Investing in Water for Agriculture: a Stakeholder Plan for Makueni County

Makueni County Forum Water Committee Wote, 24 January 2013

The present document is the outcome of a cycle of Public County Forums TAKING ADVANTAGE OF DEVOLVED GOVERNMENT held during 2012. Two representative forums have been held in Wote, the administrative centre of Makueni County, on 11 July and on 30 November, 2012. The Forums have concluded that promoting WATER FOR AGRICULTURE is the number 1 development priority for the incoming County Government in Makueni County. The second Forum has resulted in this landmark document Investing in Water for Agriculture a Stakeholder Plan for Makueni County. A Committee elected and tasked by the Forum has prepared the present document which may be referred to as a framework plan. The mandate of the Makueni County Forum Water Committee was limited to strictly work with the recommendations adopted by the Forum of 30 November 2012. The objective of this Plan is to assist the Government of Makueni County in its management of the water sector. The Plan is organized in three interrelated themes: I. II. III. Information, Education and Awareness Restoration and Conservation Profitable Water

1.

Information, Education and Awareness

Short term actions Planning: The development of a comprehensive master plan for Makueni County on water in agriculture is a paramount priority. Make arrangements for systematic and sustained monitoring and evaluation.

Community action: Establish a stakeholders network for regular consultations on water resources management in Makueni County. Ensure that technical data and information are made available to this network. Ensure technical expertise is made available to this network, particularly from the water and agriculture sectors. Mobilization for community involvement in all aspects of water sector development.

Civic education: organize a campaign to educate the population on their rights to water and its equitable distribution, on the importance of an orderly development of the water sector that avoids conflict, and to promote attitude change on water resources management. Information and education programmes on restoration and conservation action in agriculture, tree and grass planting, and soil management.

Investing in Water for Agriculture a Stakeholder Plan for Makueni County

Increase awareness on policies, regulations and institutions in the water sector.

Technical sensitization and education: Best practice in developing and maintaining sand dams, earth dams, pans and sumps, wetlands, boreholes and irrigation schemes. Best practice in water harvesting. Agriculture capacity building in horticulture, agriculture and livestock management, with emphasis on modern techniques and drought resistance crops. Sensitize stakeholders on sustainable sand harvesting.

Medium and long term actions Develop private sector led financial services and instruments for the purpose of establishing water projects and restoration and conservation activities. Establish or re-orientate public farmers training institutes and develop a curriculum on integrated farming and water management.

2. Restoration and Conservation

Short term actions Undertake site identification for protecting water sources and for establishing vegetation planting schemes. Ensure law and regulatory enforcement in exploitation of water resources, in protection of the environment and in avoidance of pollution or damaging of water bodies. Define and support a wide range of projects in: tree and grass planting, building of dams, soil conservation, and protection of water bodies.

Medium and long term actions Continue to implement a wide range of projects in: tree and grass planting, building of dams, soil conservation, protection of water bodies. Protect established tree planting projects and aforestation projects. Counter erosion of agriculture land through terracing, building of gambions and dams, and protection of wetlands. Rehabilitate and then protect degraded land. Demonstration training projects that empower communities in sustainable farming, restoration and conservation.

3. Investment in Profitable Water

Short term actions Complete and rehabilitate all relevant existing sand dams, earth dams and water pans. Pro-actively undertake site identification for sand dams and earth dams. Construct more sand dams and earth dams at appropriate locations, and sink more boreholes that can support agricultural production.

Investing in Water for Agriculture a Stakeholder Plan for Makueni County

Organize and finance sustainable small-scale irrigation schemes at community level. Expand access to water for irrigation, by constructing water sumps with pipelines at sand dams and earth dams. Develop sources of water harvesting in addition to roof harvesting, including rock catchment and run-off water. Develop aquaculture at water bodies and dams. Promote greenhouse horticulture, at individual level, in community groups and at institutions especially schools.

Medium and long term actions Expand access to water for irrigation by financing and constructing large storage tanks and sumps that abstract their water from dams. Construct canals and pipelines to water bodies and dams in order to improve access to water for agriculture. Organize sustainable financing of earth dams. Organize large scale and intensive tree planting and soil conservation programmes. Support the sustainable development of the sand harvesting industry.

The programme TAKING ADVANTAGE OF DEVOLVED GOVERNMENT is an initiative of

Development Trust Innovation Africa in partnership with the County Council of Makueni, realized with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, Flametree Systems Engineering Ltd, Mbaitu FM (Eastern Broadcasting Corp. Ltd) and African Centre for Technology Studies, Kenya 20112013. Reference: www.dtia.or.ke and www.makuenicounty.or.ke.
The Makueni County Forum Water Committee can be contacted by e-mail watercommittee@makuenicounty.or.ke or telephone +254733260907.

Investing in Water for Agriculture a Stakeholder Plan for Makueni County