The core functions of NIB are: - Coordination of construction and rehabilitation of major irrigation and drainage infrastructure;
- Operation and maintenance of major irrigation and drainage infrastructure;
- Administering land in the public schemes and provide technical advise on maintaining a cropping calendar in consultation with the schemes; and
- Irrigation expansion
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The non-core activities that will be carried out by the NIB depending on availability of funds and subject to demand are: - Operation research and training. NIB’s research will focus on development of new schemes and improvement of irrigation efficiency. The rest will be passed over to KARI;
- Irrigation agriculture extension services;
- Promotion of development of viable farmer-based organisations;
- Sourcing funding for irrigation development.
In refocusing its functions, the NIB will adopt a ‘gradualist approach’ by gradually and systematically withdrawing from non-core functions. Special attention will be paid to the farmer’s capacity and willingness to pay for services. Services will be provided on a cost-recovery basis. |
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 | Capacity Building for WUA
| Irrigation development in Kenya is unlikely to be sustainable unless farmers are genuinely involved in the management of the schemes. The NIB will progressively implement the participatory irrigation management (PIM) model in which farmers, through their groups, will play an active role. In preparation of this, the NIB will: Understudy models of participatory irrigation management in other countries to learn from their experiences ,Assist farmers in the creation of legally recognised autonomous organisations for the eventual take-over of most activities in the schemes. Water-User Associations (WUAs) will be very important in this respect, Enact subsidiary legislation and regulations that enable farmers in irrigation management in Kenya. |
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 | | Farmers Training at MIAD | The ultimate aim of rehabilitation and increasing sustainability of the national schemes is to transfer their management to farmers through farmer-based organisations. The NIB will therefore implement a programme of Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT). This process will be gradual and with a number of important intermittent steps. These are:Assessment of the viability and readiness of each scheme to implement IMT,Sensitisation and training of farmers on IMT and Gradual handing over of the management of the schemes to farmers' groups. |
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Functions of NIB 
