Available estimates indicate that about 50.6% of the Kenyan population lack access to adequate food. In the Mt Kenya Region about 68% of the rural households are food insecure, the severity being more in the semi-humid and semi-arid zones.
The project seeks to promote food production and security through irrigation as per the BETA. About 1,300 acres of irrigated land will be brought under agricultural production, benefiting about 1,540 farmers in five schemes.
This program is contributing directly to promote food security through the agriculture pillar by increasing the area under irrigation by 2,196,732 acres in order to ensure sustainable increase in agricultural output. Overally this is geared towards realizing the SDG 2- on ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition and promotion of sustainable agriculture.
Sustainability of the program and investments has been enhanced by promoting farmer-based project ownership. Active participation of farmers I conceptual design of irrigation scheme configuration together with the requirement to take a loan equal to 50% of infrastructure investment cost, and the obligation to raise 10% credit security fund prior to construction works are mechanisms promoting an increased sense of ownership.
