Kenya: Irrigation schemes revival lifts food security, income for herders in arid counties

Irrigation farming is gaining popularity in pastoralist counties that have experienced recurrent famine as a result of drought, with new and revived schemes offering enhanced food security and incomes for residents. The semi-arid counties of West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu and Elgeyo Marakwet are turning into highly productive agribusiness hubs as hundreds of herders diversify into crop production through irrigation schemes along the Kerio Valley and other water sources in the region. Most of the irrigation projects meant to enhance food security and value addition are set to be modernised after the government allocated Sh1.5 billion in the current fiscal year to the Small Scale Irrigation and Value Addition Project. It has further set aside Sh620 million for the Food Security and Crop Diversification Project. According to the National Irrigation Board (NIB), Kenya’s irrigation farming potential is estimated at 1.3 million hectares. However, only 162,000 hectares or 12 percent has ...