Solar-powered irrigation projects are transforming farming in Garissa County, helping communities overcome drought, reduce production costs, and improve food security.
The projects are being implemented under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme, which supports locally driven climate resilience initiatives across Kenya.
Garissa receives low annual rainfall, forcing many farmers to rely on costly petrol- and diesel-powered pumps for irrigation.
The introduction of solar-powered systems has enabled farmers to access affordable and reliable water for their crops.
Muhammud Hassan, a farmer in Galbet, said the new solar-powered irrigation system has eliminated fuel expenses and made farming more sustainable.
Mr. Hassan said he previously spent thousands of shillings every few days on fuel to pump water from a borehole because river water could not reach his farm.
The Garissa farmer has appealed for the expansion of the pipeline network to ensure more farmers benefit from the climate resilience investment.
The five-year initiative is being implemented by the Government of Kenya in collaboration with the World Bank and other development partners through the National Treasury Programme Implementation Unit (NTPIU) and the County Governments through the County Climate Change Units (CCCUs).
It aims to deliver locally led climate resilience actions and strengthen the capacity of county and national governments to manage climate risks.
A Participatory Climate Risk Assessment conducted in 2023 identified irrigation and climate-smart agriculture as key priorities for strengthening resilience to climate change.
The initiative has equipped about 80 acres of community farmland with a solar-powered pumping system, a pipeline network, and a flood-protected pump house. Farmers have also received fruit tree seedlings to diversify production.
Mukhtar Bule said farmers now simply open water gates to irrigate their farms without purchasing fuel.
Mr. Bule reiterated the need for better water storage systems to enable irrigation during cloudy weather and at night.
He affirmed his commitment to collaboration and advancing sustainable, community-driven development in Garissa County.
Garissa has huge irrigation potential, but only a small portion of the available land is currently under irrigation.
Expanding solar irrigation and adopting more efficient water management technologies will enhance the delivery of locally led climate resilience actions, increasing communities’ resilience to climate change and other hazards.
The county has completed four solar-powered irrigation projects, while additional schemes are under construction in several wards, including Iftin, Jarajara, and Balambala.
