The government is looking to bring more land in Kenya’s dry regions under irrigation, with a target of 1.5 million acres as it seeks to increase food production and reduce dependence on imports.
The plan was among the issues discussed during a government visit to the Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project, where Chief of Staff Felix Koskei was accompanied by 32 Principal Secretaries and other senior government officials.
Koskei said relying on rainfall to sustain agriculture was becoming increasingly difficult, pointing to prolonged droughts and unpredictable weather patterns.
He said projects such as Galana-Kulalu could help change food production in areas that have for years struggled with unreliable rainfall. However, he noted that irrigation alone would not be enough without roads, electricity and facilities to process farm produce.
The government says it has already spent about KSh520 million on water infrastructure at Galana-Kulalu. The investment has made it possible to irrigate 10,000 acres, although only 6,000 acres are currently being farmed.
The land under cultivation is being used to grow commercial maize, seed maize and soya beans. The remaining 4,000 acres are expected to be put under production in the next planting season.
Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho said the Galana-Kulalu project was part of a wider programme targeting 1.5 million acres across the country. The first phase will cover 500,000 acres.
One of the major projects expected to expand farming in the area is the proposed Galana-Athi Dam, which will have a capacity of 350 million cubic metres of water. Once completed, it is expected to provide water for irrigation across about 200,000 acres.
The government is also looking at the Bura Irrigation Scheme, which covers 165,000 acres, as part of its wider plans to increase agricultural production.
Private investors have already started farming at Galana-Kulalu. Selu Limited is growing seed maize on 2,000 acres and plans to expand its operations to 20,000 acres over the next three years.
Pwani Farms has also put 2,000 acres under soya beans and another 2,000 acres under maize. The company has set up a maize milling plant and installed solar-powered irrigation systems.
The increased production of soya beans is expected to support local industries that depend on imported edible oils and animal feed ingredients. It could also help reduce the cost of producing milk and meat.
The government is relying on private investment to help grow the project, with companies expected to take up more land and establish businesses around farming and processing.
Koskei said better infrastructure would be necessary to attract more investors and make the region a major agricultural production area.
In addition, for those living in the ASAL areas, the plan may also translate into lesser reliance on food supplied from other parts of the country, especially in times of drought.
The expansion is likely to provide employment that will go beyond agriculture and into food processing, irrigation design, agronomy and others in agriculture.