Rainfall unreliability has been a major challenge and for this reason, drought and food insecurity is prevalent in most parts of the country. The general area covered by the projects under the Community based Programme faces challenges of food production and a gradual increase in population. The irrigation potential for the area is visible but only a few acres have been used under subsistence and small scale farming. Food security is not assured because of over-reliance on rain fed agriculture. The rain -fed agriculture practiced in the area gives low and unreliable performance due to unfavourable climatic conditions. The rainy seasons are unreliable and poorly distributed to sustain a meaningful crop production system. Reliance on rain fed agriculture makes farmers especially in ASAL regions to be vulnerable to climate shocks and changes. Historical records indicate that average temperatures have increased significantly in the past twenty years and the number of heat and drought –prone days are projected to continue.
Once completed, the project will have both economic and social benefits including increased food security, employment creation and increased incomes to beneficiary farmer households. The project aims at increasing the area under irrigation by 30,000 acres thus contributing to the Big 4 target of bringing 500,000 acres under irrigation. The sales from horticultural crops produce will increase household incomes as well as contributing to the food security in the program region. Horticultural produce valued at Ksh 1.25 Billion annually will be realized by the project and 60,000 jobs created annually.
This program contributes directly to the targeted 500,000 acres irrigated agriculture in the Big 4 Agenda on Food and Nutrition Security. Overally this is geared towards realizing the SDG 2- No Hunger.
