The Turkana County Government has rolled out public participation on the Agriculture Policy, 2025, seeking the views of farmers in established irrigation schemes in Loima, Turkana West, Turkana South, and Turkana East sub-counties.
The policy aims to provide a clear framework to direct county investments, coordinate public and private actors, safeguard equitable water and land use, and stimulate innovations that build climate resilience and food security for all the Turkana residents.
The participants were drawn from the Tisa, Kolioro, Napol, Natuntun, Nanyee, Moruese, Turkwell and Natirae irrigation schemes in Loima Sub-county.
Joseph Ekiru, a participant from the Tisa Scheme, said the policy should consider the aspect of compensation in the event their crops and irrigation infrastructure are washed away by floods from dams when they burst their banks.
He also talked of the need to have a farm title deed for land ownership.
Joseph Lemuya from the Napak Irrigation scheme highlighted how food for work can be useful in promoting food security through irrigation rather than getting relief food for no apparent reason.
Mary Akiru, who represented the Tisa Irrigation Scheme, said there should be adequate availability of water for irrigated agriculture, since water and food security are used simultaneously.
Vivian Achwa, a farmer from the Kolioro Scheme, emphasised that policy should focus on the integration of both the practice of pastoralism and agropastoralism in Turkana.
She also added that there should be the establishment of medium-sized dams, water pans and earth dams to help farmers diversify their sources of livelihood.
Moving forward, Maraka said, “the next step after this policy is finalised is the development of a multi-sectoral implementation framework, bringing together stakeholders from government, civil society, and the private and public sectors. This process will set out practical steps toward achieving the policy aims.”
Present were Richard Lokoyan (Director, Irrigation and Land Reclamation), Ekal Lokuruka (Director, litigation services), Emmanuel Esau (Deputy Director, Agriculture), Dorcas Ejore (Deputy Director, Administration), Justus Eloto (Deputy Sub-County Administrator, Loima), Juma Vitalis, Okita Francis, Evans Keter, Peter Lochakwaan, Alphonse Abolem and David Eliokono (village Administrator). Dorcas Jalang’o, Veronica Ndetu and Esther Nzuki (Alliance of Bioversity-CIAT) were also in attendance.
By Peter Gitonga
