President Uhuru Kenyatta to launch irrigation project

By LONAH KIBET

Kilifi, Kenya: The Government will today launch the first phase of the multi-billion shilling irrigation project at Tana River and Kilifi counties to boost food security.

President Uhuru Kenyatta will officially commission the Galana-Kulalu Food Security Programme model farm expected to cover 10,000 acres out of the one million acres for the entire project.

“The farm will exhibit what will be done in the entire project and we expect to plant our first maize crop in March,” said Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei.

The model farm is expected to produce between 80 and 100 bags of maize per acre yearly.

Mr Koskei said 3,000 acres had already been cleared ready for cultivation.

Depending on the success of the model project, the country expects to harvest between 40 and 45 million 90kg bags of maize from the Sh250 billion project every year.

 “This will double production of maize in the country. We see a case where we will have enough maize to consume and even have a surplus for export,” stated Koskei.

The feasibility study carried out by an Israeli consultant hired last year recently gave the project, which is expected to take five years, a clean bill of health.

“The preliminary results show that the soil is fertile and there is adequate water and the climatic conditions are favourable for the farming activities,” said Koskei, who added that earlier concerns over none involvement of area leaders and locals have been addressed.

 Under the project being overseen by the National Irrigation Board, 500,000 acres of land will be put under maize, 200,000 acres under sugarcane and the rest to be used for livestock rearing, horticulture and fisheries.