IRRIGATION SECTOR IN IRRIGATION SECTOR IN KENYA- STATUS AND KENYA- STATUS AND

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

““PAPER PRESENTED DURING THE “GREEN PAPER PRESENTED DURING THE “GREEN WATER CREDITS WORKSHOP” KARI HQ WATER CREDITS WORKSHOP” KARI HQ

NAIROBI, 11-12 OCTOBER 2006” NAIROBI, 11-12 OCTOBER 2006”

E. D. MBATIAE. D. MBATIA

FOR: DIRECTOR IRRIGATIONFOR: DIRECTOR IRRIGATION

IntroductionIntroduction

• Irrigation development is very low (105,800 ha) Irrigation development is very low (105,800 ha) compared to potential (539,000ha)-19% compared to potential (539,000ha)-19% developed.developed.

• ERS identifies the immerse potential of irrigation ERS identifies the immerse potential of irrigation to contribute to attainment of the country goals.to contribute to attainment of the country goals.

• Focus of MWI to implement the ERS:Focus of MWI to implement the ERS:– Rehabilitation and augmentation irrigation and Rehabilitation and augmentation irrigation and

drainage schemesdrainage schemes– Irrigation policy formulation.Irrigation policy formulation.– Water harvesting and storage for irrigationWater harvesting and storage for irrigation

Introduction Cont.Introduction Cont.Broad Government initiatives Broad Government initiatives for enhanced irrigation for enhanced irrigation developmentdevelopment• Restructuring Government and re-Restructuring Government and re-

engineering of ministerial functionsengineering of ministerial functions

• Increased budgetary allocations for Increased budgetary allocations for infrastructure developmentinfrastructure development

• Creating enabling environment for Creating enabling environment for participation by key stakeholders participation by key stakeholders

• Involvement of the private sector and Involvement of the private sector and other stakeholders in the irrigation other stakeholders in the irrigation developmentsdevelopments

Irrigation potential and Irrigation potential and development by basinsdevelopment by basins BasinBasin Potential (ha.)Potential (ha.) Developed Developed

(ha.)(ha.)

TanaTana 205,000205,000 68,70068,700

AthiAthi 40,00040,000 11,10011,100

Lake BasinLake Basin 200,000200,000 10,70010,700

Kerio ValleyKerio Valley 64,00064,000 5,4005,400

Ewaso N’giroEwaso N’giro 30,00030,000 10,00010,000

TotalTotal 539,000539,000 105,800105,800

Categories of Irrigation Categories of Irrigation Systems in KenyaSystems in Kenya• Private Schemes - DPrivate Schemes - Developed, owned and managed eveloped, owned and managed

by individual farmers or Companies by individual farmers or Companies (41% of developed potential).(41% of developed potential).

• Public Schemes - DPublic Schemes - Developed and centrally managed eveloped and centrally managed by by government agencies (15% government agencies (15% ofof developed potential). developed potential).

• Smallholder (community based) irrigation Smallholder (community based) irrigation schemes - schemes - owned, operated and managed by the owned, operated and managed by the farmers through their irrigation water users’ farmers through their irrigation water users’ associations (IWUAs).(44% of the developed associations (IWUAs).(44% of the developed potential).potential).

Comparative irrigation Comparative irrigation

development status (1985 – 2005)development status (1985 – 2005)

CategoryCategory Developed (ha)Developed (ha)

19851985 19981998 20052005

SmallholdSmallholder er SchemesSchemes

17,50017,500 34,65034,650 47,00047,000

National National SchemesSchemes

11,50011,500 12,00012,000 16,00016,000

Private Private IrrigationIrrigation

23,00023,000 40,00040,000 42,80042,800

TotalTotal 52,00052,000 87,35087,350 105,800105,800

Challenges and Constraints in Challenges and Constraints in Irrigation DevelopmentIrrigation Development

• Wrong Perception-Sector’s potential and Wrong Perception-Sector’s potential and importance.importance.

• Lack of a National Irrigation Policy, Legal and Lack of a National Irrigation Policy, Legal and Institutional FrameworksInstitutional Frameworks

• Inadequate Public and Private sector Investment Inadequate Public and Private sector Investment in the sectorin the sector

• Inadequate development of irrigation Inadequate development of irrigation infrastructure and water storage facilitiesinfrastructure and water storage facilities

• Inadequate technical capacity for both the Inadequate technical capacity for both the technical staff and Farmerstechnical staff and Farmers

• Inadequate Farmers Organization and Inadequate Farmers Organization and Participation Participation

• Inadequate support services like Credit Inadequate support services like Credit infrastructure, Extension etc.infrastructure, Extension etc.

Strategies to improve irrigation Strategies to improve irrigation

development and managementdevelopment and management • Increased investments in irrigation Increased investments in irrigation

infrastructure development. infrastructure development. • Development and promotion of affordable Development and promotion of affordable

and appropriate irrigation technologies.and appropriate irrigation technologies.• Institutionalization of public – private Institutionalization of public – private

partnerships in irrigation development.partnerships in irrigation development.• Enhancing community participation in Enhancing community participation in

irrigation development and managementirrigation development and management• Capacity development for both staff and Capacity development for both staff and

farmersfarmers• Promotion of water harvesting and storage Promotion of water harvesting and storage

especially at scheme levels. especially at scheme levels. • Integrated development approaches to Integrated development approaches to

provision of critical irrigation servicesprovision of critical irrigation services

Strategies to improve Strategies to improve irrigation water managementirrigation water management

• Involvement of communities in water resource Involvement of communities in water resource management, distribution and equitable sharing management, distribution and equitable sharing within the developed schemes.within the developed schemes.

• Upgrading of irrigation systems from the old Upgrading of irrigation systems from the old traditional types (earthen conveyance canals to traditional types (earthen conveyance canals to lined canals and piped networks).lined canals and piped networks).

• Encouraging where possible the change of infield Encouraging where possible the change of infield distribution networks from the furrows and basins to distribution networks from the furrows and basins to sprinklers and simple drips.sprinklers and simple drips.

• Encouraging communities to harvest rain water to Encouraging communities to harvest rain water to supplement scheme water requirements within the supplement scheme water requirements within the individual schemes. individual schemes.

On-going irrigation policy On-going irrigation policy reformsreforms

• Finalization of the national irrigation Finalization of the national irrigation policy and legal framework addressing policy and legal framework addressing all types of irrigation schemes.all types of irrigation schemes.

• Promotion/implementation of irrigation Promotion/implementation of irrigation management transfers in NIB schemesmanagement transfers in NIB schemes

• Promotion of participatory approaches Promotion of participatory approaches in irrigation development and in irrigation development and management management

END END THANK YOUTHANK YOU