Determinants of climate-resilient irrigation practices uptake among smallholder onion farmers in Laikipia Central Subcounty, Kenya

Abstract

Climate-resilient irrigation practices (CRIPs) defined here as drip, sprinkler, and rain hose irrigation are essential for sustaining smallholder agricultural productivity in semi-arid regions of Kenya, where water scarcity limits crop output. Despite their benefits, uptake of CRIPs among smallholder onion farmers in Laikipia Central Subcounty remains low, with 56.05% still relying on traditional furrow irrigation. Sprinkler irrigation had the highest uptake (12.63%), followed by rain hose (11.84%) and drip irrigation (5.53%); combined adoption of CRIPs accounted for the remaining 13.95%. Data were collected from 380 smallholder onion farmers selected through multistage sampling, using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. The Multivariate Probit model revealed that determinants of uptake varied across the three irrigation practices. Climate change awareness, extension visits, and onion income were positively associated with all three practices. Education and group membership were positively associated with drip and rain hose adoption; off-farm income was positively associated with sprinkler and rain hose; while farm size was negatively associated with both. Technology-specific effects included household size and credit amount being positively associated with drip; sex and distance to farm being negatively associated with sprinkler; and years of Water Resource Users Association membership was positively associated with rain hose, while age and distance to market were negatively associated with rain hose irrigation. The study recommends targeted subsidies and harvest-aligned credit channelled through farmer groups to promote drip irrigation uptake; pay-as-you-go solar pump financing to address energy and liquidity constraints for sprinkler irrigation and for rain hose irrigation, strengthened agro-dealer stock support, spare-parts distribution, and local technician training, complemented by Water Resource Users Association linked water scheduling and Village Savings and Loan Associations based purchase plans to improve affordability and accessibility.