FACTORS INFLUENCING SMALL SCALE FARMERS’ PARTICIPATION IN MANAGEMENT OF GEM RAE IRRIGATION SCHEME IN NYANDO SUB-COUNTY, KISUMU COUNTY, KENYA
Akello Boaz Okoth - Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. John Mbugua - Lecturer, Department of Open Learning, University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Though its significance has been recognized in many previous studies, the desired levels of small scale farmers’ participation have not been achieved and the low levels have continued to undermine the expected performance and sustainability of the small scale irrigation schemes. The purpose of this research study was to determine the factors influencing small scale farmers’ participation in the management of Gem Rae Irrigation Scheme in Nyando Sub-County, Kisumu County, Kenya. The four objectives that the study sought achieve were: to establish the influence of Irrigation Water Users Association (IWUA) rules; to determine the influence of knowledge and skills in irrigation; to ascertain the influence of reliability of irrigation water and to assess the influence of economic benefits from irrigated agriculture on the small scale farmers’ participation in the management of irrigation schemes. The cross-sectional study research design was used in the study. The target population in the study was the entire 480 farmers of Gem Rae Irrigation Scheme. The sampling procedure used used to get a sample of 144 respondents, that represented 30% of the target population, was simple random. The primary data was collected from the sampled respondents using researcher-administered questionnaires. The reliability analysis using the test re-test technique showed a coefficient of stability of 0.933 which was an excellent reliability. The data analysis of was conducted using descriptive statistics. The study found out that the farmers were disposed to participate in management of the scheme. The study equally established through descriptive statistics that the four factors; irrigation water users association rules, knowledge and skills in irrigation, reliability of irrigation water, and economic benefits from irrigated agriculture greatly influenced the small scale farmers’ participation in the management of Gem Rae Irrigation Scheme by differing levels. The study concluded that the four factors greatly influenced small scale farmers’ participation in the management of Gem Rae Irrigation Scheme and that there were variations in the extent of the influences of each factor. The study recommends development and implementation of strategies that enhance economic benefits from irrigated agriculture to the farmers in order to increase and sustain their participation in the management of the scheme, assurance of reliability of irrigation water, participatory development and formalization of IWUA rules to intensify the participation of farmers in the scheme management and tailor-made trainings and sensitization to address knowledge and skills gap in irrigation amongst farmers. The study suggested areas for further research that included research on the same subject in other parts of Kenya and comparative study of the farmers’ participation in the management of small scale irrigation schemes fully funded by governments and others co-funded jointly by governments and beneficiary farmers.
