Trans Nzoia Administration Commissions the construction of Amani dam
Trans Nzoia administration has commissioned the construction of Amani dam in Chepchoina Endebess sub-county which will cost the county 20 million shillings.
Speaking during the groundbreaking event, Agriculture CEC Mary Nzomo said after completion, farmers will be connected to the irrigation system to help boost their production and broaden their income base.
Nzomo said the construction of the dam is expected to hold more than 67,118 cubic meters of water targeting to uplift the livelihood of more than 300 tomato farmers from Amani,Vamia and Njoro farms of Chepchoina ward.
This is in an attempt to have crops that can generate money with a relatively higher frequency as the crops can be grown for up to two to three times a year as this kind of crop only takes three months to maturity the only drawback could have been water for irrigation.
“The construction of the dam aimed at boosting the county crops diversification program through irrigation of tomatoes and other horticultural crops including banana value chain that is being promoted by the NARIGP program in the 20 wards in the County.
Our farmers have been depending entirely on maize farming; the dam will help them diversify. We expect the contractor to handover the site in three months time” she added.
The CEC added that through the NARIPG programs, 395 farms that is equivalent to 264.4acres have been rehabilitated and conserved.
She revealed that through the initiative, 4,000 Avocado seedlings, 11,850 Goreville seedlings and 4000 Bamboo seedlings were planted along waterways.
60 youths from the local community were identified and engaged in soil Excavation works where they benefited from 1.8 million shillings program.
The dam will also serve the community through several water points that will be mounted in the area of coverage.
“The dam will have a number of draw pipes that will demarcate the water as follows; community water point where residents will be getting their water for domestic use, cattle water point that will have troughs, there will also be pipes for irrigation. This will help us reduce interference of irrigation systems” She said.
Nzomo disclosed that already the conservation team has rolled planting of indigenous trees that conserve water.
She encouraged the growing of tea, coffee, and tissue culture bananas saying the county will help farmers access already markets.
Endebess Sub-county Administrator Dr. Scholastica Nalobile urged the residents to embrace the project by ensuring that the contractor gets humble time on the undertaking of the project.
Dr. Nalobile called on the project management to ensure they give job opportunities to youths from the area, especially when undertaking non-technical works, saying this is going to create employment and improve the economy of the residents.
She added that with the completion of the dam the use of the water for irrigation, and animal and domestic use should have a ripple effect on all the people living in the area, adding that nobody should be denied access and use of the water for irrigation or for domestic use
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