Perkerra irrigation gives hope and income to Marigat residents

Perkerra is among the country’s oldest irrigation schemes, which started in 1954, two years after the British declared a state of emergency. 

The scheme has been a catalyst for the growth and development of Marigat township in Baringo, with most residents starting small businesses.

Businesswoman Valentine Chebon gets all her produce from the Perkerra Irrigation Scheme. She sells honey, watermelons and pawpaws.

“I have stock due to irrigation and it has been so very helpful,” she said.

Agnes Chepkeitany, popularly known as ‘Shosh wa Marigat’, said the scheme has kept her in business for many years. She sells bananas, pawpaws, pumpkins and honey.

Edna Omara, who runs a vegetable shop, said her business depends on the scheme.

“There is life in Marigat because of Perkerra Irrigation Scheme,” Omara said.

Perkerra scheme manager Daniel Waweru said the project is on 5,800 gazetted acres. Some 2,750 acres are under irrigation.

It benefits 1,625 households owning plots ranging from half an acre to four acres.

The remainder is used for settlement, public utilities and subsistence farming. 

The main crop is maize seed but the scheme is also known for its sweet watermelons and other crops.

The scheme derives its name from River Perkerra, the source of irrigation water and the only permanent river in the region.

The scheme is about 140km from Nakuru town and 295km from Nairobi heading to Marigat township in Baringo South.

The scheme has a direct dependent population of about 23,000 people, while the benefits stretch beyond Baringo county.

"This is through jobs, water supply, improved food security and giving farmers a steady flow of income by selling their produce within the region and elsewhere," Waweru said.

Construction of the scheme started in 1954, after several feasibility studies. The last study in 1936 showed the Njemps plains were suitable for irrigation.

“The construction did not start in 1936 as expected due to lack of funds until the declaration of the state of emergency in 1952. The Mau Mau detainees held in Marigat were made to start working on the site as a form of punishment," Waweru said.

Reuben Yasaningo, a farmer who worked with the colonisers as the scheme was getting built, said the detainees constructed infrastructure such as canals and main intake from morning to 1pm.

“Many died during the construction of the intake from accidents when construction objects hit them. After the daily works, there was a headcount to ensure none of the detainees had escaped,” he said.

Richard arap Sitaki, who was a farmer during the colonial days, said the detainees braved high temperatures and battled diseases such as malaria.

“However, the weekly distribution of drugs and house sprays kept mosquitoes and the diseases at bay while the scheme took shape,” he said.

Manager Waweru said the scheme was closed in 1959 due to the dwindling number of farmers. But the British colonialists tapped farmers from all locations in Baringo to work in the scheme where they were housed.

Waweru said the first crops to be grown at Perkerra were onions, chilies and tomatoes.

“Later, due to stiff competition from Tanzanian onion farmers and traders, Perkerra farmers tried maize farming. They contacted the Kenya Seed Company that agreed to be on board and the first crop was planted in 1976,” he said.

“With the increased popularity of maize production in the scheme, other neighbouring irrigation stations such as Eldume, Sandai, Kapkuikui and Kamosko planted maize.” 

They were community-based and getting their waters from Molo River, Lorwai Springs and Kiserian River.

Perkerra is one of the seven public irrigation schemes under the management of the National Irrigation Authority (NIA).

Waweru said despite the many benefits, farmers face a major challenge of floods that destroy streams and farms.

“However, NIA has designed the proposed Radat Dam that will hold more than 120 million cubic metres of water," the manager said.

"Its construction will, among other benefits and goals, help to step up the expansion of Perkerra Irrigation Scheme from 2,750 acres to more than 50,000 acres.” 

The management of Perkerra scheme is done through participatory irrigation management, in which the authority and the farmers’ groups partner.

These groups include the Irrigation Water Users Association (IWUA), Marigat Farmers’ Cooperative Society (MFCS) and Perkerra Mix Cooperative Society (PMCS).

Waweru said the authority handles operation and maintenance of primary and secondary irrigation infrastructure, rehabilitation and modernisation of infrastructure, farmers’ training and stakeholder management.

The water users association, hosted within the scheme, collects operation and maintenance fees, while managing the operation and maintenance of tertiary irrigation infrastructure. It handles conflict management.

The Perkerra scheme has provided wealth and hope for Baringo residents, particularly Marigat town, which is known for pure honey and sweet watermelon.

Waweru said land preparation for the main crop season usually starts in February and ends in April. Planting starts in March through May. Harvesting is September.

A second crop is planted in October and harvested in January.

Waweru said for sustainability, the scheme is bridging the required annual budget of Sh30 million from Sh8 million by looking at increasing the operation and maintenance charges from Sh2,000 per acre per season for all crops to Sh7,500 per acre per season.

“This was agreed upon by stakeholders and the scheme management resolved to implement the new rates gradually. Starting April 2024, seed maize operation and maintenance fee will be charged at Sh4,000/acre/season, while the charges for legumes and other crops will temporarily remain at Sh2,000/acre/season,” he said.

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