“Completion of the project will go a long way in ensuring that we have sufficient water throughout the year,” he said.
Ariemba said the construction of the dam will improve the production of rice from the current 26,000 acres to 48,000 acres.
The dam, Ariemba said, will have a capacity of 15 million cubic metres of water and is expected to fill in six months after completion.
“One way of controlling climate change is to store water and use it during the dry period; this is why we are collaborating with the Ministry of Environment to impress upon them on the need to preserve the water towers,” he said.
He said the dam is one of the strongest pillars of the Jubilee government in ensuring food security and improving manufacturing.
“Through irrigated agriculture, we will be able to have more products for the manufacturing sector through value addition,” he said.
Rice farmers' representatives urged the government to replace old machinery at the National Irrigation Authority.
They said canals have remained unattended for long, reducing the flow of water to farms.
The association's chairperson Mutugi Mwangi said the roads in the scheme are also in a bad state and need continuous repairs.
Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya
