Over 200 hectares of maize grown at Nyatwali village under irrigation in Bunda District, are wilting for lack of water.

Officials of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in the Lake Zone are to blame allegedly for procuring substandard engines for the Sh230 million irrigation scheme.

The wilting crops could only recover if rain falls in the near future around the scheme area

"It's better if money used to construct the irrigation scheme was used for other purposes," one of the farmers in the area lamented.

Failure of the engines ordered from South Africa raises more questions than answers amongst the beneficiaries. Former Bunda district commissioner Chiku Gallawa, had twice declined to inaugurate the scheme.

A security guard with the irrigation scheme said the scheme had never been operational and that engines stalled each time they were tested reportedly because they are not powerful enough for the size of scheme.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, a security guard at the scheme said the project was finally inaugurating on October 8, this year, by Uhuru Torch race leader.

Nyatwari villager, Lufungo Katonya, asked the area Member of Parliament, Mr Stephen Wassira, who is also the minister for Agricutlure, Food Security and Cooperatives, when the scheme would be operational.

Mr Wassira said he did not expect any delay in operationalising the scheme.

However, two engines installed at the scheme had stalled twice and had to be returned to South Africa for maintenance.

"The engines are not sold in shops, but ordered from manufacturers. I have directed my private secretary, Mr Lubiloh Joseph, who is an engineer by profession, to follow up on the engines," he said.

He admitted that technical faults on the engines had affected farmers, who were provided with maize and paddy seed as well as fertilizers to grow the crops at least twice a year.

Bunda district councillors grilled the district executive director during one of the full council meetings to explain when the scheme would be operational, but the DED shifted the blame on the Water and Irrigation Ministry which was responsible for the implementation of the project.