The Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation under the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP), has constructed 20 water ponds in different farms in Gatundu North sub-county.
Agriculture CECM Mr Joseph Kamau made the announcement and said the water ponds are being put up as a measure for gulley control and water conservation, with the program’s main objective being to increase agricultural productivity and profitability among the residents of Kiambu County.
The initiative which is under Sustainable Land Management (SLM) is funded by the Government and the world bank/international Development Association (IDA), and covers about 21 counties in the country, Kiambu county being one of them. The water ponds are already in their last stages of construction with plans underway to construct 120 more water ponds for farmers in Gatundu South, Lari, Limuru and Kikuyu Sub Counties.
Kenya’s Vision 2030
The County project Coordinator Ms Patricia Nyutu said the programme is meant to improve Livelihoods and reduce vulnerability of targeted rural communities in selected counties. The programme also supports Kenya’s Vision 2030 whose key element is the development of an innovative, commercially oriented modern agriculture, livestock and fisheries sector.
“The water ponds are a big plus for us since we don’t have to wait for the rainy season to plant, with the availability of water for irrigation we can do farming all through the year and this will definitely increase our income as farmers,” said Mr Michel Kinyua a farmer and resident of Gatundu South.
