Kaptagat Farmers to Gain Year-Round Water Supply Under New Irrigation Project

Farmers in Kaptagat Ward, Uasin Gishu County, are set to benefit from a new community irrigation project designed to improve water access and strengthen agricultural production amid changing weather patterns.

The Ainet Community Irrigation Project is being implemented jointly by the Uasin Gishu County Government and the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme. It will cover an area with an estimated radius of 12 kilometres.

The project includes the installation of 12,000 drip irrigation lines and development of 500 springs to provide farmers with more reliable water for agricultural activities.

The infrastructure is expected to support farming throughout the year, reducing farmers’ dependence on rainfall and helping them maintain production during periods of unreliable weather.

County officials said the project will also promote more efficient use of available water. Drip irrigation can deliver water directly to the crop root zone, helping farmers make better use of limited supplies.

The initiative is expected to benefit both crop and livestock production by improving access to water within the farming community. Increased production could also strengthen household food security and create opportunities for farmers to increase their incomes.

Officials involved in the project said community participation will be important to maintaining the infrastructure once it is completed. Local residents have been encouraged to take ownership of the facilities and participate in their management.

The project forms part of the county’s wider climate resilience efforts under Governor Jonathan Chelilim Bii’s development agenda, which prioritises sustainable development, improved livelihoods and adaptation to climate-related challenges.

For farmers in Kaptagat, the additional water infrastructure is expected to provide greater certainty for planning agricultural activities. Reliable irrigation could allow them to diversify crops, improve yields and continue production during periods when rainfall is inadequate.

The Ainet project therefore represents an effort to shift farming in the area from heavy dependence on unpredictable rainfall towards a more reliable and climate-resilient production system.