WARREC to host the National Irrigation Acceleration Platform (N-IAP)
Ms. Vandana making presentation during the workshop
WARREC will now be the National Hosting Institution for “The National Level Irrigation Acceleration Platform (N-IAP)”, of the Smart Water for Agriculture (SWA) Programme in Kenya. Speaking during the National IAP facilitation mini-workshop held in JKUAT on 15th February 2018, Vandana Thottoli the Senior Advisor SNV Netherlands – Irrigation Acceleration Platform of the Smart Water for Agriculture Program announced that WARREC has been selected by SNV to be the National host of this platform. By being the host of the National IAP means that JKUAT-WARREC will be a place where people and organizations involved in irrigation innovation, development and scaling, meet and interact, to find and spread effective “smart water solutions”. This platform will seek to address challenges that frustrate irrigated agriculture expansion in Kenya.
The Smart Water for Agriculture (SWA) Programme aims at increasing water productivity for 20,000 SME farmers through the development of a dynamic and sustainable ‘Smart Water Solutions’ sector in Kenya – Increasing their Income and Food Security and making them more resilient to climate change.
Prof. Mati making a presentation during the workshop
In her remarks during the workshop, WARREC Director Prof. Eng. Bancy Mati thanked SNV for having considered JKUAT and WARREC in Particular to be the hosting institution for this National platform. “ The SWA project will also build the capacity of two JKUAT MSC students through research support targeted at innovations developed in the Netherlands, and which are being piloted in Kenya in irrigated agriculture” Said Prof. Mati. She further said the JKUAT is committed to research, and innovations for development and will ensure that that the project is implemented as planned to achieve its objectives.
The workshop was aimed at creating a good understanding of the SWA project, equip WARREC team with knowledge & skills needed to facilitate the National IAP and strategize and plan for putting in place and operating an effective national level IAP in Kenya.
The workshop was attended by WARREC staff, Soil Water and Environmental Engineering (SWEED) Staff and the SVN Netherlands staff.