The impact of irrigation on the socio-cultural and economic lives of a rural community.The case of Yatta Furrow irrigation in Machakos District ,Kenya.

Abstract

Focus on irrigation studies in general and Kenya in particular has been mainly on the large-scale irrigation projects. This study makes a departure from this trend and examines the impact of a small-scale irrigation project on the lives of the local community. Water is a major resource in irrigation. Its management presents a challenge to the people in Yatta as they have been living in areas in which no irrigation skills are required of them. The people blend both modern socio-cultural and indigenous institutions in the running of the irrigation system. Since the population is familiar with the mentioned institutions, it does not have to adjust to unfamiliar rules and regulations associated with new bureaucracies in large irrigation schemes. One of the recommendations of the study is that irrigation projects should as far as possible tap the local management systems as this not only avoids having to subject farmers to adjusting to stressful bureaucratic regulations but also enhances farmers' identification with the projects. It is cheaper in the long run in terms of overhead costs and is likely to lead to more sustainable development. Labour in Yatta Furrow Irrigation is as crucial a resource as it is scarce. Irrigation has resulted in labour increase for both men and women. Gender roles in some cultivation tasks that were formerly performed mainly by women are re-defined to accommodate both sexes; utilising every available labour source is seen as an adaptative technique. This notwithstanding, male labour is contributed more fully in cash cropping than in food cropping. Female labour contribution is recognised in both food and cash cropping. In absolute terms, however, cash cropping gets preferential labour input from both male and female members of the households. One of the findings of the study is that though irrigation income does not determine the standards of living of the local population, it has a positive impact on them. The impact would be more pronounced if appropriate measures were taken to effect more realistic pricing policies of farmers' produce. Price fluctuation, the role of agents in the sale of crops and the cost of inputs are some of the factors that diminish farmers' returns.