Only 9 per cent of Kenya’s irrigable land has been developed, a report of the Parliamentary Budget Office says.
The Budget Options for Financial Year 2023/2024 and the Medium Term report said Kenya has an irrigation potential of 1.342 million hectares but only 120,503 hectares have been put to use.
“Furthermore, even the already developed hectares have not been utilised fully,” the report added.
It said expanding and rehabilitating irrigation schemes across the country will expand farmers' production opportunities and mitigate risks, thereby enhancing food security.
“In order to support the increasing population in the face of reducing farmland size, it is critical to embrace intensive agricultural production which is possible only with the provision of water for irrigation,” the PBO advised.
It suggested that each county allocates Sh50 million annually towards investment in small-scale irrigation infrastructure in the agricultural zones.
It also recommended that the government maximises on the already existing irrigation infrastructure for agricultural production.
Kenya’s food production is largely reliant on rainwater for crop and animal production which renders it very vulnerable to weather variability and climatic changes
The report noted that the country is currently faced with a severe drought and invasive crops and pests.
The provision of water for irrigation in addition to the provision of subsidised inputs and extension services can be a wholesome solution to the current challenge of agricultural productivity
President William Ruto has pledged to initiate Public Private Partnerships to deliver 100 dams in a bid to progressively increase land under irrigation to 3 million acres.
Speaking at Uhuru Gardens during the 59th Mashujaa Day fete, the Head of State said the government plans to expand the land under irrigation to 1.4 million acres in three years.
“Irrigation is the ultimate solution in guaranteeing food security in our country. We are working on innovative investment mechanisms through private–public partnerships to construct at least 100 dams,” he stated.
Ruto further said that 200,000 acres of irrigable land will be allocated to rice irrigation stating that the rice irrigation schemes already have mechanisms in place which only need improvement.
