Irrigation, Climate-Smart Farming Take Centre Stage as Kenya, Israel Seek Solutions to Water Challenges
Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau said agriculture remained a major government priority and linked food security directly to access to water.
Nairobi, Aug 9 — Water scarcity and shifting weather patterns were the focus of a gathering in Kenya on Thursday, as stakeholders from various sectors discussed strategies to enhance climate-smart agriculture. The "Growing Together: A Showcase of Climate-Smart Agriculture" event highlighted irrigation as a critical concern for Kenya and Africa as a whole.
Israeli Ambassador Gideon Behar emphasized the urgency of embracing irrigation, stating that it should be an accessible, understandable solution for farmers across the country. The event brought together representatives from government bodies, research institutions, development organizations, the private sector, the diplomatic community, and faith-based groups, who showcased the latest in climate-smart farming practices, including a visit to a demonstration farm.
Israeli Ambassador Gideon Behar and Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau stressed the importance of offering straightforward solutions that farmers could readily adopt, drawing parallels to Israel's experience in water management. Wanjau highlighted the necessity of fostering collaboration between communities, development partners, the Israeli government, and Kenya in tackling agricultural challenges, using the Swahili proverb "Jiwe moja haliinjiki chungu" to underscore the importance of partnership.
The Embu experience was presented by CultivAid Nursery Manager Wincate Kariuki, who detailed how the organization expanded its seedling propagation capacity and established model farms to train farmers on drip irrigation and integrated pest management techniques. CultivAid also introduced internship programs to develop young agronomists working closely with farmers.
A similar model was showcased at the Sisters of Mount Carmel, where drip irrigation and greenhouses were used to cultivate crops like capsicum. Farmer Nora Igoki, who leads the Green Paradise Water Project in Embu County, shared the struggles of her community in accessing water, emphasizing the need for more model farms to provide irrigation technologies and training to additional farmers.
Dr Ayao Sindu of the Kenya Water Institute stressed that research and innovation would yield limited results if not effectively communicated to farmers, advocating for stronger collaboration between various stakeholders and the integration of locally appropriate technologies.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
