More water, safe water: how a DFID project is delivering
knowledge to Kenyan farmers
Related pages: MDG 7:
Environment | Kenya country profile |
 DFID's
Water Action Plan (98 KB)
Image courtesy of Water Aid
Did you know that the average person in a developed country gets through 20 to 30
litres of water every day for drinking, cooking and washing? That's at least ten
large bottles.
But if you think that sounds a lot, imagine how much you'd need if you had
some farm animals. Dairy cows alone get through 50 litres of water a day each -
while sheep and goats drink ten litres each. And don't forget your chickens -
ten of them together consume two litres of water a day.
Now imagine you live in a country where it doesn't rain for 200 days of the
year. What would you do?
That is the problem facing many Kenyan smallholders - but new DFID-funded
brochures from the  Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) are showing
farmers how to preserve water, and make it safe for humans to drink.
How it works
Image courtesy of The Hunger Project
Using clear language and illustrations, the brochures show farmers how to construct a pan (pond) for collecting rainwater for livestock,
make tanks to collect rainwater from the roof and how to treat their household water to kill germs.
The benefits are clear: more water becomes available, and action is taken to prevent diseases such as
cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea.
Rachel Rege from KARI said:
"We have prolonged dry seasons when it doesn't rain at all - but when it
does rain, a lot of the water goes to waste. The brochures are helping to get
the message across that there are simple steps farmers can take to store their
water for future use - and make it safe to drink.
"DFID's funding enabled us to produce a whole series of brochures
in English and in Kiswahili offering practical advice to farmers - from water preservation to improving crop
yields. We have used them with a wide range of groups, distributing them to
farmers, agricultural libraries, co-operative groups and scientists. They have
been very successful and we are ordering reprints."
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Key facts
- 22 March 2005 is World Water Day.
- Improving water supply to the one billion people who do not have access to
clean drinking water is one of the Millennium Development Goals.
- Over 2005/2006 DFID is providing £50 million
(156
kb) to help Kenya achieving the Millennium Development Goals
- A DFID-funded WaterAid initiative has helped cut child mortality in
Bangladeshi villages by improving water supply and sanitation. DFID recently
increased its funding to £1.25 million for 2005/06 as part of its
renewed support for NGOs
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