With climate change and climate variability comes fluctuating rainfall and extreme temperatures. Growing seasons are changing. These shifts severely impact lives and livelihoods.
Water security starts with water availability. There must be enough water to satisfy diverse-and sometimes conflicting- needs. When households have water, their ability to improve sanitation and hygiene is enhanced. The COVID pandemic has clearly illustrated the importance of this.
Emu Sacco offers a pragmatic, community-based approach to water security within the Upper Ewaso Basin by providing financing and technical support for water users. Through our membership, we’ve established a savings and credit program. Our collective savings generate a “borrowing pool” that farmers can use to access finances for household-level investment in water harvesting, storage and infrastructure. We help you to use water more efficiently.
Water security and efficient use contribute to sustainable economic empowerment, improvement in livelihoods, and better health and sanitation for its members.
MKEWP right now is providing technical support to a limited number of farmers/businesses to develop designs and bills of quantities for smallholder water storage and irrigation systems. This is part of the partnership between MKEWP and EMU SACCO.
The Partnership subsidizes the initial design and cost estimates of on-farm water storage and the installation of dam liners for water ponds and other types of water storage systems.
So far, 10 member farmers have received technical assistance to design and develop bills of quantities for liners using this assistance. Our farmers typically invest in on-farm capacities of 1-2 million litres. Our target is to secure 18 million litres of water storage by the end of June 2021.
The advantages of our water storage investment option are big. Benefits include:
- Water becomes available long-term at minimal cost and the return on investment is quick.
- Water conservation and efficient use within the Ewaso Basin contribute to both a green economy and improved water basin management.
- Crop and livestock productivity can be increased.
- Water storage contributes to your resilience in the face of climatic shocks.
On Farm Water Pan
Total average costs for a water pan of 1 million litres is KSH. 250-260,000 – This includes excavation, design costs, liner, installation, fencing and transport. Irrigation and pumping systems are extra and depend on farm size, location and household use.
Right now, the rains are here, rivers are flowing, and now is the time to capture water for the next dry season. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to benefit your business, your livelihood, your family, your health, and yourself.
First Come, First Served – Don’t delay
For help and more information, contact us using the information on our poster, through
0700 014 239
The implementation of this exercise is supported by
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