Economy

Animal attacks slow down million-acre irrigation project

UHURU

President Uhuru Kenyatta during the ground breaking at Galana-Kulalu irrigation project. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, yields for our most staple food crops are constant at best and in most cases decreasing. PHOTO | FILE

Frequent attacks by wild animals have slowed down infrastructure work at the one million-acre Galana-Kulalu irrigation project.

A senior official at the National Irrigation Board Richard Kanui said the marauding animals might affect their work in future.

“Two people have so far been attacked by lions and such scenarios might come as a big threat in our work in the coming days,” said Mr Kanui, who is the deputy general manager in charge of engineering services.

He added that crocodiles have also attacked workers in their tents at night.

“We have held discussions with the Kenya Wildlife Service and they have shown concern in helping us to curb the menace,” he said.

The Galana-Kulalu ranch was acquired by the Agricultural Development Corporation in 1989 from the Galana Game and Trading Company. It was supposed to reduce human-wildlife conflict by forming a buffer zone between the Tsavo East National Park and local communities.

The recent development is reminiscent of the man-eaters of Tsavo that attacked railway workers during the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway more than 100 years ago.

The contractor, an Israeli-based firm, has started laying pipes in the model farm where 10,000 acres are targeted for demonstration purposes.
Green Avra, which signed the contract in August this year, will spend Sh14 billion on the model farm.

READ: Israel gives Sh7 billion for Galana irrigation scheme

The actual irrigation project, which is estimated to cost Sh260 billion, will start next year and is expected to cut Kenya’s reliance on rain-fed agriculture that is blamed for perennial food shortage.

The government will spend Sh3.5 billion on infrastructure such as dams, roads, electricity and irrigation pipes while investors will be expected to grow crops and set up food processing plants.

Over 80 local and international investors have expressed interest.

Mr Kanui said the contractor has already imported water pumps and centre pivots (irrigation equipment that moves on wheels).

Six of the machines can irrigate 1,000 acres.

Nineteen dams have been constructed and roads built with 8,000 acres of bush cleared to pave way for the model farm.

The first crop from the flagship programme is expected next year in March. The State is targeting 200,000 acres to be put under sugarcane, 500,000 acres under maize, 150,000 acres will be reserved for ranching while dairying will be assigned 50,000 acres.