Use of simple technology (good seed and cheap water) to boost food security and alleviate poverty

 A.M. Mwololo, T. Kambura & D. Nzyuko

Makueni District of Eastern Province, Kenya is categorised ecologically as “Arid-Semi Arid Lands zone 3”. This is a district of very poor smallholder farmers who rely on small harvests of maize and beans for both their food and cash needs.  Rainfall range from 150mm to 670mm over two seasons and is mostly on the lower side and poorly distributed.  The District has many permanent streams and underground water resources whose utilization for food production is estimated at only 2%. This represents a great deal of unutilised capacity and lost opportunity.  The project involved use of green grams Line 26 developed by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) at Katumani Dryland Farming Research Station at Machakos. The variety is drought resistant, pest and disease resistant, early maturing and high yielding.  Two-acre plots were used to demonstrate the value of irrigation. Ploughing was done by oxen and hand planted. Six kg of seed was used for each acre, planting being 50 cm between rows, 20 cm between plants in the rows, Diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer was used at planting in both irrigated and un-irrigated plots.  Thiophate (antifungal) and Bulldog (insecticide) were applied.  In Plot A 20 cubic metres per week of water was used to irrigate the crop using drip irrigation system. Plot B was rainfed. Except for the irrigation, all other variables were held constant.  On plot B, the total cost of production was Kshs. 4,150 (US $53.2) and yielded 5 (five) bags of 100 kg each.  The current market price is Kshs. 35 per kilogram, giving a total income of Kshs. 17,500 and a profit of Kshs. 13,350.  On plot A total production cost, including water, was Kshs. 14,150 and yielded 11 bags of 100 kg each, giving a profit of Kshs. 24,350.  This was borehole water, which is more expensive than other sources.  The use of gravity or simple pumping systems would cut the costs even more, increasing the profit margins.  Comparative profits from maize are Kshs. 4,200 and Kshs. 8,400 under non-irrigated and irrigated conditions, respectively.  We conclude that green grams present better options for the farmer and irrigation does double her income but a problem exists with access to capital and quality seed.  BIDII Seeds wishes to expand this project and provide the seeds as our contribution to food security and poverty eradication in Makueni District.