Boost for Kirinyaga rice farmers as Thiba Dam finally fills up

Rice farmers in Kirinyaga county have a reason to smile after the  newly completed Thiba Dam filled up. 

The impounding exercise which began in late May, took about three and half months to hit the targeted capacity of 15.6 million cubic metres, with the surplus overflowing through the spillway and back to River Thiba.

National Irrigation Authority head of corporate communication  Daniel Nzonzo said the reservoir can hold up to 180 million cubic metres of water should there be an excess flow from the source in Mount Kenya forest.

Nzonzo said that currently, four cubic metres of excess water is being discharged per second through the spillway which is the reservoir's safety evacuation channel and back to the river downstream.

Speaking on Monday while at the site, he said that the water reconnecting the river does not in any way pose a safety danger to the residents living and using the water.

The irrigation official said the stored water will ensure continuity in rice farming, particularly during the dry climatic season when the river levels subside, and, as such, challenged the farmers to put more effort in their farming.

The facility is also set to revolutionise rice farming in Mwea Irrigation Scheme through the achievement of a double cropping season per year, which is set to increase rice production by more than two folds, up from the current annual production of 114,000 metric tonnes per year.

Nzonzo said that an extra 10,000 acres will be put under rice cultivation, up from the current 25,000 acres.

With the acreage addition coupled with the double cropping practice, a total of 70,000 acres will be under rice irrigation annually thus achieving an excess of about 86,000 metric tonnes.

The irrigation official said the government has also put in place efficient  programmes that are geared towards complementing rice farming in a bid to meet the local growing demand.

This, he said, is through expanding and transforming other mini-rice irrigation schemes across the country.

"Rice is the third locally consumed food in the country and in a bid to supplement the local production and enhance food security, we have put in place strategies to boost and expand other rice growing schemes like the Bura, Hola, Bunyala, Kano and Ahero schemes," he said.

The officer said that with the expansion of such schemes, it will substantially reduce on the over reliance of imports thus ensure abundance, as well as elevate the economic status of the country.

Nzonzo hailed the engineers and all workers involved in the implementation of the Sh7.8 billion project, which he said was delivered on time thus saved more than Sh400 million.

The irrigation official further said precautionary measures have been put in place to ward off strangers and unauthorised residents who intend to access the facility.

He said already there are dangerous animals living in the dam water which could pose danger to the lives of those who trespass the vicinity.

"There are guards patrolling the premise round the clock. No one will be allowed to gain access without permission. To those visiting the site, their safety will be given a priority by ensuring that they put on the necessary safety gears while within," Nzonzo said. 

Project manager engineer Stephen Mutinda said the project has three components — spillway, dam wall and water control gates.

Mutinda said the project will not only be a game changer in rice farming, but will also come in handy to more than 3,000 residents neighbouring the facility and who are currently practising farming.

He said the water will support and boost the Rukenya and Kibithe irrigation schemes.

(edited by Amol Awuor)