Kenya targets 1.5 million irrigated acres to boost food production
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Citizen Digital
Illustrative image · Magda Ehlers · Pexels · Licence PexelsThe Kenyan government is targeting irrigation for 1.5 million acres to boost food production and limit imports, with an initial phase of 500,000 acres. Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho says the Galana-Kulalu project is contributing to this goal, following public investment of 520 million Kenyan shillings in its water infrastructure.
Kenya is targeting 1.5 million acres of irrigated land to boost food production and reduce its reliance on imports and rain-fed agriculture, according to Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho. The programme is to be rolled out in stages, with an initial target of 500,000 acres.
The Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project is expected to contribute to this effort. The government has invested about 520 million Kenyan shillings in water infrastructure there, enabling 10,000 acres to be irrigated. Private investors are currently cultivating about 6,000 acres of commercial maize, seed maize and soya; the remaining 4,000 acres are expected to be brought into production in the next planting season.
The Galana-Athi Dam, with a planned capacity of 350 million cubic metres, could open up a further 200,000 acres for irrigation. The national programme also includes the Bura project, which has an estimated potential of 165,000 acres. At Galana-Kulalu, five investors are participating in the public-private partnership. Selu Ltd is cultivating 2,000 acres of seed maize and plans to expand its operations to 20,000 acres within three years. Pwani Farms is cultivating 2,000 acres of soya and an equivalent area of maize, and has installed a solar-powered irrigation maize mill.
The announcement follows the inauguration on 12 October of a dam intended to irrigate 500 acres.
