New rice irrigation project changes fortunes of farmers

A newly established rice irrigation project has brought a smile to farmers in semi-arid Gaturi ward in Kiharu, Murang’a County. 

Thanks to the project started five years ago, the formerly poverty-stricken area in Murang’a has been transformed into a potential food basket.

Kimathi-Githuri Irrigation project has brought relief to many residents who have now abandoned sand and clay soil harvesting for rice farming.

Farmers are using piped water to irrigate their land, instead of using open channels like in Mwea rice growing belt.

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One of the beneficiaries of the project in Gaturi, Peter Kamau says since 1997 he was engaged in sand harvesting. But not anymore.

Today, Kamau has leased an acre of land in Gakonya area where he and his wife Jane Muthoni do rice farming as a source of income. “The only opportunity in the locality had been sand harvesting but there is a relief after the introduction of rice farming by immigrants from Mwea in Kirinyaga,” said Kamau.

Lack of economic opportunities saw girls from the lower areas drop out of school to seek employment as house helps and other odd jobs in nearby towns, as men took up sand harvesting and clay soil mining in Mukurwe-ini in nearby Nyeri County.

Three years ago, Jackson Maina planted rice after irrigation water was extended to parcels of land along Murang’a-Sagana road. The former bicycle technician is now a rice farming extension officer, teaching fellow locals how to do it.

Maina’s half-acre produces 10 bags of rice every season which has boosted his earnings compared to to his mechanic business.

“There are millionaires in this village who produce the best rice bought by chains of supermarkets at between Sh64 and Sh70 a kilo, depending on prices in the market,” said Maina.

The farmers contribute Sh100 a month to cater for repair of the water distribution lines. The value for the land rose from Sh250,000 to Sh3 million per acre thanks to the rice project.

Kimathi-Githuri project was started in 2007 by locals but stalled, and in 2015 the community leadership led by Charles Kamiri approached Murang’a County Government for assistance which culminated into a Sh220 million funding.

Kamami Muricho ventured into rice farming two years ago after he was approached by speculators to lease them his 10 acres of land.

Biggest threats

Quelea birds, Muricho said are the biggest threat to rice farming after they shifted from Mwea to Kabuta. Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria (pictured) said the irrigation project has transformed the lives of hundreds of people in lower parts of Gaturi and Gikindu wards. He said there are 130 acres under rice and more people have shown interest, thus need to establish a second phase to increase water volume through the allocation of Sh100 million.

“What was started to establish vegetable farms is today an income-generating venture in lower Murang’a. The project benefits 800 people directly and more than 2,000 indirectly,” said the governor.

Iria said Ajibika irrigation project in Kandara has also transformed the lives of residents who sell their farm produce in Kandara and Thika towns.