Lessons Learned in the Replication and Scaling-up of Rainwater Harvesting Technologies in Arid and Semi-arid Areas: A Case Study of Kilifi County, Kenya

In the arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya, agricultural water scarcity, which is characterized by high rainfall variability, is the most significant determinant of livelihood risks and food insecurity. Despite rainwater harvesting holding significant potential for sustaining dryland production systems, its adoption and replicability are still low. This paper analyses the lessons learnt in promoting the adoption and replication of rainwater harvesting technologies and small-scale irrigation in the arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya. The findings demonstrate that rainwater harvesting technologies have a huge potential in promoting climate resilience and food security. This paper shows that, in order to optimize the production potential of rainwater technologies, policy makers should integrate biophysical and socioeconomic conditions in the design and implementation. The potential to adopt, replicate and scale-up can further be catalysed using participatory technology development and dissemination approach. This approach can provide a platform to combine better land management and good agronomic practices that can enhance the production potential of rainwater harvesting technologies.