within the scheme, while others are "out-growers" who farm nearby and sell their rice to the scheme.
Most of the land used for the scheme used to be a wetland. A wetland is an area of land covered by water, like a swamp, that is often wet only during certain seasons. This wetland was part of the River Manafwa's flood-plain, which is flat land next to a river that gets flooded when the river overflows. Now, the Doho scheme is a place where a lot of rice is grown using irrigation. There are still some natural wetland areas, especially in the south. The Doho Irrigation Scheme Farmers Cooperative Society (DIFACOS) is a group that helps manage the entire scheme.
Where is the Doho Rice Scheme?
The Doho Rice Irrigation Scheme is located in two areas: Mazimasa and Kachonga Sub-Counties. These are both in East Bunyole County, which is part of Butaleja District in Uganda.
The scheme is about:
- 49 kilometers (about 30 miles) from Tororo town.
- 25 kilometers (about 15 miles) from Mbale town.
- 260 kilometers (about 160 miles) from Kampala city, which is the capital of Uganda.
- 70 kilometers (about 43 miles) from Malaba, a town on the border between Uganda and Kenya.
The Doho Rice Scheme is in an area called the Lake Kyoga basin. It covers a total area of 494.2 square kilometers.
