Farmers in Kiambaa Sub-Location have a reason to smile following an initiative by the Kiambaa Water Management Company to pump water for irrigation into their farms.
Speaking in his office on Wednesday, the company's chief executive officer Mr Danson Kahihu said the farmers would only be required to pay Sh250 for the maintenance and electricity bill.
“The water would be pumped from Kiambaa dam into their farms, and they would no longer solely rely on rain water,” said Kahihu.
Kahihu said he had asked the farmers who were interested in the programme to buy water pipes to be used for irrigation.
He explained that the water from Kiambaa dam had been rendered unfit for human consumption as residents had been washing clothes at the dam following the water shortage during this dry spell.
He said the company was in the process of repairing an electric water pump which would be put into use when the programme takes off.
John Mukuru, a beneficiary of this irrigation scheme, said that this came as a blessing to him and commended the Kiambaa water management for the brilliant idea.
He said that since he had prepared his farm, the water from the dam would allow for planting ahead of the rainy seasons.
He urged other farmers to join the irrigation project by paying the required amount of Sh1,000 for connection of pipes so that they too could benefit from the water and harvest enough food for their consumption.
The water management officials said the farmers were to be responsible for taking care of the water pipes to ensure they were not stolen or tampered with.
Preparation of the farms for planting is under way as the project is expected to ease the prevailing drought situation.