Farmers from Nguruman Irrigation Scheme in Magadi, Kajiado County are in Perkerra Irrigation Scheme, Baringo County for a three-day farmer-to-farmer learning exchange and benchmarking visit aimed at strengthening sustainable and climate-resilient irrigation production.

The visit, facilitated by the State Department for Irrigation, is anchored on five key objectives: Governance and administration; Registration of IWUAs, by-laws & equitable distribution of water resources; Market linkages and cooperative societies; Agronomic practices and crop management; and Dispute resolution.

The management team from the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) managed Perkerra Irrigation Scheme and the scheme leadership received the Nguruman farmers and took them through the best practices that have helped the scheme to enhance its productivity throughout the years.

The Scheme Manager, David Waweru, took the visiting farmers through the Perkerra Irrigation Scheme’s governance, institutional and administrative structures, day-to-day operations and best practices that have kept Perkerra productive for decades.

Samuel Chebii, the Chairperson of Perkerra  Cooperative Society, facilitated the session on market linkages, sharing practical experiences on collective marketing, aggregation, value addition and how organized farmers can access better markets and improve incomes.

On his part, Nicholas Bowen, the Chairperson of Perkerra Irrigation Water Users Association (IWUA), emphasized the importance of formal registration of IWUAs, adherence to by-laws and ensuring equitable distribution of water resources as a foundation for harmony and efficient water use.

Farmers were also taken through agronomic practices and crop management by Justus Kiptum, the scheme Agronomist, who emphasized the need for improved crop husbandry, water application and techniques for enhancing productivity.

Justin Kiprono, an elder handled the aspect of dispute resolution, explaining the mechanisms used at the Perkerra scheme to resolve water-related disputes amicably and maintain cohesion among water users.

Beyond the interactive sessions, the farmers toured the source of water for Perkerra Irrigation Scheme, where they appreciated how water is abstracted, flown to the farms and sustainably managed to serve all the scheme members

They later toured the irrigation blocks within the scheme, where they interacted with host farmers, observed different types of crops planted, and learned more on crop diversification, field management and productivity.

The benchmarking visit is expected to equip Nguruman farmers with practical lessons and technologies that can be adapted back home to improve water management, boost production, strengthen commercialization through strong farmer institutions, resolve emerging disputes while at the same banking on the strength of the farmer-cooperative movement to get larger and better markets for their produce thereby enhancing farmer incomes.

The benchmarking tour has been organized by the Program for Enhancement of Water Productivity, Production and Sustainability of Irrigation Schemes (PEWAPSIS) under the stewardship of Maurice Opondo, Director, Irrigation Water Management.

PEWAPSIS aim is to increase the operational efficiency and optimize performance of existing irrigation schemes for food and nutrition security and better household incomes

By Isaac Sanya & Peninah Kihika