Local varsities to implement phase one of Galana irrigation scheme

A file photo of one of the pilot farms in the Galana irrigation scheme project [Gideon Maundu| Standard]

The government has announced plans to partner with top universities in the country as Israeli firm contracted to implement phase one of the Galana irrigation scheme project exit in March 2018.

Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa who announced plans to privatize 20,000 acres of the project said that they will now engage universities in the take-over.

“New players are expected to take over this project and by March we want the National Irrigation Board to hand over to the Agricultural Development Corporation as the contract comes to an end,” he said.

Wamalwa announced that experts from University of Nairobi, the Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology, Moi University as well as Egerton University will bring in an array of technical expertise to support the Galana project.

“I think that it is time we start utilizing local expertise in implementing food security projects across the country,” he said.

He expressed optimism in the realization of the project which was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2014 and is one of the projects under the Food Security focus area in the President’s Big Four Plan for economic development.

Wamalwa said that the first phase of the Galana Kulalu Food Security project is largely involved in research, laying down irrigation infrastructure as well as trials for suitable maize varieties for the area.

He said that the Isreali firm, Green Arava has already made strides in putting in place irrigation infrastructure paving way for phase two of the project making the take-over easier.

Speaking on a tour of the project the University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor Peter Mbithi said that they will come up with more sustainable ways of food production through extensive research, development of new technologies as well as policy formulation.

“We have all types of experts in the universities. We have engineers, agronomists, quantity surveyors and others and I believe we will be able to assist and eventually make Kenya food secure,” said Mbithi.

JKUAT Vice Chancellor Mabel Imbuga said that the institutions would also be involved in the whole value chain.

 “We will be involved in the entire process, from water harvesting, storage and purification of water, designing and construction of dams, as well as post-harvest technologies. We are also committed in the mechanization of agriculture,” she said.