Garissa residents are set to benefit from a new 1,500-acre irrigation scheme with water to be tapped from River Tana to enable area residents interested in crop farming to venture in the sector and increase food production both in the county and nationally.
The Bulla Adey Irrigation Scheme in Kora Kora, which will be second in the county after the 1000-acre Raole Canal irrigation scheme in Balambala, will also create an opportunity for farmers who want to transition from livestock rearing to crop farming, as the former is adversely affected by effects of prolonged drought spells.
The Sh45 million project is aimed at helping the farmers to get easy access to water from River Tana for irrigation, which will in turn improve food production in the county.
Speaking during the launch of the project, the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Muuga, said that food security is one of the five key pillars in President William Ruto’s government and that creating irrigation schemes is part of the efforts to increase food productivity.
“In farming, irrigation is now the only way to succeed. When farming here, we need enough water because without water, growing crops becomes problematic, and that is why, as the ministry for water, we are working in collaboration with the ministry of agriculture to ensure that sufficient water for irrigation is available,” Muuga said.
“We have seen that you are farming seed oils, including sunflowers. You are also growing horticultural products and cereals, and we have been told that all these foodstuffs are doing well even in the interior parts away from River Tana. You are doing a commendable job because you are playing your part in feeding the nation,” he added.
The CS further called on the area residents to make good use of the scheme once it is completed to produce food and make livelihoods for themselves. Principal Secretary for Agriculture Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh, on his part, noted that his department would help the farmers in value-added infrastructure to help in maximizing their profits.
The PS also delivered 1000 tonnes of sunflower seeds to the Garissa farmers’ network, and more 2000 tonnes expected to be added.
“We have come here to launch the irrigation scheme, which will help you grow food. We will make sure that the design is good enough to enable you to get high yields in food production,” Ronoh said.
Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed said that Garissa County can be the next food frontier in the country if good investments in agriculture are made to enable the local farmers.
“We have land and water from the River Tana. The only thing we need is infrastructure investment into that farming land. The residents there are pastoralists who want to start farming, but they do not have the capacity and financing for the project,” Dekow said.
“We have the capacity, we have the ability, and we have the energy to produce enough food. What we lack is investment in terms of resources and infrastructure into the sector,” he added.
Other present leaders include Parliamentary Affairs Principal Secretary Aurelia Rono, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, Senator Abdul Haji, Women Rep Udgoon Siyad, and Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo.
By Erick Kyalo
