Interview with Dennis Ngari

Interview with Dennis Ngari

January 2025

Interview with Dennis NGARl . Irrigation local Expert

officer for Sipik 1 and Sipik 2 projects

Question 1: Could you present yourself Dennis?

Dennis Ndambiri Ngari, I am an Irrigation Water Management

Officer in Nyeri County, Kenya, with an educational

background in Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering from

Jomo Kenyatta University and registered as a Graduate

Engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya.

Through my work, I continuously assisted farmers

in matters concerning farm irrigation and water supply.

Question 2: How have you been involved in the SIPIK 1 and

SIPIK 2 projects at Johnson Kimani's farm?

As an Irrigation Water Officer in Nyeri County, I have been

actively involved in SIPIK 1 and SIPIK 2 projects where I have

given my inputs, drip layout, recommended drip irrigation

components and helped in the installation of the system

Question 3: could you describe the dripping irrigation system

that has been installed?

The SIPIK project has a direct drip irigation system. The

direct drip irrigation system comprises of a solar panel, a

controler and a submersible pump that has been fitted in a

water pan. The submersible pump operates during the day

and is fitted to a 1 1/4 inch water conveyance pipe system

fitted with a screen filter to get rid of any residue from the

water pan.

The 1 1/4 inch water conveyance pipe serves as the main

line, and has 1 inch water conveyance pipes as sub-mains

The submain lines are then fitted with 16mm pipes fitted

with valve drip connectors for water regulation. The drip take

off valves then connect to 16mm, 0.4mm thickness, 15cm

spaced double emitter, drip lines. The drip lines are well

spaced for horticultural crops such as onions, garlic and

strawberries as well as space for other crops that require

larger spacing by intercroping. The take off valves assist in

control of what drip lines are operating at a given time.

Question 4: does the system function well? What are the

limitations?

For a direct irrigation system, the system is functioning well,

considering there is no storage tank or battery for energy

storage.

The major limitation is that the system purely depends on

radiance to operate hence clouds do affect the output. Cold

months may see a decline in the output. The limitation is due

to lack of water storage in form of raised tanks to cater for

the needed pressure and water on demand.

Question 5: Do you think that the installation of a 1000 L tank will

benefit to the irrigation system in place? Could you explain

why?

Yes, It will majorly benefit the irrigation system since

they will act as buffers for cold and cloudy days when solar

radiance isn't enough. The tank will also boost water storage

and water availability,

Question 6: Do you know a lot of farmers in Nyeri area

possibly interested in the same installation for irrigation?

There are a lot of farmers who can benefit from the same

irrigation system due to the ever-growing challenges from

climate change. Nyeri has two Sub-Counties that are

considered Semi-Arid areas yet they have vast productive

lands that feed Nyeri despite the challenges. The semi arid

areas receive relief food from time to time due to failed rains.

If the farmers from these areas can benefit from such

systems, relief food can be a story of the past and the

farmers can reap big and contribute to the growth of Nyeri at

Large.