Powered by the Sun: Climate-Smart Irrigation System in Kajiado County

Kajiado County is highly vulnerable to climate change. While climate hazards are common in the county with a history of devastating droughts since the 1900s, they are becoming more frequent. Irrigation used by farmers is mostly inefficient and causes high emissions due to the use of diesel generators. Switching to solar-powered irrigation systems therefore reduces greenhouse gas emissions and simultaneously increases farmers’ income, food production, and resilience.

The project directly benefited 360 households, with 771 smallholder farmers organized, and trained on Climate smart farming in three farmer groups in Kajiado West, East and North Sub County. Additionally, 38 non-state actors working on climate change and biodiversity related issues were integrated in project activities.

• 384 farmers (233 women) trained on climate smart agriculture
• Capacity of 38 journalists on agriculture and climate change built
• Strengthened the Kajiado Climate Smart Agriculture Multi-Stakeholder Platform
• 90 farmers and 1 school adopted solar powered drip irrigation
• 119 farmers (98 women) trained on group dynamics, gender mainstreaming, and agri-business
• 2 advocacy meetings carried out on the Kajiado County Climate Change Fund and County Water Policy
• 6 non-state actors learning and consultative forums held

To promote adoption of climate smart agriculture in Kajiado County, the organisation held 13 monthly talk shows and radio features on community radio. It further advocated for an increased budgetary allocation from Kajiado County government for smart climate agriculture. To further enhance the capacity of non-state actors to advocate and promote climate change and biodiversity issues, the project included 14 monthly learning and consultative forums with Kajiado County government and non-state actors.

IKI Small Grants supported ALIN in its organisational capacity development through:

• Training in resource mobilisation (county, national and international funding options)
• Training in monitoring and evaluation
• Introducing results-oriented performance management system

Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) is a non-governmental organisation registered in Nairobi that was founded in 1987. Its mission is to improve the livelihoods of communities in East Africa through the delivery of practical and usable information using information and communication technologies. ALIN has over 20 years of experience working on sustainable development issues by providing a grass root link to policy matters in addition to empowerment activities. The organisation has championed the use of information and communication technologies to empower farmers with usable information and knowledge to improve their livelihoods.