The parliamentary committee on regional development wants Homa Bay residents to maximise a Sh7.3 billion irrigation project for crop production.
The Kimira Oluch Smallholder Farm Improvement Project was started to enable residents in Karachuonyo and Rangwe constituencies to grow crops.
On Monday, the committee toured the project and noted that beneficiaries were not putting it to full use.
Committee vice chairperson Mary Wamaua said they expected to see more people use the water.
“There are farmers who are trying to utilise the project well but the general view is that the majority do not meet expectations. Let people come out and utilise the project to enable it to transform their lives,” Wamaua said.
The national government in partnership with the African Development Bank is implementing the project.
Since its implementation in 2006, Sh7.3 billion has been used on the project, but the government has not remitted Sh1.3 billion for its completion.
Some of the works yet to be undertaken include extension of dykes for maximum use of the water.
But Wamaua said this should not deter farmers, as the irrigation project can still be used in its current state.
“The minor civil work remaining should not make any farmer to relax. Let’s maximally use the water for crop production,” she said.
Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga told farmers the project can only meet its objective if they embrace it.
“The government can construct all the canals like the ones it has done. But it is upon a farmer to decide to use the water for growing crops,” Kalasinga said.
Rongo MP Paul Abuor and Lake Basin Development Authority CEO Wycliffe Ochiaga echoed the comments urging farmers to use the irrigation project.
Abuor said farmers should work closely with the LBDA. He asked the Authority to come up with solar pumps as farms on high ground are not able to access the water which runs via canals.
Karachuonyo MP Adipo Okuome called for deployment of field extension officers to advice farmers on how to grow various crops.
“Let Homa Bay government deploy agricultural extension officers to help farmers. This is a team-work meant to serve the people,” Okuome said.
The project that covers 3685 acres (1474 hectares) is subdivided into 97 irrigation blocks and is expected to boost food security in the country.
