One-million-acre irrigation project to be launched in January

 

Maize being dried after harvesting. The Galana yield is expected to nearly double country’s production. FILE 

By MWAKERA MWAJEFA

Posted  Monday, December 30  2013 at  20:35

In Summary

• DP William Ruto said 10,000 acres of leased land between Kilifi and Tana River counties would be cultivated in the New Year under the Galana-Kulalu irrigation scheme.
• The irrigation is expected to address poverty in the area and enhance food security in Kenya.
• The projected output from the first phase would nearly double Kenya’s maize production now at 38 million bag

The one-million-acre Galana irrigation project will be launched in January with the first phase expected to yield 30 million bags of maize.

Deputy President William Ruto said 10,000 acres of leased land between Kilifi and Tana River counties would be cultivated in the New Year under the Galana-Kulalu irrigation scheme.

“Next month (January) we intend to kick off the project with 10,000 acres that will be tilled and irrigated to produce maize using modern agricultural technology,” Mr Ruto said in Kilifi during the home coming party of Kilifi South MP Mustapha Iddi.

The irrigation is expected to address poverty in the area and enhance food security in Kenya. The projected output from the first phase would nearly double Kenya’s maize production now at 38 million bags.

READ: 1.2m-acre Galana Ranch to be put under irrigation

Kinango in Kwale, Ganze and a section of Magarini areas of Kilifi, Voi and Mwatate in Taita Taveta and parts of Tana River are prone to famine and depend on relief food.

Mr Ruto said the government would invest in a multi-billion energy project in Lamu to produce 2,000 megawatts of power to distribute to different parts of the Coast.

Kilifi governor Amason Kingi said the county would next month start survey and adjudication of land to settle squatters with title deeds expected to be issued in June 2014.

“To show we are serious, soon the government will settle about 800 families of 4,000 people after buying land in dispute at Mikanjuni area of Mtwapa location,” Mr Kingi said.

The government has allocated Sh3.6 billion in the current financial year for the irrigation project which will cost Sh250 billion on completion in 2017.

According to the National Irrigation Board, 500,000 acres of land would be put under maize, 200,000 acres under sugarcane, 50,000 acres under fruit and 50,000 others under horticulture. Another 150,000 acres would be reserved for ranching and a game reserve and another 50,000 acres for dairying.

The Galana-Kulalu ranch was acquired by the ADC in 1989 from the Galana Game and Trading Company. It was supposed to reduce human-wildlife conflict by forming a buffer zone between the Tsavo East National Park and the local communities.