Irrigation transforms smallholder farmers’ fortunes in Kirinyaga

Smallholder farmers in Kirinyaga County are steadily moving away from rain-fed agriculture to year-round commercial production following the implementation of community-managed irrigation projects that are improving household incomes, creating employment and strengthening food security.

At the Kandeki Irrigation Project, farmers who once struggled with unreliable rainfall and high production costs are now diversifying into high-value crops and livestock enterprises, demonstrating how access to reliable water is transforming rural livelihoods.

Jane Wairimu, from Njukiani ward Gichungu Kirinyaga County has said that the irrigation water project has eliminated the costly dependence on petrol-powered water pumps that consumed a significant share of her farming income.

She said the reliable water supply has reduced production costs and enabled her to diversify from conventional crop farming into dairy farming, fish production, avocado, French beans, maize and macadamia, significantly increasing her earnings.

“The irrigation project has changed my farming completely. I no longer worry about water shortages, and I have been able to invest in different enterprises that generate income throughout the year,” she said.

However, Wairimu urged the government to strengthen market linkages for farmers, noting that stable and predictable markets would encourage increased production and improve returns.

The project has also opened opportunities for young people seeking alternative sources of livelihood.

Erick Mwedia, a Community Health diploma graduate who failed to secure formal employment, said irrigation enabled him to venture into farming, which has since become his main source of income.

He said reliable water has made farming profitable and challenged the perception that agriculture is only for those with limited career options.

Mwedia called on the government to expand irrigation programmes targeting young people, saying the initiatives have the potential to create employment while reducing rural poverty and crime.

He also appealed for subsidised farm inputs, particularly pesticides and crop protection chemicals, to lower production costs for smallholder farmers.

According to Kandeki Water Project Chairman Henry Kariuki, the Sh91 million project has transformed agriculture in the area by enabling farmers to produce throughout the year instead of relying on unpredictable rainfall.

He said the project, which was implemented through government support and farmer financing, is also providing water for domestic use while strengthening community ownership through farmer-managed operation and maintenance.

The transformation witnessed at Kandeki reflects the government’s broader strategy of promoting farmer-led irrigation schemes as a pathway to agricultural growth.

Speaking during an inspection of the project, Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho Kimani said the government is investing in sustainable irrigation infrastructure to increase agricultural productivity, improve labour efficiency and strengthen food security.

He said irrigation projects are implemented after hydrological assessments to ensure adequate water availability and are supported by public participation, County governments and extension officers to guarantee long-term sustainability.

Kimotho said farmers are encouraged to form cooperatives and Irrigation Water Users Associations to enable them to access affordable financing, quality farm inputs, technical support and reliable markets.

He noted that the irrigation model has already supported 19 projects across the Mt. Kenya region, with about 95 per cent of participating farmers reporting improved productivity and higher incomes.

Building on the success, the government has secured approximately Sh3 billion to expand similar irrigation projects to Western Kenya while also investing in water harvesting infrastructure in arid and semi-arid areas to support food production.

Kimotho said the initiatives form part of the national target of expanding Kenya’s irrigated land to 2.5 million acres as the country seeks to build climate-resilient agriculture and improve food security.

By David Wandeto