The government is stepping up efforts to put more water under agricultural use as Agriculture and Livestock Development CS Mutahi Kagwe warned that Kenya cannot keep depending on rainfall to meet the food needs of its growing population.
Kagwe said the country must find ways of producing more food from the land available by ensuring farmers have reliable water throughout the year.
“The population is growing, and that does not mean the size of Kenya will increase. It is therefore important that we have water available to match that growth and feed our population,” he said.
The CS spoke in Bamba, Kilifi County, on Thursday, August 20, when he launched the Sh79 million rehabilitation of the Ndigiria Water Pan.
The restoration is expected to improve the water pan's capacity and support a 50-acre smallholder irrigation scheme as part of government efforts to increase food production and reduce the risks caused by reliance on rain-fed farming.
Kagwe said Kenya receives large amounts of water during rainy seasons, but much of it is lost through runoff before communities experience shortages during dry periods.
He said the government wants to change this by collecting and storing water from seasonal rivers and using it when farmers need it most.
“Kenya cannot continue depending on rain alone to feed its people. We must have water available for agriculture so that farmers can produce whether it rains or not,” Kagwe said.
The measures being pursued include harvesting runoff, storing river water, building new dams and rehabilitating existing dams and water pans. The government is also looking at groundwater sources, including deep boreholes, in areas where they can provide a reliable supply.
Kagwe said the irrigation drive is being supported by other major investments, including the Galana-Kulalu project and programmes aimed at increasing irrigation and water storage infrastructure in different parts of the country.
The Ndigiria Water Pan was first established in 1963. Its rehabilitation is aimed at restoring the facility so it can serve farmers and livestock in the area while supporting agricultural production.
More than 100 farmers are expected to benefit directly from the irrigation scheme, while about 4,026 people are projected to benefit indirectly.
The water pan will also provide water for an estimated 15,398 livestock, adding to its importance for households that depend on both farming and livestock keeping.
The work is being carried out through the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP). It includes removing accumulated silt, strengthening the water pan, putting up a fence and constructing an intake structure.
Pumping units and water distribution pipelines will also be installed, together with balancing tanks, solar power systems and irrigation facilities for the farms.
Kagwe said the government's goal was to ensure water stored during rainy periods is eventually converted into food, employment and better household earnings.
He encouraged farmers under the scheme to avoid relying on a single type of crop and instead combine food crops with crops that can generate income.
The CS said this approach would help households meet their food needs while giving farmers an opportunity to earn more from their land.
Farmers allocated plots under the irrigation scheme will also be supported with seeds, extension services and technical assistance to help them make productive use of the facilities.