5.

3The nexus between the development Perkerra irrigation scheme and

enhancement of rural livelihood

5.3.1Land Ownership
Baringo south sub-county falls under the Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) region. The land
within the irrigation scheme is government owned so most farmers lease the farms. This has
impacted on the growth of the area, especially because of the farmers who are leasing the land as
they have to get some form of accommodation in the area. This raised demand for land and also
rental facilities, especially in Marigat town, and hence raising the economic status of the area.
There was also another class of farmers who were using irrigation but were outside the Perkerra
irrigation scheme. The land outside the scheme however needs some form of machinery and
hence only financially able farmers can be able to access it.

5.3.2Gender Analysis
There were 104 respondents in total. Out of these 87% of them were male while
13% of them were female.

Comparison of average monthly income of farmers

Gender
practicing irrigation & rainfed farming
35 13%
female 29
30
25
20
15
10 Irrigation Farming
6 6
4 3 4 4 Rain fed Farming
5 2 2 2 1 1
87%
0 male

female
Level male
of income

Figure: Gender among respondents

Source: Field data, 2023
 5.0.1 Population demography and education
The survey indicated a normal population distribution with over 53 of the farmers
less than 40 years as shown in the figure below.

age of the respodents

60
53
50 45

40

30
frequency

20

10 6

0
less than 40 41-59 over 60
age

Figure: Age demographics for the respondents

Source: Field data, 2023

However about 48% of the farmers are educated up to the secondary school level, while
31% of the farmers are educated up to primary school level. Only 11% and 5% of the
farmers have attained college and university education level. This clearly showed that
most of the farmers are not very educated and may not appreciate issues of
environmental degradation, soil and nutrition, water and air pollution among other
emerging issues.
 level of education
college university no education primary
11% 5% 5% 31%

secondary
49%

primary secondary college university no education

Figure: level of education

Source: (Field study, 2023)

5.0.4Farming Purpose
The administered questionnaires to the beneficiaries were also structured in a
manner that it was possible to determine the farming purpose. The purpose was
either, subsistence, commercial or both. It is hence clear that most of the farmers
that did irrigation were doing it for commercial purposes. From the visit to the
site, irrigation comes at an added cost, when using the canal, then a farmer has to
invest for pipes so that water can easily reach to all the crops. For those along the
riverbanks, diesel pump is mostly applicable. Small scale subsistence farmers
hence can’t handle this cost.

5.0.5Income analysis
The survey sought to determine the level of income from the various respondents.
30% of all the respondents in Marigat town earn over Ksh60,000, which is very
impressive, 51% earned over Ksh30,000., while over 61 % of the population
earned over ksh20,000. According to the Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 1 of
2019, the minimum wage in Kenya has been capped at Ksh13,572.90. This shows
 that most of the farmers then in the irrigation scheme are earning above the
minimum wage. From our assessment, this can be attributed to the existence of
Perkerra scheme.

monthly household income of farmers

less 10000
over 60000 6%
30%
10001-20000
33%

50001-60000
5%
40001-50000
4% 30001-40000 20001-30000
11% 9%

less 10000 10001-20000 20001-30000 30001-40000

40001-50000 50001-60000 over 60000

Figure: Monthly household average income for farmers

Source: (Field study, 2023)

The survey was also designed in a way that it captured the farmers income from the various
economic activities in the area. The spectrum of other economic activities was wide that
included Boda-boda riders, livestock keeping, businessmen, beekeeping, poultry and retail.
62% of the famers in Perkerra irrigation scheme fully depend on farming. Livestock keeping
came in second at 11% while retail business came in third at 7%.
other sources income
62%
70%
60%
% frequency of respondents

50%
40%
30%
20% 11%
7% 9% 5% 1% 2%
10% 3%

0%
l s s
in
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ta
i
es es da try in
g
on
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ep re in in bo ul ep
ke
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43% of all the famers earn below Kshs10,000 while 37% of them earned between Kshs10001-
Kshs20000. This analysis was mainly for the farmers who used irrigation for farming. These
shows that the farmers have the potential in engaging in other economic activities.

monthly income from other sources

43%

45% 37%
40%
frequency of respondents %

35%

30%

25%

20%
11%
15% 9%

10%

5%

0%
<10000 10001-20000 20001-30000 30001-40000

monthly earnings

5.0.6How Perkerra irrigation Scheme has impacted livelihoods of the residents.

a) Education
Most of the respondents who were interviewed said that the irrigated farming has really assisted
them in educating their children, especially those in private schools. Most of the interviewed
farmers confirmed that it would have been an uphill task to cater for education needs without the
irrigation agriculture. Perkerra irrigation scheme has ensured that more produce is produced and
hence more income for the farmers. Access of the exporters in the scheme has also been of help, as
the farmers can easily sell their produce.

b) Food Security and better nutrition

Food security is a vital aspect to the community, as it is entrenched in the CIDP, and Kenya
Vision 2030. The farmers inside the settlement practice both subsistence and commercial
farming. This means that they can feed for themselves. By extension, the community around the
settlement can access food at a much cheaper price as compared to other areas. Despite the slight
environmental issues on water quality, the scheme also ensures that the farmers can grow a variety
of crops in their farm and hence the nutritional well-being is guaranteed. The area, as it is an
ASAL, has a lot of fruits further improving on the nutrition. The food produce from Perkerra
Irrigation Scheme is also sold to the people in neighboring towns such as Marigat and Kabarnet
town thus enhancing their food security.

c) Better Livelihood, improved health & Economic Growth (Livestock and building the
house, higher source of income)
The existence of the scheme has major impacts on the economic growth for the area. Some of
these farmers have bought or rented some property in the area for their own. Owing to this factor,
the farmers has influenced the demand of the various facilities in the area, and hence more
investors in real estate. Most of the farmers confirmed that the value of land increased. Other
farmers also confirmed that through farming they have been able to construct better houses for
their families, while others confirmed they were investing in other urban areas.
The health aspect is also a major impact. Farmers can now afford better health services for their
family. Initially they depended on government hospitals but now can afford private hospitals that
have better services.

d) Creation of Employment and Business Opportunities.

Perkerra irrigation scheme has created employment both for the farmers and also for the
community. Most large-scale farmers employ people around Perkerra to assist them in farming.
This creates employment. The business men selling farm inputs in Marigat town also need
employees, as well as the exporters who come to pick the produce in the farms. Various
businesses have also been born from proceeds from irrigated farming, for example the several
agrovets and shops in Marigat town. Transport business has also grown as the produce has to be
transported to other town or exported out of the country hence creating more employment
opportunities.

f) Better Infrastructure
Most of the roads in and around the scheme are well maintained, to enhance the transport system,
as the vehicles need to access the farm. The road to Perkerra town is well tarmacked. There is also
good network connectivity some farmers use to market or connect their produce to other markets.