The State Department for Irrigation (SDI) and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) are exploring technical co, operation that can help realize the potential of Taita Taveta County in rice production through irrigation development and value chain development.
Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kim received a JICA delegation to discuss ways of improving rice production productivity processing and value addition and building farmer market linkages.
The partnership will support an integrated rice value chain, including production aggregation storage processing value addition and marketing.
Over time, the draft agreement called on the parties to develop a comprehensive technical study to prepare a rice production and irrigation development master plan for Taita Taveta.
Among other considerations, this will include the evaluation of water availability, potential rice production zones, irrigation infrastructure, production systems, markets, and investments.
SDI also undertook to pursue government’s designations of Taita Taveta as a strategic irrigation development area for an integrated investment setup.
The plan will sit alongside the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan, which focuses irrigation expansion, water productivity, Farmer Led Irrigation Development and stronger value chains.
Furthermore, the programme will also lead to an increase in domestic rice production, increased employment,and better incomes with a positive impact on food and nutrition security in Kenya.
