Collaborating for a Sustainable Kenya: Solutions to Irrigation and Water Management

The borders of Kenya expand from the Indian ocean to the edge of Uganda. A range of biomes and ecological diverse regions can be found there, from grasslands and mountain ranges to coastal plains. In May, several faculty members from NC State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) traveled to Kenya to strengthen communication for future collaboration and research.

This initiative is jointly funded by the NC State Global One Health Academy and CALS. Representatives from the Kenyan government, NC State and the University of Nairobi are working to address sustainable agricultural development practices such as crop production, water quality and animal nutrition.

Among the group was Chadi Sayde, an assistant professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, who specializes in irrigation and water management. He spent the trip meeting with farmers, researchers and government officials to discuss the challenges Kenyans are facing. One of these challenges involves water management and technology. 

In Kenya there is a seasonal pattern of precipitation. There are two precipitation seasons and one drought season. This pattern makes water a little more difficult to manage for agricultural purposes. Sayde says better irrigation and water management practices will help make the entire system resilient to seasonal conditions and climate change. 

Sayde says there are three components to transform Kenya’s current water management practices. The first component is using water resources more efficiently. He says this aspect involves “using what is available and trying to improve the actual system, such as capturing and reusing runoff water.” 

Sayde’s second component is improving the use of water saving technologies like irrigation systems. Implementing the appropriate technologies allows easy and efficient use for small-scale farmers.

The third is better water management practices. 

“Even if you have the best tools and you have the water, it is useless if you don’t know how to manage it properly,” says Sayde.“That’s the bottom line: irrigation and water management are key components to making a resilient production system.”

Implementing these three components will help achieve the goals of the CREdO (Connecting Research, Education and Outreach) framework. 

“We have to be effective, and we have to have a system approach,” says Sayde. 

While on the trip, each CALS team member collaborated and worked with other representatives to create a plan for each agricultural and societal area. Sayde explains the team has to address the whole aspect of the supply chain, from production to consumption, in order to make a lasting impact. This initiative places an emphasis on solving challenges in sustainable ways.

This new and flourishing line of communication with representatives in Kenya will make future projects and collaborations easier. Sayde explains this partnership is important for NC State’s international relations. 

“Representatives from Kenya are very selective in who they partner with, so the fact they chose us is a big deal,” he says. “CALS International Programs managed to break through a major barrier in communication.” 

The team is looking to bring additional people with expertise to the project. Sayde says NC State faculty and students who are interested in international research should look into joining this strong network.

“The impact you make is immediate because you can see that it affects people’s lives directly,”  he says. “It is very rewarding.”