Farmer participation in project management phases, endogenous factors and sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes in Busia County, Kenya

Abstract

Sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes in Kenya is low and the extent to which farmer participation influence sustainability is not known yet critical. If this knowledge is established then 300,000 ha could be put under irrigation by 2030. The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which farmer participation in project management phases influence sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes. The objectives of the study were; to establish the level at which farmer participation in project identification influence sustainability, to determine how farmer participation in project planning influence sustainability, to assess the extent to which farmer participation in project implementation influence sustainability, to examine the extent to which farmer participation in project control influence sustainability, to establish the extent to which farmer participation in project management phases influence sustainability and to determine how endogenous factors moderate the relationship between farmer participation in project management phases and sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes in Busia County, Kenya. The study adopted pragmatism paradigm and was grounded in citizen empowerment theory. Descriptive cross sectional survey research design and correlation research design were adopted. The study a study population 1,385 elements made up of 1,371 farmers from which 300 were drawn using Cochran’s formulae while 14 staff were selected through census. Data was gathered using questionnaires, interview guide and observation schedule. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively using mean scores and standard deviations while inferential analysis adopted Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation and regression models. Qualitative data was interpreted using themes. Out of six hypotheses, five were rejected while one was not rejected. Analysis showed r = 0.385, F (1,272) = 46.5, R2 = 0.1449 at p = 0.01 < 0.05, H0 was rejected and it was concluded that farmer participation in project identification has a significant influence on sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes. With r = 0.327, F (1,272) = 32.53, R2 = 0.1068 at p = 0.01 < 0.05, H0 was rejected and it was concluded that farmer participation in project planning has a significant influence on sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes. With r = 0.431, F (1,272) = 62.01, R2 = 0.1857 at p = 0.01 < 0.05, H0 was rejected and it was concluded that farmer participation in project implementation has a significant influence on sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes. With r = 0.666, F (1,272) = 204.53, R2 = 0.4438 at p =0.01 < 0.05, H0 was rejected and it was concluded that farmer participation in project control has a significant influence on sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes. With r = 0.629, F (1,272) = 51.09, R2 = 0.4618 at p = 0.01 < 0.05 H0 was rejected and it was concluded that farmer participation in project management phases has a significant influence on sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes. With r = 0.789, F (3,177) = 3.358, at p = 0.02 < 0.05, H0 was not rejected and it was concluded that influence of farmer participation in project management phases on sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes does not depend on endogenous factors. The study recommend use of extensive community mobilization to increase farmer participation in feasibility study. It is also recommended that information dissemination be enhanced to inform farmer participation in activity scheduling and approval. It also recommended that farmers’ contributions in project implementation be consistent with 90:10 government to farmer contribution ratio. It is also recommended that training manuals be revised and aligned to project management phases. It is recommended that WUA capacity be developed and focused on rules of water use. It also recommended that user pays principle be the basis of cost recovery. Further research could be undertaken on influence of government subsidy, influence of charges, influence of marketing of irrigated crops and farmers’ dependency on government subsidy in order to further inform the Busia County CIDP, the National Irrigation Policy and the year 2022 Vision 2030 mid-term review.