Farmers in Baringo’s Perkerra Irrigation Scheme are experiencing a major transformation through contract farming, shifting from subsistence to commercial agriculture with a focus on seed maize production. This change was made possible by the National Irrigation Authority’s (NIA) rehabilitation of critical infrastructure, which restored reliable water access, enabling farmers to secure high yields, earn better incomes, and access ready markets through contracts with companies like Kenya Seed. Farmers such as Nicholas Bowen and Bency Chebungei praised the initiative for improving livelihoods, education access, and household stability, while also calling for more consistent water supply through dam construction.
The National Irrigation Authority plans to expand irrigation nationwide to 1.5 million acres by 2030, aligning with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and economic transformation goals. Currently, only 22% of the country’s irrigation potential is utilized, but efforts in Baringo and other frontier counties include repairing flood-damaged systems, developing new water sources like boreholes and micro-irrigation schemes, and piloting large-scale projects using Lake Baringo water. Projects such as the proposed Radat Dam, expected to irrigate 50,000 acres, reflect the government’s long-term commitment to food security and economic development through sustainable irrigation and contract farming.
Read the whole article at https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/rift-valley/2025-07-01-contract-farming-turning-baringo-farmers-fortunes