Assessment of the Environmental Impacts of Irrigation Water Use by Smallholder Farmers in Gem Rae Irrigation Scheme, Kenya

Abstract

Kenya places a lot of emphasis on the reduction of poverty in order to improve livelihoods of the people. In order to accelerate this, the government of Kenya has adopted a strategy to revitalize Agricultural sector through irrigation development among other strategies. Irrigation provides the best option for intensification of agricultural production since options of achieving the same through rain fed agriculture are almost exhausted. The study reviewed experience with irrigation projects in Kenya with particular attention to smallholder irrigation in Gem Rae. It examined the environmental impacts such as siltation, soil erosion and public health impacts associated with irrigation development. The study used crosssectional survey technique in which a sample of 119 smallholder farmers practising irrigation interviewed using a structured questionnaire. All chairmen of scheme management committees were involved in a group discussion. Data was analysed using frequencies and percentages. The study revealed that impacts such as siltation, water borne diseases, soil erosion, water supply and loss of biodiversity were statistically significant. There was increased water borne diseases as result of irrigation development. This resulted in public health hazards, reduced labour supply and low scheme production levels. The study further showed that these impacts had adverse negative effects on the level of household rice production and household incomes to smallholder farmers in the study area. From the study,