REGISTRATION NO: X75/4922/2019.

QUESTION ONE.
a) Satellite remote sensing.
Remote sensing is a tool that is used to studying and obtaining information about
water resources and to measure the ground water levels. It is through satellite
remote sensing that the earths hydrological and meteorological conditions are
observed. This include soil moisture, land temperature and water quality.
One application of satellite remote sensing is rain water harvesting. Due to the
advances in satellite remote sensing, various parts of the earth are selected as
potential water harvesting sites and are identified and evaluated. These sites are
used for harvesting rain water increase the amount of water availability. Another
application is in drought monitoring. Through remote sensing the extent and
effects of drought are understood better and ways to cope with the drought are
formulated.
b) Meters and sensor network.
Water meters are used to regulate activities of water distribution to the population.
Such activities include: hydraulic flow, water quality and detection of leakages.
Through water meters, water is conveyed to the public and the sensors detect
leakages in the water networks avoiding water loss. Therefore, the meter and
sensor network technology assist in managing water resources by avoiding
unnecessary water loss through leakages.
c) Geographical information Systems.
Geographical information system is a technology that is used to monitor and
manage allocation of water resources. Through geographical information system,
information about the availability of water resources is gathered and the
distribution of the water to the public. This information aids the decision makers in
making efficient and reliable decisions on how the water resource is made
available to the public in an efficient manner while regulating the amount of water
distributed. It ensures that amount of water usage is reduced but the amount
distributed meets the needs of the public thus managing the water resources.
d) Desalination of water.
Desalination of water is the process of removing salts from water for example sea
water. The technologies involved in the process of desalination include thermal
and membrane technology. Thermal technology is where the saline water is boiled
and the water vapour produced is condensed creating fresh water. Membrane
technology involves semi permeable membranes where the salts are separated from
water.
Desalination aids the problem of water shortage. Due to this water shortage,
generating other sources of water is crucial, desalination being one of them.
Through desalination of more water is made available to the people meeting their
increasing water demands.
e) Treatment of waste water.
With the increasing population the availability of water is limited. Other methods
of acquiring water are needed to curb the water shortages especially in agriculture.
Therefore, usage of treated waste water is considered. Waste water from industries
and domestic use can be treated and re-used. Waste water from industrial activities
and domestic use is treated and returned to farms for irrigation purposes. The
treatment of waste water reduces wasting water that can be treated and used for the
benefit of the people.

QUESTION TWO.
I) Individual factors.
a) Age of the decision maker.
The age of the decision maker is a factor that affects the adoption of new irrigation
technologies either positively or negatively. For the older decision makers, they
may reject adopting the new irrigation technology as it is new to them and lack of
knowledge on how to operate the new technology. Likewise, due to their long
experience in agriculture they may prefer using their previous methods of irrigation
since they are more comfortable using it and they may not want to jeopardize it
through new technology.
However, the younger generation are likely to embrace the new irrigation
technologies more. The younger generation are less-risk averse, more exposed to
technology and are likely to try new technology therefore the idea of transitioning
to new irrigation technology is likely to be received positively. Therefore the age
of the decision maker may affect positively or negatively the adoption of new
technology.
b) Education levels of the farmers.
The level of education of a farmer contributes to whether they will adopt new
irrigation technologies. The level of education is categorised into: Primary level,
secondary level, college and university level. Education is thought to create open
mindedness among individuals that can help them in making rational decisions in
accepting various practices such as new irrigation technologies. Therefore, through
education farmers are able to understand the workings of the complex new
technologies increasing the chances of adopting them.
However, through this education farmers also understand the issues and dangers
they are likely to face if they choose to adopt the new technologies. Therefore, the
level of education of farmers influence the way the new technology is adopted.
c) Household size.
The household size is termed as the measure of labour availability. The larger the
household size the more likely the new irrigation technologies are adapted. This is
so to increase efficiency and reduce the labour costs when the new technology is
adapted.

II) Social Factors.

a) Farmers attitude towards new irrigation technologies.
The attitude of the farmers is a major factor that influences whether the new
technology will be adopted. If a farmer does not agree with the idea of trying new
irrigation technology then the adoption of that new technology will be negatively
affected.
However, if the farmer is open minded and wishes to try the new irrigation
technology then the adoption of the new technology is positively affected.
Therefore, the adoption of a new technology may be positive or negative
depending on the attitude of the farmers towards it.
b) Membership groups between farmers.
According to (Mignouna et al, 2011) belonging to a social group increases trust
and information exchange. Through these social groups, farmers are able to share
what they know about the new technology. A farmer may not be willing to try out
a new technology but when they see that their members in a social group are trying
it they might also try the new irrigation technology. These groups may change
farmer’s negative attitude towards adopting the new irrigation technologies
increasing chances of adoption. This relationships influence the adoption of the
new technology.
However, these relationships may have a negative influence in the adaption of new
technology. If a farmer is not happy with the results of using the new irrigation
technology then the members of the social network may fail to adopt the new
technology due to the negative experience of a member in their social group.
c) Farmers awareness of the issues relating to irrigation.
The level of the awareness of the farmers to the issues related to adoption of new
irrigation technologies affect the way they are adopted. If the new irrigation
technology brings more harm than benefits to the farmer then the adoption will be
negatively affected. For example, if the new irrigation technology causes more
problems to the soil such as increased erosion the farmers are not likely to adopt it.
However, if the new irrigation brings more profit then the adoption of the new
technology increases. This is because in as much as the farmers would like to adopt
the new technology the benefits have to surpass the disadvantages.
III) Economic Factors.
a) Income of the farmer.
The income of a farmer is assumed to be a factor that influences the adoption of
new irrigation technology. The adoption of new technology comes with the costs
of the new irrigation technology. If a farmer’s income is low and the cost of
adopting the new technology is higher, the farmer would not be able to afford. For
a technology to be adopted it should be within the reach of a farmer. Due to the
high costs of adoption of the technology the rate of the adoption of the new
technology will be negatively affected.
If the farmer’s income is higher than the cost of adopting the technology then the
farmer may adopt it since he or she can afford it. It is therefore important for the
farmer to be able to afford a new irrigation technology for it to be adopted.
b) The size of the farm.
According to (Uaiene et al, 2009) the size of the farm matters in adopting a new
technology. A farmer with a large farm may spare a piece of land to try the new
technology while a farmer with a small farm may not. This is because some
technologies require large lands in order to be successful and profitable.
In terms of farm size, farmers with small farm size may opt to use other methods
technology in comparison to the new technology due to economies of scale
required by the new technology. Therefore, the size of the farm influences if a new
technology is adopted.
c) Availability of credit facilities.
Adaption of new irrigation technologies comes along with costs and the need of
capital is inevitable. For farmers who cannot afford the new technology they might
seek help from credit facilities. The availability of the credit to the farmers is
crucial if they were to consider adopting the new technology. If credit is made
available to most farmers who cannot afford the new technology by themselves,
the adoption of the new technology will increase.
IV) Organizational factors.
a) Acquisition of information about the new irrigation technology.
Acquiring information about a new technology assists in learning more about the
technology hence facilitating adoption. One may choose to adopt a new technology
if they are aware of how it works. Likewise, farmers may consider adopting a new
irrigation technology if they are familiar with it.
However, acquiring information may also discourage adoption where only a few
people know about the technology and negative attitude due to bad experiences by
farmers regarding irrigation technologies. Therefore, for the new technology to be
adopted the information needs to be concise and reliable clearly stating how to use
the technology and its benefits to a farmer.
b) Availability of extension services.
Extension services are carried out by extension agents who act as links between the
technology inventors and the users of the technology. Through the extension
services communication costs are reduced and information is easily accessible by
farmer’s regarding the new irrigation technology. This reduced chain of getting
information increases chances of adoption of the new technology, this is because
more farmers become exposed to information about the usage of the technology
and its benefits.

V) Environmental factors.
a) Proximity of farm to water sources.
The proximity of the farmers to a water source influences the adoption of a new
irrigation technology. The farmers in the upstream have access to more water from
the water sources for example the rivers. While the farmers located downstream
receive less therefore experience shortage of water.
The farmers located upstream due to their proximity to the water sources may
adapt the new irrigation technology. However, the farmers located downstream due
to the water shortage may have challenges adopting the new irrigation technology.
b) Soil type.
The type of soil on a farm influences whether a farmer will adopt a new irrigation
technology. The adoption of a new technology depends on maximizing utility,
increased profits and farm yields.
The soil infiltration and the soil texture will depend whether a new irrigation
technology will be adapted. This is because different soils are best irrigated
through different irrigation technologies. Therefore, for a farmer to adopt a new
irrigation technology he or she will have to keep in mind the type of soil on their
farm before considering adoption.

References:
Mignouna, B., Manyong, M., Rusike, J., Mutabazi, S., & Senkondo, M. (2011).
Determinants of Adopting Imazapyr-Resistant Maize Technology and its Impact
on Household Income in Western Kenya: AgBioforum, 14(3), 158-163. Hall, B.
and Khan, B. (2002) Adoption of new technology. New Economy Handbook.
Uaiene, R., Arndt, C., Masters, W. (2009) Determinants of Agricultural
Technology Adoption in Mozambique. Discussion papers No. 67E.