The Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP) is changing farming in Tana River County through the construction of three solar-powered minor irrigation schemes in 50 acres farms.
KCSAP is a Sh25 billion five-year project funded by the World Bank and the Government of Kenya in 24 Counties.
In Tana, the project is implemented in Madogo, Hirimani, Mikinduni, Kinakomba, Garsen South, and Kipini West wards.
Speaking in his office in Hola KCSAP Project Coordinator Peter Munyoki says they mostly focus on livestock farming, poultry, and crop production.
“We give grants to community groups, and we also support the departments to implement projects that are in their development plans that they cannot fund due to lack of finances. For the past three years, we have been focusing a lot on agriculture irrigation,’’ he explained.
KCSAP’s objective is to increase agricultural productivity and build resilience to climate change risks in the targeted smallholder farming and pastoral communities in Kenya, and in the event of an eligible crisis or emergency to provide an immediate and effective response.
“If we look at the effects of climate change, the traditional bread baskets of Kenya have not been spared by climate, we must therefore change the way we do agriculture by embracing minor irrigation schemes,” said Munyoki.
“Tana is lucky to have a large river that has never dried up; if we maximize the use of river water to irrigate our farms through the construction of minor irrigation schemes next to the river, it will reduce the severity of climate change,’’ noted Munyoki.
Tana River, added the KCSAP Coordinator, has the potential to grow and sell surplus food to neighboring counties of Lamu, Kilifi and Kitui, if more minor irrigation schemes are constructed along the river.
Makere ya gwano minor irrigation scheme in Kinakomba ward is currently in use with 500 beneficiary farmers in their third planting season. Asako and Hirimani minor schemes in Madogo and Garsen South wards respectively are at 80 percent completion.
“The main reason for focusing on minor irrigation schemes is because of climate change. Most farmers along the river used to rely on floods but for the past four years the floods have decreased and have become irregular greatly hampering farming,’’ elucidated Munyoki.
“The rain has decreased so in order to support our f
