Kenyan farmers in Thika East Sub County thrive via irrigation agriculture

A group of farmers from the semi-arid Kilimambogo area in Thika East Sub County are making a fortune from irrigation agriculture. More than 200 farmers from Kisiiki village have tapped the adjacent Athi River and farmed vegetables, tomatoes, maize and bananas, which they have been selling over the dry period to make a living.

The farmers have connected generator pumps and pipes from the river and are always in their farms doing irrigation till late. Each day, hundreds of traders and brokers flock into their farms to get the vegetables to supply to the nearby Matuu and Thika and other local markets as well as the nearby learning institutions.

One growers says this is the season when the demand for his agricultural produce is high. “The demand for the vegetables is so high that we have to increase the farms under irrigation. We rarely take these products to the markets as traders flock the farms each day to buy the produce.” He farms tomatoes, cabbages and bananas and has employed three casual laborers to help in irrigation, weeding and harvesting of the produce.

“Almost every person from this village who has a farm adjacent to the river is busy in their farms. We have the chance to tap the big river to kick out hunger in the area. This river is a blessing,” he says.

Source: kenyanews.go.ke