An Assessment of Integrated Water Resource Management (Iwrm) Approach for Reducing Food Insecurity in Drylands: a Case of Kikuu River Sub-sub-catchment, Makueni County, Kenya
Abstract
This research focused on assessment of effects of integrated water resource management on
household food production. The key area of the study was Kikuu River Sub-catchment in Nzaui-
Kalamba ward of Makueni County Kenya. The main aim was to investigate the effects of
integrated water resource management on food security in drylands. Specifically, the research
aimed at determining the local water resource management approaches in Makueni County and
their contribution to food security. It also aimed at exploring the level of adoption of IWRM
approach for environmental conservation and its effect on household food productivity and
livelihood and investigate the Irrigation efficient methods used by the farmers in Kikuu River for
irrigated farming and improved household food production. To address the study objectives, both
primary and secondary data was collected and analyzed. Structured open-ended questionnaires
and key informant interviews were used to collect primary data from households and key
informants to get their views on adoption of IWRM and water efficient irrigation methods and
their effects on food security and livelihood of farmers and other benefits to dry lands
community. The study applied qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Primary data
was collected from a sample of 99 households drawn from 16400 households of Kikuu River
Sub-catchment by use of an open-ended questionnaire. A Simple random sampling method was
used to recruit the study respondents. Secondary data was obtained from official government
reports, water sector and livelihood CSO reports and academic journals. The data collected was
analyzed both using descriptive statistics such as the mean, percentages and elaborated in tables
and graphs. The data was analyzed by use of Chi-square inferential statistics technique and tested
at the 95 % confidence level (α=0.05)
The adoption of water irrigation efficient methods such as basin/Zypit and terraces promoted
livelihood and household food production. Sustainable best practices that included conservation
of riparian land, construction of the rain water harvesting structures and local conservation
techniques such as the construction of terraces helped increase food production and livelihood of
the community in the study area. The study also indicated that sustainable best practices
improved farmers livelihoods as they could practice both commercial and subsistence
agriculture. The null hypothesis was rejected since the research established that the
statistical/calculated value was greater than the critical value. The calculated value was 45.99
while the critical value was 31.41. Therefore, the alternative hypothesis was adopted, and the
researcher concluded that there is a significant relationship between the adoption of IWRM and
household farm produce. Therefore, the approach can be replicated in the other parts of the
county and various river Sub-catchments in Kenya. The Study came up with the following Key
recommendations; Water Regulatory Authority (WRA) previously known as WRMA in Water
Act 2002 to engage with the relevant stakeholders towards Practice of Basin approach/IWRM in
water management through forming and strengthening WRUAs in various Sub-catchments of
Kenya. Water sector CSOs to invest in community rainwater harvesting structures and construct
sand dams along Kikuu River to increase household water supply for domestic use and Irrigated
farming so as to reduce the impact of food insecurity and improve the community livelihood.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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