Irrigation in ASAL Areas in Kenya to Expand Under Plan for 1,250 Dams

Kenya is planning to expand water infrastructure in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) to increase agricultural production, improve food security and create more opportunities for farmers in regions that experience frequent water shortages.

The proposed programme includes 50 mega dams, 200 medium-sized dams and 1,000 small water reservoirs and pans. The government intends to use the infrastructure to support irrigation, livestock production and the development of commercial agricultural enterprises in areas where farming has traditionally depended heavily on rainfall.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe outlined the plans while representing Kenya at the Rome Water Dialogue in Italy. Speaking during a technical session on restoring degraded agricultural land through innovation in policy and practice, he presented the government’s approach to improving the productive potential of ASAL regions.

The areas account for a substantial proportion of Kenya’s landmass and support millions of people through livestock keeping, crop farming and other agricultural activities. Their economic potential is constrained by irregular rainfall, recurrent droughts, limited water infrastructure and the cost of moving water to farms and livestock.

The proposed dams and reservoirs are intended to address some of these challenges by increasing water availability and supporting a gradual shift from rain-fed agriculture to more reliable irrigation systems.

For farmers, improved access to water would create opportunities to grow crops during seasons when rainfall is insufficient, provided that irrigation infrastructure is connected to farms and supported by suitable water management systems. It would also help some livestock keepers secure water for their animals and establish fodder crops to reduce the pressure caused by prolonged dry spells.

The plans form part of a wider government strategy to treat ASAL areas as potential centres of agricultural production and investment rather than relying primarily on emergency responses during droughts.

How Irrigation Could Change Farming in ASAL Counties

Irrigation in ASAL areas in Kenya could help farmers manage one of their biggest production risks: unreliable rainfall. In many parts of the country, farmers struggle to determine when to plant, how much to invest in inputs and whether crops will receive enough water to reach maturity.

When rainfall fails, farmers lose money spent on seeds, fertiliser, labour and land preparation. Livestock keepers face additional costs as pasture and water become scarce, sometimes forcing them to travel long distances or sell animals to limit further losses.

A reliable water supply would give farmers greater control over production planning. Depending on local soil conditions, water availability and market demand, irrigation schemes could support vegetables, pulses, cereals, fruit crops and fodder production.

The benefits would depend on the design of each scheme. Water stored in a dam must still be conveyed to farms through canals, pipelines or other distribution systems. Farmers also need affordable access to pumps and irrigation equipment where required, alongside training on water use, soil fertility and crop management.

Small reservoirs and water pans would serve a different but complementary role to larger dams. Where properly sited and maintained, they could provide water closer to farming communities and livestock holdings. Their usefulness would depend on rainfall patterns, catchment protection, storage capacity and measures to limit evaporation and sedimentation.

The government has proposed financing the infrastructure through the newly launched National Infrastructure Fund. The detailed cost, construction schedule, locations and implementation arrangements for the proposed 1,250 dams and reservoirs will determine how quickly farmers benefit.

Building the infrastructure is only one part of the challenge. Long-term maintenance, fair water allocation and clear arrangements for operating irrigation schemes will be necessary to keep the systems functional after construction.

Government Plans to Link Water Infrastructure With Commercial Farming

The government is proposing a public-private partnership model in which public investment supports dams and major irrigation infrastructure, while private investors, local communities, farmer producer organisations and savings and credit cooperative societies participate in agricultural production, processing and marketing.

The approach is intended to connect water development with commercially viable farming. Public infrastructure would provide the foundation for production, while businesses and farmer organisations would help organise production, develop supply chains and connect growers to domestic and export markets.

For smallholder farmers, working through producer organisations and cooperatives could improve access to inputs, shared equipment, technical advice and buyers. Collective marketing also offers a way to assemble larger volumes of produce that meet the quantity and quality requirements of processors and traders.

Private investment could support cold storage, packaging, processing and transport facilities near production areas. These services matter because higher output does not automatically translate into better farm incomes. Where markets are weak or storage is inadequate, farmers risk selling produce at low prices or losing it before it reaches consumers.

The government’s plan also includes branding and marketing Kenyan agricultural produce. A stronger market strategy would need to be supported by consistent quality, traceability, food safety standards and dependable supply throughout the production season.

For ASAL farmers, the choice of crops and livestock enterprises will remain important. Irrigation projects need to reflect local water availability, soil characteristics and market opportunities rather than encouraging farmers to grow crops that demand more water than the area can sustainably supply.

Land access and commercial production

The proposed Land Commercialisation Initiative is intended to provide a framework for private investors to lease idle government and community trust land over the long term for food, animal feed and fodder production.

The initiative could create opportunities for larger agricultural projects in suitable locations, particularly where water infrastructure supports reliable production. Fodder farming, for example, could help livestock keepers obtain animal feed during dry periods, while commercial crop production could supply local markets and processors.

The arrangement will need transparent land allocation procedures, clear lease conditions and safeguards for communities that depend on the land for grazing and other livelihoods. Community participation is particularly important in ASAL counties, where pastoralist mobility and access to grazing areas are integral to livestock production.

Local farmers would also need a clear route to participate in these investments through employment, contract farming, producer groups, supply agreements or other arrangements that provide lasting economic benefits.

The success of the initiative will depend on whether land development complements existing livelihoods and improves access to markets without creating avoidable conflicts over land and water.

Digital Soil Testing to Guide Fertiliser Use

The government’s proposed agricultural transformation programme also includes digital-first soil testing laboratories and last-mile advisory services, referred to in the announcement as soil doctors.

The plan would provide farmers with digital soil records, described as soil passports, to guide fertiliser use and support access to subsidised agricultural inputs and technology-based advice.

Soil testing helps identify nutrient deficiencies and provides information that farmers and agronomists use to make fertiliser recommendations. Applying nutrients according to crop requirements and soil conditions helps avoid unnecessary expenditure and improves the chances of achieving better yields.

This is relevant in ASAL areas, where low and variable rainfall can limit crop response to fertiliser. Applying more fertiliser does not compensate for inadequate moisture, poor seed selection or unsuitable planting conditions. Farmers need advice that considers soil fertility, rainfall expectations, water availability and the crop being grown.

Digital records could also help farmers retain soil test results and use them when planning subsequent seasons. For this to work, laboratories must be accessible, results must be reliable, and advisory services must explain the findings in practical language.

The proposed programme is expected to involve the Kenya Agricultural and Digital Information Centre (KADIC), the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), county governments, women and young people.

Technology will have the greatest value where farmers can obtain timely advice and apply it to decisions on their farms. Digital systems therefore need to complement, rather than replace, extension officers and local agricultural expertise.

Irrigation, Livestock Feed and Food Security

The proposed water infrastructure could also support livestock keepers, who form a major part of the agricultural economy in many ASAL counties.

Drought reduces the availability of pasture and water, affecting animal condition, milk production, reproduction and market value. During severe dry periods, farmers often face the difficult choice of buying expensive feed, moving livestock or selling animals when market prices are unfavourable.

Where water and land conditions permit, irrigation-supported fodder production could help establish more reliable feed supplies. Hay production and storage would also allow communities and livestock enterprises to preserve feed for use during dry months.

Such investments would need to be matched with appropriate livestock management, veterinary services and access to markets. Water alone does not address every constraint affecting pastoralists, particularly where grazing land is degraded or livestock markets are poorly connected.

The wider objective is to make agricultural production more resilient while improving the supply of food for a growing population. The government has also linked the programme to reducing Kenya’s annual food import bill, reported in the announcement at about US$3.4 billion.

Reducing imports would require competitive domestic production, suitable storage, efficient transport, processing capacity and consistent market supply. Irrigation could contribute by making production more predictable in selected areas, but the scale of its contribution will depend on the projects completed and the crops produced.

Tree Growing and Restoration of Degraded Land

The agricultural plans are also linked to Kenya’s 10-year tree-growing programme, which targets the planting of 15 billion trees by 2032.

Restoring degraded land can support soil conservation, improve catchment protection and reduce erosion when the right tree species are planted in suitable locations. Protecting water catchments is particularly important for dams and reservoirs because erosion and sedimentation reduce storage capacity over time.

Tree growing in ASAL regions needs to account for local rainfall, soil conditions and competition for water. Species suited to dry environments and appropriate planting methods are important where water is already scarce. Restoration programmes also need to protect grazing areas and involve the communities that depend on them.

Agricultural production, water storage and environmental restoration are closely connected. Poorly managed land can increase erosion and weaken water catchments, while well-planned restoration can support more sustainable use of soil and water resources.

The government has presented the proposed infrastructure, digital agriculture measures, commercial land arrangements and tree-growing programme as parts of a wider effort to increase production per unit of land, strengthen food security and expand economic opportunities.

For farmers in ASAL counties, the key measure of progress will be practical improvements in access to water, farm productivity, livestock feed, market access and household earnings. The proposed dams and related initiatives remain plans, and their impact will depend on financing, project locations, implementation timelines, maintenance and coordination between national and county governments.

If delivered with appropriate safeguards and meaningful participation by local communities, the programme would provide a foundation for expanding agricultural production in areas where water scarcity has long constrained farmers and livestock keepers.

https://farmerstrend.co.ke/farming-news/irrigation-in-asal-areas-in-kenya/https://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Irrigation-in-ASAL-Areas-in-Kenya-577x1024.jpghttps://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Irrigation-in-ASAL-Areas-in-Kenya-150x150.jpg2026-10-12T11:54:40+00:00FarmersTrendFarming NewsIrrigation in ASAL areas in Kenya could expand under plans for 50 mega dams, 200 medium dams and 1,000 water reservoirs to support farmers.Irrigation in ASAL Areas in Kenya to Expand Under Plan for 1,250 Dams Kenya is planning to expand water infrastructure in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs)...FarmersTrendjohn doefarmerstrend@gmail.comAdministratorFarmers Trend Ltd.