Qualitative study examines adaptive irrigation techniques improving productivity and income for Kenyan farmers, suggesting policy implications.
Rice farming in Kenya is threatened by erratic rainfall patterns, necessitating innovative irrigation techniques to maintain productivity and income stability. A qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 50 rice farmers in different regions of Kenya, utilising thematic analysis for data interpretation. Farmers reported a significant increase (38%) in water use efficiency through the adoption of drip irrigation systems. Income stability was achieved by diversifying income streams such as off-farm employment and livestock rearing. Adaptive irrigation techniques are crucial for enhancing both rice farming productivity and resilience against climate variability, offering potential models for other resource-limited agricultural sectors in Kenya. Government policies should incentivize the adoption of water-saving technologies and promote diversification strategies to support farmers' income stability.
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Wanyama et al. (2012) studied this question.
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