By Jane Mugambi
Kirinyaga County: The German and Kenyan governments have spent KSh three billion in piloting smallholder irrigation projects in selected counties in the Mt.Kenya region.
The principal for irrigation Ephantus Kimotho said 6000 farmers have so far benefitted from the 24 projects in Kirinyaga, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu Counties.
The project saw farmers contribute 10% of the money that was required as security for financing through a bank loan, the Kenyan government through the German contributed 40% while equity bank contributed 50%.
The project that started in 2011 started with 400 farmers being done in Kandeki and Kandiu.
“The pilot projects have been very successful because the farmers have been able to fully service the loans, cater for operation and maintenance costs, and sustain the projects,” PS Kimotho said.
There are plans to roll out the programme in other parts of the country with counties in the Western region being prioritized due to the availability of enough irrigation water.
“Smallholder (irrigation program) is a programme whereby we assist the communities through irrigation. As you all know, rain-fed agriculture is no longer sustainable nowadays and that is why we are focusing more on irrigation towards addressing the issue of food security,” he said.
The PS said since the pilot projects have been a success, the Kenyan government was likely to negotiate more such projects.
German Federal Parliament State Secretary for Economic Cooperation, Baerbel Kofler, during an inspection tour of the Kandeki and Kandiu smallholder Irrigation projects in Kianyaga area of Kirinyaga county on Saturday, said the initiative will help mitigate the effects of climate change.
“The smallholder irrigation projects are a way of mitigating climate change,” said Kofler.
She said they are also working on ways of cooperation in women’s entrepreneurship among them helping more women venture into farming for self-sustenance.
The county government helps the farmer will offering extension services.
Kirinyaga deputy governor David Githanda said that the county will also help with value addition so they can earn more from their harvest.
“Kirinyaga county government will offer extension services to the farmer so as to increase productivity, create jobs, and increase earnings, “The deputy governor said.
