PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF PUMPED IRRIGATION SYSTEM: A CASE OF SMALLHOLDER HORTICULTURAL FARMERS

Abstract

The study was carried out with the  objectives  evaluating  the technical performance of the pumps used in smallholder irrigated agriculture, studying the energy uses during pumping and identifying the possible causes of inefficient energy use, and evaluating the costs of pumping used during irrigation.  Observational study to identify occurrence of pumped irrigation systems in Kakuzi Division in Thika   and Yatta Division  in Yatta District was done. Semi structured questionnaires were administered to 80 respondents in the study areas to investigate the challenges of pumped irrigation as well as find the socio-economic status of the people and the agricultural practices carried out. A detailed study was carried out on 10 different pumps during irrigation to evaluate their efficiency as well as energy uses.   The results showed that numerous challenges faced smallholder pumped irrigation systems some of which are irrigation component selection, design  and operation as well as irrigation water management. 60% of the pumps evaluated operated below the recommended design efficiency. The pumps further showed different fuel consumption rates, while the cost of fuel used to irrigate an hectare of land varied for all the 10 pumps assessed. The lowest and highest fuel consuming pump used fuel valued at 350 ksh/ha and 8,426 ksh/ha,  respectively. The huge difference is as a result of several factors such as pump consumption rate, farmer’s irrigation timing among others. The result therefore means that some enterprises made huge profits while others operated at marginal profits or no profit at all. The results imply that without proper selection of the irrigation equipments, poor designs as well as lack of operational and management skills, the farming enterprises can be rendered uneconomical. This calls for embracing of the engineering, agronomic as well as management techniques at farm level in order to ensure sustainability of irrigated agriculture as well as enhance its economic viability.