Nairobi — Two million Kenyans are permanently on food relief and the number rises to five million during droughts, Water Resources Management and Development Minister Martha Karua said yesterday.

Karua said the situation can only be reversed if Kenya utilised properly water resources through modern irrigation methods.

"If resources would be used for drip irrigation and improving agriculture technology in general, food insecurity would be a thing of the past," she said.

Karua was speaking at the close of a two-day seminar on agriculture, food and water in Africa held at the African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD).

She said the situation was exacerbated by lack of technology and ignorance.

Said Karua: "Inappropriate technology and inefficient irrigation practices have contributed to excessive water wastage."

To correct the situation, Karua said, her ministry will ensure efficiency and accountability in utilisation of the available water resources to ensure farmers had water for irrigation.

"This will require developing irrigation projects that will require community innovations, modern irrigation technology as well as some capital investments," she said.

She said irrigation must take centre stage in all the agricultural activities as it accounted for about 76 per cent of total water use in the country.

"Improved management of agricultural water will therefore result in the highest gains of water conservation," said Karua.