Kenya: Irrigation schemes revival lifts food security, income for herders in arid counties
Kenya
Published Jul 22, 2021
Tridge summary
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.
Original content
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 been developed to boost food security. Erratic weather due to climate change has made rain-fed agriculture and livestock farming less viable for residents, leaving crop production under drip irrigation schemes as the only alternative means to survival. “Although the soil in most parts of West Pokot is fertile, dependence on the rain-fed farming system has precluded agriculture as an alternative food source,” said Daimo Chetotum, a farmer in West Pokot. Consequently, the NIB has ...
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