Rice productivity, Water and Sanitation Baseline Survey Report Western Kenya Rice Irrigation Schemes

Abstract

The rice productivity, water and sanitation baseline survey conducted in the three western Kenya region rice irrigation schemes (Ahero, West Kano and Bunyala) in August 2011 was done first to get information on the target populations to be used to help in defining appropriate strategies for rice crop water management such as the system of rice intensification (SRI) and drinking water treatment technologies for the targeted communities in order to aid the project implementation. The second purpose of the survey was to provide baseline information from which to monitor progress and to evaluate the outcomes of the project. This population based study focused on households‟ rice productivity, current health and socio-economic status in addition to information about household water use, water storage, and sanitation. The data collected using questionnaires included-the household characteristics, demographic data, health aspects, water use and availability, latrine use and availability, hand washing, food hygiene, rubbish disposal, disease prevalence and rice production. Observations of the drinking water containers, cleanliness of the compound and latrine were also made. The data collected was analyzed by using the scientific package for social sciences (SPSS) version 11. The baseline study indicated that most respondents interviewed in the three irrigation schemes are permanent residents having lived in the schemes for more than five years. On average, 57% of the households in Ahero Irrigation Scheme (AIS) are male headed and 41% are female headed. In West Kano Irrigation Scheme (WKIS) and Bunyala Irrigation Scheme (BIS), more households (66% and 70%, respectively) are male-headed while 34% and 30%, respectively are female headed. Over 93% of all the households in the three irrigation schemes primarily depend on rice production as the main source of income. While all households in BIS derive their main income from rice farming only, households in AIS and WKIS supplement their income by exploiting wage labour opportunities (1.2% and 2.5%, respectively), craftsmanship (5% in AIS) and fishing (1.2% in WKIS). In the three irrigation schemes, malaria is the most prevalent disease affecting 48% of households surveyed in AIS, 40% in WKIS and 45% in BIS. This can be explained by the favourable weather conditions and presence of frequent stagnant water. Diarrhea is more prevalent among households in WKIS (24%) and BIS (29%). Typhoid affects more households in AIS (28%) and WKIS (23%) than BIS (19%). Dysentery is least prevalent in rice irrigation schemes. Other diseases are distributed as follows, WKIS (10.8%), AIS (9.8%), and BIS (4.7%), respectively. Households in AIS and BIS have access to four sources of water for domestic use whereas all households surveyed in WKIS obtain the water used for domestic use from pump boreholes. About 55% and 53% of households interviewed in AIS and BIS, respectively, obtain their water from pump boreholes and lined wells. About 55% and 53% of households interviewed in AIS and BIS, respectively, obtain their water from pump boreholes and lined wells. Most households surveyed have family latrines. Majority of households (between 77% - 88%) have pit latrines, however, not all family members use them. The respondents in AIS (56%), BIS (78%) and 81% in WKIS make use of latrines whereas 22%, 15% and 2.5% respectively reported the contrary. The reasons for not allowing all family members to use the latrines range from difficulties due to age; preference for open defecation; productive ii activities that compel some members to work out in the field and the need to avoid bad smell. The implications arising from open defection include; contamination of water sources and contamination of food crops. Whereas most respondents in the three irrigation schemes know the importance of washing hands, there are variations in the understanding of the reasons for doing so. Personal hygiene-washing hands before eating scored 93%-100%. In AIS (91%) and BIS (97%), the need to keep hands clean scored higher than in WKIS (73%). In AIS, 96% respondents reported that they wash hands to reduce chances of contracting diseases and enhance better health. During the baseline survey, observations were made on the general level of tidiness within the compounds of the selected households. The results indicate that over 87% of respondents live in mud floored houses; over 63% have mud walls and over 62% have roofs made of iron sheets. This implies the respondents hardly use income from rice growing to improve their housing situation, land ownership and land-use characteristics. Most farmers in AIS (95%) and WKIS (86%) grow rice on less than seven acres of land, most of which is allocated by NIB. In BIS 50% of the respondents cultivated three to five acres of land allocated by the NIB, and less than 8% rent land for rice production. About 8% and 12% of farmers in BIS and AIS, respectively, rent less than three acres of land for rice growing. In WKIS, 16% of the respondents rent up to seven acres of land for rice cultivation. In the three irrigation schemes, 86.2%, 77.5% and 92.5% of the respondents in AIS, WKIS and BIS, respectively, own the land under rice production. Less than 4% of respondents in all the irrigation schemes rent the land cultivated, while about 1% in WKIS lease the land used to grow rice. Production costs vary across the three irrigation scheme. In terms of crop variety, 56% of farmers in AIS prefer IR2793 as compared to 50% of farmers in BIS. In WKIS, 59% of the farmers rank Basmati 317 variety highly. In the absence of IR2793 rice variety, farmers in AIS would cultivate Basmati 317; whereas farmers in WKIS and BIS would replace their highly ranked varieties with IR2793 and BW 317, respectively. The reasons for preference of respective varieties are due to long periods of cultivation and lack of awareness on new improved rice varieties. The baseline study provides an overview of the rice growing practices and lays a firm foundation in understanding the challenges facing farmers in the rice growing schemes in western Kenya. In conclusion the situation in the three irrigation schemes reveals a vicious cycle in which numerous factors contribute to rampant poverty. Living conditions are difficult as witnessed by low purchasing power, high rice crop production costs, low levels of education of women, overcrowded households, and the nature of housing, latrines in poor condition, poor access to safe drinking water, etc. All these factors lead to inadequate hygiene and basic sanitation, resulting in prevalence of waterborne diseases in the communities. The lack of awareness about waterborne diseases and failure of the local population to employ preventative measures increases their vulnerability to preventable common illnesses that play a toll on households. High health care costs and reduced productivity are just two consequences of preventable illnesses. Without an improvement in the returns from the main rice crop and in basic living conditions, households in the three irrigation schemes are at risk of plunging even deeper into poverty.