Irrigation to reduce poverty in Kenya

FAO carried out a project in Western Kenya to revive irrigated rice production. After one year of operation of the irrigation scheme, the production levels considerably increased together with the farmers' income: http://bit.ly/Sok1wM

Of course, problems are at the horizon: a pressurised scheme requires a lot of energy and rice requires a lot of water. In Kenya electricity used for pumping is expensive and often rationed. When power fails, rice production is at risk. Wouldn't a gravity irrigation scheme have been more sustainable? Or the infrastructural investments would have been too high?

Also marketing of the produce is an issue: prices are still too high for these rice farmers to compete on the market. How could the Naheru farmers decrease further their production costs and gain better competitive access to market?

Let me know your views!