Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho has launched the construction of Sh55 million Hirimani Bridges at Villages 2 and 6 within the Bura Irrigation Scheme in Tana River County and issued Green Cards covering over 2,000 acres to 720 farming families.
PS Kimotho was accompanied by Bura MP Yakub Adow , officials from the State Department for Irrigation, National Irrigation Authority officers led by the CEO Eng. Charles Muasya, and local leaders.
The bridge projects are expected to open up vast agricultural opportunities for farmers in Tana River County while improving transportation and connectivity within the benefitting communities.
Speaking during the event, Kimotho noted that his visit was aimed at fulfilling a Presidential directive to enhance irrigation infrastructure and secure land ownership for farmers through the issuance of Green Cards.
The PS said investment into irrigation infrastructure was part of efforts to strengthen food and nutrition security and drive economic growth.
The Bura Irrigation Scheme which has a gazetted area of 176,000 acres was first established in 1978 as an ambitious World Bank-backed project managed by the National Irrigation Authority (NIA).
The Bura project is a gravity-fed irrigation scheme for agriculture including potential sugar cane and rice cultivation with plans for mechanized farming.
“Increased investment in irrigation development across the country would help boost agricultural output, create jobs and strengthen national food security,” he said.
He emphasized that the national government remains committed to improving agricultural productivity and livelihoods within the Bura Irrigation Scheme.
The PS’ visit marked the commencement of bridge constructions under the supervision of national irrigation authority and contractors had already been mobilized to the site.
The PS announced that the government has allocated Sh55 million for the construction of the Hirimani Bridges connecting Villages 2 and 6.
“While the project implementation period is one year, the contractor is working towards completing the works within six months,” he said during a site visit.
He further directed the continued desilting of irrigation canals and clearing of bushes to improve water conveyance and operational efficiency within the scheme.
“In addition, at least 10 kilometres of access roads will be upgraded to facilitate the movement of farmers, agricultural inputs, and produce,” he said.
PS Kimotho also highlighted the importance of physical planning and land mapping to support orderly development and sustainable agricultural production within the scheme.
He noted that the issuance of Green Cards will enable farmers to secure ownership of their land and invest confidently in agricultural activities.
He said upon completion, the Hirimani Bridges are expected to enhance access and safety, reduce travel time within the scheme, improve surveillance of the main canal during the rainy season, and reduce incidences of flooding and crop damage on farms adjacent to the Hirimani Lagga.
Village 2 Bridge will comprise a double-span 20-metre reinforced concrete girder bridge and approach roads leading to the structure.
The Village 6 Bridge will include a double-span 20-metre reinforced concrete girder bridge, two single-cell box culverts measuring 4.0 metres by 2.0 metres on both sides within the hydraulic lines of the adjacent laggas, and approach roads connecting the bridge to the surrounding areas.
The project is expected to strengthen irrigation operations, improve accessibility, and support increased agricultural productivity within the Bura Irrigation Scheme.
Bura scheme is using the recently developed Sh3.4 billion 26km Bura gravity canal by NIA enabling the provision of 11 cubic metres of water per second up from the initial 3.5 cubic metres per second that was flowing through the pump fed canal.
Water is currently being abstracted from Korakora via gravity to farms in Bura 76 km away cutting the high cost of diesel pumps by Sh10 million per month transforming Bura into a thriving agricultural hub.
Kimotho said the expansion of Bura irrigation scheme and on boarding of private investors has been necessitated by the completion, commissioning and operationalization of the gravity intake and canal.
The previous pump-fed irrigation scheme was characterized by many drawbacks such as high cost of pumping which increased the rates of operation and maintenance costs for the farmers.
“The Bura gravity project aims to shift from expensive pumped irrigation to gravity-fed systems to improve sustainability,” he said, adding that it will ensure the full potential of the Bura irrigation scheme in line with the Bottom-up Economic Transformation (BETA) agenda.
NIA CEO Eng. Charles Muasya said the bridge projects would be executed in line with approved engineering standards to ensure durability and long-term socioeconomic impact.
Eng. Muasya assured of strict project supervision and continuos monitoring to ensure adherence to quality standards and timely delivery.
MP Yakub Adow commended the national government for providing the necessary project funding describing the intervention as a critical step towards addressing infrastructural gaps and strengthening agricultural capacity in Tana River County.
Meanwhile PS Kimotho highlighted that investors have shown interest in partnering with local farmers on the establishment of feedlots, mechanized rice farming, sugar cane and high-value horticulture.
The PS said these efforts aim to stop sugar and rice importation, create thousands of jobs with the government focusing on enhancing the agricultural value chain.
He said water availability impacts both sugarcane quality and yield as sufficient water boosts sucrose levels and enhances sugar output per acre enabling optimal yields.
“Currently the country faces a deficit of 700,000 metric tons of rice and 400,000 metric tons of sugar and that is why we are ramping up production,” he said.
He noted that the Bura scheme would improve water-use efficiency, increase agricultural production particularly within rural communities and enhance farmers’ incomes.
Recently the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) signed a commercial and lease agreement of a parcel of land in the Bura Irrigation Scheme in Tana River for sugar production on 50,000 acres with Sukari Industries Ltd.
The investor will undertake infrastructure development, cane production and value addition on the leased 50,000acres as well as establishment of other necessary support infrastructure.
Kenya consumes approximately 1.2 million metric tonnes of sugar annually, yet domestic production has frequently been unable to meet this demand, averaging between 600,000 and 700,000 metric tonnes per year.
By Hussein Abdullahi
