Sugarcane is a water-intensive crop and requires adequate irrigation to produce high yields. Proper irrigation and water management can increase the productivity and efficiency of sugarcane cultivation while minimizing water usage.
The sugar sub-sector is facing unprecedented challenges which have drastically affected cane and sugar production. Key among them include over-reliance on rain-fed farming, acute cane shortage, inadequate seed cane supply and declining yields. In a bid to address this challenge, the Sugar Directorate in 2016 established pilot sugarcane irrigation projects in the Nucleus Estates of Nzoia, Muhoroni and Chemelil Sugar mills. Water was used to irrigate cane by gravity and records indicate a significant increase in cane yield, cane growth and tillering. The projects were funded using the Sugar Development Levy (SDL) which has since been scrapped.
