Gov’t outlines plan to unlock over 3 million acres for irrigation

The government has outlined an ambitious plan to unlock more than three million acres of land suitable for irrigation as part of efforts to boost food production and strengthen agricultural productivity.

This emerged during a consultative meeting between the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation and officials from the State Department for Irrigation, where lawmakers were briefed on the progress of irrigation development projects across the country.

Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho briefed the Kangongo Bowen-led committee on the ongoing irrigation projects, utilisation of allocated resources and the role of irrigation investments in supporting food security.

Kimotho said there are currently approximately 763,000 acres under irrigation and that government programmes are targeting rapid expansion under the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP).

“Kenya currently has approximately 763,000 acres under irrigation, with ongoing government programmes targeting rapid expansion under the NISIP to unlock the country’s potential of over 3 million acres suitable for irrigation,” he stated.

According to the PS, the government aims to expand irrigated agriculture to over one million acres through several strategic interventions, including the development of major dams to support commercial irrigation, scaling up smallholder irrigation schemes and promoting farmer-led irrigation development.

Other focus areas include drought resilience programmes in arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) areas as well as strengthening irrigation governance.

Lawmakers were also informed of plans to significantly increase paddy rice production from about 305,000 metric tonnes to 700,000 metric tonnes through the expansion and rehabilitation of major irrigation schemes.

Among the projects expected to drive the increase are the Mwea, Ahero, Lower Kuja and South West Kano irrigation schemes.

PS Kimotho further stressed the need to prioritise and fast-track irrigation projects that are above 70 percent completion through adequate and timely funding to unlock thousands of acres awaiting completion of infrastructure.

He also updated the committee on major national irrigation initiatives, including the Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project, Bura Irrigation Scheme and the Turkana Irrigation Development Project, alongside other smallholder and community-based irrigation programmes that are aimed at strengthening climate resilience and improving farmer productivity.

MPs commended the State Department and reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to supporting investments that will accelerate irrigation expansion and advance the government’s food security agenda under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

The lawmakers noted that the irrigation budget has helped expand acreage under irrigation by more than 100,000 acres and increase rice production by over 110,000 metric tonnes, alongside the construction of water harvesting and storage structures.

Chairperson Bowen, at the same time, urged the government to explore innovative financing models beyond government funding to support new irrigation projects while ensuring ongoing projects are completed on time to guarantee value for money.