Cabinet
Secretary for Water, Sanitation & Irrigation Eng. Eric Muuga/STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Garissa
Governor Nathif Jama/STEPHEN ASTARIKO
The government has launched an ambitious Sh45 million
irrigation project in Garissa aimed at improving food production in the county.
The 1,500-acre Bulla Adey irrigation scheme in Kora Kora
will tap water from River Tana to enable residents venture into crop farming
and increase food production both in the county and nationally.
It will be second in the county after the 1,000-acre Raole
Canal irrigation scheme in Balambala. It will also create an opportunity for
farmers who want to transition from livestock to crop farming.
Speaking during the launch of the project, the Cabinet
Secretary for Water, Sanitation & Irrigation Eric Muuga said the Sh45 million
project is aimed at helping the farmers to get easy access to water from River
Tana for irrigation.
“Food security is one of the five key pillars in President William
Ruto’s government, and creating irrigation schemes is part of the efforts to
increase food productivity,” he said.
The CS said his ministry is working in collaboration with
the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure there is sufficient water for irrigation,
noting that without water, growing crops becomes difficult.
“We have seen that you are farming seed oils, including sunflowers.
You are also growing horticultural products, cereals and we have been told that
all these foodstuff are doing well even in the interior parts away from River
Tana. You are doing a commendable job because you are playing your part in
feeding the nation,” he added.
The CS further called on the residents to make good use of
the scheme once its completed to both produce food and make livelihoods for
themselves.
Principal Secretary for Agriculture Kipronoh Ronoh said his
department would help the farmers in value addition and infrastructure to help
in maximising their profits.
The PS also delivered 1,000 tonnes of sunflower seeds to the
Garissa farmers’ network and more 2,000 tonnes are expected to be added.
“We have come here to launch the irrigation scheme, which
will help you grow food. We will make sure that the design is good enough to
enable you to get high yields in food production,” Ronoh said.
Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed said Garissa County can be
the next food frontier in the country if good investments in agriculture are
made.
“We have land and water from the River Tana. The only thing we need is infrastructure investment into that farming land. The residents, some pastoralists, want to start farming but they do not have the capacity and financing for the project,” Dekow said.
“We have the capacity, we have the ability, and we have the
energy to produce enough food. What we lack is investment in terms of resources
and infrastructure in the sector,” he added.
Leaders present at the event included Parliamentary Affairs Principal Secretary Aurelia Rono, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, Senator Abdul Haji, Women Rep Udgoon Siyad and Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo.
