Kilifi’s Ndigiria Water Pan Gets Sh79 Million Upgrade to Boost Year-Round Farming

The 63-year-old Ndigiria Water Pan in Bamba, Kilifi County, is undergoing a Sh79 million rehabilitation aimed at expanding irrigation and enhancing water availability for farmers and livestock.

Established in 1963, the water pan will be upgraded under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) to support 50 acres of farmland. The initiative is expected to directly benefit more than 100 farmers and indirectly improve the livelihoods of over 4,000 local residents. Additionally, it will provide water for approximately 15,398 livestock in the area.

Rehabilitation Details

• Desilting and strengthening the water pan structure
• Installing fencing around the facility to protect it
• Constructing an intake system and installing pumping equipment
• Laying distribution pipelines to deliver water to farms
• Setting up balancing tanks and solar-powered irrigation systems

The upgraded facility will primarily focus on crop irrigation, moving beyond its traditional role of supplying water for domestic and livestock use. Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe emphasized the need to maximize farmland productivity amid growing population pressures and unreliable rainfall patterns.

Government Support and Community Impact

Kagwe highlighted the importance of water retention during rainy seasons to ensure availability during dry spells. The government is also investing in complementary water conservation methods, such as harvesting seasonal river flows and developing boreholes where sustainable.

Farmers benefiting from the project will receive seeds, extension services, and technical assistance. The rehabilitation work is being phased to maintain continuous access to water for residents during construction. To protect irrigation resources, livestock watering points will be separated from crop irrigation areas.

Local employment opportunities will arise from the project, with priority given to residents around Bamba. The government also plans to improve access roads to the water pan to facilitate market access for farmers.

Strengthening Farmer Cooperatives

As part of the project launch, Sh30.5 million was allocated to eight local savings and credit cooperative societies (SACCOs) to strengthen farmers’ financial capacity. Principal Secretary for Cooperatives Development Patrick Kilemi noted that robust SACCOs can help farmers pool produce, access credit, and improve market negotiations.

Deputy Governor Flora Mbetsa Chibule urged the community to safeguard the rehabilitated water infrastructure, emphasizing its long-term value depends on proper management.

Context and Outlook

This rehabilitation aligns with broader government efforts to reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture by enhancing irrigation infrastructure nationwide. Larger schemes like Galana-Kulalu and other small dam projects are ongoing to improve water security for farming.

For Bamba residents, the Ndigiria Water Pan upgrade offers a critical opportunity to extend growing seasons and increase food production in an area historically challenged by erratic rainfall.