Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Hydraulic Performance Evaluation of Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure Serving Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kenya

Published in Hydrology (Volume 13, Issue 2)
Received: 10 May 2025     Accepted: 9 June 2025     Published: 30 June 2025
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

The hydraulic performance of irrigation and drainage infrastructure in irrigation schemes in many developing countries like in Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kenya is poor. The scheme grows rice under irrigation. It is important to evaluate the scheme to come up with measures that will assist the scheme’s managers to better understand the system they control to bring about improvements. The main objective of this research study was to evaluate the hydraulic performance of the irrigation and drainage infrastructure serving Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kenya. The conveyance efficiency of the earthen main canal and the pumps’ performance efficiencies were researched. The research study employed both quantitative and qualitative research designs. The primary and secondary data types were collected. Specialized software was used in data analysis. The irrigation water conveyance efficiency of the earthen main canal of length 14.3km was measured and found to be 83.2%. The pumps’ average performance efficiency was measured as 47.05%. The conveyance losses along the earthen main canal were caused by the; infiltration losses of irrigation water from the canal’s bed, invasion of aquatic weeds in the canal, and failure of some of the water control structures along the earthen main canal to effectively control irrigation water in the canal. The pumps had low performance efficiencies because the pumps required maintenance and the pumps were at the end of their utility life and were due for replacement. This study recommends; the earthen main canal be lined with impermeable lining preferably by concrete, water control structures be rehabilitated, and the pumps be maintained or replaced with new ones.

Published in Hydrology (Volume 13, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.14
Page(s) 126-133
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Hydraulic Performance Evaluation, Hydraulic Performance Assessment, Irrigation and Drainage Evaluation, Conveyance Efficiency, Pumps Efficiency, Ahero Irrigation Scheme

References
[1] KNBS. Kenya population and housing census - Analytical report on population projections - Volume XVI, Kenya, Nairobi. 2019.
[2] Belaud, G., Mateos, L., Aliod, R., Buisson, M. C., Faci, E., Gendre, S., Ghinassi, G., Gonzales Perea, R., Lejars, C., Maruejols, F. and Zapata, N. Irrigation and energy: issues and challenges, Irrigation and Drainage. 2020, 69(S1), 177-185.
[3] Muema, F. M., Home, P. G., & Raude, J. M. Application of benchmarking and principal component analysis in measuring performance of public irrigation schemes in Kenya. Agriculture. 2018, 8(10), 162.
[4] Bwambale, E., Home, P. G., Raude, J. M., & Wanyama, J. Hydraulic performance evaluation of the water conveyance system of Doho Rice Irrigation Scheme in Uganda. Journal of Sustainable Research in Engineering. 2019, 5(2), 101-112.
[5] Shumye, A., and Singh, P. Evaluation of canal water conveyance and on-farm water application for a small-scale irrigation scheme in Ethiopia. International Journal of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering. 2018, 10(8), 100-110.
[6] Gidey, G., & Siri, H. Conveyance efficiency and maintenance performance evaluation of canals at serenta irrigation scheme, Northern Ethiopia. Fluid Mechanics. 2021, 7(2), 29-34.
[7] FAO. Annex I: Irrigation efficiencies 1989. Available from:
[8] Pitlo, R. H., & Dawson, F. H. Flow-resistance of aquatic weeds, Oxford University Press: Oxford. 1990, 74-85.
[9] Sytsma, M., & Parker, M. Aquatic vegetation in irrigation canals. 1999.
[10] Agunwamba, J. C., Dike, C. C., Ogarekpe, N. M., and Dike, B. U. Analysis of sedimentation of canals. International Journal of Development and Sustainability. 2013, 2(1), 306-332.
[11] Bandi, S., Banka, J., Kumar, A., & Rai, A. K. Effects of sediment properties on abrasive erosion of a centrifugal pump. Chemical Engineering Science. 2023, 277, 118873.
[12] Glovatskiy, O., Ergashev, R., Rashidov, J., Nasyrova, N., and Kholbutaev, B. Experimental and theoretical studies of pumps of irrigation pumping stations. In E3S Web of Conferences; EDP Sciences. 2021, 263, pp. 02030.
[13] Rampano, B. Water control structures: Designs for natural resource management on coastal floodplains. Sydney: NSW Department of Industry and Investment. 2009.
[14] Legesse, T., & Tadesse, A. Evaluation of water delivery performance and conveyance efficiency in Gatto small-scale irrigation scheme, Southern, Ethiopia. Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science. 2021, 10(5), 139-154.
[15] NIA. Ahero Irrigation Scheme, 2024. Available from:
[16] El-Hazek, A. N. Design charts and design equations for trapezoidal earthen open channels. Sumerianz Journal of Scientific Research. 2019, 2(12), 166-182.
[17] Serrano, R. O., Castro, A. L. D., Rico, E. A., Pinto, M. A., Viana, E. M. D. F. and Martinez, C. B. Abrasive effects of sediments on impellers of pumps used for catching raw water. Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental. 2018, 22(9), 591-596.
[18] Reinemann, D. J., Khalid, M., Kah, G. F. and Saqib, G. S. Irrigation pumpset efficiency in developing countries: field measurements in Pakistan. 1993, 9(1), 141-14.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Marita, N. K., Kipkorir, E. C., Kibiiy, J., Charlotte, O. (2025). Hydraulic Performance Evaluation of Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure Serving Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kenya. Hydrology, 13(2), 126-133. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.14

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Marita, N. K.; Kipkorir, E. C.; Kibiiy, J.; Charlotte, O. Hydraulic Performance Evaluation of Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure Serving Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kenya. Hydrology. 2025, 13(2), 126-133. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.14

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Marita NK, Kipkorir EC, Kibiiy J, Charlotte O. Hydraulic Performance Evaluation of Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure Serving Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kenya. Hydrology. 2025;13(2):126-133. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.14

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.14,
      author = {Nickson Kenyoru Marita and Emmanuel Chessum Kipkorir and Joel Kibiiy and Ooro Charlotte},
      title = {Hydraulic Performance Evaluation of Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure Serving Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kenya
    },
      journal = {Hydrology},
      volume = {13},
      number = {2},
      pages = {126-133},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hyd.20251302.14},
      abstract = {The hydraulic performance of irrigation and drainage infrastructure in irrigation schemes in many developing countries like in Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kenya is poor. The scheme grows rice under irrigation. It is important to evaluate the scheme to come up with measures that will assist the scheme’s managers to better understand the system they control to bring about improvements. The main objective of this research study was to evaluate the hydraulic performance of the irrigation and drainage infrastructure serving Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kenya. The conveyance efficiency of the earthen main canal and the pumps’ performance efficiencies were researched. The research study employed both quantitative and qualitative research designs. The primary and secondary data types were collected. Specialized software was used in data analysis. The irrigation water conveyance efficiency of the earthen main canal of length 14.3km was measured and found to be 83.2%. The pumps’ average performance efficiency was measured as 47.05%. The conveyance losses along the earthen main canal were caused by the; infiltration losses of irrigation water from the canal’s bed, invasion of aquatic weeds in the canal, and failure of some of the water control structures along the earthen main canal to effectively control irrigation water in the canal. The pumps had low performance efficiencies because the pumps required maintenance and the pumps were at the end of their utility life and were due for replacement. This study recommends; the earthen main canal be lined with impermeable lining preferably by concrete, water control structures be rehabilitated, and the pumps be maintained or replaced with new ones.
    },
     year = {2025}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Hydraulic Performance Evaluation of Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure Serving Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kenya
    
    AU  - Nickson Kenyoru Marita
    AU  - Emmanuel Chessum Kipkorir
    AU  - Joel Kibiiy
    AU  - Ooro Charlotte
    Y1  - 2025/06/30
    PY  - 2025
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.14
    T2  - Hydrology
    JF  - Hydrology
    JO  - Hydrology
    SP  - 126
    EP  - 133
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7617
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.14
    AB  - The hydraulic performance of irrigation and drainage infrastructure in irrigation schemes in many developing countries like in Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kenya is poor. The scheme grows rice under irrigation. It is important to evaluate the scheme to come up with measures that will assist the scheme’s managers to better understand the system they control to bring about improvements. The main objective of this research study was to evaluate the hydraulic performance of the irrigation and drainage infrastructure serving Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kenya. The conveyance efficiency of the earthen main canal and the pumps’ performance efficiencies were researched. The research study employed both quantitative and qualitative research designs. The primary and secondary data types were collected. Specialized software was used in data analysis. The irrigation water conveyance efficiency of the earthen main canal of length 14.3km was measured and found to be 83.2%. The pumps’ average performance efficiency was measured as 47.05%. The conveyance losses along the earthen main canal were caused by the; infiltration losses of irrigation water from the canal’s bed, invasion of aquatic weeds in the canal, and failure of some of the water control structures along the earthen main canal to effectively control irrigation water in the canal. The pumps had low performance efficiencies because the pumps required maintenance and the pumps were at the end of their utility life and were due for replacement. This study recommends; the earthen main canal be lined with impermeable lining preferably by concrete, water control structures be rehabilitated, and the pumps be maintained or replaced with new ones.
    
    VL  - 13
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Sections