Empowering rural women with drip irrigation and modern agricultural practices

Country

Kenya

Student

Jenna Rodriguez, University of California, Davis

Description

While horticulture is the fastest growing industry in Kenya’s agricultural sector, water resources are becoming more and more limited. Agronomists at Chepkiolel University are promoting drip irrigation among 180 women farmers in order to increase their water use efficiency and their profits. The project leaders are establishing demonstration plots, conducting farmer field days and drip irrigation training sessions. They are also helping the farmers acquire the necessary capital by facilitating saving and credit cooperatives among the groups of women famers. The goal of the project is for each farmer to install drip irrigation on a quarter acre of her field. Jenna Rodriguez is utilizing her vast experience on California farms to help these women develop low‐cost drip irrigation systems.