The Government has taken a significant step in strengthening farmer-led irrigation Development in Embu County following the official site handover of the Kiruki Kiende Irrigation Project in Gaturi South (Nembure), Embu West Sub-County, Embu County.
The Kiruki Kiende Irrigation Project, a Smallholder Irrigation Project Initiative in the Mount Kenya Region, has been in existence since 2012, through the joint collaboration and partnership of the Government of Kenya, KfW (a German Development Bank), Equity Bank and area farmers, who came together to spearhead Farmer-Led Irrigation Development in the area.
It is designed to support local farmers by reducing their dependence on rain-fed agriculture and enabling year-round cultivation of high-value crops.
However due to water abstractions upstream, the amount of water flowing into the farms had greatly reduced, negatively impacting its capacity to support irrigation all year round, especially during the dry spells.
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The farmers then approached the government for support in the construction of an extra intake point, a sedimentation basin and a 1.5 KM conveyance line to increase the amount of water available for farming with the expectation that the increased water flow will enhance food security, improve household incomes and build resilience against climate variability and vulnerability.
The site handover to Gamachu Construction Limited, was held at Kiruki Kiende Irrigation Water Users Association (IUWA) Offices and was witnessed by the Director, Irrigation Water Management, who is also in charge of Farmer-Led Irrigation Development at the State Department for Irrigation, Daniel Odero, and Eng. Jackson Meja, who represented the County Executive Member for Water, Irrigation, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, County Government of Embu, John Mugo Kigoro.
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The handover process was conducted by Eng. David Momanyi from the Irrigation and Drainage Directorate, State Department for Irrigation, on behalf of the Resident Engineer, Eng. Torah Kemunto.
The rehabilitation works, which will be undertaken at a cost of Ksh21,661,125, cover approximately 129 acres of land and directly benefit 258 farmers, each farming a half an acre portion. This will ensure that farmers will now have access to reliable irrigation water, enabling increased agricultural productivity and diversification into high-value crops, all year round.
During the handover, Director Odero revealed that the State Department seeks to increase farmer-led irrigation development to 250,000 acres in the next 10 years in line with NISIP provisions.
He emphasized the importance of strong governance structures within the Irrigation Water Users Association and urged the Famers’ Committee to uphold accountability, transparency and proper maintenance of the infrastructure to ensure sustainability and long-term functionality of the scheme, once rehabilitated.
By Our reporter
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