THE Italian government has released Sh1 billion to ensure food security in
West Pokot and Turkana.
The money was given to the Kerio Valley Development Authority to expand irrigation projects in Pokot.
KVDA managing director David Kimosop said they will expand irrigation farming on 800 hectares at Wei Wei project near the border of the two counties.
“This will help with access to food for families in the region, ,” said Kimosop.
KVDA has been working on the Wei Wei Irrigation Project for more than ten years.
Kimosop was speaking after touring some of the KVDA projects in the region.
The Wei Wei project has helped transform the lives of more than 10,000 people in the counties where some of the farmers also engage in production of seeds under an agreement with the Kenya Seed Company.
KVDA plans to invest another Sh100 million to develop the Arror Irrigation Project in Kerio Valley. The authority is implementing a new strategic plan which will focus on food production and alleviation of poverty in all the counties in the Kerio Valley region.
The Kenya Red Cross Society has also initiated an irrigation project to ensure food security in parts of Kerio Valley.
Red Cross is collaborating with the Canadian Red Cross and it will work with more than 3,000 families in Marakwet and East Pokot regions.
"Food insecurity has been a major problem in the Kerio Valley region and we are moving to work with communities on long term measures that will ensure people in the affected areas have access to food," said Patrick Nyongesa of the Red Cross at a recent launch of the project.
The project will cost more than Sh150 million.
Nyongesa said the Tot-Kolowa Irrigation and Water supply project whose source of water is Embobut river will be a good thing for the residents.
Many families in Pokot, Turkana and Baringo rely on relief food because of the aridity in the three counties where newly elected leaders are focusing on strategies to deal with food shortages and insecurity caused by cattle rustling incidents.
Baringo county governor Benjamin Cheboi said they will work with key players to come up with solutions for the problems in the region. KVDA has projects across most of the counties in the region.