The government will save more than Sh8 million when Bunyala pumping station is decommissioned once the first phase of Lower Nzoia irrigation project is completed.
The National Irrigation Authority currently spends Sh 700,000 monthly to pump water using electricity to supply water to farmers in Bunyala irrigation scheme in Busia county.
Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho said farmers will get enough water by gravity once the Sh 3.8 billion project is completed.
“This will be very efficient and cost-effective and will benefit more farmers,” he said.
With the availability of sufficient water, Kimotho said farmers will comfortably do two seasons of rice production.
“We are looking forward to decommissioning the old pumping scheme, which uses electricity and has proved to be very expensive. This will save taxpayers,” he said.
The PS said they are impressed with the progress of the project, which will be completed by the end of September.
More than 12,500 farmers will benefit directly from the first phase of the project, which cuts across Siaya and Busia counties.
The PS commended the implementation progress and said the construction progress was at 86.44 per cent.
Kimotho, who toured the project on Monday, called for speedy completion within the scheduled timelines.
He was accompanied by secretary administration Kipkemei Yatich, NIA secretary Aboud Moeva, Siaya county commissioner Jim Njoka and his Busia counterpart Kipchumba Rutto.
Also present were NIA board chairman Eng Gilbert Maluki, acting CEO Eng Charles Muasya, Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala and other senior government officials.
President William Ruto is expected to ]launch the project once it is completed.
The project covers 4,043ha (10,000 acres): Siaya 2,535ha (6,270 acres) and Busia 1,508 Ha (3,730 acres).
Kimotho said 12,600 farmers, with 8,400 in Siaya county and 4,200 from Busia county will benefit.
The number of farmers will be expected to go up once Busia and Siaya county governments sensitise them to utilise the 10,000 acres.
He said the project will enable farmers to get through gravity for faster irrigation.
“This will enable farmers to grow rice for two seasons per year,” Kimotho said.
He said the project supports the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BeTA) through continuous rice production, source of livelihood and job opportunities to farmers.
Besides food security and improved livelihoods, the project will also help in flood mitigation.
He assured farmers that they will soon be able to grow high-value crops, such as fruits and vegetables, on 5,000 acres, in rotation with soybeans, maize and other legumes on the other 5,000 acres, enabled by the gravity water.
Kimotho said NIA has engaged an agronomist who has adopted a new rice variety, such as Komboka, that yields two tonnes per acre.
With new varieties, farmers will get bumper harvest compared to the traditional varieties with two seasons.
The government is at an advanced stage of negotiation with the World Bank for additional financing to cover infrastructure for the remaining components of the project.
The project, which is funded by the World Bank and IDA at 70 per cent and the Kenyan government at 30 per cent, commenced in 2018.
However, it has suffered delays due to challenges in providing compensation to the affected local residents.
But the delay has successfully been addressed by the government.
Kimotho said the intake diversion weir was 100 per cent complete, intake structure stands at 98 per cent and the covered connecting channel at 100 per cent.
The irrigation blocks, which include the construction of tertiary canals, was at 30 per cent, and Bunyala scheme rehabilitation stands at 100 per cent.
Nyadorera irrigation management facilities stand at 98 per cent, while Bunyala irrigation management facilities at 90 per cent and construction of Bunyala scheme buildings at 96 per cent.
NIA estimates that the rice production in 2023-24 will be 12,000 metric tonnes, with an economic value of Sh660 million per season.
However, limited local milling capacity has led to disruption in the rice value chain, forcing farmers to sell paddy to external buyers, contributing to the exploitation of farmers.
Wanjala commended the government for addressing factors that have delayed the project over the years.
“This project is very important to the country on matters of food security and source of income to farmers,” he said.
Siaya Agriculture executive Joseph Ogutu commended the project, saying it was geared towards achieving food security.
He assured that Governor James Orengo was committed to agriculture and supporting the irrigation project.
“We are going to support our farmers through capacity building and encourage them to form cooperatives,” Ogutu said.
Busia county secretary Elijah Mwaro said Governor Paul Otuoma has been advocating for inland irrigation across the county.
He said Otuoma has been engaging the government through various agencies to ensure the completion of the project.
“This project is key to the people of Busia as it will increase food security and income to farmers,” he said.
Christopher Obuya, chairman of Magombe rice irrigation scheme in Busia, said farmers anticipate increased rice production once the project is complete.
“We will have water through gravity because the use of pumps to irrigate their farms has been extremely expensive. If we get gravity water, we will double our production,” he said.
Currently, farmers are doing one planting season per year.
Obuya appealed to the government to help them acquire a rice mill towards value addition to increase their income.
