10,000 farmers set to reap benefits of revived Nguruman irrigation

ROP JANET-KNA

At least 10,000 farmers in Kajiado West Sub-County are set to boost their agricultural productivity following the rehabilitation of the Nguruman irrigation scheme.

The project, aimed at strengthening climate resilience and enhancing food security, began in 2024 after devastating floods destroyed canals and water intake systems, forcing many farmers to abandon the scheme.

The rehabilitation has since restored water flow to farms in Congo Village, marking a major milestone in the revival of agriculture in the region.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho said the irrigation scheme, rehabilitated at a cost of Sh396 million, covers about 2,000 acres and supplies food to Magadi, Kiserian, Ongata Rongai, and major Nairobi markets, including Marikiti.

He added that through the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, the scheme has significantly improved productivity and resilience.

The availability of reliable water, piped over a distance of 51 kilometres, has enabled farmers to grow high-value cash crops, boosting household incomes.

“Water has successfully reached farms and farmers are already resuming irrigated agriculture. This project demonstrates how strategic investment in irrigation can transform rural livelihoods and build resilience to climate change,” Kimotho said.

The PS noted that beyond food production, the project is also expected to reduce human-wildlife conflict, a long-standing challenge in Nguruman. 

He added that by stabilizing livelihoods and improving agricultural productivity, the scheme limits encroachment into wildlife habitats as communities rely less on natural forests and conservation areas for survival.

“The availability of water will also minimize human-wildlife conflict by preventing wild animals from encroaching on farms in search of water,” he said.

Kimotho emphasized that the project aligns with the government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritizes empowering smallholder farmers, strengthening food systems and enhancing climate-smart agriculture.

“The Nguruman Irrigation Scheme is a practical example of how well-planned irrigation infrastructure can drive economic transformation at the grassroots while protecting the environment,” the PS added.

Farmers have already resumed the cultivation of a wide range of crops including okra, bananas, pawpaw, mangoes, vegetables and maize, significantly improving household incomes and food availability in the area.

According to Makarios Wachira, a local farmer, the restoration of water supply to their farms has transformed their lives, ending years of uncertainty caused by unreliable rainfall and damaged irrigation infrastructure.

“With reliable water, I now grow pawpaws, mangoes, bananas and vegetables, which earn me more than Sh4,000 every week. Farming is no longer a struggle, but a reliable source of income for my family,” Wachira said.