Irrigated Farming a Panacea to Food Security-Constrains and Way Forward: The Case of Tunyo Division in Marakwet District- Kenya

Due to effects of climate change and resultant unpredictable rain patterns compounded with rising human population necessitates the adoption of modern agricultural techniques to ensure food sufficiency not only in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) but the entire globe wherever they are. Eleven out of fourty seven counties in Kenya fall under the category of ASAL. This study delves into the subject of irrigated farming to find out the ‘how’ and what can be done to ensure there is adequate food supply for the growing population. The study adopted both the qualitative and quantitative techniques to arrive at the conclusion. The study was guided by the following main objective; to find out how irrigated farming can enhance food security, the challenges faced in irrigated farming and the way forward to these challenges by the residents of Tunyo division in Marakwet district-Kenya. The study found out that irrigated farming faces a myriad of challenges; inadequate water for irrigated farming, small parcels of land for farmers, lack of legal documents on ownership of land. The ways forward for the challenges are; environmental conservation, government should expedite legal documentation of land, motivation to farmers on irrigated farming, financial support, and formation of co-operative societies. The study finally concludes that government should put more efforts on irrigated agriculture to ensure food security.