NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 9 \u2014 Irrigation and climate-smart agriculture took centre stage in Nairobi on Thursday as farmers, government officials, researchers, development organisations and faith-based groups explored ways to help communities cope with water shortages and changing weather patterns.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the \u201cGrowing Together: A Showcase of Climate-Smart Agriculture\u201d event at Mount Carmel Convent Farm in Lavington, Israeli Ambassador to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Seychelles Gideon Behar said irrigation was among the most pressing agricultural needs facing Kenya and Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue of climate change is indeed here. Now, when I look at Kenya and Africa, I know that the most pressing issue in my opinion is really to move into irrigation,\u201d Behar said.<\/p>\n
The event brought together representatives from government, research and academic institutions, development organisations, the private sector, the diplomatic community and faith-based organisations. It featured presentations on climate-smart farming, a tour of the demonstration farm and the planting of fruit trees.<\/p>\n
Behar said agricultural technologies introduced to farmers should be practical and easy to understand, citing drip irrigation and Israel\u2019s experience in water management.<\/p>\n
Israeli Ambassador to Kenya Gideon Behar and Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau tour a demonstration farm during the Growing Together: A Showcase of Climate-Smart Agriculture event at the Mount Carmel Convent Farm in Lavington, Nairobi, on Thursday, August 6, 2026\/Spencer Walela.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery answer that we give must be simple. It must be an answer a farmer can understand. A farmer in Embu, a farmer in Kisumu\u2026 they must have access to simple solutions that change life,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau said agriculture remained a major government priority and linked food security directly to access to water.<\/p>\n
\u201cFood is life. Without water, there\u2019s no food, there\u2019s no life,\u201d Wanjau said.<\/p>\n
She said the event demonstrated the importance of collaboration between communities, development partners, the Israeli government and Kenya in addressing agricultural challenges.<\/p>\n
Wanjau cited the Swahili proverb \u201cJiwe moja haliinjiki chungu\u201d to underscore the need for partnerships.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we have partners on the other side. The Embassy of Israel, the State of Israel coming in with the technical aid and assistance. Then the third stone is the Government of Kenya,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She said climate change was already affecting communities and called for locally appropriate and sustainable solutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cClimate crisis is here with us\u2026 So the question is, what must we do? We must join hands and co-create sustainable solutions,\u201d Wanjau said.<\/p>\n
The Embu experience was presented by CultivAid Nursery Manager Wincate Kariuki, who said the organisation began propagating seedlings after identifying difficulties farmers faced in accessing quality planting materials.<\/p>\n
The nursery initially had a capacity of 1.2 million seedlings annually and distributed one million seedlings to farmers in Embu and other counties last year, she said.<\/p>\n
CultivAid has since expanded its nursery capacity and established model farms across Embu County, where farmers are trained on drip irrigation, bed preparation and integrated pest management.<\/p>\n
The organisation has also introduced attachment and internship programmes aimed at developing young agronomists who work directly with farmers.<\/p>\n
Kariuki urged young people to reconsider their attitude towards agriculture.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not only change your WhatsApp status. Change your mentality on farming. Grab something, grow with something home, learn something,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
A similar model has been established at the Sisters of Mount Carmel, where drip irrigation and greenhouses are being used to grow crops including capsicum.<\/p>\n
For Nora Igoki, a farmer from Evurore Ward in Mbeere North Sub-County, Embu County, access to water remains the biggest obstacle to farming.<\/p>\n
Igoki leads the Green Paradise Water Project, a community group whose members contribute towards irrigation from the Thuchi River.<\/p>\n
She said the group has 780 members and, after approaching the government through their MP, received pipes that enabled it to provide water to more than 400 members.<\/p>\n
CultivAid later helped establish a model farm on one of the members\u2019 farms, providing drip irrigation materials, farm inputs and training.<\/p>\n
The demonstration farm is now producing tomatoes, kales and other crops, with some farmers already selling their produce.<\/p>\n
Igoki said the initiative had also encouraged young people who had previously moved to towns in search of employment to return to farming.<\/p>\n
However, more than 380 members of the group still lack access to water.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt our place, land is not an issue. The issue is water. That is what we are lacking,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She called for more model farms to be established so that additional farmers could access irrigation technologies and training.<\/p>\n
Dr Ayao Sindu of the Kenya Water Institute said research and innovation would have limited impact unless knowledge reached farmers.<\/p>\n
He said changing weather patterns were increasing pressure on agricultural systems and making it necessary for farmers to adopt new approaches.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnowledge in the books or on the shelves does not transform anything. It must be fed, it must be supplied, it must be presented to those who make better use of it,\u201d Sindu said.<\/p>\n
He cited digital agriculture, remote sensing, artificial intelligence and precision agriculture as some of the technologies being used to support decisions on planting, water management, pest surveillance and markets.<\/p>\n
Sindu called for stronger links between research institutions, universities, government agencies, extension services, private companies, financial institutions and farmers.<\/p>\n
He also said farmers should be involved in developing solutions rather than simply receiving technologies developed elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happens in Nairobi cannot actually practically work in Embu. What works in Embu can\u2019t work in Nyanza. So it\u2019s important that we involve these farmers\u2026 to co-create solutions that are sufficient in their areas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Behar said Kenya and Israel had cooperated in agriculture for decades, with thousands of Kenyans travelling to Israel for agricultural training before returning to work in Kenya.<\/p>\n
He said the cooperation also extends to water, agriculture, science, technology, energy, defence and cybersecurity.<\/p>\n
Behar highlighted Israel\u2019s experience in irrigation and wastewater treatment, saying 50 per cent of agriculture in Israel is irrigated and that the country purifies 97 per cent of its sewage water for reuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe use drip irrigation,\u201d he said, adding that the technology could offer practical lessons for Kenyan farmers.<\/p>\n
He said the Israeli Embassy was ready to work with the Kenyan government, the Catholic Church, Water for Mercy and CultivAid on technology transfer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we need to do is to make the knowledge accessible, is to help the ones who want to create the change to make the change,\u201d Behar said.<\/p>\n
Nairobi Archbishop Philip Anyolo placed water at the centre of the food security discussion, saying it was fundamental to both human life and agricultural production.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe basic thing for our lives is water. It\u2019s a basic need. And the basic need for growth is water,\u201d Anyolo said.<\/p>\n
He cited the Kikuyu expression \u201cKuuga na gwika\u201d, meaning that people must both speak and act.<\/p>\n
Father Peter Kiari, Executive Director of Caritas Nairobi, said the Archdiocese of Nairobi was implementing programmes focused on food security, water and livelihoods.<\/p>\n
He said Caritas also runs socio-economic empowerment programmes, including financial literacy initiatives designed to improve household incomes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to empower our people so that they can earn their own livelihood and live a dignified life,\u201d Kiari said.<\/p>\n
The event ended with the ceremonial planting of fruit trees and a tour of the demonstration farm, where participants viewed irrigation systems, greenhouses and crops.<\/p>\n
The experience of farmers such as Igoki highlighted the challenge ahead: demonstrating climate-smart technology is one step, but ensuring it reaches communities where water remains scarce is another.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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