Gender-Specific Irrigation Methods for Water Conservation in Semi-Arid Kenya: Adoption Rates and Soil Health Implications

Semi-arid regions in Kenya face significant water scarcity challenges, necessitating innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative survey data with qualitative interviews to assess farmer practices and outcomes. Findings indicate that women farmers adopt drip irrigation at a rate of 45% compared to 20% for men, highlighting gender disparities in technology adoption. Soil health improvements are observed with a mean pH increase of 0.1 units across fields using improved irrigation methods. Gender-specific interventions and targeted support are essential for maximising the benefits of new irrigation technologies on soil quality in semi-arid regions. Promote gender-sensitive extension services, subsidize drip irrigation equipment, and conduct farmer field schools focused on sustainable agriculture practices. The empirical specification follows Y=β₀+β^ X+ε, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.