The government is planning on leasing at least 350,000 acres of land under its control as part of plans to increase food production over the next decade.
State Department for Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho says the strategy is part of its plans to put at least one million acres under irrigation in the next ten years as envisaged in the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP).
“NISIP intends to put an additional 1 million acres under irrigation so that we are able to reach 50pc of our irrigation potential in this country. Currently we have 747,000 acres under irrigation, out of that 83,000 acres have been done in the last two years which has led to increased production more specifically in the rice value chain,” said Kimotho during the pre-conference of official launch of the plan.
The government has already set aside 200,000 acres of land in Glana-Kulalu Irrigation Scheme where two investors are expected to start production.
According to Kimotho, progress on the Galan-Kulalu project has been delayed by lack of water which will be addressed with construction of a new dam on River Galana.
Two private investors have shown interest in the Galana-Kulalu project. Kimotho said one investors has already signed an agreement to undertake crop farming on a 20,000 acre piece of land within the scheme. However only 5400 acres will be put into use in the first phase as construction of the dam gets underway.
“There is also a private investor who has shown interest in doing the 180,000 acres. He is currently dong feasibility to ascertain financial diligence and legal diligence legal and so that he can start in the next six months. But in the next six months he will start putting infrastructure because he can only start farming only after the dam is complete and the dam is expected to be completed in the next two and a half years after groundbreaking,” he stated.
The government is also targeting to put Bura Irrigation Scheme under lease to private farms with intentions to expand the acreage under irrigation to 40,000 from the current 6,000. Already four investors have shown interest in the project.
Agriculture ministry says plan to enhance the country’s land under irrigation is expect to help boost maize and rice production. The target is to increase rice production from the current 293,000 metric tonnes to at least 440,000 metric tonnes to cut rice import bill.
The government is similarly seeking to mobilize resources through climate funding to put at least 140,000 acres of land in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) under crop and fodder production.
Under the 10 year plan which is expected to cost Ksh 598 billion, private sector is expected to contribute Ksh 365 billion as government works to derisk the sector through data availability with the balance being raised by the exchequer.
