By Bob Aston
ALIN is currently implementing a one year project on climate change on behalf of Act!
Change! Transform! (ACT). They are set to work with Matwiku Horticulture
Growers Self Help Group in promoting SMART agriculture.
Mr. Peter Kanyita, a member of Matwiku Horticulture Growers Self Group, who was in farm irrigating a quarter of an acre which he has planted onions, narrated to the officials how basin irrigation which they have been using is time consuming. He said a farmer can spend even a whole day irrigating his farm.
Mr. Noah Lusaka, Project Manager-ALIN said that ACT project goal is to enhance community resilience to adapt to the impacts of climate change for improved livelihood in Kajiado, Baringo and Laikipia counties.
The Arid Lands Information Network
(ALIN) on June 27, 2014
visited a site at Matwiku village in Ng’arua Division, Laikipia County that
they intend to use as a demonstration farm for irrigation. The land which has been set aside for the project by Matwiku
Horticulture Growers Self Help Group will help the farmers to learn how to use
the system as well as its benefits.
Matwiku Horticulture Growers Self
Help Group is comprised of 21 members, nineteen male and two female. The group has
selected tomatoes, cabbages and peas as crops that they will plant using the
irrigation system.
The field visit provided an opportunity for ALIN officials to see how the farmers have been irrigating their farms using water
from Kariaini dam which is estimated to be 20ft deep.
Another group member irrigating his farm |
Mr. Peter Kanyita, a member of Matwiku Horticulture Growers Self Group, who was in farm irrigating a quarter of an acre which he has planted onions, narrated to the officials how basin irrigation which they have been using is time consuming. He said a farmer can spend even a whole day irrigating his farm.
He said he usually spends two (2)
litres of fuel to irrigate the onions. The amount of fuel used depends with
topography of the land. Flat farms like his do not require a lot of fuel for
irrigation.
Mr. Kanyita gave an example of
connecting PVC pipes as one of the things that consumes a lot of time. The PVC
pipes he said are expensive in the long run as they require frequent
replacement. Exposure to direct sunlight for a long time also has a harmful
effect.
He has been buying the PVC pipes
between Ksh 200 to Ksh 300 per metre depending on the quality of the pipe. Some
of the farmers he said have now started using Flex hose pipe which is retailing
at Ksh 600 per metre. This he said is expensive for most farmers as some
require pipes which are more than 40 metres in length.
“We are eagerly awaiting for the
irrigation system. As you have seen for yourselves the system that we are using
is really time consuming. Connecting and disconnecting the PVC pipes takes a
long time,” said Mr. Kanyita.
Mr. Noah Lusaka, Project Manager-ALIN said that ACT project goal is to enhance community resilience to adapt to the impacts of climate change for improved livelihood in Kajiado, Baringo and Laikipia counties.
He added that the project seeks to build
the capacities of communities on a range of adaptation practices including
water harvesting techniques and use of mobile irrigation technology for
increased food production.
The group has decided to start with a
three quarter piece of land which is measuring 74 metres by 40 metres.
Irrigation particularly in arid and
semi arid areas has been instrumental in boosting the level of agriculture in
such areas. Irrigation is expected to lead to
increase in food production amongst members of Matwiku Horticulture Growers
Self Help Group and neighbouring farmers. This will lead to improvement of the
livelihood of the members.
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