Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project Phase One to Be Commissioned Soon

The Presidential Service delivery team today held a long day inspection of the multi-billion Lower Nzoia Irrigation Scheme ahead of its commissioning by President Dr William Ruto.

The project which started in 2018 was divided into two phases with the goal of mitigating floods and increasing the acreage under irrigation in Busia and Siaya counties.

The implementation of phase one right from pump-fed to gravity irrigation targets to benefit about 12,600 farmers through irrigation and drainage services by putting 10,000 acres under production, 5,000 under high-value crops and 5,000 under rice and other food crops.

Led by the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Hon Zachariah Njeru, CGH who said that the aim of the whole project is for farmers to get the best yields and benefit from the project.

“This is why we are engaging them through training on the best ways in planting and access to seeds in collaboration with the County Governments.”

Busia Governor, Dr Paul Otuoma said the County Government of Busia through the school feeding program has become one of the first utilizers of rice from the farmers through their cooperatives which is an encouragement to the farmers.

County Government of Busia has endeavored to aggregate farmers and strengthen their cooperatives by enabling them to access government credits through cooperatives fund.

“Issues with food worldwide, is supported by the government and that is why we are working together to not only make Busia one of the highest rice producing counties but also make it food reliant and make money to go direct to framers” He added.

To address the challenges cooperatives are facing, Governor Otuoma said that his administration has cascaded the amendments of the cooperatives act from the National government with good governance being one of the aspects being focused on.

On the issue of middlemen from Uganda buying rice paddys from Bunyala, the Governor said it has been happening due to the lack of ready cash to farmers and that it can only be addressed through incentizing the cooperatives to avoid manipulation.

The Permanent Secretary, State Department of Irrigation, CPA Ephanthus Kimotho said that Kenya is currently importing over 70 metric turns of rice and hopeful that this project will address at least 20% of the deficit by the closure of the project.

He also noted that by the end of this month they would have put 3000 acres into production and 7000 in the next one and a half years, bringing the total land in production to 10000 acres which he said will give at least 15 metric tones per year.

The area Member of Parliament, Hon Raphael Wanjala expressed his gratitude for a dream come true adding that there is still more land in Bunyala that can still be opened up for crop production through irrigation.

Also present were County executives; Oscar Juma (County Secretary), Eng. Andrew Meso (Water), Dr Simplicious Mukok (Agriculture), Chief Officers among other guests and stakeholders.