| dc.description.abstract | Large and Small Scale Irrigation Schemes (SSIS) in many parts of the world are known to be performing well below their potential, often fallen short of the expectations of the stakeholders. Therefore this study assessed how independent valuables; Scheme funding, Appropriateness of technology and Scheme Management affected sustainability of SSIS in Kirinyaga (East, South, West and Central) districts, Central Province, Kenya.
The purpose of this study was to establish factors that affected sustainability of SSIS in the study districts and their effect with a view of coming up with recommendations on how to overcome them, while the research objectives were to determine, establish and assess how funding, irrigation technologies and management skills affected the sustainability of SSIS in the study districts. The study adopted a descriptive survey design to assess the factors affecting the sustainability of SSIS in the districts. A sample of 43 SSIS was selected through stratified sampling and Simple Random Sampling methods. Scheme chairmen and secretaries of the sampled schemes, the District Irrigation Officers (DIOs) and chiefs as opinion leaders formed the study respondents.
This design was used in preliminary and exploratory studies to allow the researcher gather information and summarize, present and interpret, describe, record, analyze and report conditions as they existed. It also allowed the researcher to generate both numerical and descriptive data. Questionnaires with both closed and open ended questions were used to collect data as well as observation and interview methods. The findings from the study showed that most of the SSIS had problems with their funding, while almost all relied on members' contributions, their ability to contribute was not adequate. Technology was not user friendly and localized to suit the local farmers while the project managerial skills were wanting. When funding, technology and management problems affect schemes, then mismanagement sets in and sustainability is threatened as was the case with the schemes under study.
The study concludes that poor funding, inappropriateness of technology and poor management skills negatively affected scheme sustainability. To counter these effects farmers ability to contribute should be assessed before inception. Technology should be localized while continuous farmers' capacity building should be programmed and institutionalized. The irrigation technologies selected should be user friendly as much as possible with inbuilt skills for operation and maintenance. Throughout all irrigation scheme phases, local farmers should be trained on how to operate, manage and maintain their systems.
These requirements should form part of loan covenant during loan negotiations with donors or form part of the irrigation sector policy guidelines. There should be continuous irrigation farmers' capacity building to ensure farmers are well equipped with scheme managerial skills given that communities are dynamic and likely to have different people at different times in management. The district gender and social development officers are best suited to carry out these functions and should be funded accordingly to undertake these functions. There is also need to make an assessment of irrigation farmers' capacities to sustain their development schemes. | en_US |
