Irrigation is transforming agriculture in the Nyanza region as national and county governments roll out projects aimed at taming drought, improving crop yields, and stabilizing farmers’ incomes.
On Friday, Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho led an inspection of the Kimira Oluch Irrigation Scheme in Homa Bay County.
He was accompanied by Karachuonyo MP Adipo Okuome, County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi, and senior county officials.
The visit followed the formal transfer of the scheme to the National Irrigation Authority under the Irrigation Act, 2019, which places large-scale irrigation projects under national management.
The inspection focused on the state of the infrastructure and the immediate interventions needed to make the scheme fully operational.
The Kimira and Oluch smallholder schemes, located along the shores of Lake Victoria, cover a combined 4,341 acres. Despite the potential, only 1,100 acres are currently under rice cultivation, producing about 1,650 metric tonnes. The rest of the land remains idle despite access to water.
Once fully operational, the schemes are expected to increase rice production, boost household incomes, and contribute to national food security, in line with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.