Abstract:
Water is an essential natural resource, vital for any development to take place. However,
not more than one percent of the water is freely available for human needs including
agricultural production in the entire world. Arid and semi-arid lands globally are facing
water scarcity challenges. Rain- fed agricultural system is the major farming method in
these areas, but this has been challenged greatly by aridity and climatic uncertainty. Kitui
County is an ASAL where farmers are experiencing little annual rainfall averagely as well
as varying temporal and spatial rainfall supply hence the need to evaluate use of rain water
harvesting technologies in the area. The main aim of this study was to assess rain water
harvesting technologies for enhanced security of food in Kauwi sub-location, Kitui County.
Specifically, the study aimed at studying the extent of utilization of the rain water
harvesting technologies, factors that influence utilization of rain water harvesting
technologies and exploring farmers’ perception of effectiveness of rain water harvesting
technologies in Kauwi sub-location, Kitui County. The study adopted a survey design.
Random sampling was used to identify the villages and systematic sampling applied in
selecting the households to be interviewed. Data was collected through personal
observation and administering interview schedules to a sample size of 160 households.
From the logistic regression model, Zai pits variation was explained at 45% and cases
correctly predicted at 93.1% where age p<0.05, B=0.11 and land size, p<0.05, B=0.56 were
factors that significantly influenced its utilization. This study has generated information to
be used by the farmers to help in prioritizing factors that influence decision on utilizing
rain water harvesting technologies. The ministry of agriculture can use this information as
a guideline for designing agricultural developments strategies. The Policymakers can use
this information to develop agricultural policies.
