President William Ruto has announced that his administration will double the area under irrigation in the country.
The president said the government will increase the area under irrigation from the current 670,000 acres to 1.5 million acres in the next three years.
This, Ruto said, is part of his plans to ensure there is constant and predictable supply of food both for human and livestock in the country.
Speaking during a Kenya Red Cross event on Tuesday, Ruto said he is keen on having a country that is self-sustaining and food secure.
“We are on the journey to exploiting the full potential of putting three million acres to be put under irrigation as a mechanism to have a food secure country,” Ruto said.
The president pointed out that plans to have the first 100 dams was on course.
Ruto further stated that they are working with development partners and counties to tackle the food security menace.
An estimated 2.5 million livestock, he stated, have so far been reported in the drought-stricken counties.
Announcing the ongoing plans by the government to mitigate against the ravaging drought situation, the head of state announced that 300 million worth of food to 1o most affected ASAL counties.
The food distributed through the emergency response fund included 20,000 bags of rice, 24,000 bags of beans and 7,000 cartons of con beef.
"The government allocated Sh900 million funds towards procurement of additional food which include 66,000 bags of rice, 88,000 bags of beans and 60,000 cartons of con beef," he stated.
The President said distribution was ongoing in 29 other affected counties with the help of humanitarian groups, Red Cross and other community organizations.
