County revives irrigation schemes at Sh7.9m

The Turkana County government has unveiled a Sh7.9 million plan to revive collapsed irrigation schemes.

The five-year 'Sustainable Food System Programme' being funded by the World Food Program (WFP) targets seven irrigation schemes in Loima in the first phase. The schemes had collapsed after the canals silted following floods, leaving the fields overgrown with plants.

WFP's food systems engineer Stephen Maingi said yesterday the project had started and will be completed within the stipulated timeline.

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“We are shifting focus from primarily providing relief response to a joint investment to develop food security for communities. We will continue providing relief whenever needed, but we want to change the lives of these people who are regularly affected by food insecurity,” said Maingi.

The scope of the work includes desilting of canals, bush clearing, construction of rainwater harvesting structures, ploughing of farms as well as repair of canal intakes.

The first phase of the programme that will include ploughing of 500 acres of farms will cover Nadapal, Kolioro, Nanyee, Kalemunyang/Kotela, Kangalita, Moruese and Napeikar in Loima Sub-county.

The second phase will begin next year and targets 14 irrigation schemes in Turkana South and Turkana Central.