Irrigation turns fortunes of small-scale farmers in Mt Kenya

@Alicewangechi

Jecinta Wambui, a small scale farmer in Kangema, Murang’a county, for a long time, struggled to provide for her family.

She used one acre of her two-acre land to grow food – that did not do very well – while the other acre was covered by coffee trees.

That, however, changed when the national government through the National Irrigation Authority completed the Nyanjigi irrigation water project.

The project which was initiated by the community in 2011, stalled for seven years.

Its completion saw Wambui’s farm become a flurry of activities as she planted horticultural crops, which she sold for an income.

The project, which draws water from Mathioya river, covers 500 acres occupied by about 1,000 households.

The households grow high value crops such as bananas, tomatoes, French beans, sweet potatoes and kales.

“I started with cabbages and they did very well. Then I tried arrowroots and now my farm is full of bananas and tomatoes that I sell to sustain myself,” Wambui told the Star.

Most of the foodstuff consumed in her home are from the farm. The extra income she makes is used to buy what is not available.

“Brokers come all the way from Kangema and Kiria-ini towns to buy my produce. I also have a small retail shop where I sell some”.

Priscilla Njeri focuses on vegetables and has positioned herself as a major supplier of local markets.

Previously, Njeri would only farm near river Mathioya and used buckets to irrigate her crops.

But when the project was completed, she installed sprinklers.

“This has made my work very easy. I just turn the sprinklers on and my work is done. I have optimised the small farm and planted a wide variety of crops,” she said.

In Kandara, Kigumo and  Maragua, NIA has also sunk and equipped seven  boreholes that provide 50 cubic metres of water per hour and irrigate 70 acres, directly benefitting 2,800 people.

In the nearby Kirinyaga county, NIA built Thiba dam that has a capacity of 15 million cubic metres of water at the cost of Sh7.8 billion.

The dam increased the area under irrigation through Mwea Irrigation scheme from 25,000 to 30,600 acres.

The main season starts in July and ends in December, giving way to a ratoon crop that starts in December and is harvested in February  while the second season starts in March and ends in July.

The dam stabilised water supply for the scheme and increased rice production from 192,299 metric tonnes in 2022 to 234,000 metric tonnes in 2023, raising the value of production from Sh10 billion to Sh14 billion annually.

With increased production, more than 13 private millers have pitched camp in the area, creating more jobs and raising farmers’ returns.

Daniel Mwangi, one of the 14,850 farmers farming under the scheme, said they experienced a serious water shortage that saw farmers engage in fist fights before the dam was operationalised.

“We would spend nights in the farms trying to get as much water as possible while other farmers slept because it was not available during daytime”.

Mwangi said the water is now sufficient and allows them to farm with ease.

Tabitha Wanjiku, another farmer, said they are able to earn more returns from their farms with increased seasons.

Previously, they only had one season annually that was disadvantaged by lack of water.

“We buy quality seeds from NIA and are no longer worried about water. We can now educate our children comfortably,” she said, adding that numerous jobs are created during planting, weeding and harvesting.

The scheme’s chairperson Peter Chege said the government spent Sh80 million to build water canals.

“With sufficient water, we are now training farmers on the need to use certified seeds, the proper planting times and fertilisation of their farms to maximise harvests,” he said.

In Meru county, President William Ruto commissioned Mweru Umoja irrigation project in January this year, transforming the lives of local farmers.

The project channels water from Mutonga river and covers 1,000 acres, with 1,000 households benefiting.

Virginia Mugwimi said she no longer depends on rain fed agriculture and is able to plant crops all year round.

“I chose to go with cabbages this season as they are in high demand. One sells between Sh100 and Sh70. That makes it good money that will sustain my family for a while,” she said.

Joseph Gituma, another farmer, said before, he struggled to keep livestock before the project was completed due to water shortage.

Once the water was available, Gituma invested in drip irrigation that sees minimal water used to irrigate a large area due to reduced wastage.

Gituma who is currently planting onions said he hopes to expand his farming once the government fulfills its pledge and expands the project.

“I have two acres under irrigation and once the project is expanded, I’ll double the area to earn more,” he said.

John Paul Mburia settled on dragon fruits because of their high prices.

A farmer, who specialised in propagating seedlings, trained him.

“These crops will serve me for more than 20 years with proper moisture and feeding. I would be able to do this without water,” he said.

NIA CEO Charles Muasya said the Kenya Kwanza government is keen on boosting food security and that the authority plans to boost the land under irrigation by 511,000 acres in five years from 670,000 acres to 1.5 million acres.

He said in Mt Kenya, the authority obstructs water in higher areas and uses gravity to stream it downwards, eradicating pumping costs.

“Once we divert water, farmers are able to undertake irrigation using various systems such as sprinklers that have a 75 per cent efficacy, drip irrigation with 95 per cent efficacy and canals such as in Mwea,” he said.

Two weeks ago, a survey conducted by Kenya Trak Research firm  ranked NIA as the top performing parastatal in the country in accountability and good governance.